Law & Order Season 22 Episode 7 Review: Only The Lonely

In what is probably one of the most chaotic cases of the season, Law & Order Season 22 Episode 7, “Only The Lonely” results in the most satisfying guilty verdict of all time.

There is just something to be said about a man who manipulates and uses women being taken down by one of those women. He may think he has swagger everywhere, but Devon Miller’s charm has no effect when it comes to the law.

Cosgrove and Shaw’s Partnership

One of the many strong points of this episode is the continued development of Cosgrove and Shaw as partners. I have been critical in the past of Law & Order trying to seem relevant by pairing Cosgrove up with only black partners. 

However, for “Only The Lonely” he seems to be in sync with Shaw which works to their advantage. These two men have a mutual respect for one another that reflects well when they are faced with extremely difficult cases. 

It honestly started during the previous episode, Law & Order Season 22 Episode 6, “Vicious Cycle” when they both had to keep their heads as they tried to make a case with no evidence. Now, here they are with a case where any number of people could be the killer.

It takes a level of trust and respect to get through these tougher cases and these two have figured it out. At the start of Season 22, Cosgrove seems as though he’s never going to come around to being there in a real way for Shaw — but look at him now.

This slow character development has paid off much better than one could ever anticipate — which is ultimately so satisfying.

Maroun Is A Courtroom Beast

The other great thing about this episode is getting to see Maroun pull herself together and shine brighter than Price ever could. After last week’s snafu, it would be easy for Maroun to shy away and keep a low profile.

However, it is because of her diligence and persistence that Grace Pollard even ended up on that witness stand. Nothing Price could have ever said would’ve convinced this lawyer to put aside her reputation and seek justice for a fellow woman. 

While Grace might end the episode feeling like this wasn’t a victory verdict, Maroun knows that what Grace says on the stand is going to have a positive impact on other women. That’s the power of Maroun’s compassionate heart.

She knows that putting Grace on the stand is a risk to Grace’s good name and all the battles she has won for victims’ rights. However, she weighs the good and the bad and decides that Grace testifying is going to have a more positive impact on other cases like this one moving forward.

Hearing from a woman is going to convince the jury that Devon Miller is a lying con man who shouldn’t be believed or trusted. Maroun does that. Not Price, Maroun — which is wonderful to see play out.

She proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is a stellar prosecutor and deserves to have the job she holds. You can tell how proud Price is of her the moment she sits back down after cross-examining Grace.

Stray Thoughts:

• Dixon’s line had me rolling, “I met my first husband the old-fashioned way. Drunk off my ass at a biker bar in Queens.”
• Everyone deserves a colleague like Price. “Have fun and make sure he only has one passport.”
• Having Mark Feuerstein as Devon Miller makes me want to go rewatch Royal Pains.

 

 

What did you think of this episode of Law & Order? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Law & Order airs Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC.

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