Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 3 Episode 13 Review: Punch Drunk

Lines are being blurred left and right on Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 3 Episode 13, “Punch Drunk.” Whether it’s part of the ongoing case or the politics within the NYPD, no one is completely of sound mind.

While Jet and Bell have some missteps of their own, none is more despicable than Thurman’s. The audacity this man has to come into a position Bell turned down, for sound reasons, and report her to IA for shady decision-making. 

Thurman himself isn’t squeaky clean either so we’d think he would want to keep his head down. Here’s hoping Bell brings the full weight of her influence up against him.

Bell Is a Leader Who Fails to Lead

While Jet is the greenest out of everyone on the task force that doesn’t mean she should be dismissed out of hand. Unfortunately, that is exactly what Bell has been doing since Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 3 Episode 12, “Partners In Crime.”

In each new step of the case being built against Eamon Murphy, Bell has shown little support for Jet’s helpful connection to Seamus. He is attracted to her and she knows just what to do to play that against him.

While Jet makes mistakes along the way — allowing her undercover persona to come off extremely attracted to Seamus — she has one goal in mind. To her the most important thing is the case at hand; her feelings and emotions don’t matter.

It’s disappointing to see Bell react so negatively to Jet because it’s the first time we’ve seen her resist leading. Bell is so caught up in whatever it is she sees wrong about Jet’s performances that she fails to guide Jet toward being the best undercover she could possibly be.

Jet has never been undercover before so naturally, she’s going to falter from time to time. Comparing her actions to Stabler, however, is completely out of line. 

We all love Stabler, but he is impulsive and ruled by his emotions. Jet may have made an error by kissing Seamus, but she still manages to prove her right to be a part of the case.

Play With Fire You’re Bound to Get Burned

First and foremost, Law & Order: Organized Crime should be commended for how well it casts the characters that are meant to be on the wrong side of the law. The way Timothy V. Murphy (Eamon) embodies the mannerisms and vibes of a man not to be trifled with is on par with other antagonists over the course of this series.

When Stabler strikes out with Murphy it makes sense for the task force to call upon Teddy Silas to be their pinch hitter. Teddy has been gracious to help the task force for a few episodes now and is the perfect foil for Murphy’s unpredictability.

The most intense moments of “Punch Drunk” involve Teddy Silas in some way. Whether it is Teddy reaching out to Murphy to strike a deal or the young man running into trouble during Murphy’s unsanctioned fight emotions run high throughout both scenes.

Choosing to flip Teddy to their side just might be the greatest move this task force has ever made. People aren’t likely to suspect Teddy of working with the police after everything his family has been through — case in point Eamon Murphy.

This case is far from over and Eamon Murphy isn’t one to be taken for a fool and it’s clear he’s now suspicious of everyone. Teddy’s fate is still up in the air — hopefully, his change of heart hasn’t led to his own demise.

Either way, this task force is about to come under some grave heat with Jet revealing herself to Seamus and being taken hostage as a result.

 

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

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Law & Order: Organized Crime airs Thursdays at 10/9c on NBC.

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