Law & Order Season 22 Episode 15 Review: Fear and Loathing

With a story about racial profiling Law & Order Season 22 Episode 15, “Fear and Loathing,” comes the closest this franchise has ever come to making amends for the realities of policing in the United States. Unfortunately, it’s still insufficient, and the episode falls far from the desired outcome.

Despite the ending not living up to its potential, Mehcad Brooks gives this Detective Jalen Shaw-centered story everything he has. It sort of makes up for the left turn everything takes during the episode’s final moments.

If anything, Brooks is the shining star of the whole episode. It tells us that we deserve stronger writing for his character because he can evoke emotions in viewers when given the proper moments.

There’s a Problem, and It Isn’t Shaw

Going into “Fear and Loathing,” the audience is treated to an immediate encounter that is racially motivated. Even for fans of the show who, like Cosgrove, haven’t ever had to experience that kind of behavior, it’s terrifying. 

These cops see a black man and automatically assume he is the suspect they are after, even when Shaw continuously states he is a cop. It’s a stark reminder that for people of color in the United States, cops are not there to protect them. 

Despite all this, one of the white cops dares to approach Shaw and threaten him further if he dares to report the behavior. Throughout this episode, the underlying “Blue Wall” affects everyone’s advice to Shaw.

While it is excellent to see Cosgrove and Dixon say they’d go to bat for Shaw, it isn’t enough. Instead of letting IA dismiss Shaw’s complaint, they should’ve stood by him and fought for a better outcome.

The Blue Wall Only Protects the Status Quo

The issue with this is that a “Blue Wall” exists in reality, and while we love Law & Order because it gives us larger-than-life outcomes to everyday problems, sometimes we want a break from what happens in the world around us. 

This whole situation with Shaw is an opportunity for the writers to say, “we know in the real NYPD, the white officer’s complaint of non-compliance would hold more weight than a black officer’s complaint of racial profiling. However, we want to change that reality and make it better.”

The closer we get to the end of the case, the more likely it seems that the situation will get brushed under the rug. So it’s unfortunate when the writers take things a step further and throw out Shaw’s complaint but keep the other officers’ complaint leading to Shaw being suspended. 

There is so much hope for this story to have a different outcome, one that can spark an influence of change. Then, Dixon has the nerve to tell Shaw that this is one thing about the NYPD that will never change. 

I wouldn’t be surprised if Shaw never returns. Why should he? His influence and voice will never be heard, so why should he even bother?

Man Insights Racial Violence

While the Shaw investigation grabs our attention during “Fear and Loathing,” another racial profiling case remains. It leaves us wondering if Shaw’s personal issues influence how he reacts to this case. 

Would everything have gone differently if Shaw isn’t influenced by his recent violation? Price thinks so and manages to come down pretty hard on Shaw for keeping it all under wraps. 

While the man in question influenced the death of the prominent doctor, there is that underlying question on everyone’s mind whether or not Shaw should’ve stepped back and let Cosgrove handle it without him.

There is a conflict of interest for Shaw because the case closely mirrors what he is currently fighting within the NYPD. Cosgrove and Dixon know that his vision isn’t clear, yet they let him continue to work the case. 

Price is correct to question Shaw’s motives and be upset with his actions because they severely jeopardize the case. Luckily, justice prevails in this courtroom, and the man who racially profiled the victim is found guilty of his actions.

It’s a shame that Law & Order seems too trigger-shy to allow Shaw’s complaint outcome to mirror that of the court. Imagine Detective Shaw’s influence on real cases outside the Dick Wolf universe.

Oh well, maybe next time.

 

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

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