Law & Order Season 22 Episode 21 Review: Appraisal

If you think one of our favorite detectives getting shot on Law & Order Season 22 Episode 21, “Appraisal,” gives the episode excitement and intrigue, think again.

Once again, this show fails to give urgency or desire to the plot in ways that could move the story along. Instead, we are left with moments that could carry weight, but they are presented without any fanfare.

In the end, the killer ends up being just another soulless rich boy. Yawn. We’ve seen it all before.

Cosgrove Is Over Here Trying

Despite the writing not being anywhere close to stellar, Cosgrove and Shaw give us the performances of their lives. It shows that if nothing else Mehcad Brooks and Jeffrey Donovan love their jobs and want to give viewers something worth their time.

It’s just unfortunate that the material they are given is so bland and one-note that not even stellar acting performances can save it. Sure, the brains on the wall of the art exhibit was fascinating, but it ended there.

Sure, not all their cases can be exciting ones like Law & Order Season 22 Episode 20, “Class Retreat” had been. However, that doesn’t mean in the interim we get nothing. 

Cosgrove getting shot should have amped up the intensity even a little bit, and yet it’s a snooze fest. Donovan tries, but given that the whole showdown itself is over in 2.5 seconds and Cosgrove is up walking around with a bullet wound there fails to be any fear.

We know from the moment Cosgrove stands up that his life is never in any real danger. Give us some suspense, have him pass out for a bit from the pain — like realistically he probably should have.

Let it be Shaw who hears the excited utterance, that way at least the court case can stand a chance at being bearable.

The Verdict Shouldn’t Have Gone That Way

Based on the evidence and the case presented by Price in court, there is no way that man should’ve gotten convicted. And yet, the jury finds him unequivicably guilty.

As predictable as a rich man escaping jail because of his money and influence is, this episode might have been saved if that happened. Instead, we are left scratching our heads and wondering why Law & Order is suddenly pushing the plausibility of an outcome to such extremes.

In the past, cases such as this one that have little evidence and an uncooperative witness end up in a deal or a dismissal. Yet, Price manages to get the jury to believe Cosgrove’s Hail Mary testimony in the 11th hour. 

Price is a good prosecutor, but he’s definitely not that good. Even I thought Nelson would get a not guilty verdict. His lawyer is ruthless and manages to make a strong case for discrediting Cosgrove as well as Platt, the other witness. 

Which, we all love him, but Cosgrove isn’t the most reliable cop witness. Another reason why Shaw should’ve been the one who heard the exclamation from Platt.

If nothing else, Shaw is the most reliable cop on the show. He doesn’t bend the rules when he feels like it and the only trouble he’s been in was in direct relation to being racially profiled.

As a penultimate episode, “Appraisal” doesn’t get me excited for a season finale next week.

 

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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