Detective Jalen Shaw is back on the case, this time with a new partner, Detective Vincent Riley. Law & Order Season 23 Episode 1, “Freedom of Expression,” might mark Reid Scott’s introduction into the cast, but from the looks of it, Detective Riley is far from rookie status.
The two come together when a murder on campus raises some controversial questions. Questions that center around the age-old debate regarding free speech vs. hate speech.
LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: (l-r) Reid Scott as Det. Vincent Riley, Mehcad Brooks as Det. Jalen Shaw, Connie Shi as Violet Yee — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
It’s clear that even ADAs Maroun and Price have their work cut out for them in the courtroom. After all, how far does freedom of speech really go? Especially when the body count keeps going up.
At the end of Season 22, Maroun and Price were struggling to see eye to eye on most of their mutual cases, especially the higher-profile ones. Is the matter of free speech going to push them to the limits once again, or will they actually be on the same page?
Check out the photos and promo video below for a preview!
Episode description: In the wake of a murder on campus, the line between free speech and hate speech at a university is examined.
Written by: Dick Wolf, Rick Eid, and Pamela J. Wechsler Directed by: Alex Hall
Photos from Law & Order Season 23 Episode 1:
LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: (l-r) Reid Scott as Det. Vincent Riley, Mechad Brooks as Det. Jalen Shaw — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: (l-r) Camryn Manheim as Lt. Kate Dixon, Reid Scott as Det. Vincent Riley — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: Hugh Dancy as ADA Nolan Price — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: Odelya Halevi as ADA Samantha Maroun — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: Mehcad Brooks as Det. Jalen Shaw — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: Camryn Manheim as Lt. Kate Dixon — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: Connie Shi as Violet Yee — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: Reid Scott as Det. Vincent Riley — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: (l-r) Reid Scott as Det. Vincent Riley, Mehcad Brooks as Det. Jalen Shaw, Braxton Fannin as Cam Lawson, Alexa Wisener as Chloe Esper — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: Mehcad Brooks as Det. Jalen Shaw — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: Tehmina Sunny as Professor Nasser — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: Odelya Halevi as ADA Samantha Maroun — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: (l-r) Braxton Fannin as Cam Lawson, Todd Gearhart as Attorney Jeffries — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: Odelya Halevi as ADA Samantha Maroun — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: Hugh Dancy as ADA Nolan Price — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: (l-r) Amanda Ferguson as Cam’s Mother, Braxton Fannin as Cam Lawson — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: (l-r) Jonathan Strait as Cam’s Father, Amanda Ferguson as Cam’s Mother, Braxton Fannin as Cam Lawson, Todd Gearhart as Attorney Jeffries, Odelya Halevi as ADA Samantha Maroun, Hugh Dancy as ADA Nolan Price — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: (l-r) Hugh Dancy as ADA Nolan Price, Odelya Halevi as ADA Samantha Maroun — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: Sam Waterston as D.A. Jack McCoy — (Photo by: NBC)LAW & ORDER — “Freedom of Expression” Episode 23001 — Pictured: Reid Scott as Det. Vincent Riley — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
Mads is a part-time entertainment journalist and full-time marketing content creator. They love any and all TV Dramas with a few sitcoms mixed in. Join in the fun talking about TV by following them on Twitter: @dorothynyc89.