Law & Order Season 23 Episode 7 Review: Balance of Power

There isn’t much to be said about Law & Order Season 23 Episode 7, “Balance of Power,” at least not positively. Despite having very strong storylines for the past two episodes, the show has hit a wall.

Introducing a new character, DA Nicholas Baxter, should be an intriguing concept. Instead, we are subjected to unnecessary drama and discord between Baxter and Price that doesn’t develop into anything of depth.

The drama actually pulls us out of the case being explored and leaves us scrambling to put our thoughts straight for the murder on trial.

DA Baxter Has Something Up His Sleeve

From the word go, we meet this new DA and he’s already interfering in the crime scene of the case at hand. This starts us off believing that he’s going to be up everyone’s butt the whole course of the case.

What ends up happening, though, is the complete opposite. A move that completely pulls focus away from the investigation and trial and instead makes us scratch our heads.

He pushes Price to keep him in the loop on everything happening with the case and insists that Price cut a deal if the information is good. But, then, when Price isn’t given more time to explore the information, he’s nowhere to be found for the final sign-off.

It forces our focus to be thinking about Baxter even when he’s not onscreen or the focus of the story. We are left wondering if he cares about his job so much that he’s going to put Price under the bus or if he trusts Price enough to handle things on his own.

The vibes are all over the place, making the episode disjointed overall. By the time a verdict is handed down, we are scrambling to remember the finer details of the case itself.

Is Price Headed for Trouble?

As mentioned before, the biggest issue with whatever Law & Order is trying to do with Baxter’s character its reflecting poorly on the well-established characters. Especially Price considering he’s always been more of a neutral stance when it came to the political aspect of his job.

Sure, with McCoy having been a figurehead in the DA’s office for 3 decades, it’s hard to switch gears. However, it shouldn’t come at the expense of the two ADA’s fans have come to know and love. 

Price and Maroun haven’t always been on our good side. In fact, more often than not, Price is known to ruffle feathers. 

However, he’s never been challenged so much by a colleague that he resorts to making statements that teeter on the edge of tendering his resignation.

The fact that Baxter has managed that with his mixed signals in the span of one episode is impressive. Or it would be if it weren’t also frustrating beyond measure.

Price’s job was supposed to be home free after McCoy stepped down to protect him, but it seems as though Baxter might be playing a long game to wear Price down and push him out. Perhaps the mayor has an in with Baxter, and this is continued retribution.

It’s just a shame that the most compelling moments of this entire episode happen in those final moments between Price and Baxter.

Stray Thoughts

• If done properly, the juxtaposition between Price and Baxter’s battle of wits and the question of authority between the victim and his killer could’ve made this episode top-notch material.
• It’ll be interesting to see what Riley and Shaw will think of Baxter as time goes on.

 

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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