Law & Order Season 23 Episode 12 Review: No Good Deed

The actual case falls to the wayside on Law & Order Season 23 Episode 12, “No Good Deed,” in favor of Baxter and Price finally having it out. 

The two district attorneys have been in a tug-of-war of wits ever since Baxter took over for Jack McCoy. It’s created an excellent level of tension on each episode, making them somewhat bearable, considering.

That said, the case can’t be entirely dismissed as unimportant to the episode. After all, we get to see Price up his game and make amends for past mistakes.

A Current Murder Brings Up Price’s Past

We have always seen ADA Price as a man of strong convictions, but not without having a heart. He’s willing to go to bat for victims, especially the ones who have seen some horrible trauma. 

Such is the case with Chelsea Shell. In the past, ADA Price allowed an aggravated rapist to get off with only a 5-year sentence because the victim, Chelsea, wasn’t willing to appear in court due to trauma.

Now, he has to eat his kindness because the rapist got released and immediately went and tortured, raped, and killed another woman. It’s a level of guilt we don’t see from Price very often and something Dancy excels at.

We’ve talked in the past about how expressive Dancy is with his eyes, and this case is no different. There is a moment, while in Chelsea Shell’s home, where Price listens to her account of events, and we see Dancy’s eyes grow softer and softer with compassion and empathy.

Price could easily dig in his heels and claim the choice he made years ago regarding Payne was the right one to make, but instead, he owns up to his mistake. He acknowledges that he let Angela Hart, the current victim, influence his opinion of Payne to give him a lighter sentence.

This shows a level of growth and maturity from the Nolan Price we met when he arrived on the scene on Law & Order Season 21 Episode 1, “The Right Thing.”

After two seasons, this character has become Jack McCoy’s true protégé. He shows the best of what the elder DA had to offer the District Attorney’s office and continues McCoy’s legacy beyond his tenure. 

Price and Baxter Must Work Together For Justice

For the last few episodes, DA Baxter and ADA Price have gone back and forth about whether or not they can trust or rely upon one another. It’s not been highly conducive to their cases. 

Since Baxter’s arrival on Law & Order Season 23 Episode 7, “Balance of Power,” I have been questioning whether or not the man had ulterior motives in his position as DA. It turns out that he’s also been thinking that Price is questioning his motives.

Watching these two work together on a highly publicized murder trial with Baxter taking over as first chair is more interesting than first expected. Lately, Price has been bowing down to Baxter’s rulings and decision-making.

So, it is assumed that this case will be no different, and Price will take the second chair without any pushback. For the most part, that is what happens, at least until Baxter explodes.

As he lays into Price, claiming that the younger man only sees him as a threat to the culture McCoy established within the District Attorney’s office, we see Price get increasingly upset. If anything, this man has never done well with being told how he feels or thinks.

DA Nicholas Baxter: Jack McCoy is gone. I’m sorry if that distorted your sense of stability and security but, let me be as transparent as I possibly can. I am not trying to be the next Jack McCoy. I don’t want to be the next Jack McCoy! I don’t care how he ran this office. Or how he conducted himself with the press. But that does not mean that I am some political carnival barker looking to whore out this office to advance my ambition. Now, if I’m going to be perfectly honest, you’re not entirely wrong either. I am well aware this case is getting lots of press attention. And yes, that was part of my plan. And yes, I wanna win this election very badly. Because I love this job! And I love trying cases. And if you don’t understand or respect that, or me, then you are free to get the hell out.

ADA Nolan Price: All I can say is that you are wrong. And, for the record, I think your perception of who I am is the thing affecting our relationship. You look at me like, like I’m constantly judging you. Like I’m constantly comparing you to Jack McCoy! I’m not! I’M JUST TRYING TO DO MY DAMN JOB! THAT’S THE TRUTH!

So, naturally, we love it when Price responds, vehemently tearing down everything Baxter has just said about him and Jack McCoy. It’s a conversation that has been a long time coming and Dancy nails every emotional note perfectly.

By the end of their disagreement, it is apparent that ADA Price won’t be letting DA Baxter throw his weight around him anymore. And on the flip side, DA Baxter will no longer underestimate ADA Price’s passion for the job. 

This conversation had to happen so that the two men could finally work together in peace and harmony. They needed to show their vulnerability for the other to respect the work they each bring to the table.

We see that respect in the way Price talks about Baxter to Maroun. And when Baxter congratulates Price on a job well done once the verdict is handed down. That’s not to say there won’t ever be tension again, but I believe the worst is past. 

 

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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