Law & Order Season 25 Episode 14 Review: Remedies
Law & Order Season 25 Episode 14, “Remedies,” is one of the season’s best episodes yet.
With shocking twists, complex themes, and a riveting case, the episode has all the ingredients for a compelling narrative.
Although there is nothing special about law enforcement’s murder investigation, the victim is already intriguing.
The murder victim, Emily Starr, is a holistic health influencer who built her brand using natural remedies while advocating against traditional medicine.
Alternative medicine is a hot subject, especially with the rise of social media influencers. Law & Order enters this debate by making a controversial figure the murder victim — a bold decision, especially since the show characterizes Emily as a terrible person.
Carol Massey: That’s not a choice, that’s a con.
The case becomes more complex when the perpetrator turns out to be a desperate mother, determined to save her daughter’s life no matter what the cost.
“Remedies” is already a heart-wrenching episode based on these factors alone, but the narrative takes it a step further by portraying Emily in a negative light.
Emily is not a good person; she profits from sick people desperate for a cure to their illnesses. She manipulates and lies to squeeze out more money from her clients, highlighting the troubling ethics behind holistic health.
If it is illegal for a doctor to lie about a patient’s illness, then it should also be illegal for Emily to lie about it. She should not be allowed to make false claims, such as promising a cure for cancer without any medical treatment.
Of course, shutting down Emily’s business would impede on her right to free speech. However, no one is stopping her from promoting holistic practices. She can do that without endangering people’s lives.
When Emily isolates her clients, forces them to rely on her methods solely, and lies about their illnesses, it is no longer a matter of free speech. It is a matter of life or death.
It is hard to sympathize with Emily or her followers once “Remedies” illustrates who she truly is.
Law & Order also uses Nolan Price and Samantha Maroun to explore this episode’s themes. Prosecuting Emily’s murder forces them to confront uncomfortable issues of justice, morality, and truth.
The most surprising aspect of Nolan and Samantha’s prosecutorial journey involves their roles. Usually, Nolan sticks with the justice system, seeing cases through a black-and-white lens.
Meanwhile, Samantha often encourages Nolan to consider a more emotional perspective because reality is never that simple.
Surprisingly, “Remedies” reverses their dynamic. This time, Nolan struggles with prosecuting Carol for emotional reasons, while Samantha continuously reminds Nolan that no matter what, Carol still murdered someone, which is against the law.
It is an astonishing narrative decision that the show executes perfectly.
Law & Order Season 25 Episode 14, “Remedies,” notably lacks an emotionally satisfying ending. However, for the narrative themes to have the greatest impact, there is no other way to end this episode.
The jury’s conviction is already disheartening, but the most poignant aspect involves Nolan and Samantha keeping the truth about Emily’s cancer a secret.
Samantha Maroun: As a great prosecutor once told me, a good person killing a bad person is still murder.
There is no legal obligation to inform the defense — or anyone, for that matter — that Emily lied about having cancer. Even though everything she built was a fabrication, Carol still chose to kill Emily, a clear violation of the law.
It hurts knowing that Emily’s followers will carry on her legacy, and no one will know the truth. Despite Carol’s right reasons, she still commits the wrong actions.
Law & Order nails this tragic ending with the brutal reminder that justice must prevail. However, the show avenges Carol’s fate by illustrating the horrific reality of holistic health and the dangerous lies these social media influencers promote.
What did you think of this episode of Law & Order? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
Critic Rating:
Audience Rating:
Law & Order airs Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC.
Check out our latest TV recommendations, updated weekly!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Sarah Novack
Sarah has been a passionate writer and blogger about various forms of media for as long as she can remember, and her favorite method of expressing this passion is through writing and discussion. She loves way too many TV shows, books, and movies, specializing in book-to-screen adaptations, fantasy, sitcoms, and procedurals.