Law & Order Season 25 Episode 19 Review: Accidentally Like a Martyr

Law & Order Season 25 Episode 19, “Accidentally Like a Martyr,” has a compelling storyline with deeply emotional stakes.

Every episode always begins by foreshadowing the murder victim, and “Accidentally Like a Martyr” is no different. However, the story takes its time setting up the scene, an unusual characteristic for the show. 

Instead of briefly hinting at narrative circumstances before jumping into the investigation, “Accidentally Like a Martyr” fleshes out the conflict in Angela’s life before her untimely death, immediately establishing a captivating storyline.

Vincent and Theo’s investigation is automatically intriguing because the audience knows there is significant discord between Angela’s husband and her parents.

Jessica Brady: Is any of this real? Or do they just put this out there to get a bigger audience?

The NYPD’s investigation introduces critical themes that the episode compellingly explores. 

Angela comes from a wealthy influencer family that broadcasts their lives on social media. Angela’s murderer found and killed her due to her father, Evan, advertising her location on his Instagram, illustrating social media’s dire and irreversible consequences.

Naturally, the digital world and social media have become so entrenched within society that it is difficult to imagine a world without access to these platforms.

However, social media can be dangerous too — it enabled Angela’s killer, Alan, to stalk and murder her, encouraging an uncomfortable but necessary conversation about privacy and social media.

The narrative does not place the blame entirely on social media; doing so would be irresponsible and inaccurate. Alan kills Angela because of his unhealthy and violent obsession with her, something that no one knew about beforehand.

Nevertheless, when the NYPD begins to investigate, there is no shortage of suspects because Angela is a survivor of abuse.

Law & Order utilizes Angela’s history with her abusive ex-boyfriend, Cash White, to emphasize that there are multiple types of abuse, and they are hazardous in different ways.

Cash was physically violent with Angela several times, to the point where he endangered her life. Ironically, he does not kill her; a quietly obsessive stalker ends her life instead.

One type of abuse does not negate the other. Cash having a violent history does not automatically make him Angela’s killer, no matter how much Evan or Alan’s attorney tries to spin it that way.

Furthermore, Alan is no less dangerous just because his abuse manifests differently. He still invades Angela’s privacy through stalking her; he becomes obsessed with her life.

If he cannot have her, no one can, illustrating how Alan should not be overlooked just because his methods are more reserved.

Nick Baxter: You don’t get paid to do the comfortable thing or the noble thing. You get paid to win.

Of course, it would not be an incredible Law & Order episode without Nolan facing a difficult, game-changing decision during the trial.

Nolan’s goal is to convict criminals successfully, no matter the cost. However, sometimes the cost is too high and not worth betraying his values, as portrayed on Law & Order Season 25 Episode 19, “Accidentally Like a Martyr.”

Nolan must do whatever it takes to convict Alan, and in this case, that involves suggesting extenuating circumstances for Cash’s abuse of Angela.

It is heinous to even think about laying any culpability on a victim of abuse, which is why Nolan is so hesitant to do so. Ultimately, he does not, especially since even Cash recognizes no excuse in the world makes up for his violence.

Unfortunately, Nick pushes Nolan to raise this issue during Cash’s cross-examination. He even goes so far as to suggest that Nolan’s refusal to do so is why the case ends in a mistrial.

The reality is, Nick and Nolan have vastly different objectives. As the District Attorney, it is Nick’s job to secure as many criminal convictions as possible, no matter what it takes.

However, Nolan is the Assistant District Attorney. While he aims to convict as many criminals as possible, he is also the primary prosecutor.

Nolan is much more attached to each case, thoroughly understanding the circumstances while investing his time and effort. Furthermore, he does not have the responsibility of running the DA Office, allowing him wiggle room to uphold his values and beliefs in justice.

Nolan Price: The constitution is designed to ensure innocent men don’t go to prison, not to ensure guilty men go free.

The public elects Nick to his position, while he is responsible for hiring Assistant District Attorneys. Nick must prioritize the welfare of as many constituents as possible while pursuing justice, whereas Nolan has space to focus entirely on the case at hand.

Nick insisting that Nolan should attempt to excuse Cash’s abuse does not mean he believes in it himself, even though it is a vile suggestion. It just means that DAs and ADAs play vastly different roles as they both seek to uphold the law righteously. 

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Law & Order airs Thursdays at 8/9c on NBC.

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