An interesting example of investigating a serial killer's history of victimizing is still relevant today (re: the Gilgo Beach, Long Island murders of prostitutes a decade ago in which the many bodies found still are not legally linked to the recently arrested architect who almost got away with murder).
What really drives this show is the wealth of talented character actors as the incidental people questioned on the fly by Jerry & Jesse, giving dramatic and utterly believable brief performances as the investigation unfolds (in addition of course to the principal guest stars who have much juicier parts). For example, Stephanie Berry gets a minute of screen time but puts her heart into it -impressing me no end. The wealth of talent based in New York City is on display week after week in these Dick Wolf shows.
Of course Schwimmer as the obnoxious legal aid thrilled to be representing a serial killer steals the show alongside Ritchie Coster as the maniac. The limitations of the legal system in meting out actual justice are dramatized in bold relief.
My favorite line, uttered by the late Fred Dalton Thompson to Sam regarding the pigheaded doggedness of Schwimmer's character about the lawyer/client privilege: "I thought all the true believers went the way of vinyl records". Wow! -CDs were a huge deal back in 2003 when this was made, but are now throwaways while vinyl is BACK in a big way, and many, many rare first pressings from the 1960s in genres ranging from jazz to rock are worth thousands of dollars today.
What really drives this show is the wealth of talented character actors as the incidental people questioned on the fly by Jerry & Jesse, giving dramatic and utterly believable brief performances as the investigation unfolds (in addition of course to the principal guest stars who have much juicier parts). For example, Stephanie Berry gets a minute of screen time but puts her heart into it -impressing me no end. The wealth of talent based in New York City is on display week after week in these Dick Wolf shows.
Of course Schwimmer as the obnoxious legal aid thrilled to be representing a serial killer steals the show alongside Ritchie Coster as the maniac. The limitations of the legal system in meting out actual justice are dramatized in bold relief.
My favorite line, uttered by the late Fred Dalton Thompson to Sam regarding the pigheaded doggedness of Schwimmer's character about the lawyer/client privilege: "I thought all the true believers went the way of vinyl records". Wow! -CDs were a huge deal back in 2003 when this was made, but are now throwaways while vinyl is BACK in a big way, and many, many rare first pressings from the 1960s in genres ranging from jazz to rock are worth thousands of dollars today.