L&O: Trial by Jury had a more difficult task setting itself apart from its parent series. SVU had a clear focus on sex cases, while Criminal Intent gave us the perspective of the perp. Trial By Jury is, in some ways, just the second half of an episode of Law and Order. This episode makes a strong case for the series. We see the defendant choosing a lawyer, the defense making decisions on how to handle the case, and the jury deliberating. This episode is based on a pretty straightforward premise - a rich defendant to murder and a case without any forensic evidence, only motive. It makes a strong case for the spin off by allowing an interesting perspective on the case. It's a little heavy-handed in it's portrayal of the defendant, he's clearly the bad guy and every scene sets him up as someone for the viewer to dislike.
3 Reviews
Drawing to an inside straight
bkoganbing19 February 2013
The debut of Law And Order: Trial By Jury involves ADAs Bebe Neuwirth and Amanda Carlson taking on a case with no body and a strong alternative suspect. One good alternative and a few others. An aspiring Broadway actress is missing and Fred Dalton Thompson feels like taking a shot at Tony Bill a Broadway producer who has one bad reputation. Yet it might be that which convicts him.
Future Criminal Intent regular Annabella Sciorra plays Bill's defense attorney, hired deliberately by Bill to counteract the two women prosecuting him. The better not to raise feminist hackles over a man who is an alpha male to the extreme.
This debut was also one of the last appearances of Jerry Orbach who has left the NYPD and joined the DA's staff of investigators. I was shocked to see him in a closeup with his shirt clearly too big for him. No doubt the cancer was sadly taking its toll.
No body and a good alternative. Neuwirth and Carlson are really drawing to an inside straight.
Future Criminal Intent regular Annabella Sciorra plays Bill's defense attorney, hired deliberately by Bill to counteract the two women prosecuting him. The better not to raise feminist hackles over a man who is an alpha male to the extreme.
This debut was also one of the last appearances of Jerry Orbach who has left the NYPD and joined the DA's staff of investigators. I was shocked to see him in a closeup with his shirt clearly too big for him. No doubt the cancer was sadly taking its toll.
No body and a good alternative. Neuwirth and Carlson are really drawing to an inside straight.
Not an abominable start
TheLittleSongbird30 May 2024
'Trial by Jury' "The Abominable Showman" (2005)
Opening thoughts: 'Law and Order: Trial by Jury' may have only lasted 13 episodes but to me actually it was a decent show that deserved a much better chance than it got, especially when by the time it was cancelled it had gotten quite a lot better. It is not one of the best 'Law and Order' shows, with it never quite reaching the brilliant heights that the best of the original 'Law and Order' particularly had. It is also not one of the worst, with none of the worst episodes being on the same level of 'Special Victims Unit' at its worst.
"The Abominable Showman" is not an abominable start. Actually thought it pretty decent and above average with plenty of good things, though with some pretty big flaws which contributed towards 'Trial by Jury' being a slow starter. As far as 'Trial by Jury' goes, "The Abominable Showman" is one of the weaker episodes with there being a not settled yet feel (understandably). A lot of potential though is also present judging by how well the best of the good things are.
Good things: Which are going to be mentioned first. The best thing about "The Abominable Showman" is Jerry Orbach in his penultimate appearance of the franchise, his performance is authoritative, sincere and in a way heart-breaking and he is the heart of the episode. Most of the regulars are also fine, Bebe Neuwirth overdoes the terseness at times as a quite terse character but makes a promising start in an atypical role, with the right amount of intensity and gravitas. Amy Carlson is a warm contrast and Kirk Acevedo is steely and sincere.
Also thought that Annabella Sciorra does understated and crafty very well, much better than she was on her brief stint on 'Criminal Intent'. The production values are suitably slick and gritty, the music isn't too melodramatic while having presence and the theme tune is one of the franchise's most memorable. The second half is thought provokingly written mostly and the direction has some nice tension in the second half.
Bad things: Having said all this, "The Abominable Showman" does fall short. There is not much special or fresh here, with a routine been there done that feel in particularly the first half in a way reminiscent of latter seasons 'Law and Order'. It is also on the slow side and lacks suspense, was not too surprised by the outcome which was not really in doubt.
Not all the acting is great either. Tony Bill has a rather over the top over-obvious character and overdoes the arrogance to the point the character becomes too cartoonish. Scott Cohen struggles bringing life to a flat character (something that 'Trial by Jury' never properly corrected), while Fred Dalton Thompson comes over as one note.
Closing thoughts: Concluding, decent but nothing out of the ordinary other than Orbach.
6/10.
Opening thoughts: 'Law and Order: Trial by Jury' may have only lasted 13 episodes but to me actually it was a decent show that deserved a much better chance than it got, especially when by the time it was cancelled it had gotten quite a lot better. It is not one of the best 'Law and Order' shows, with it never quite reaching the brilliant heights that the best of the original 'Law and Order' particularly had. It is also not one of the worst, with none of the worst episodes being on the same level of 'Special Victims Unit' at its worst.
"The Abominable Showman" is not an abominable start. Actually thought it pretty decent and above average with plenty of good things, though with some pretty big flaws which contributed towards 'Trial by Jury' being a slow starter. As far as 'Trial by Jury' goes, "The Abominable Showman" is one of the weaker episodes with there being a not settled yet feel (understandably). A lot of potential though is also present judging by how well the best of the good things are.
Good things: Which are going to be mentioned first. The best thing about "The Abominable Showman" is Jerry Orbach in his penultimate appearance of the franchise, his performance is authoritative, sincere and in a way heart-breaking and he is the heart of the episode. Most of the regulars are also fine, Bebe Neuwirth overdoes the terseness at times as a quite terse character but makes a promising start in an atypical role, with the right amount of intensity and gravitas. Amy Carlson is a warm contrast and Kirk Acevedo is steely and sincere.
Also thought that Annabella Sciorra does understated and crafty very well, much better than she was on her brief stint on 'Criminal Intent'. The production values are suitably slick and gritty, the music isn't too melodramatic while having presence and the theme tune is one of the franchise's most memorable. The second half is thought provokingly written mostly and the direction has some nice tension in the second half.
Bad things: Having said all this, "The Abominable Showman" does fall short. There is not much special or fresh here, with a routine been there done that feel in particularly the first half in a way reminiscent of latter seasons 'Law and Order'. It is also on the slow side and lacks suspense, was not too surprised by the outcome which was not really in doubt.
Not all the acting is great either. Tony Bill has a rather over the top over-obvious character and overdoes the arrogance to the point the character becomes too cartoonish. Scott Cohen struggles bringing life to a flat character (something that 'Trial by Jury' never properly corrected), while Fred Dalton Thompson comes over as one note.
Closing thoughts: Concluding, decent but nothing out of the ordinary other than Orbach.
6/10.
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