Unusual episode has Lake (Adam Beach) laid up in the hospital after an apparent shootout with a fellow detective involved in a 10-year-old murder cold case. Lake isn't talking. As the crew pieces together what happened, it becomes apparent there was a third shooter at the scene and that the detective Lake killed was involved in the murder. Then Lake disappears. It becomes all too apparent why Lake is reluctant to talk later in the episode, as there is a conspiracy afoot. Final series appearances for both Beach and Diane Neal as the overzealous ADA Casey Novak. Not a bad episode, with a couple of clever twists. I will miss Beach.
13 Reviews
A career and more
bkoganbing18 November 2013
I could kind of sympathize with Adam Beach in this episode, his final one with SVU. We learn that on his free time he's been working a ten year old murder case from when he was with Brooklyn SVU. A teenage girl was raped and killed. But we only learn of his obsession after he becomes a wanted man after he is wounded in a shootout with another police detective.
The whole squad gets involved here and as it turns out the perpetrators were a pair of dirty cops, one of whom Beach kills, the other is arrested before he can kill Beach.
Back when I worked at Crime Victims Board I can tell you that certain cases do stay with you for one reason or another. And my work wasn't anything like Beach's.
In any event the second perpetrator is another cop, Jack Gwalteney. He's a real cool and smug sort and he's got reason to be. Diane Neal also cuts some corners to gain a conviction and she pays as well.
Justice of sorts is reached, but it costs Beach a career and more.
The whole squad gets involved here and as it turns out the perpetrators were a pair of dirty cops, one of whom Beach kills, the other is arrested before he can kill Beach.
Back when I worked at Crime Victims Board I can tell you that certain cases do stay with you for one reason or another. And my work wasn't anything like Beach's.
In any event the second perpetrator is another cop, Jack Gwalteney. He's a real cool and smug sort and he's got reason to be. Diane Neal also cuts some corners to gain a conviction and she pays as well.
Justice of sorts is reached, but it costs Beach a career and more.
Kay Scarpetta?
jaxparrothead15 June 2020
This episode started out kinda iffy for me until I got the Patricia Cornwell link. I'm a big fan of her books, and have read some of them multiple times.
Enter Diedre Lovejoy in the role of Penelope Fielding, former head of the Richmond "lab" and an FBI consultant. That's exactly the resume of Kay Scarpetta, lead character in most of Cornwell's books.
Not sure if this is a rip-off or an homage?
Enter Diedre Lovejoy in the role of Penelope Fielding, former head of the Richmond "lab" and an FBI consultant. That's exactly the resume of Kay Scarpetta, lead character in most of Cornwell's books.
Not sure if this is a rip-off or an homage?
Storm in Turbid Water
yazguloner19 June 2021
Dirty cops and justice... Turbit water...
The storm coming out of this turbid water.
The team trying to clear their colleagues. Fin and Elliot's tensions... A complete ice... the tensions reflected in the police force... the reflection in the law world... a complete snowstorm... The story is told very well. I'm impressed.
The breakups at the end ... so cold ... so sad... I was used to Lake.
The team trying to clear their colleagues. Fin and Elliot's tensions... A complete ice... the tensions reflected in the police force... the reflection in the law world... a complete snowstorm... The story is told very well. I'm impressed.
The breakups at the end ... so cold ... so sad... I was used to Lake.
A Piece of Constructive Criticsim to a Fine Series from a Loyal Fan.
redryan6431 December 2008
LET us start out by saying that we personally love Mr. Dick Wolf's creation of LAW & ORDER Wolf Pictures/Universal/NBC TV Network, 1990-????) And its offspring L & O: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (1999-????) and L & O: CRIMINAL INTENT (2000-????). LAW & ORDER (the original) was one of the fine Cop Shows on the old tube (along with HOMICIDE:LIFE ON THE STREET that kept me in the game mentally when I was laid up from my job on the good old Chicago P,D. back in 1994-95.
WE really wish that we could say that it was due to some exciting, heroic shoot-out with the bad guys or some such dramatic reason; but, alas, it would be a lie, plain and simple! The malady in my own case was a very harsh dose of the old Rheumatoid Arthritis; which, believe you me, is one nasty illness that you wouldn't want to wish on your own worst enemy!
HOWEVER enough of this sh*t already! Let's get back to our next review on this our very next little morsel of the night in this SPECIAL VICS Episode of "COLD".
WE find that one must not judge on of these L & O Groups entries until you've seen the whole story. This particular installment involves a bad shooting by a Cop, which is a cover up for his own illegal criminal activity. Caught in the middle are some illegal aliens, Detective Lake (Adam Beach) and some other non regular cop character.
WITH plenty of twists and many a use of generous helping of irony, this is indeed one very fine entry into the series. But we have two general remarks about this episode in particular and for all of the LAW & ORDER'S FAMILY of Good Cop Shows.
FIRST of all, there are too many stories that revolve around POLICE MISCONDUCT. Believe me, we know that these things happen and there are always guys on the Job who just don't belong there. We know that things happen, but not to the extent that this fiction would seem to indicate.
SECONDLY, and this is just a given. There is entirely too much of a tilt toward the Left Politically speaking. We realize that it would be impossible not to insert some of one's own personal feelings into a story; but c'mon gang! There are entirely too many stories that, e.g., make abortion clinic picketers the bad guy, ridicule people who are supposed to be proponents of 2nd Amendment Rights (That Means the Right to Bear Arms, Schultz!) and the show ignores one of the most perplexing problems that Police have to deal with.
THAT being that NO MATTER WHAT POLICE DEPARTMENT WE ARE talking about anywhere, POLITICAL CRONYISM is the most detrimental element to good police work and to fair promotion of deserving people to run and manage an efficiently smooth running Police Department for all citizens.
JUSY you wait until I write MY BOOK! That'll be one that will make at least one great film or TV Series!
POODLE SCHNITZ!!
WE really wish that we could say that it was due to some exciting, heroic shoot-out with the bad guys or some such dramatic reason; but, alas, it would be a lie, plain and simple! The malady in my own case was a very harsh dose of the old Rheumatoid Arthritis; which, believe you me, is one nasty illness that you wouldn't want to wish on your own worst enemy!
HOWEVER enough of this sh*t already! Let's get back to our next review on this our very next little morsel of the night in this SPECIAL VICS Episode of "COLD".
WE find that one must not judge on of these L & O Groups entries until you've seen the whole story. This particular installment involves a bad shooting by a Cop, which is a cover up for his own illegal criminal activity. Caught in the middle are some illegal aliens, Detective Lake (Adam Beach) and some other non regular cop character.
WITH plenty of twists and many a use of generous helping of irony, this is indeed one very fine entry into the series. But we have two general remarks about this episode in particular and for all of the LAW & ORDER'S FAMILY of Good Cop Shows.
FIRST of all, there are too many stories that revolve around POLICE MISCONDUCT. Believe me, we know that these things happen and there are always guys on the Job who just don't belong there. We know that things happen, but not to the extent that this fiction would seem to indicate.
SECONDLY, and this is just a given. There is entirely too much of a tilt toward the Left Politically speaking. We realize that it would be impossible not to insert some of one's own personal feelings into a story; but c'mon gang! There are entirely too many stories that, e.g., make abortion clinic picketers the bad guy, ridicule people who are supposed to be proponents of 2nd Amendment Rights (That Means the Right to Bear Arms, Schultz!) and the show ignores one of the most perplexing problems that Police have to deal with.
THAT being that NO MATTER WHAT POLICE DEPARTMENT WE ARE talking about anywhere, POLITICAL CRONYISM is the most detrimental element to good police work and to fair promotion of deserving people to run and manage an efficiently smooth running Police Department for all citizens.
JUSY you wait until I write MY BOOK! That'll be one that will make at least one great film or TV Series!
POODLE SCHNITZ!!
Really bad finale...
hellebenzon-2636719 February 2020
... I really disliked this episode! A disappointing finale to a somewhat fine season. The farewell to Lake didn't hit very hard, since we never really got a feel for him, but it was a blow to lose Casey Novak in this unfitting way.
I don't say that all finals should be happy and upbeat, but imagine the show wasn't renewed. It would have been a disaster to end the show on that note!
"Cold"
allmoviesfan1 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
After some really good episodes in the back half of the season, the finale 'Cold' left me...well, a little underwhelmed. It certainly started in interesting fashion, with the SVU squad called to a crime scene where someone has been arrested for the attempted murder of a police officer. That someone? Chester Lake. The ensuing investigation gets complicated, causes tension in the squad and sees ADA Novak do something out of character.
It's a shame we never got to see Lake's character developed more. Outside of a few episodes, he was mostly a bit player, who seemed to take screen time away from Munch. Adam Beach, a good actor, was largely wasted.
A reasonable episode if it was buried somewhere midseason, but nothing great: there wasn't a whole lot of tension or excitement, really. Yes, there are a few cliffhangers, which will be resolved in the new season, but even they are fairly mild.
It's a shame we never got to see Lake's character developed more. Outside of a few episodes, he was mostly a bit player, who seemed to take screen time away from Munch. Adam Beach, a good actor, was largely wasted.
A reasonable episode if it was buried somewhere midseason, but nothing great: there wasn't a whole lot of tension or excitement, really. Yes, there are a few cliffhangers, which will be resolved in the new season, but even they are fairly mild.
Left me cold
TheLittleSongbird7 October 2021
Season 9 was pretty hit and miss as a season, like Seasons 7 and 8. There are wonderful episodes, with the best being "Savant", "Undercover" and "Authority". "Svengali" and "Signature" also had many fantastic things and there were great guest stars such as Cynthia Nixon and especially Robin Williams. At the same time, Season 9 did have disappointments, the worst faring being "Avatar", "Harm" and this episode. Also personally found "Trade" and "Paternity" uneven. Season finales always leaves one in high anticipation, especially when dealing with not one but two character exits.
"Cold" sadly for me is quite aptly named, it did leave me cold. It does have its good things, but it did underwhelm in many ways and up to this point of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit's' run (meaning Seasons 1-9), it is the weakest though not the worst in the show's history. Namely due to that the case didn't grab me, screwed up most of the character writing, did not do a good job with the sending offs and didn't really feel like a season finale. "Authority" in fact felt more like one, sans any character exits, and actually could easily have been one in two parts.
There are good things about "Cold". It is slickly photographed throughout, a perfect match for the gritty tone, and the location work looks both striking and atmosphere-filled. The music is only used when necessary and when it is used it does stick in the mind and not done so ham-handedly. Both the main theme and opening voice over are memorable.
Most of the performances are very good. It also starts very intriguingly with some tension and Lake and Fin's chemistry is lovely to watch, a chemistry that has come on massively since Season 8's "Outsider" (they were very mismatched in that episode but their chemistry in Season 9 saw some delightful character moments).
Otherwise, there is not much else to recommend about "Cold". Am saying this with a heavy heart. Other than the intriguing start the story never really grabbed me, found it very dull and severely lacking in suspense and surprises. It also doesn't help that Lake, who pretty much dominates the episode, on the most part didn't do much for me as a character, and it is always difficult to care about what happens to a character that you don't care for. Adam Beach is stiff and wooden here, with the intensity being forced, and it was clear here that the episode was written by somebody who didn't like Lake especially with the way he is written out.
Novak's final appearance (at this point) was a complete waste, she is very underused and her exit is handled so abruptly and indifferently. Some of the character writing is anger inducing, especially Stabler whose attitude is on the same level of intolerable as it was in "Closet". Absolutely hated his treatment of Fin, who didn't deserve in any way the way he was treated, which goes completely against how he was written pre-Season 7. It was like the show had forgotten what made him a great character in the early seasons. Didn't like Donnelly, not usually the case at all, either, whose treatment of Novak here is the equivalent of back-stabbing for no reason that makes sense. The tautness is not there in the script and pretty much the only character written well or that comes off well is Fin.
Disappointing season finale overall. 4/10.
"Cold" sadly for me is quite aptly named, it did leave me cold. It does have its good things, but it did underwhelm in many ways and up to this point of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit's' run (meaning Seasons 1-9), it is the weakest though not the worst in the show's history. Namely due to that the case didn't grab me, screwed up most of the character writing, did not do a good job with the sending offs and didn't really feel like a season finale. "Authority" in fact felt more like one, sans any character exits, and actually could easily have been one in two parts.
There are good things about "Cold". It is slickly photographed throughout, a perfect match for the gritty tone, and the location work looks both striking and atmosphere-filled. The music is only used when necessary and when it is used it does stick in the mind and not done so ham-handedly. Both the main theme and opening voice over are memorable.
Most of the performances are very good. It also starts very intriguingly with some tension and Lake and Fin's chemistry is lovely to watch, a chemistry that has come on massively since Season 8's "Outsider" (they were very mismatched in that episode but their chemistry in Season 9 saw some delightful character moments).
Otherwise, there is not much else to recommend about "Cold". Am saying this with a heavy heart. Other than the intriguing start the story never really grabbed me, found it very dull and severely lacking in suspense and surprises. It also doesn't help that Lake, who pretty much dominates the episode, on the most part didn't do much for me as a character, and it is always difficult to care about what happens to a character that you don't care for. Adam Beach is stiff and wooden here, with the intensity being forced, and it was clear here that the episode was written by somebody who didn't like Lake especially with the way he is written out.
Novak's final appearance (at this point) was a complete waste, she is very underused and her exit is handled so abruptly and indifferently. Some of the character writing is anger inducing, especially Stabler whose attitude is on the same level of intolerable as it was in "Closet". Absolutely hated his treatment of Fin, who didn't deserve in any way the way he was treated, which goes completely against how he was written pre-Season 7. It was like the show had forgotten what made him a great character in the early seasons. Didn't like Donnelly, not usually the case at all, either, whose treatment of Novak here is the equivalent of back-stabbing for no reason that makes sense. The tautness is not there in the script and pretty much the only character written well or that comes off well is Fin.
Disappointing season finale overall. 4/10.
Worst SVU episode ever
Siobhan-crompton28 August 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I am a huge SVU fan, and this is my least favorite episode. The departure of Chester Lake was not a hard hit by any means, as the writers did not develop his character and enough to feel anything for him. He was merely another Dani Beck-like character, no major loss to the show. However, I hated how Casey Novak left the show. Casey Novak was the longest running ADA in L&O history, a very respectable, driven woman who fought hard for her cases but was never a major rule breaker. Her downward spiral in this episode was not welcome and was a very lazy way to write off a major L&O character, and as a result this damages her whole run as a character (as evidenced when Kim Greylek mentions her dishonorable actions in a later episode). But most of all, I hated how Stabler's character was written. Elliot Stabler is a favorite character of mine as he his a very real and flawed person but he is also very loyal and sticks to his morals. Yet more and more Stabler has been written as a presumptuous bastard. He turned on Lake right away, and then even more shockingly he turned on Fin. This appalled me especially as Fin has been a co- worker for many years and Stabler has defended him in the past! In "Haunted", Fin is accused of shooting an unarmed child, and Stabler defends Fin and refuses to believe he would do that. He also defended Olivia when she was accused of murder in "Perverted" and "Control". Yet he turns so fast on Fin in "Cold" that it made me feel contempt for his character, which angered me because Stabler started off as a great character that the writers could have expanded and grown with, but instead they decided to make him into an ass. For all these reasons and for it generally being an uninteresting episode, I give this a low rating.
Law and Order's Struggle with Minority Characters
bkkaz31 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The franchise has always had a difficult time casting and keeping racial minority characters. SVU lost Michelle Hurd early on because the writers didn't know what to do with her. (Here's a clue: How many of the writing staff have been minorities?). If B.D. Wong hadn't been cast as the occasional guy to pop up spouting psychobabble, there would never have been a single Asian regular character in any of the Law and Order shows. Think about that. IN NYC. So, it's not surprising that the talented Adam Beach would make an auspicious debut as the franchise's only Native American character only for the writers to quickly lose interest in him in favor of Benson, Stabler, etc. Beach's cool disposition was probably also taking a little too much attention away from the leads, which is almost always the end of an actor's tenure when the producers are determined to service the stars. His send off episode here is made even less salutary by also giving the heave ho to Casey Novak. It follows the standard SVU playbook -- Beach's Chester Lake had a hidden agenda, in this case, pursuing an old case from his last job on the side. That leads to a shoot out with two cops, one of whom is gunned down. Is Lake crooked, and did he commit murder? Or are the cops crooked, and they were trying to murder him? You'll have to watch the episode to find out, but Lake's disappearance from the cast is a foregone conclusion.
Not my fave
suenewgreg2 February 2020
Not one of my favorite episodes! First Lake is found not guilty then commits the same crime of murder ( I still have no clue who he murdered, who was lying there dead)!! PLUS the last episode for Diane Neal...not my fave episode!
Pretty bad.
starswithnolight12 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This is a pretty bad episode. It opened terribly, chaotically, and ended the same way. It wasn't upsetting to see Lake get wrapped up in something like this but, it wasn't something you'd think a halfway decent svu detective to get pulled into. Not the Vidocq stuff but the random, middle of the night, ambush shooting. It's just kind of ridiculous. And everyone's attitudes are pretty poor. While trying to figure out what's going and even being allowed as a squad to take on the investigation, I don't get the ridiculous show between Stabler and Fin. We know Stabler isn't anyone's favorite buddy bud, but they have, for almost a decade, respected eachother. And suddenly they're fighting over the Johnny come lately murder cop. With Fin saying Lake is his partner as if Much never existed. Just bad. It evolves terribly overly time run time, the fight between Novak and Warner doesn't make any sense. And then the ending is just ridiculous. Johnny come lately murder cop again? Okay, we get it, he's off the show. Along with Novak being censured to write her off as if she was the type to try and break the law, at trial, over a decade old cold case she had nothing to do with in the first place. She was the ADA you couldn't get to take the case unless you HAD the evidence. Not the one to pretend the insufficient, degraded DNA was perfectly fine, just a paperwork mistake away from being fixed. And them using that as some kind of mechanism in the writing is just so clunky and out of character for the show let alone Novak herself. Just a poorly planned and executed finale. Really bad. Like... wow. Going back and rewatching things can be good, but when you see the bad, it's pretty tough to watch.
One of the worst SVU episodes EVER
ShooShooFontana1 May 2017
JUDITH MCCREARY should retire from writing as this is one of the sorriest excuses for a script and one of the most poorly-written episodes in the L&O franchise. The dialogue is beyond cheesy and the story is beyond boring. The cast deserve awards for delivering this drek with straight faces.
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