When an infant goes missing, detectives take sides in the family's right-to-die court case. Meanwhile, Barba's interference in the case puts the whole DA's office in jeopardy.When an infant goes missing, detectives take sides in the family's right-to-die court case. Meanwhile, Barba's interference in the case puts the whole DA's office in jeopardy.When an infant goes missing, detectives take sides in the family's right-to-die court case. Meanwhile, Barba's interference in the case puts the whole DA's office in jeopardy.
- Detective Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola
- (as Ice T)
- Sniper
- (as Dave Adams)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaBen Stone, portrayed by Michael Moriarty, was the Executive Assistant District Attorney for Manhattan County in the first four seasons of Law & Order (1990).
- Quotes
Jack McCoy: I suppose you want to talk to me about ADA Barba.
Olivia Benson: He is the best ADA that I've ever worked with. He is honest and honorable.
Jack McCoy: But I can't have my ADAs running around killing people. It's unbecoming.
- ConnectionsReferences Law & Order (1990)
"The Undiscovered Country" was a good episode on first watch and one rewatch on it is still good. Not quite one of Season 19's very best, but nowhere near close to being one of the worst. Of the first half of the season it's to me one of the better episodes, with more good things than not so good. With the good things being many and at best really quite excellent. Was really worried about how the topic in "The Undiscovered Country" would be handled, luckily it's handled very well here. As a farewell to one of the show's best characters in a long time, it is a little wanting. As an episode on its own terms, it fared well.
Not everything worked. Was not a fan of how Barba's exit was handled, though there have been worse regular exits in the franchise (Serena Southerlyn, Chester Lake) where he does something that goes against what he stands for and something he would never contemplate let alone do.
Didn't buy that the father was treated far too leniently. Phillip Winchester makes a pretty bland first impression and generally Stone didn't do it for me as a character.
However, a lot is good. Raul Esparza is amazing and proof that Barba will be sorely missed as a character. The rest of the acting is also great (Winchester being the one exception), it was great to see Peter Jacobson again playing the sort of role he did so well. Abigail Hawk's guest turn is very moving. The trial scenes are very absorbing, where there is intrigue and tension. Never does it feel rushed or dull.
Really appreciated that the handling of one of the season's toughest topics was tactful yet pull no punches in a way reminiscent of old school 'Special Victims Unit'. The episode is intelligently written throughout, but especially in the trial scenes. The production values as ever have slickness and grit, with an intimacy without being claustrophobic. The music has presence when it's used but does so without being intrusive, some of it is quite haunting too. The direction is also understated but the tension never slips.
Overall, would have liked a better exit to Barba himself but as an episode overall there is a lot to recommend. 7/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Dec 30, 2022