A prep school headmaster is accused of murdering his school's admissions director after overruling her on a controversial admissions selection.A prep school headmaster is accused of murdering his school's admissions director after overruling her on a controversial admissions selection.A prep school headmaster is accused of murdering his school's admissions director after overruling her on a controversial admissions selection.
- Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
- (credit only)
- DA Arthur Branch
- (as Fred Dalton Thompson)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Detective Brisco and Detective Green examine the victim's apartment, they come across a Playbill program and ticket for the opera La Boheme. Briscoe is derisive, but Green tells him that "You don't have to love opera to love La Boheme. It's a Broadway play, bro." Detective Green is played by Jesse L. Martin who was an original cast member of the Broadway play Rent, which is based on La Boheme. (The play Rent was adapted into Rent (2005).)
- GoofsAll entries contain spoilers
- Quotes
Detective Lennie Briscoe: Where were you Sunday evening, Mr Scofield?
Wyatt Scofield: At home.
Detective Lennie Briscoe: Alone?
Wyatt Scofield: Just me and Dante.
Detective Lennie Briscoe: Dante?
Wyatt Scofield: ...Alighieri.
[pause]
Wyatt Scofield: "Purgatorio"?
Detective Lennie Briscoe: Isn't that a strip club in Queen's?
Detective Ed Green: [referring to Briscoe] I get to spend all day with him!
- ConnectionsReferences Masterpiece Theatre (1971)
This is an example of one of those episodes. It is not as good as the brilliant four episodes that came after it, the last three of which being the three best episodes of Season 13. It is though a big improvement over the previous episode "Seer", which left me disappointed and indifferent and the only episode of the season to not work for me. While not a great episode, "Kid Pro Quo" is close to being that with the many good things being at their best excellent.
It isn't perfect. It is a bit ordinary to begin with, which is not uncommon with 'Law and Order' and this is throughout the show's run, not just one period.
Really do not like Southerlyn, she really lacks life and what little there is of her personality is not compelling or easy to endear to. Elisabeth Rohm's even flatter acting doesn't help.
Jerry Orbach (Briscoe is a very popular character in the franchise for very good reason) and Jesse L. Martin are never less than great leads and Sam Waterston shows his usual authority and ruthlessness in the second half. Roger Rees plays a person that one does not want to mess with and roots for being convicted. While the story starts off on the predictable side, it is riveting once it comes to trial. T no longer becomes too simple, surprises more and lots happens in terms of events and twists without being too complicated. The climax is one of the season's better and more tense ones.
Furthermore, the dialogue is thought-provoking and has a pull no punches grit without being heavy-handed. It is shot with the right amount of intimacy without being claustrophobic and that the editing has become increasingly tighter over-time has been great too. Nice use of locations too. The music doesn't get over-scored or overwrought, even in the more dramatic revelation moments. The direction doesn't try to do too much and is understated but never flat or unsure.
On the whole, very nicely done once it gets going. 8/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jun 15, 2022
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