An illegal Mexican immigrant is accused of killing his wife's sweatshop boss because he was their baby's father. He claims, however, that his wife was forced to be her boss's surrogate mothe... Read allAn illegal Mexican immigrant is accused of killing his wife's sweatshop boss because he was their baby's father. He claims, however, that his wife was forced to be her boss's surrogate mother.An illegal Mexican immigrant is accused of killing his wife's sweatshop boss because he was their baby's father. He claims, however, that his wife was forced to be her boss's surrogate mother.
Photos
- DA Arthur Branch
- (as Fred Dalton Thompson)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Briscoe and Green are interviewing somebody at the site of a labor protest, there is an 8-foot tall inflatable rat at the protest site. Inflatable rats are actually used by the labor unions at protest sites in New York City (NY, USA) when they want to show that the contractors and developers are rats for using non-union labor.
- GoofsAfter the meeting in the judge's chambers, Jack McCoy is shown wearing the same suit and tie in the courtroom as he was in chambers. Given that at least a day has passed since the meeting with the judge, he should be wearing different clothing. Certainly a different tie.
- Quotes
Detective Lennie Briscoe: [holding Maria's baby while she's out of the room] See? Just like riding a bike.
Detective Ed Green: Yeah, well I think you're riding too fast, he's starting to drool.
Detective Lennie Briscoe: Hey, are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Detective Ed Green: If you're thinking 'why does this baby have blue eyes?' then yeah.
- ConnectionsReferences Candid Camera (1948)
Season 14 was a near-consistently solid season, one of the better and more consistent post-Season 10 ones, with the only disappointment being "Blaze" and even that was above average. "Ill Conceived" is towards the lower end in ranking the season and is no "Bodies" or "Identity" (both brilliant episodes), but it is well worth watching and has a lot of recommendable aspects. Recommendable aspects though that have been done better in other episodes in the season.
Beginning with the not so good, perhaps the episode could have done with having more tension and edge, while everything is interesting it is not as edge of the seat-worthy as other episodes. More surprises wouldn't have gone amiss as well as tighter pacing in the first quarter or so.
Elisabeth Rohm really struggles to bring such a cold, robotic character to life and continues to look ill at ease.
So much is done well though. It is a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key on the whole.
Furthermore, "Ill Conceived" has a thoughtful script that like a lot of 'Law and Order' episodes raises interesting questions worthy of debate with somebody. Love Briscoe's one-liners. The story is tactful while also providing lots of intrigue with the secrets, making one feel sad and angry and eager to know what the secrets are. Nothing is too simple or too complicated and the second half even is riveting. The character writing and interaction are near-on point for the regulars, faltering only with Southerlyn. The supporting character writing lacks subtlety but not as stereotypical as worried. The rest of the acting is excellent.
Overall, not great but well worth watching. 7/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jul 4, 2022