This was a good episode, which made an important point about the world we live in, and how cultures in our world are vastly different. A drug smuggling ring in NYC is uncovered, and it appears that a very prominent member of the Nigerian community is running it. He is both a diplomat and a chief in a tribe in his homeland, and of course has many character witnesses praise him as a man of tremendous integrity. The investigation is interesting, as is the result in court, which I will not spoil. Most interesting for me, however, is a point made about the cultural differences between the USA and Nigeria. A man suspected of smuggling drugs insists he is innocent, and it looks as though may go free. However, all the prosecutors have to do is suggest he might be extradited to Nigeria to face justice there, and he suddenly cooperates with the District Attorneys and is desperate to do whatever they want. This shows the extreme differences between the two cultures, and, not to offend anyone from Nigeria, but how lucky we are in the free world to have a high standard of living and basic human rights. This episode made me think.
6 Reviews
Exploring cultures
TheLittleSongbird16 July 2020
The previous episode "Point of View" saw the last appearance, though it was a brief one and not as a lead, of Paul Sorvino as Cerreta, first introduced in the Season 2 opener "Confession". He was replaced in that episode by Lennie Briscoe, one of 'Law and Order's', and the whole franchise's even, longest serving (twelve seasons!) and most popular characters. And one can see why, portrayed by the great Jerry Orbach right up to his death in 2004.
"Consultation" is Briscoe's second episode and, while we would learn a lot more about him later when the character was fully established, he shows himself to be already an interesting character and remarkably well settled for so early on. More settled in my view than his predecessors in their first appearances, Greevey was fine though while Cerreta took a little time understandably with the number of changes Season 2 had to undergo. Also felt that his chemistry with all his colleagues gelled quite quickly, with the others it took time. Back to "Consultation", it is a very good and interesting episode with much to recommend that peters out a little too early.
As ever with 'Law and Order', and the whole franchise even, "Consultation" looks good. Well shot and not resorting to being claustrophobic or gimmicky and nice use of locations. The music doesn't intrude or overbear and the direction lets the drama breathe while not letting it slack. Orbach balances authority and humour beautifully and he has a great dynamic with equally solid Chris Noth, entertaining with some intensity as they continue to get used to each other. Michael Moriarty and Richard Brooks are reliably excellent, Stone also never fails to be a juicy character.
Support is equally good. Andy Robinson does contemptible to almost frightening effect. Talia Balsam and particularly Roscoe Lee Browne dominate in their appearances, despite their screen-times not being large. The script is thought-provoking with some nice levity wisecracks. The subject is not an easy one and is quite divisive, but "Consultation" handles it in a way that's tactful and not prejudicial or one-sided. Also found it quite insightful in how the cultures are explored.
Did feel that the ending was a little rushed and anaemic again, not the first or last episode of 'Law and Order' to have an ending that felt that way.
Not much wrong otherwise, other than Seth Williams being slightly bland in his role but that was in comparison to everybody else.
Overall, very good. 8/10
"Consultation" is Briscoe's second episode and, while we would learn a lot more about him later when the character was fully established, he shows himself to be already an interesting character and remarkably well settled for so early on. More settled in my view than his predecessors in their first appearances, Greevey was fine though while Cerreta took a little time understandably with the number of changes Season 2 had to undergo. Also felt that his chemistry with all his colleagues gelled quite quickly, with the others it took time. Back to "Consultation", it is a very good and interesting episode with much to recommend that peters out a little too early.
As ever with 'Law and Order', and the whole franchise even, "Consultation" looks good. Well shot and not resorting to being claustrophobic or gimmicky and nice use of locations. The music doesn't intrude or overbear and the direction lets the drama breathe while not letting it slack. Orbach balances authority and humour beautifully and he has a great dynamic with equally solid Chris Noth, entertaining with some intensity as they continue to get used to each other. Michael Moriarty and Richard Brooks are reliably excellent, Stone also never fails to be a juicy character.
Support is equally good. Andy Robinson does contemptible to almost frightening effect. Talia Balsam and particularly Roscoe Lee Browne dominate in their appearances, despite their screen-times not being large. The script is thought-provoking with some nice levity wisecracks. The subject is not an easy one and is quite divisive, but "Consultation" handles it in a way that's tactful and not prejudicial or one-sided. Also found it quite insightful in how the cultures are explored.
Did feel that the ending was a little rushed and anaemic again, not the first or last episode of 'Law and Order' to have an ending that felt that way.
Not much wrong otherwise, other than Seth Williams being slightly bland in his role but that was in comparison to everybody else.
Overall, very good. 8/10
Power disjoined from remorse.
rmax30482320 December 2010
Warning: Spoilers
A pregnant young wife arrives from Nigeria and in the taxi to the city pops a condom full of heroin in her digestive tract and kills herself and the fetus. Brisco and Logan track down the people responsible for her immigration status -- Andy Robinson, who works for Nigerian Petroleum and sees to it that mules are recruited from the streets of Lagos, and Wendell Pierce as the Oxford-educated dandy who is a consular official for Nigeria, who funds the smuggling, and who has diplomatic immunity.
It looks like a dead end. The evidence against Robinson is weak, and Pierce can't be prosecuted for crimes in the United States. But all is not lost. Stone and Robinet manage to roll Robinson, who testifies against Gilliam in return for a reduced sentence. And Roscoe Lee Browne shows up as some kind of high Nigerian muck-a-much and deports Pierce back to Nigeria where he'll meet a harsher fate than he would at Sing Sing, if that's possible.
The usual cast does its usual professional job. Andy Robinson, who was the psychopathic killer in "Dirty Harry," is suitably snotty and contemptuous. Roscoe Lee Browne doesn't have much screen time but with that crackling resonant voice he dominates the screen. He was a remarkable guy, an academic, an athlete, and an unforgettable actor. Talia Balsam doesn't have much screen time either, which is too bad because she has the kind of facial features that are so pleasant that you could fall into them. She was named after Thalia, the muse of comedy or one of the three graces of Greek Mythology. Thank the gods that she resembles her mother, Joyce Van Patten, more than her father, Martin Balsam. This role as the usual kind of tough-as-nails defense attorney must have been difficult for her because she simply doesn't fit the part. Seth Williams has a prominent role as the husband of the dead girl but he fails to clear the authenticity bar, not quite having gotten the Yoruba accent down.
A solid entry in the early years of a good show.
It looks like a dead end. The evidence against Robinson is weak, and Pierce can't be prosecuted for crimes in the United States. But all is not lost. Stone and Robinet manage to roll Robinson, who testifies against Gilliam in return for a reduced sentence. And Roscoe Lee Browne shows up as some kind of high Nigerian muck-a-much and deports Pierce back to Nigeria where he'll meet a harsher fate than he would at Sing Sing, if that's possible.
The usual cast does its usual professional job. Andy Robinson, who was the psychopathic killer in "Dirty Harry," is suitably snotty and contemptuous. Roscoe Lee Browne doesn't have much screen time but with that crackling resonant voice he dominates the screen. He was a remarkable guy, an academic, an athlete, and an unforgettable actor. Talia Balsam doesn't have much screen time either, which is too bad because she has the kind of facial features that are so pleasant that you could fall into them. She was named after Thalia, the muse of comedy or one of the three graces of Greek Mythology. Thank the gods that she resembles her mother, Joyce Van Patten, more than her father, Martin Balsam. This role as the usual kind of tough-as-nails defense attorney must have been difficult for her because she simply doesn't fit the part. Seth Williams has a prominent role as the husband of the dead girl but he fails to clear the authenticity bar, not quite having gotten the Yoruba accent down.
A solid entry in the early years of a good show.
Coming to America
safenoe21 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Consultation guest stars Roscoe Lee Browne as Sir Idris Balewa and the line from Schiff pretty much sums up the perception of people from the continent of Africa, when he said (more or less) "will a jury believe a poor African" or something like that, but really when he said poor African did he mean poor white South African I guess.
Anyway, diplomatic immunity is at play in this episode, along with contrived Nigerian accents that would make The Lion King cringe. Anyway, the ending was quite instructive, especially with justice in the USA compared with justice in Nigeria which I imagine is more swift.
Anyway, diplomatic immunity is at play in this episode, along with contrived Nigerian accents that would make The Lion King cringe. Anyway, the ending was quite instructive, especially with justice in the USA compared with justice in Nigeria which I imagine is more swift.
Tribal loyalty
bkoganbing21 July 2017
A young pregnant Nigerian woman gets off the plane at JFK and gets into a cab, but going over one of the East River bridges she starts going into seizure. At the hospital she's pronounced DOA and her baby is stillborn.
No wonder this happened the woman had swallowed several balloons of cocaine and one of them burst. Where the investigation takes Jerry Orbach and Chris Noth is to a Nigerian tribal chief Wendell Pierce who expedites work visas and Andrew Robinson hires them at his construction business.
The problem that Michael Moriarty and Richard Brooks have is the tribal loyalty that the members of Pierce's own tribe whom he uses in his dirty work have generational ties to their chief. Even Roscoe Lee Browne from the Nigerian consulate tries his best. but as we learn Browne has an agenda of his own, a most interesting agenda and solution to all the problems law enforcement has here.
The ending is truly poetical.
No wonder this happened the woman had swallowed several balloons of cocaine and one of them burst. Where the investigation takes Jerry Orbach and Chris Noth is to a Nigerian tribal chief Wendell Pierce who expedites work visas and Andrew Robinson hires them at his construction business.
The problem that Michael Moriarty and Richard Brooks have is the tribal loyalty that the members of Pierce's own tribe whom he uses in his dirty work have generational ties to their chief. Even Roscoe Lee Browne from the Nigerian consulate tries his best. but as we learn Browne has an agenda of his own, a most interesting agenda and solution to all the problems law enforcement has here.
The ending is truly poetical.
Use a language consultant
beano-7838221 December 2020
Terrible and completely inauthentic Nigerian accents. Do better--I know this was an old episode, but come on L & O. The pregnant woman sounded South African, lol...You could have picked up a Nigerian off the street in NYC, there are plenty, and had them advise you.
Better luck next time.
Better luck next time.
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