A mother claims self-defense after she kills her schizophrenic son who was involved in a hit-and-run death.A mother claims self-defense after she kills her schizophrenic son who was involved in a hit-and-run death.A mother claims self-defense after she kills her schizophrenic son who was involved in a hit-and-run death.
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Fred Thompson
- DA Arthur Branch
- (as Fred Dalton Thompson)
Karen Starc
- Blair Silverman
- (as Karen Goberman)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsLt. Anita Van Buren tells Diane Payton that her son Rick is 13. However, Rick was 13 in a 1994's Competence (1994).
- Quotes
Lt. Anita Van Buren: Murder weapon?
Detective Ed Green: We found a carving knife in the dish rack.
Lt. Anita Van Buren: Well, at least our bad guy's tidy.
Featured review
Self defense or murder
"Mother's Day" was one of those 'Law and Order' episodes on first watch that had a number of good things but did feel on the ordinary side and didn't stick in the mind long after. There are episodes of the show and the 'Law and Order' franchise in general that felt like this, but there are many on both counts where that type of episode on first watch fared better on rewatch and were better than remembered seeing it through older eyes.
Season 13's "Mother's Day" is one of those episodes, and despite the basic idea of the story not being a novel one it is still quite good, with the good things being many and some great. On paper it sounds fairly standard and is a bit ordinary to begin with, but the execution is more complex than that. When things become meatier and twistier "Mother's Day" becomes very intricate and it is one of those episodes that induces more than one strong emotion by its end.
As said, "Mother's Day" starts off a little on the ordinary side and didn't immediately grab me straightaway and did think too that the final 5 minutes or so were on the rushed side from trying to cram a lot in.
Elisabeth Rohm, apart from a few exceptions, was frequently rather cold and stiff when she was on the show and my mind is not changed here.
However, the rest of the performnaces are very good to excellent. S. Epatha Merkerson, who doesn't get enough credit on this show, gives one of her most touching performances. The scene with the confession obtaining does break the heart. Every bit as good is Charissa Chamarro, sinking her teeth into her juicy and wholly hateable role and is suitably loathsome. Jerry Orbach, Jesse L Martin and Sam Waterston are their usual great selves.
Moreover, it is as ever shot with the right amount of intimacy without feeling too up close, even with a reliance of close up camerawork. The music isn't over-scored, manipulative or used too much. There is intimacy and tautness in the direction. The script is intelligent and lean with no signs of fat. It also has intensity, emotional impact and even the odd sprinkle of humour. Really liked the storytelling too. A lot happens, without mostly being over-stuffed. It is complicated too without being convoluted, and it is basically one of those episodes that leaves one deep in thought and outraged.
To summarise, good but not great. 7/10.
Season 13's "Mother's Day" is one of those episodes, and despite the basic idea of the story not being a novel one it is still quite good, with the good things being many and some great. On paper it sounds fairly standard and is a bit ordinary to begin with, but the execution is more complex than that. When things become meatier and twistier "Mother's Day" becomes very intricate and it is one of those episodes that induces more than one strong emotion by its end.
As said, "Mother's Day" starts off a little on the ordinary side and didn't immediately grab me straightaway and did think too that the final 5 minutes or so were on the rushed side from trying to cram a lot in.
Elisabeth Rohm, apart from a few exceptions, was frequently rather cold and stiff when she was on the show and my mind is not changed here.
However, the rest of the performnaces are very good to excellent. S. Epatha Merkerson, who doesn't get enough credit on this show, gives one of her most touching performances. The scene with the confession obtaining does break the heart. Every bit as good is Charissa Chamarro, sinking her teeth into her juicy and wholly hateable role and is suitably loathsome. Jerry Orbach, Jesse L Martin and Sam Waterston are their usual great selves.
Moreover, it is as ever shot with the right amount of intimacy without feeling too up close, even with a reliance of close up camerawork. The music isn't over-scored, manipulative or used too much. There is intimacy and tautness in the direction. The script is intelligent and lean with no signs of fat. It also has intensity, emotional impact and even the odd sprinkle of humour. Really liked the storytelling too. A lot happens, without mostly being over-stuffed. It is complicated too without being convoluted, and it is basically one of those episodes that leaves one deep in thought and outraged.
To summarise, good but not great. 7/10.
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Jun 13, 2022
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