Novak enlists Clark's assistance in obtaining evidence to remove a judge from the bench after his bias in two child abuse cases leads to the death of a child and and the wrongful incarcerati... Read allNovak enlists Clark's assistance in obtaining evidence to remove a judge from the bench after his bias in two child abuse cases leads to the death of a child and and the wrongful incarceration of an innocent woman.Novak enlists Clark's assistance in obtaining evidence to remove a judge from the bench after his bias in two child abuse cases leads to the death of a child and and the wrongful incarceration of an innocent woman.
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- Special Agent Dr. George Huang, M.D.
- (as B.D. Wong)
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- TriviaBased on the case of Patricia Stallings, whose 1st son died of what was thought to be poisoned with antifreeze. While incarcerated,Stallings gave birth to another child, who exhibited the same symptoms, was found to have had MMA, which has the same signs of antifreeze poisoning. Additional tests were run on the 1st child's blood samples, which proved he also has MMA; exonarating Stallings.
- GoofsJudicial immunity doesn't work like that. It protects judges from civil suits, particularly for slander, brought about through the course of their duties, but judges can face criminal charges just like anyone can. If the case against Taft was legally sufficient, there's no way the arraignment judge should have just thrown it out.
- Quotes
Judge Oliver Taft: Ms. Novak, I'm afraid the People haven't met their burden of proving the interview wasn't suggestive. Therefore the defense motion to suppress the witness' testimony is granted.
Detective Elliot Stabler: This is a joke.
Judge Oliver Taft: I beg your pardon, Detective Stabler?
Detective Elliot Stabler: I said this is a joke.
Judge Oliver Taft: You'd be wise to remember no one cares what you think once you're out of that box, Detective.
Detective Elliot Stabler: That interview wasn't suggestive.
A.D.A. Casey Novak: Elliot, stop.
Detective Elliot Stabler: You're one of these judges who thinks cops strong-arms witnesses in order to make their case. What, do you think I bullied a seven-year-old into lying?
A.D.A. Casey Novak: Elliot, leave!
Judge Oliver Taft: No, Elliot, stay. Enjoy the hospitality of our holding cells. You're in contempt. Officer of the court, escort the Detective out of here.
- ConnectionsReferences Leave It to Beaver (1957)
On a few re-watches since, "Poison" is one of those episodes that has grown on me. We're not talking about by a little, we're talking by quite a lot. My initial problems are sort of still there but the episode was a terrific showcase for Casey Novak and when she was the most rootable and most interesting in the whole of Season 5. The story is not novel elsewhere conceptually, but for 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' it was actually unlike anything seen before at the time.
"Poison" did miss an opportunity to give a reason for why Judge Taft behaved the way he did and what drove him to be the way he was. It did come over like he was the way he was for the sake of being that way.
His bias also doesn't always make sense, his different treatment of the women who had actually committed similar actions (so really should have been judged in the same way) was too contradictory and hypocritical.
The slick, subtly gritty and intimate production values still remain though, while not going too far on the intimacy that it becomes too drab. The music lets the writing do all the talking without over-emphasising the emotions, while the direction is subtle without being bland or leaden. The script deals with a tough subject on the whole with tact and raises interesting questions with Novak's handling of the case and how she handles Taft's treatment of her. The story really shines in this tension between those two, the second half nail-biting. Anybody that doesn't always like Stabler's at times defiant attitude to authority may find themselves completely on his side here, because he has good reason to be here.
Diane Neal is wonderful in her best performance in the season, she has really grown into the role the more interesting and easier to like Novak has become. Absolutely adored that Novak was in "you go girl" mode, loved that she stood up for herself and against Taft and questioned the way he behaved (on the same wavelength here). All the other regulars are very good. Personally thought that Tom Skerritt did very well as Taft and made him interesting, in full command of the character and a formidable authority figure. It is not a subtle performance, but in all honesty with Taft being written the way he was that would have been hard.
All in all, very well done episode despite a character that could have been written with more depth. 8/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jan 13, 2021