Just saw this final season opener where DA McCoy tries to prosecute the Bush Administration torturers. The case is put together based on the conspiracy created by Cheney, Rumsfeld, and company. Cutter isn't quite on-board, however does a good job in going after an administration Justice Dept. legal lowlife who happened to commit murder. Now that even the New York Times is called for Cheney's prosecution for war crimes related to torture, this episode stands out as one of the most significant, on the level of the Chilean one which is actually referenced by McCoy in this episode. The case is made that torture not only does not yield accurate information, but is a great recruiting tool for terrorists, and the other side argues the legalese loopholes. I couldn't take watching that smug killer with glasses leaving the courtroom without handcuffs.
6 Reviews
Conspiracy darkness
TheLittleSongbird14 February 2023
When it comes to talking about the original 'Law and Order', there is a strong preference for the earlier seasons (Seasons 1-10), the standard of the seasons were more consistent and hit hard more, they were the seasons with the more iconic characters and had none that annoyed me. Season 11 onwards was still very watchable and there were a number of great and more episodes, but the show was not as consistent or as fresh in stories and characters.
Although not one of the best seasons of 'Law and Order', Season 20 didn't disappoint me overall as a final season. When talking about final seasons, one can definitely think of far worse without even trying to look. "Memo from the Dark Side" has a very important subject agreed, and while it could have handled it better with more believable trial scenes it is a bold and worthy attempt at tackling it. While not starting Season 20 on a bang, this reviewer cannot bring herself to agree that "Memo from the Dark Side" being a dud.
Beginning with the good, 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.
The script is generally taut, with little fat, and intelligent. The story does intrigue and is tense and moving, the policing scenes are solidly done and a case of them faring better than the trial scenes and it isn't one sided or preachy. Everything said about the torture is chilling in its truth and leaves food for thought with what is argued. Lupo and Bernard have come on a long way as a pairing. The acting is very good to great all round.
However, the second half could have been stronger. Everything regarding the case being tried in city court considering the type of crime is agreed nonsensical, and the prosecution argument is pretty flimsy.
Did find myself very unsatisfied at the end, which for my tastes was anti-climactic and felt wrong.
Overall, interesting episode but not great. 7/10.
Although not one of the best seasons of 'Law and Order', Season 20 didn't disappoint me overall as a final season. When talking about final seasons, one can definitely think of far worse without even trying to look. "Memo from the Dark Side" has a very important subject agreed, and while it could have handled it better with more believable trial scenes it is a bold and worthy attempt at tackling it. While not starting Season 20 on a bang, this reviewer cannot bring herself to agree that "Memo from the Dark Side" being a dud.
Beginning with the good, 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.
The script is generally taut, with little fat, and intelligent. The story does intrigue and is tense and moving, the policing scenes are solidly done and a case of them faring better than the trial scenes and it isn't one sided or preachy. Everything said about the torture is chilling in its truth and leaves food for thought with what is argued. Lupo and Bernard have come on a long way as a pairing. The acting is very good to great all round.
However, the second half could have been stronger. Everything regarding the case being tried in city court considering the type of crime is agreed nonsensical, and the prosecution argument is pretty flimsy.
Did find myself very unsatisfied at the end, which for my tastes was anti-climactic and felt wrong.
Overall, interesting episode but not great. 7/10.
Outstanding episode!
cindit-3237829 April 2015
I just saw this episode for the 2nd time (the first time was years ago). Excellent writing and acting! I was riveted! I've always loved the "original" Law & Order. Some episodes really stand out. This is definitely one of them!
In addition to the casting & writing, the subject is a very important one. I think we need more courage of conviction in serious television. Lately, I watch PBS more for that reason. We don't need more fantasy or silly reality shows. We need more relevant "reality" created dramatically, like L & O has consistently done. For that reason, "Memo From the Dark Side" is important.
I wonder what the jury's verdict was....
In addition to the casting & writing, the subject is a very important one. I think we need more courage of conviction in serious television. Lately, I watch PBS more for that reason. We don't need more fantasy or silly reality shows. We need more relevant "reality" created dramatically, like L & O has consistently done. For that reason, "Memo From the Dark Side" is important.
I wonder what the jury's verdict was....
A bad precedent
bkoganbing6 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The last season of Law And Order prime opened with a real lemon of an episode.
As per the usual liberal tilt of the series this one starts as a homicide and ends
with the NY County DA trying a man for writing a memo to give legal justification
for acts of torture committed during the Iraq War.
The victim was an Iraq war veteran, shot by a law professor in a parking garage during a confrontation. Professor David Alan Basche shoots Greg Tanner with a licensed handgun when he says Tanner tried to accost him. Watching the program they never proved otherwise.
So Sam Waterston and Linus Roache then try Basche for memos written when he worked for the Bush 43 Justice Department in regard getting around international law regarding the use of torture.
I don't approve of what went on there, but some county District Attorney has no jurisdiction trying that kind of case. That simple. Jack McCoy of all people should have known that. Just imagine some yahoo DA in some redneck county doing that during the Obama administration.
A bad precedent and not well thought out.
The victim was an Iraq war veteran, shot by a law professor in a parking garage during a confrontation. Professor David Alan Basche shoots Greg Tanner with a licensed handgun when he says Tanner tried to accost him. Watching the program they never proved otherwise.
So Sam Waterston and Linus Roache then try Basche for memos written when he worked for the Bush 43 Justice Department in regard getting around international law regarding the use of torture.
I don't approve of what went on there, but some county District Attorney has no jurisdiction trying that kind of case. That simple. Jack McCoy of all people should have known that. Just imagine some yahoo DA in some redneck county doing that during the Obama administration.
A bad precedent and not well thought out.
Gettin There Hate Onn For GW bush
jgeo-715714 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
An episode like this this make you wonder if Al Gore had won and the Towers went down and the Gore regime had pursued a war on terror the way the Bush administration had would Wolf et al would ever go after Gore the same way
with idiotic drivel like this. Notice how the death of a vet was sweep under the
grandstanding rug by McCoy in such a gleeful way. The scene of all those briefs being piled up was heart warming. A county DA going after national foreign and defense policy is ridiculous! L&O writers just hated President Bush in almost episode they could write and so did the left actors they hired.
NYC Has No Standing
evony-jwm21 March 2021
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