"Law & Order" Just a Girl in the World (TV Episode 2009) Poster

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8/10
Lupo gets seduced
bkoganbing17 January 2016
This Law And Order story is dominated by Camille Chen who seduces Detective Cyrus Lupo which fact nearly blows up his career and their prosecution. As it turns out Chen happens to murder another Asian woman played briefly by Jennifer Lim. Something about Asian women seems to bring out the protective instinct in the male of the species.

Both Jeremy Sisto and Anthony Bernard investigate Lim's killing and originally investigate a cabdriver. But that man was cleverly framed by Chen. She is the key witness against him, but before suspicions turn to her she and Sisto have a passionate night.

Chen is some piece of work, in fact she's played the helpless victim of circumstances before. But with her it's some strange pathology. In the end Linus Roache saves Lupo's job and his case by exposing said pathology on the stand. A rather devastating cross examination.

Has to be seen to be believed.
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9/10
Dark seduction
TheLittleSongbird16 February 2023
Have loved the original 'Law and Order' for a long time, particularly the earlier seasons, and consider it my personal favourite of the 'Law and Order' franchise. "Just a Girl in the World" on paper immediately intrigued, to some (not me) it may seem too basic and ordinary. 'Law and Order' do have a good track record at making something great and more complex than expected out of stories that don't sound out of the ordinary on paper and understandably one expects similar from "Just a Girl in the World".

Which managed to be a great episode that is among the better episodes of a surprisingly generally solid (with a few blips of course) Season 20. A definite improvement over the still interesting previous episode "Memo from the Dark Side", which was let down by the unrealistic legal portion. Whereas here it is the second half that makes "Just a Girl in the World" close to special, as well as having one of the latter seasons' most unsettling female supporting characters.

"Just a Girl in the World" is a little on the ordinary side to begin with.

It immediately becomes the great episode it overall is when Camille Chen's character turns up and everything surrounding her and Lupo is introduced into the plot, and keeps getting even better with each minute. The production values are still fully professional, the slickness and subtly gritty style still remaining. The music is sparingly used and is haunting and thankfully non-overwrought. The direction shows some nice tension in the legal scenes. The script is well balanced, taut and intelligent, and handles complex themes tactfully yet with unyielding grit.

Moreover, "Just a Girl in the World" has a compelling and clever story that delivers on plenty of unexpected and plausible twists and turns and dark suspense. Also excelling in raising uncompromisingly but also sensitively intriguing questions regarding the strange pathology of Chen's character. The cross examination is one powerfully devastating and tense piece of writing and character interaction.

Lupo to me was rootable, despite the outcome of his subplot not being that much of a surprise. Chen's character is truly psychologically fascinating as well as one of the amoral characters of the show in a long time. Of the uniformly strong cast, with Linus Roache being the standout of the regulars, Chen steals the show in a chilling portrayal that really unnerves in the second half.

All in all, great. 9/10.
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9/10
The Black Widow Smiter Bites Lupo
djfone15 March 2024
If ever you wonder how rich, famous pro jocks can be taken to the cleaners by predatory women seeking an easy extortion payoff --- insert your owm Trevor Bauer joke here ---, just watch the alluring, enticing Camille Chen (as Emma) working her charm on Lupo....and just wait til she gets on the witness stand!

Lupo's detective character is neither rich, nor famous, nor a pro jock......but he has something Chen's little girl-like Emma really covets, and she knows exactly how to get it through the psychological phenomenon called "projection": Accusing someone else of exactly the crime she is committing, then screaming "Unfair!" as she martyrs herself as a victim.....even to the episode's final minute as she drops more bait into her siren-lure water. She'll never change because it always works.

In fact, insert your own politician joke here.
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10/10
Bad Girl
labenji-1216313 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I enjoyed this episode immensely, Camille Chen did an outstanding job. I laughed throughout the final trail at her antics. Great episode, and men should really pay attention because they can be so gullible when it comes to pretty young things.
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2/10
Disappointed in this episode
downesy-9547219 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Love Law and order but this episode is complete rip off of Monk. The episode Mr Monk falls in love which was aired the year before. Has the same plot and all the same details right down to the red lingerie found in the bathroom which was bought with a gift card. Shame both programmes aren't now though.
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