Law & Order (TV Series) Doped (2009) User Reviews

Actually a very good episode

[george-841 · 9/10 · 8 June 2015]

I found this episode to be above the already high standard for this series. The opening tragedy, triggered by an apparently drunk-driving mom who kills herself, one of her children and both of her nieces by driving at reckless speed and the wrong way onto a highway ramp is quite shocking and mysterious. The only reason I suspected there was more than meets the eye here is because every episode of L&O deals with pre-meditated murder, not a drunk driving "accident." The skilled writers of this excellent show usually foretell the main story line with subtle hints in the early scenes and that happens here when they introduce the grieving father's cancer-afflicted mother. At first it just looks all the burdens of the world are being dumped on this poor guy.

An earlier post here is wrong about Anita's own condition being unknown to her colleagues. She did indeed inform them in an earlier episode since her treatments would require considerable time away from work. What the brave woman does not want is showy sympathy and pity. This is why the detectives show pleasure at the fact that she has regained her appetite, but they do it subtly. It's been made clear in earlier episodes that she was struggling with being able to eat, due to chemo. You can see their affection for her and how they struggle with supporting her without offending her. She's a great actress and it's quite apparent in these episodes.

Driven to death

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 2 March 2023]

When talking about Season 20, "Doped" is one of the top 3 episodes that stood out to me on first watch in terms of memorability. Namely because of the truly harrowing opening sequence. Season 20 really impressed me on the whole and when it comes to final seasons of great shows it is a billion miles away from being among the worst. Apart from a few bumps along the way, Season 20 was generally pretty solid and the best episodes were truly excellent.

On rewatch, "Doped" is close to being up there with the best of the season, if not quite one of the very best. Though it was so close. Of the first half of the season, which was generally good to great, it's one of the better episodes. What stood out as particularly memorable about "Doped" on first watch are still memorable now, and overall it is a great episode that doesn't end quite as strongly as how it began. Not quite perfect but there is a huge amount that is worth recommending.

"Doped's" conclusion did feel on the rushed side and didn't have anywhere near the same degree of tension the first quarter had.

So much is good though. The production values are solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden. The script is tight and thoughtful.

The story is always compelling and is both disturbing and heart wrenching, the opening scene being unspeakably harrowing. It's easy to follow while still being with enough intricacy to stop it from being too straightforward. The acting is great all round.

In conclusion, great. 9/10.

Someone spiked the soccer mom's nasal spray

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 16 February 2013]

This Law And Order episode starts with one of the most horrific of crimes, a huge automobile accident caused by an intoxicated woman with her kids and her sister's kids in the van she was driving. She dies and only one of the kids survives.

Forensics in the person of Leslie Hendrix as Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers who has autopsied most of Law And Order's victims comes up with the answer after Jeremy Sisto has an instinct. Sisto has Hendrix analyze the driver's nasal spray. Someone spiked the soccer mom's nasal spray with a drug that would blend with whatever in her system and would remain undetectable and give her a high blood/alcohol reading. A lot of time and thought went into this.

Turns out the drug company that she and the perpetrator worked for was selling a defective cancer drug. She was going to blow the whistle to the FDA.

The perpetrator is Rich Sommer who will frighten you because of his sheer ordinariness. He's a true company man, a sales manager, the kind of guy you would pass on the street and never notice.

The real punchline in this episode is his actual motive which I will not reveal, but it's a beauty.

The episode features S. Eptha Merkerson dealing with cancer herself that she has not revealed to the rest of the cast. Check her underscored lines and facial expressions which say much to the viewer.

A "letdown" for an exemplary 20th season

[garrard · 6/10 · 8 November 2009]

For some reason, "Doped" is not up to par with the seven episodes that have aired thus far in "Law & Order's" landmark 20th year in existence. Though its "ripped-from-the-headlines" beginning, featuring the tragic collision between a "high" driver and her young riders and several other vehicles, resulting in multiple deaths, gets the ball rolling, that ball is dropped in a rather lackluster way.

As the story unfolds, it is revealed that a co-worker drugged the driver's nasal spray in an effort to stall her from "blowing the whistle" on the company for whom they both worked. His simple plan was that she would get into a fender bender and get her out of the picture for a while; he did not realize until too late that she was driving down the highway, with children in town.

Unfortunately, following the collision, prior to the opening credits, the story goes downhill from there.

It's too bad because it was aired as a part of a two-hour "L & O" block, following the much better installment, entitled "Boy Gone Astray".