Law And Order (DVD) ReviewPosted by Nick Niesen on October 27th, 2010 Nominated for 52 Emmys since its 1990 premiere, including 11 for Outstanding Drama Series, Law & Order is one of the most popular television shows in modern day history. With an additional 4 Golden Globe nominations for Best TV Series (Drama), Law & Order is more than a TV show, it's a lucrative franchise for host network NBC, spawning popular spin-offs Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001), and (the now cancelled) Law & Order: Trial By Jury (2005). Filmed on location in New York City, the show is the brainchild of creator Dick Wolf, a longtime writer for successful TV series such as Hill Street Blues and Miami Vice. With sixteen successful seasons already on the books, and more on the way, Law & Order remains one of the best drama series available on any network? Law & Order centers around the New York City criminal justice system, where "the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups - the police who investigate crime, and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders". The first half of each one-hour episode is dedicated to the initial revelation of a crime and the police investigation that subsequently takes place. This usually involves interviewing witnesses, following leads, testing evidence, and/or hammering out a confession. Once sufficient evidence has been gathered to charge a suspect, the remainder of the show revolves around the district attorney's office and their attempts to prosecute the offenders. Oftentimes, the audience will be witness to unexpected plot twists, unorthodox media-driven cases, or last minute, Perry Mason-like confessions or brokered deals. Given its long TV run, the cast of Law & Order has frequently changed over the years - with only a handful of characters experiencing lengthy runs, characters such as Det. Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach), Lt. Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson), and EADA John "Jack" McCoy (Sam Waterston)? The Law & Order DVD features a number of dramatic episodes including the series premiere "Prescription for Death" in which a young woman turns up dead following a late-night visit to the emergency room. When her father claims negligence on behalf of the hospital, his accusations lead to an in-depth investigation that prompts detectives to believe that the attending physician was drunk at the time of treatment? Other notable episodes from Season 1 include "Poison Ivy" in which the police shooting (and subsequent cover-up) of a black honors student amplifies the city's racial tensions, and "The Serpent's Tooth" in which two brothers become the prime suspects in the murder of their wealthy parents? Below is a list of episodes included on the Law & Order (Season 1) DVD: Episode 1 (Prescription for Death) Air Date: 09-13-1990 Like it? Share it!More by this author |