Law & Order: Organized Crime

I'm the first to admit, the first two episodes were kinda dry. Despite the slow start, we hung in and continued to watch until it became the most anticipated tv show of our tv watching week. The cast does a really good job; you'll love to hate the bad guys and cheer for the good guys. That's just how a cop show should be. This show isn't like your typical episodic L&O series, but give it chance and it will soon grab your attention. 8.5.

I haven't watched any series in the L&O franchise in years, but wanted to give Law and Order: Organized Crime a try. I'm coming in kind of blind. I have no idea how Stabler's and Benson's relationship evolved, and don't know anything about why Stabler left. I didn't even watch the SVU lead in episode. After two episodes I wasn't hooked, but it showed promise.

Christopher Meloni is an amazing actor, but I've never really cared for the character of Elliot Stabler. Dylan McDermott is very strong cast against type as a bad guy - a mob boss.

I like that this first mini-season is focusing on a single case. But unless they have really pulled the wool over my eyes the outcome is pretty predictable. The show seems to resort to a lot of common archetypes and tropes from other organized crime dramas. The bad guy's updated approach to the family business is a fresh coat of paint, but I'm not seeing enough original ideas so far to get me excited. I kept remembering "Wise Guy", a much stronger series that focused on organized crime.

It was really just the performances that kept me watching. But it turned out that was enough.

Two more episodes in and I found Meloni's performance riveting and compelling. I'm hooked. He convincingly portrays a man who is suffering from PTSD after the death of his wife in a manner that is frustrating and heart-wrenching. It's an admirably nuanced performance. This is not a tough guy that we've seen before. Not a Bruce Willis every man in over his head, not a Clint Eastwood or Stallone superman who is always in control. This is a guy that visibly wears the burden of the trauma that he suffered. It weighs on him but not in some overwrought over the top emotional breakdown. This is a guy who's hurting and who conveys his pain visibly. He knows he's in trouble but he's conflicted. He wants help but he doesn't know how to accept it even when it's offered. It's an Emmy-worthy performance. If he doesn't at least get a nomination it would be a shame.

I can see that my opinion of this program is different from previous ones. I respect their opinions. I have to say that I am a fan of Christoper Meloni and the Elliot Stabler character. I lost interest in SVU when he left and that is not to deminish the others of SVU. Sometimes when a long time key player leaves a show the dynamics of the show and the chemistry of the cast is thrown off balance and it takes a while to recover. I think the cast of L&O: OC is a good group and I am also a fan of Dylan McDermott although he is the villian in this program. As it is said, a good villain is what makes a show work. It is good to see Stabler back and I hope the network gives the show time to hit its stride.

I guess I'm in the minority here. Had a challenging time trying to follow the plot line. Stabler's series will not fare as well as Benson's SVU because he doesn't have the interesting and charasmatic cast members and co-law enforcement people as Benson has. Did enjoy seeing the ferris wheel in Coney Island, though, as I used to ride it when I was a kid.

Love, love, love. Die hard L&O will probably not like the newer approach (new in a sense that it differs from L&O). But I love how this built on the current police show aesthetics and it's finding its own style. Being inclusive will always get a few folks mad, but THIS is a great direction. I hope the continue to be bold and give Stabler a solid team. Lol.