Though the original "Law & Order" was canceled after 20 great seasons, the franchise lives on in the remaining four shows. While "Criminal Intent" will return for a tenth and final season on USA Network, "Law & Order: LA," "Law & Order: SVU" and "Law & Order: UK" are all currently airing.
"Law & Order:SVU"
The program has just started its twelfth season and according to the ratings has become the most popular show in the franchise. This show is really all about the chemistry between Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni.
It was the first show in the franchise to break away from the standard formula and tell stories about the characters' personal lives. Because the Special Victims Unit deals with sex crimes, the episodes can be hard to watch sometimes, however, the nature of the cases often provides fantastic drama.
In recent years "SVU" has become the place for actors to go if they want to win an Emmy. The last three winners in the Guest Actress in Drama Series category have been "SVU" guest stars.
The first three episodes have been really good with outstanding guest performances by Henry Ian Cusick ("Lost") and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Cusick in particular played against type as a very good bad guy, while Hewitt was a surprise in an extremely emotional episode.
"Law & Order: LA"
Tim will blog more about this show in the coming days, however, as an avid "Law & Order" fan I wanted to add my first impressions.
Skeet Ulrich and Corey Stoll have a good repartee as two knowledgeable LAPD detectives and Rachel Ticotin has the right amount of S. Epatha Merkerson ballsiness as their tough Lieutenant.
Where the show goes wrong is when it switches between Alfred Molina and Terrence Howard. Like every other show in the franchise, continuity is the name of the game and changes prosecutors every other week makes the audience feel slightly disconnected,
Also, no disrespect to Howard, but Molina clearly out acted him. I doubt he wants that to happen every week. Plus, Howard's character openly defied the District Attorney, a decision that would normally lead to his termination, resulted in no discipline.
The first episode was a "ripped from the headlines" story about a celebrity theft ring that dissolved into a Lindsay Lohan send up. It was only saved by the strong acting of Molina, Ulrich and Stoll.
While the show doesn't deviate from the formula, I'm waiting for it to have a more California feel. It still feels like a New York show.
"Law & Order: UK"
Though this British version of the original is in its third season, it has just started airing in the States on BBC America.
The interesting thing about this version is that it takes classic episodes of the original and adapts them to the British legal system.
So far, its been really good with great performances by a strong cast that includes Jamie Bamber, Freema Aygeman, Ben Daniels and Bradley Walsh. Aygeman really shines in the episode "Alesha" and Bamber proves that he can do more than fly spaceships and save humanity.
Though I may mourn the demise of "Law & Order" the franchise still lives on with these strong spin-offs and of course its constant airing on TNT.
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