The death of a former police officer leads Briscoe and Curtis to a pair of suburban moms who work as prostitutes.The death of a former police officer leads Briscoe and Curtis to a pair of suburban moms who work as prostitutes.The death of a former police officer leads Briscoe and Curtis to a pair of suburban moms who work as prostitutes.
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- Louis Colson
- (as David S. Chandler)
- Jane Tennick
- (as Pamela Holden Stewart)
- Iris Collier
- (as Jordan Reid Berkow)
- Jose Duarte
- (as Johnny Alan Garcia)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMcCoy refers to Lanie Stieglitz as "the Betty Friedan militia". Betty Friedan was a leading American feminist and writer whose 1963 book, "The Feminine Mystique", is considered by many to have directly inspired and led to the 1960's feminist movement.
- GoofsUpon getting out of their car to arrest the car-jackers the uniformed officers draw their weapons and the sound effect of a hammer being cocked is heard. Yet both of the officers are carrying a Glock, a semi-automatic striker fired pistol that does not have an external hammer. A Glock is cocked simply by loading a round into the chamber and closing the slide, the only way to uncock it is by pulling the trigger.
- Quotes
Jack McCoy: [during his closing summation] Miss Stieglitz is right. This isn't a referendum on prostitution. It isn't a referendum on rape. You're here to render a verdict on her client's credibility. She says she was raped. What's her evidence? "Keene was a bully. My husband believes me. So should you." In the meantime, she suffered no injuries, she destroyed evidence, she lied to the police. It was only when she was backed into a corner that she cried rape, that she wrapped herself in the right of self-defense, but she wasn't defending her virtue. She didn't shoot Gilbert Keene to keep from performing an act that she had willingly performed on dozens of other men. She killed him to protect a secret. You've all seen what lengths she went to, to avoid Mac Bernum, to hide her identity. Who can blame her? She didn't want to lose her husband, her family, her comfortable home. Those things, she would kill for, but those things do not justify the taking of a life! The threat of deadly physical force does or rape does or kidnapping, or robbery. But none of those things happened in that car. What happened in that car was a cold and calculated thing. A woman killed her blackmailer, not her rapist. That's who Gilbert Keene was. That's how he got sex. He didn't rape those other women. He blackmailed them. I don't want you to convict her because she's a prostitute. I'm asking you to convict her because her story is a lie.
- ConnectionsReferences Leave It to Beaver (1957)
Talking about Season 7's "Working Mom", it is a good episode. Did feel though that it was a little bit of a let down after four brilliant previous episodes in a row and that it was missing something. Many things are still done absolutely solidly to wonderfully, with there being much to like. Do prefer episodes that have tougher topics explored more uncompromisingly and also the ones that are more complex and twisty, both of which were things that the previous four episodes excelled brilliantly at.
"Working Mom" could have been better than it was. It would have been better if there were more twists and surprises, there are a fair few familiar ideas here from seeing familiar elsewhere and there is not a lot unique in how they're dealt with. Other episodes have more complexity, the premise is interesting but quite basic and the execution is on the slightly too simple side too.
Everything is done more than competently, all present and correct. It just could have done with a little more tension and emotion.
However, there is a lot that is done very well as has been said already. "Working Mom" does look good, with the usual slickness and subtle grit. Really liked too that the photography was simple and close up but doing so without being claustrophobic. The music has presence when used, and luckily it isn't constant, and when it is used it doesn't feel over-scored. The direction allows the drama to breathe while still giving it momentum as well.
Furthermore, the script is typically tight and intelligent. Especially good are the sassy yet gritty exchanges with Briscoe and Curtis and the closing statement in one of not many early season episodes where it was easy to see both sides. The story could have had more tension and is not particularly complex, but it is compelling especially in the bar scene and the lengths McCoy goes to to get the truth. McCoy is fascinating as was always the case when he settled fully and the characters are all strongly written. As well as acted. Sam Waterston gets the honours but Elaine Stritch in her second 'Law and Order' appearance after Season 3's "Point of View" and Felicity Huffman are also strong.
In summary, pretty good but not great. 7/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Apr 28, 2021