The discovery of a fake pornographic "snuff tape" leads detectives to a high school gang and an alleged points-for-sex contest.The discovery of a fake pornographic "snuff tape" leads detectives to a high school gang and an alleged points-for-sex contest.The discovery of a fake pornographic "snuff tape" leads detectives to a high school gang and an alleged points-for-sex contest.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode appears to be based on the 1993 Spur Posse case. The posse was a group of high school boys from Lakewood, California, who used a point system to keep track of and compare their sexual conquests. The founder of the group chose the name "Spur Posse" when a favorite basketball player of theirs, David Robinson, was signed to the San Antonio Spurs. The group came to national attention on March 18, 1993, when the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department arrested a number of the members for various sexual crimes. Prosecutors later dropped all but one of the charges after determining most of the encounters were consensual, although with underage girls. They had the opportunity to prosecute the considerably older boys for statutory rape but declined to do so.
- GoofsAll entries contain spoilers
- Quotes
Jack McCoy: Rule number one, never drink at work. Rule number two, never discuss work while drinking.
A.D.A. Claire Kincaid: They've overturned the verdicts and remanded for a new trial. Evidence of the Mack Rangers is excluded.
Jack McCoy: Rule number three, if rule number two is broken...
[Jack pushes his drink towards Claire]
Jack McCoy: ...never drink alone.
- ConnectionsReferences Dumbo (1941)
Featured review
Grew on me
One's opinion of this episode is going to depend on how one feels about the premise. Which on paper left me unsure, but it also intrigued as story ideas that sound sordid have been known to not be too distastefully done. But it also did have potential of being distasteful and too strange if executed wrongly, such as in the character writing and how it would portray what it's based around (which is not my cup of tea personally). Saw it anyway as someone who has for a while loved the show and would see any episode willingly.
"Performance" was one of the 'Law and Order' episodes that actually grew on me. It was one of those episodes that didn't do much for me on first watch and could have done with a lot more subtlety than what was actually present. On re-watch, there was a lot more to appreciate and while there are still major reservations "Performance" was a lot better than remembered, if not one of the best episodes of Season 5 or as good as the outstanding previous two.
There is a lot to like about "Performance". As always, it's a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key on the whole. The script is generally tight and thought-provoking, especially in the trial scenes, like the whole interaction between McCoy and Sutter.
Generally did like the story, it did intrigue and was not too simple or overloaded. Some of it was surprisingly violent and scary, count me in as another person who was very disturbed and left squeamish by the tape. The performances are all strong, with a truly affecting Monica Keena being especially impressive.
On the other hand, the writing was a long way from perfect. Will agree with the portrayal of 90s kids culture, which came over as more contrived than affectionate, completely lacks subtlety and hasn't held up well. Also think that the episode could have tackled the subject a lot more tactfully, some of it sounded very forced and on the smutty side.
Concluding, not a great episode but worth watching. 7/10
"Performance" was one of the 'Law and Order' episodes that actually grew on me. It was one of those episodes that didn't do much for me on first watch and could have done with a lot more subtlety than what was actually present. On re-watch, there was a lot more to appreciate and while there are still major reservations "Performance" was a lot better than remembered, if not one of the best episodes of Season 5 or as good as the outstanding previous two.
There is a lot to like about "Performance". As always, it's a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key on the whole. The script is generally tight and thought-provoking, especially in the trial scenes, like the whole interaction between McCoy and Sutter.
Generally did like the story, it did intrigue and was not too simple or overloaded. Some of it was surprisingly violent and scary, count me in as another person who was very disturbed and left squeamish by the tape. The performances are all strong, with a truly affecting Monica Keena being especially impressive.
On the other hand, the writing was a long way from perfect. Will agree with the portrayal of 90s kids culture, which came over as more contrived than affectionate, completely lacks subtlety and hasn't held up well. Also think that the episode could have tackled the subject a lot more tactfully, some of it sounded very forced and on the smutty side.
Concluding, not a great episode but worth watching. 7/10
helpful•84
- TheLittleSongbird
- Dec 9, 2020
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