Law & Order (TV Series) Refuge: Part 1 (1999) User Reviews

On some small shoulders

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 5 September 2020]

This is the first of a two part episode which begins with the murder of a jeweler from Russia. This turns out to be a most involved Russian mob case and Jerry Orbach and Benjamin Bratt come up with an eye witness, a traumatized juvwnilw played by Cameron Bowen.

What looks pretty good at the start rapidly goes south as witnesses change their testimony or just take a powder in this case. It becomes pretty clear that the case now rises and falls on the recognition and testimony of young Mr. Bowen.

Aiding Sam Waterston and Angie Harmon is another ADA Jenna Stern who is a Russian language and culture expert. Her knowledge proves most helpful in getting this case to court.

The story continues in Part 2.

Seeking refuge

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 14 October 2021]

Season 9's two part finale "Refuge" stuck in my head for a long time after on first watch, especially the end of the first part. The plot on paper does sound like familiar territory, but whenever this show and the franchise did it or similar it was more often than not attention grabbing and tense. Have said more than once about 'Law and Order' showing more than once that it could do something special with familiar sounding stories.

And that's what the first part of "Refuge" and actually the whole of the two parter does. Season 9 was very high in quality, especially the mostly excellent first half, and the "Refuge" two parter is one of the standouts. Every bit as outstanding as on first watch and actually even better now due to getting more out of the case and understanding the events more (a lot goes on and some of it is complicated stuff, but remarkably it doesn't become too much so). Both parts are outstanding, but there is a slight preference for the more complex and meatier second one. "Refuge Part 1" sets up events but it does not feel too much like set up and a lot is covered.

"Refuge Part 1" works in every way. As usual for 'Law and Order', the production values are solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden.

The script is taut and provokes a lot of thought, especially in the second half. The story is deceptively typical at first but very quickly becomes very intricate and twisty, the many turns being sharp, clever and unexpected. The end events of "Refuge Part 1" are truly shocking and did have me welling up and feeling angered on first watch.

Lots of tension in the conflict and there is a lot of suspense in the second half. The acting is uniformly terrific.

Overall, outstanding. 10/10.