Law & Order (TV Series) The Collar (2002) User Reviews

Exceuted inside the confessional

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 9 September 2017]

The priest at a parochial school is found shot to death, executed inside the confessional. Turns out he had switched with another priest and that opens up a whole new line inquiry for Jerrry Orbach and Jesse Martin.

Where that leads them is to Agustin Rodriguez who in confession does not like the advice given to him by Father John Dossett and shoots the other priest by mistake. What that advice is I won't reveal, it does however involve the fate of another man.

Where does Dossett's responsibility lie? That is the issue confronting cops and prosecutors. Sam Waterston goes back to his Catholic boyhood, even seeking the advice of the archdiocese.

The archdiocese does respond, but to acting DA Dianne Weist. There's a great scene with an archdiocese representative threatening Nora Lewin with electoral repercussions. Not like they didn't do that before in real life.

In the end what Dossett does is for you to watch this compelling episode for.

Seal of the confessional

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 25 May 2022]

Whenever the 'Law and Order' franchise tackles anything that involves religion or is about it, part of me does worry. There are times where there are powerful episodes that explore the difficult subjects that come with it with tact, but there are also episodes that present religion negatively or in too one sided a way. With the plot synopsis, part of me was worried that "The Collar" would fall into the latter category. Still watched "The Collar" anyway, having been impressed enough with most of the previous episodes.

"The Collar" on the whole, while not perfect, turned out to be a very good episode. As far as the original 'Law and Order' and the franchise go, it is to me one of the stronger-faring, more interesting and more tactful episode. How it presents religion is not one-sided or judgemental and it is not really about it, but more a character study for one of the supporting characters and detailing their internal struggle with the situation.

Maybe the case starts off on the ordinary and formulaic side.

Elisabeth Rohm never did it for me on this show, same with the character of Southerlyn, and she is still dull and ill at ease.

So much is good about "The Collar" however. It is shot with the right amount of intimacy without being claustrophobic and that the editing has become increasingly tighter over-time has been great too. Nice use of locations too. The music doesn't get over-scored or overwrought, even in the more dramatic revelation moments. The direction doesn't try to do too much and is understated but never flat or unsure. The writing is intelligent and although, like the show in general, there is a lot of talk it doesn't feel long-winded. Briscoe's one liners are great, but the thought provoking lines from McCoy stand out just as much.

Have very few issues with the second half, which is thoroughly absorbing with a high amount of tension and it is also interesting and thought probing thematically. The whole conflict with Father Evans is unflinching and unpredictable and nothing feels judgemental or preachy. Father Evans is a very well written and complex character, his conflict managing to be both relatable and somewhat frustrating. McCoy's authority and ruthlessness captivates as does the scene between archdiocese and Lewin. The acting on the whole is excellent, the hard hitting performance of John Dossett standing out.

Overall, very good. 8/10.

my usefulness as a priest will be compromised forever.

[Mrpalli77 · 7/10 · 14 November 2017]

An elderly woman made the cross sign and began talking to a priest in the sinner seat. After realizing the priest didn't answer to her statements, she watched inside the confessional where he was actually dead by gunshot. The parish is home to a catholic high school and at the beginning detectives followed the classic pattern involving pedophilia. The victim used to hang around with a boy who has just been suspended from school. Anyway they changed their mind after noticing that the victim shouldn't have been in the confessional at the time of the murder, because he traded place with another priest (John Dossett). Then Briscoe and Green traced down the murder weapon, a small caliber one, belonged to a petrol attendant but that had switched hand to a former catholic school mate. There's a secret hid in the confidence between priest and believer involving a previous murder.

An uncommon episode related to catholic church. Luckily this time it has nothing to do with harassment over boys, but it focused on internal struggle a priest has to cope in order to follow his conscience. McCoy unexpectedly seemed to understand this kind of feelings (maybe because he was raised catholic).