Law & Order (TV Series) We Like Mike (1997) User Reviews

Wrong focus

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 27 February 2016]

One of the strengths of the Law And Order shows, especially the prime show is that it was never afraid to show that the police and prosecution were never perfect. They made errors like the rest of us mortals. Only their mistakes could really jam people up.

Detectives Jerry Orbach and Benjamin Bratt zero in on a witness to the events prior to the crime instead of the crime itself as the perpetrator. Just prior to the shooting of a young man, Frank John Hughes helped him change a tire and as he left he saw the eventual perpetrator show up. His 'crime' was going into an all night coffee and donut shop and lifting a bunch of napkins to clean off the grease on his hands.

I won't go into all the details, but later on when Briscoe and Curtis are focused on the right suspect Hughes is reluctant to cooperate. When you see the episode you won't really blame him. Hughes is scheduled to be married and his future father-in-law John Doman who is a housing police cop acts like his attorney. Maybe Doman once had a wrong focus on a case and got burned with it. In any event Sam Waterston's case looks like it's going in the toilet unless Hughes cooperates.

I've seen this happen a few times in my days at Crime Victims Board. Cops are in real life far more reluctant than Briscoe and Curtis to abandon original theories on a case.

This episode is a case study in why sometimes people are reluctant to be good citizens.

Reluctant witness

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 13 May 2021]

"We Like Mike's" story on paper does sound very ordinary and basic, which may feel rather disappointing for anybody that loved the many complex, twisty episodes Season 7 had that were mostly executed brilliantly. There was no doubt about seeing it on first watch, as Season 7 was on the whole an impressive season and 'Law and Order' proved more than once that it could do a lot with something that doesn't sound overly exciting and make things seem more complex.

Other episodes of Season 7 and 'Law and Order' in general did this a good deal better than "We Like Mike". Which falls short of being one of the best episodes of the season and is a slight disappointment after having such a strong run between "Legacy" and "Double Down". It is still a very good episode that finishes a good deal stronger than it starts, wasn't too enthused to begin with but the more that is revealed things do get more interesting and twistier.

As said, the first quarter or so was not much special. It was competent and intriguing enough, if somewhat on the routine and too simple side as well as predictable. So pretty much what it sounds like on paper.

However, also as said, "We Like Mike" does become more interesting once the whole dilemma with Bodack kicks in and the complexities that come with the case and the tension it causes increase. It no longer becomes too simple, surprises more and lots happens in terms of events and twists without being too complicated. Mike is a very well drawn character that one feels frustration and sympathy for, as one should do for a person in his predicament and a character of his nature.

Can't fault the performances, all the regulars are excellent as is intense and heartfelt Frank John Hughes. The dialogue is thought-provoking and has a pull no punches grit without being heavy-handed.

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.

On the whole, very nicely done once it gets going. 8/10.

Why People Don't Help Cops

[bkkaz · 9/10 · 20 March 2022]

While Law and Order always took pains to show that even when the cops were wrong, they weren't going to suffer, this is one of a few episodes of the franchise to show why everyday citizens are reluctant to get involved helping them. All that civic duty nonsense goes out the window when they realize they're just being used.

"We Like Mike" introduces us to a working stiff who makes end meet by doing some shady stuff on the side for a bookie. No, he's not muscling people or breaking arms or legs. He's a little guy, both literally and figuratively, maybe one shade worse than the guy who runs the football pool at work. But he's not a bad guy. He tries to help one guy and then reluctantly becomes a witness for the prosecution after the guy ends up getting murdered.

But this isn't before the cops arrest him for the murder based on the usual flimsy evidence. Now, we get to see Mike subjected to any number of humiliations, including the cops showing up at his wedding rehearsal dinner to question him in front of his future wife and in-laws and then at the actual wedding dinner to arrest him in front of the entire guest list. Talk about zero sensitivity.

But when they find out they need Mike as a witness, they wrap themselves up in the flag and coerce Mike into testifying because, you know, civic duty. Then they really squeeze him.

Frank John Hughes turns in a terrific performance as Mike. Clearly, he's a man of conscience despite his occasional walk on the crooked side. He's a stand up guy who tries to help not once, but twice, and ends up getting burned both times. Hughes turns up in a few episodes of the franchise, but he's criminally (pun intended) underused, with the high level of talent of actors back in the Golden Age of TV. In fact, this episode plays more like something from the 50s or 60s in actually taking more time to develop the characters and the moral dilemma.

The problem with the episode is unlike one from the Golden Age, this one still wants to absolve the law of any really responsibility in making people's lives miserable. The grayness of a drama from the Golden Age is replaced here by yet another sanctimonious commentary at the end (even though the DA's office under Jack McCoy did enough shady maneuvers of its own that no one should feel any superiority to a guy like Mike).

Other than that, this is a solid episode from the period when Law and Order was still firing on all cylinders. Compare the writing and content of this episode to the half-baked amateur night that is Law and Order today in reboot form. That's the real crime here.

Ordinary Guy Caught Up In Ordinary Crime.

[rmax304823 · 31 August 2011]

There's nothing special about the murder with which the above-average episode begins. A man is found shot to death in his car. He's not a high-class politician, an artist, a supermodel, or Lady Gaga. He's a middle-class man of no particular importance who has been shot for his wrist watch and wallet.

Briscoe and Curtis identify a possible perp, a young Greek man who is about to be married. They arrest him at his wedding rehearsal and humiliate him in front of his family and guests. It turns out he's innocent. As an afterthought he remembers a threatening-looking Puerto Rican with a conspicuous tattoo in the vicinity. At first the detectives think this is a screen memory but they uncover other witnesses, track down the PR, arrest him, and he confesses during the interrogation.

The innocent Greek guy, Frank John Hughes, is needed at the trial to identify the perp. The problem is that Hughes has been working a second job answering phones at a bookie joint and has been arrested. If he testifies at McCoy's trial, he'll be asked about his illegal activities and will have to publicly confess. On top of that, he's been getting threatening phone calls from the PR's brother. And someone has visited his apartment and sliced up his bed.

This is a regular guy swept up in matters beyond his control. The story doesn't turn on any legal tricks or chicanery. It's driven by character. Hughes gives a convincing performance of a man who is caught by the short hairs because of circumstances. He can clam up at McCoy's trial and let a killer go free, or he can testify in open court that he works for a bookie and wind up in trouble himself. Any of us can put himself in Hughes' shoes.

Nicely written. The performances of the regulars is up to par. Hughes is average looking, a little short, and insignificant without its being obvious in any way.

Solid from beginning to end and a huge honesty lesson!!!

[tsn-48730 · 10/10 · 19 July 2023]

Law and Order in its prime. Great episode with great performances all around and great writing also. It's episodes like this that stand in such stark contrast to the pitiful attempt at the recent reboot of the series that is so incredibly painful to watch as the Jack McCoy of today can barely function as an actor and one just wants it to stop.

Yet in this episode it's all here. An innocent witness caught up in a crime and absolutely needed to put a very bad guy away. The saddest part is his own future father-in-law is a police Sargent and he is constantly trying to get the young man to be a coward and not to testify, partly because it will expose the truth that he takes bets on the phone at a bookie place. A very minor charge that would stand in the way of him doing what any decent person knows is the right thing.

In the end an honest person does do the right thing and testifies even at his own personal safety and criminal risk, because it was the right thing to do. The very saddest part of all is that in this day and age we are left to celebrate how rare this is, when it should be so commonplace as to be completely unremarkable.

Do the Right Thing

[refinedsugar · 7/10 · 28 April 2024]

'Law & Order' in it's prime did sensational cases where the crime was vicious or the details so lurid you'd think it was completely nuts if it wasn't based on reality. On the other hand this episode 'We Like Mike' presents a more down to earth scenario when the initial suspect turns key witness (hence the play on words title). It's this element that is largely it's calling card and fans of 'Band of Brothers' will recognize, appreciate actor Frank John Hughes in an earlier role.

Tiffany (Reiko Aylesworth) waits for her brother to pick her up, but he's late so she decides to leave. Brushing shoulders with Mike Bodack (Hughes) on the way, she's horrified to discovers her brother shot dead up the block in his car. They track Mike down and with circumstantial evidence, he starts to look good for the murder and is arrested. Until it becomes clear Ricky Garcia (Benny Nieves) an Hispanic man is the real killer. When a confession, evidence gets tossed McCoy (Waterston) and Ross (Lowell) need him more than ever to make the id, but it's a bridge that Mike might not want to cross after he got burned by them.

The theme of getting involved, talking to the police makes for an interesting basis. There's some good developments that feel real, up the stakes. Mike's willingness to continue doing the right thing is admirable, but perhaps like me you'll feel the ending is a little too clean given what hangs in the balance. I don't know if I'd be forgiving especially if you wrecked my wedding day, but 'We Like Mike' is a decent episode.