“Bad Apple” is an honest mid-season finale that explores the challenges of holding police accountable for his or her corruption. The showrunner, centering on Lt. Jessica Brady (Maura Tierney), skillfully balances substance with accessibility, with out counting on over-used, sensational, race-based narratives about police misconduct. Let’s get into it.
The episode begins with Lt. Jessica Brady’s former narcotics unit executing a raid on the suspect, Edward White. After brawling with White, Det. Jordan Harrison (Chris Silcox) finds himself hanging from the rooftop by his fingertips. His accomplice, Det. Miles Brandt (Mike Vogel), rescues him, and later Det. Riley (Reid Scott) discovers him useless. Riley finds Harrison’s cellphone, pockets, and badge nonetheless on his individual, suggesting he wasn’t a sufferer of armed theft. Lt. Brady’s former Captain Greg Stockwell (Fredric Lane) emphasizes to subordinates, “There is no doubt that Lt. Brady is leading this team.”
“Bad Apple” — LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) Fredric Lehne as Captain Greg Stockwell, Maura Tierney as Lt. Jessica Brady. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved
Law & Order investigations typically involve three suspects before the DA’s office charges one. Maureen Herrera, the girlfriend of Harrison, is cleared of suspicion after her texts were sent long after her boyfriend’s death. Tyler Harrison, the victim’s brother, is suspect number two, who sent a text, “The only good cop is a dead cop.” Tyler supports the abolition of the police through his organization “Abolish Now.” When Shaw (Mehcad Brooks) and Riley (Reid Scott) encountered him, he seemingly confessed, “I did what I had to do and I’m not sorry.” He eventually confesses to vandalizing a police car, as he loves his brother but didn’t want him to be part of a corrupt institution. The episode revolves around Tyler’s concern about police being bad apples. Ballistics connect the bullet to the third suspect, Eddie White, the target of the drug raid. White denies killing Harrison stating that the gun was in a duffel bag with $50,000 and 10 kilos of fentanyl.
“Dangerous Apple” — LAW & ORDER, Pictured: Mike Vogel as Det. Miles Brandt. Picture by: Ralph Bavaro/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved
Whereas paying tribute to Harrison on the bar, Brady reminded Captain Stockwell that, earlier than her switch, she had reported squad members for pocketing money. He mirrored with a chuckle that he instructed the workforce, “Certain things you don’t see even if you do.” Brady mounted her gaze on Stockwell, who shifted uneasily earlier than replying, “You caught his killer—that’s all that matters. Just let it be.”
Brady can’t let or not it’s. She asks Brandt to get her a replica of Harrison’s bodycam so she will discover the duffel bag that was by no means logged as proof. As she critiques the tape, Brandt repeats that Eddie White is the killer and that she ought to let issues be.
Brady sees the duffle bag on the video, implicating that it was stolen by police on the raid, which means that whoever stole it’s seemingly the assassin. Brandt implicates det. Melcher. Brady says she helped Melcher transfer his belongings into Don Jon’s storage facility. Reid bought the tackle and unit quantity whereas Brady bought the search warrant. Upon arriving on the storage facility, the duffle bag was rapidly situated. Shaw handcuffed a shocked Brandt for the homicide of Harrison. Riley requested Brandt, “How did you know?” “Just a hunch,” she shrugged.
“Bad Apple” — LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) Juan Javier Cardenas as Det. Travis Melcher, Hugh Dancy as ADA Nolan Price, Odelya Halevi as ADA Samantha Maroun. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved
Brady is assisted by Nolan Price (Hugh Dancy), Samantha Maroun (Odelya Halevi), and Nicholas Baxter (Tony Goldwyn). Price boasts that Lt. Brady worked with internal affairs to sting Brandt, but Baxter argues that possession of the bag doesn’t prove murder. Price reveals Brandt’s shoes also had traces of Harrison’s blood, leading to a charge of first-degree murder.
Brady confronts Captain Stockwell to testify for the prosecution, arguing that he is putting corruption on a good cop’s name. She confesses to Reid that she was aware of Brandt’s corruption and how his actions accelerated the corruption of surrounding officers, including herself. She recounts her time in uniform, when her sergeant accepted money to protect people. They were successful. They looked the other way. You don’t think you are doing anything wrong. Twenty years later, she mused, a good cop is dead.
The following day in court, Brady testifies that everyone knew Brandt was corrupt, despite Captain Stockwell never filing a formal complaint. The jury found Brandt guilty. Jessica Brady walks into work, and everyone is staring at her. Reid nods in the direction of her office where someone from internal affairs is waiting. “We need to talk about Miles Brandt,” he says. Dun! Dun!
“Dangerous Apple” — LAW & ORDER, Pictured: Maura Tierney as Lt. Jessica Brady. Picture by: Ralph Bavaro/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved
“Bad apples” means it’s essential to repeatedly examine the fruit for indicators of degradation. This step is essential for sustaining freshness. Inside Affairs is accountable for figuring out “spoiled” cops to keep up accountability and public belief. The total ramifications of Lt. Brady’s actions have but to be decided. Will Lt. Jessica Brady be handled like a hero or a zero by the division? Let me know your ideas within the feedback.
Total Ranking:
8/10
Lynette Jones
