TV Order
Posted Thu, 01/03/08
I watched the two-hour season premiere of Law and Order last night and was impressed by the show's character transitions. At first I was leery because too many new characters usually muddy the waters, but somehow Law and Order managed to pull it off.
It was strange seeing assistant DA "Jack McCoy" (Sam Waterston) in the District Attorney's seat since it was vacated by the politically-motivated Fred Thompson. Watching Waterston play the assistant district attorney for so many years – and in the thick of things – was one of the most enjoyable parts of the show for me, but he also does a superb job as the head honcho in charge.
The new characters – ADA Michael Cutter (played by Linus Roache) and Detective Cyrus Lupo (played by Jeremy Sisto) – did good work as well. Returning favorites include Detective Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson). I think the current lineup will prove to be a winner in the long run.
The only aspect of the new season I found troubling was the back-seating of Assistant D.A. Connie Rubirosa (played by Alana De La Garza) to the character portrayed by Linus Roache. Hopefully that will change as the season progresses.
It's hard to believe, but Law and Order is now in its 18th season. I didn't start watching the show until a few years ago, so that means there will be a whole bunch of reruns to enjoy on TNT.