Sgt. Greevey is murdered and an angry Det. Logan pressures a confession out of the killer. Prosecutors struggle to allow the confession to be used in court.Sgt. Greevey is murdered and an angry Det. Logan pressures a confession out of the killer. Prosecutors struggle to allow the confession to be used in court.Sgt. Greevey is murdered and an angry Det. Logan pressures a confession out of the killer. Prosecutors struggle to allow the confession to be used in court.
- Dr. Elizabeth Olivet
- (as Carloyn McCormick)
- McAnally
- (as Kevin Hagen)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn most states the charge of murder in the first degree is reserved for premeditated murder, but in New York state it works a little differently. In New York, premeditated murder is usually charged as aggravated murder in the second degree. Murder in the first degree is reserved for: intentionally causing the death of a police or peace officer while performing their duties; intentionally causing the death of a firefighter, paramedic, EMT, physician or nurse responding to an emergency; intentionally causing the death of a witness to a crime in order to prevent them from giving a statement to the police or testifying before a judge or jury; murder for profit; causing the death (with or without intent) of a person during the commission of another serious felony, such as kidnapping in the first degree, arson in the first degree, and rape in the first degree (also known as felony murder); and finally, intentionally causing the death of another person while serving a sentence for a previous conviction of murder in the second degree.
- GoofsIn the opening credits after the Title, Carolyn McCormick's first name is misspelled as Carloyn.
- Quotes
Det. Mike Logan: What the hell is this? You expect me to sit on my ass while my partner's killer walks around free?
Executive A.D.A. Ben Stone: Either way, that is exactly what is going to happen. Because if the first confession is coerced, then so is the second, and the third, no matter how many times you Mirandize the suspect.
Capt. Donald Cragen: Coercion is a judgment call, Stone. My guy never laid a glove on the son of a bitch.
Executive A.D.A. Ben Stone: That doesn't matter. If he coerced the first confession, it is still "fruit of the poisonous tree."
Det. Mike Logan: What "fruit!" What's it some stupid technicality?
Executive A.D.A. Ben Stone: [to Cragen] Perhaps you can explain the concept to your men, so they don't let another cop killer walk.
[starts to leave, then pauses and turns back]
Executive A.D.A. Ben Stone: I doubt if Max Greevey would've considered it a "technicality."
- ConnectionsFeatured in Law & Order: The First 3 Years (2004)
- SoundtracksGoin' Home
Music by Antonín Dvorák, from Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, "From the New World" (uncredited)
Played on bagpipes following Sergeant Greevey's funeral
"Confession" starts Season 2 off and sees a good amount of change. A big one being that it was the first episode to not have killed off Max Greevey as a lead character, but it also saw the introductions of Logan's new partner Phil Carreta and Dr Elizabeth Olivet. To me, "Confession" was a great start for the season and one of its better episodes, with it being one of its most layered, most interesting and most moving and boasting some of Logan's best character writing.
Sure, not having Greevey takes some getting used to and the chemistry between Cerreta and Logan doesn't quite have the same edge and oomph than the one between Greevey and Logan.
But actually there is very little to fault "Confession" for in my view. It is a good looking episode, with a sharper and not quite as gritty (though that quality is far from lost) look that is just as slick. The music is well used and fits the tone very well, one of the show's most poignant music uses being "Going Home" being played on the bagpipes. Did feel my eyes welling up with tears and was struck with how well it added to the scene it features in.
The writing is tightly structured and thought-provoking, especially in the whole conflict surrounding the confession that is the source of a lot of the episode's tension. The story, from the heart-in-the-mouth beginning to the satisfying in outcome ending, is always compelling. While the conflict surrounding the confession, which sees people very much wanting a result but having to take into account how the confession was gotten, has tension and thoughtfully done, "Confession" to me was at its best in depicting Logan's struggles in dealing with grief and coming to terms with Greevey's murder. Quite hard-hitting and will likely resonate with many. The scenes between him and Olivet are handled sensitively.
When it comes to the performances, everybody does well with Paul Sorvino doing commendably filling in George Dzundza's shadow. The chemistry between him and Chris Noth is not quite there here but understandably so. Corolyn McCormick is a sympathetic presence as Olivet and Michael Moriarty brings out every ounce of juice that he can, Stone was always an interesting character and Moriarty brought a lot to him. "Confession" thoughts belongs to Noth, who agreed does give one of his best performances of the show with some intense and moving acting on display here.
In summation, great start to Season 2. 9/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Feb 11, 2020