A teenage drug addict claims that a nun molested her at a treatment house, but the investigation leads to an accusation of rape involving the chief executive of the facility.A teenage drug addict claims that a nun molested her at a treatment house, but the investigation leads to an accusation of rape involving the chief executive of the facility.A teenage drug addict claims that a nun molested her at a treatment house, but the investigation leads to an accusation of rape involving the chief executive of the facility.
Photos
LaTanya Richardson Jackson
- Anne Houston
- (as LaTanya Richardson)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode appears to be based on the Covenant House scandal of 1990, involving Bruce Ritter. In 1990, Bruce Ritter was forced to resign from Covenant House after widespread reports that he had engaged in sexual relations with several young boys in the care of the charity and that financial improprieties had occurred in the operations of the organization. At that time, it was one of the most widely publicized cases of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, which in subsequent years would be revealed to have been even more widespread. Ritter left the Franciscans, but he retained his priestly faculties. He retired to a small town in upstate New York.
- GoofsPossessing an unlicensed, loaded handgun without a carry permit and discharging it in public would be Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the second degree, not third or fourth degree as Cerreta suggests. It's a fairly serious charge as it is a class C felony. CPW in the 3rd is a class D felony and CPW in the 4th is a class A misdemeanor.
- Quotes
Det. Mike Logan: Don't nuns have curfews?
Sister Bettina: That went out with the penguin suit.
Featured review
Halfway house
"Sisters of Mercy" was made at a time where 'Law and Order' excelled at basing their stories on real life cases and also for tackling challenging themes. Something that in my view the later seasons, when the show also began to run out of ideas, weren't as strong in. This episode is an example of what the early seasons excelled in, here based on the 1990 Covenant House scandal and revolving around sexual abuse at a treatment house.
The episode "Sisters of Mercy" does a great job with presenting the issues raised, overcoming any hurdles that comes with tackling one of the most challenging subjects known to man. A subject handled in "Sisters of Mercy" with force and also tact, the full impact not being trivialised or downplayed and making for an appropriately not an easy watch sort of episode. One of the things that was particularly striking about the early seasons of 'Law and Order' and also of 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent' was the pulling no punches approach and the ability of displaying tension and emotion as a result.
Maybe the ending is a little too neatly wrapped up and hasty, but there is very little to dislike here about "Sisters of Mercy".
Production values are slick as usual, the locations are spare in number but not used in too confined a way. The music fits well, only used when needed (namely underscoring in revelations) and doesn't over-emphasise the mood. The theme tune has never stopped being memorable, all the theme tunes in the 'Law and Order' franchise are that. The story is compelling, with the procedural work keeping one on their toes and not confused. The legal scenes are even better though.
With any conflicts having the right amount of tension and how the attorneys conduct the cases and any issues raised intrigue. The writing is intelligently written, approaching the subject with edge and sensitivity, and paced tightly. All the characters are interesting, although Powell's nastiness (to put it lightly) is obvious almost immediately the character is juicy and makes one care about the case being solved.
All the performances are on point too, while Paul Sorvino and Chris Noth work well together Michael Moriarty (helped by Stone being the show's most interesting regular character at this stage) is the one that commands the most of the regulars. William H. Macy is chillingly vile in his role, one doesn't always see him this evil.
Overall, great. 9/10
The episode "Sisters of Mercy" does a great job with presenting the issues raised, overcoming any hurdles that comes with tackling one of the most challenging subjects known to man. A subject handled in "Sisters of Mercy" with force and also tact, the full impact not being trivialised or downplayed and making for an appropriately not an easy watch sort of episode. One of the things that was particularly striking about the early seasons of 'Law and Order' and also of 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent' was the pulling no punches approach and the ability of displaying tension and emotion as a result.
Maybe the ending is a little too neatly wrapped up and hasty, but there is very little to dislike here about "Sisters of Mercy".
Production values are slick as usual, the locations are spare in number but not used in too confined a way. The music fits well, only used when needed (namely underscoring in revelations) and doesn't over-emphasise the mood. The theme tune has never stopped being memorable, all the theme tunes in the 'Law and Order' franchise are that. The story is compelling, with the procedural work keeping one on their toes and not confused. The legal scenes are even better though.
With any conflicts having the right amount of tension and how the attorneys conduct the cases and any issues raised intrigue. The writing is intelligently written, approaching the subject with edge and sensitivity, and paced tightly. All the characters are interesting, although Powell's nastiness (to put it lightly) is obvious almost immediately the character is juicy and makes one care about the case being solved.
All the performances are on point too, while Paul Sorvino and Chris Noth work well together Michael Moriarty (helped by Stone being the show's most interesting regular character at this stage) is the one that commands the most of the regulars. William H. Macy is chillingly vile in his role, one doesn't always see him this evil.
Overall, great. 9/10
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Apr 17, 2020
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