Another list of finer Law & Order episodes and a recommendation for 'Invaders' from the sixteenth season and season finale. It was watching this I realized I hadn't sat thru much of the show after Orbach left, Farina came on board & Waterston's ADAs kept changing. It's the latter element that fuels this tale and it ups the stakes, gives it some heart in a tale of corruption, murder and unethical tactics that make for a good viewing.
The family of a cooperating police source are murdered and Fontana (Dennis Farina) & Green (Jesse L. Martin) find he was the real target. He was busted for supplying legit police uniforms, fake badges, credentials and given a deal by ADA Borgia (Annie Parisse) in exchange for the suspects involved in a series of ripoff murders. He stonewalls McCoy (Sam Waterston). So does DEA Agent Almonte (Ritchie Coster) when he circumstantially gets linked. When the worst case scenario happens, McCoy now finds himself bending the rules as the idea of the guilty not facing justice becomes very real.
Wasn't following the show as this point so I can only regurgitate what was obviously known back then. Both Farina, Parisse were unhappy and this episode marked their last, but it gave them a banger to go out on. I've always like Farina as an actor even if I didn't catch much of his run as senior Det. Joe Fontana over two seasons. I think he had big shoes to fill and fans might have held some resentment. I can't say much about Parisse having not seen her 1.5 seasons of work, but her resolution provides some real weight and Waterston carries it thru.
'Invaders' is one of those episodes that isn't the typical 50/50 mix of investigation and courtroom procedural. The main suspects are basically unknown and on the run up until the end and a lot of the work comes down to the street and bluff tactics. Even without a jury and a gavel you get the resolution you crave. I don't know if I'd personally call it one of L&O's best, but it was interesting from start to finish.