Law and Order represents one of the first tv shows to take a realistic and non-glamorous look at crime investigation. The long running success and widespread appeal of Law and Order has been due to the ability of the writers to present a crime succinctly and at a level that everyone can understand. The show proceeds in a logical manner from the investigation of the crime through to the trial phase. The stories are also designed to make the viewer think and there is not always a foregone conclusion in the trial outcome.
Set in New York each episode looks at a crime from two perspectives, the police who must find the person responsible and the district attorneys who must decide whether to press charges and then prosecute the trial. The first series aired in 1990 and the success of Law and Order has since led to other spin off versions with similar formats. While the first season is perhaps not as slick as the more recent seasons, the same successful formula is utilised. There are also a number of cast differences although Dann Florek can now be seen in his same role as Police Captain Cragen in Law and Order SVU. The two police officers in season 1 are Max Greevey (Dzundza) and Mike Logan (Noth) and the two district attorneys Benjamin Stone (Moriarty) and Paul Robinette (Brooks) with Adam Schiff (Hill) as the head DA. This is a 6 Disk set with disk 1 containing 2 episodes and the special feature and the other disks containing 4 episodes. The episodes are not necessarily presented in the same order as that which they were originally written as the pilot episode “Everybody’s favourite bagman” is presented as the fourth episode on disk 2.
Disk 1
Prescription for Death: (45:55) A young girl dies in hospital after going in for a minor illness and her father wants the medical staff responsible charged with murder.
Subterranean Homeboy Blues: (45:23) A young female vigilante extracts what she perceives to be justice to two men harassing her on the subway. .
Disk 2.
The Reaper’s Helper: (44:29) A man is murdered in his apartment which is trashed but there are no obvious suspects. .
Kiss the girls and make them die: (45:24) A young single girl is attacked in her apartment and her private life is put under scrutiny. .
Happily Ever After: (46:03) A rich couple are shot in a parking garage and the man dies and a street kid is conveniently arrested for the crime. .
Everybody’s favourite Bagman: (43:39) A councilman is attacked on the street and as the crime is investigated a conspiracy between corrupt politicians and police unravels. .
Disk 3.
By Hooker, By Crook: (45:14) A man is found in Central park with a fractured skull and a heart attack and an investigation leads to a high class prostitution ring. .
Poison Ivy: (45:24). After two policemen separate to chase three suspects, one of the suspects ends up shot and as it turns out is a local identity studying at an elite school. .
Indifference: (46:02). An investigation of a child found at school with a brain injury leads police to a household under control of psychologist. practicing bizarre procedures. .
Prisoner of Love (44:33). A man found hanged after a sex session went wrong is found to have been well connected with influential figures in the art world. .
Disk 4.
Out of the Half-Light (44:40). A teenage black girl found attacked in a racially motivated crime is left in a pile of garbage and then used as a pawn by a local congressman to push his political agenda. .
Life Choice (46:03). A sensitive issue revolving around a bomb at an abortion clinic. A death in the family (44:19). A police officer is shot dead on a rooftop while searching for a suspect and his reputation is put on trial in the follow up investigation. .
The Violence of Summer (45:38). Involves a gang rape case in which one of the accused is put under pressure by fellow codefendants. .
Disk 5.
The Torrents of Greed Part One (45:57). A Russian immigrant is badly beaten and an investigation leads to the Mafia. .
The Torrents of Greed Part Two (44:59). The district attorneys are getting desperate to get a conviction after a key witness deliberately commits perjury. .
Mushrooms (45:59). A young baby is shot in a ghetto as a consequence of a hit gone wrong. .
The Secret Sharers (45:58). The murder victim shot at a church fair is found to be the suspect in a rape case and despite a lack of sympathy for the victim his murderer must still be brought to justice. .
Disk 6.
The Serpents Tooth (45:37). The wealthy parents are found shot dead by their son and while he and his brother are obvious suspects it is soon found that the Russian mafia is again involved. .
The Troubles (45:24) An Arab prisoner being transported is mysteriously killed en route, but the Feds want people to still believe he is alive. .
Sonata for Solo Organ (45:26). An investigation of a man found in Central Park missing one of his kidneys leads to the illegal body part trade. .
The Blue Wall (46:01). After monetary evidence against a high ranking official goes missing the captain is investigated by internal affairs. .

VIDEO
The video is presented in its original standard Full Frame format (1.33:1) as utilised by the television show. The transfer is relatively decent but the video does have its problems. There are numerous specks on the original film which come across as black and white marks across the picture. There is also a relatively high level of grain throughout the transfer. There are also numerous other transfer artefacts including multiple instances of aliasing. In several places on each disk there are quite bright shimmering effects from window blinds, judges benches etc. However while clearly visible on occasions, they are not annoying enough to detract from the story.
Colours in general are muted, but this is in keeping with the style of the episodes and appears consistent with the original television presentation.
While each disk is of a dual layer format, the layer change is not evident within any of the episodes and therefore is most logically placed between the episodes. Therefore there is no disruption in this regard.

AUDIO
The only audio soundtrack provided is an English Dolby Digital 2.0 surround encoded track. Use of the rear speakers is minimal at best, which leads to a one dimensional feel to the sound. However this is primarily a dialogue driven show and since all dialogue is clear and distinct the lack of surround is not a real issue. Audio synch is also OK and in general there are no problems with the audio.
The English subtitles reflect the on screen conversation relatively accurately.
Music is primarily limited to the opening titles and closing credits and used to occasionally support more dramatic moments. Plus of course there are the distinctive two repeated notes that accompany a new subtitle screen.

EXTRAS