A narcotics officer turning up dead in Law & Order isn’t exactly a groundbreaking plot twist. But when the case forces Detective Amanda Brady (Maura Tierney) back to her old precinct, a place she’s probably tried to repress from memory, things get a little more interesting. “Bad Apple,” the eighth episode of Season 24, isn’t just another cop show procedural; it’s a homecoming tinged with dread, and maybe a dash of “I told you so” from Brady’s former colleagues.
This time around, Rollins isn’t around to hold Benson’s hand as she tackles this particularly tricky case. Instead, it’s Brady stepping into the fray, facing a situation fraught with the ghosts of cases past and the weight of a personal connection to the victim. Returning to this environment isn’t a nostalgic trip down memory lane; it’s a stark reminder of the grim realities of her former beat.
The case itself offers the usual Law & Order twists and turns. A suspect emerges, naturally, but their story quickly unravels like a cheap sweater under Brady’s unflinching gaze. Inconsistencies and blatant lies set off alarm bells, and Brady, never one to shy away from a challenge, teams up with Shaw (Mehcad Brooks) and Riley (Reid Scott) to dig deeper. Navigating the murky depths of the investigation within her old precinct adds some psychological baggage. Brady has to walk a fine line, balancing the demands of objectivity with the emotional baggage of working a case so close to her past.
Beyond the immediate investigation, “Bad Apple” also offers a glimpse into the post-Rollins dynamic of the Special Victims Unit. Even with a key player missing, the team still functions, albeit perhaps with a few more awkward silences. Their collaboration might be a bit rough around the edges, but the shared goal—to bring the perpetrator to justice—remains.
Will this episode reinvent the Law & Order formula? Probably not. Will it deliver a solid hour of competent crime-solving, seasoned with some familiar faces and enough tension to keep you from channel surfing? Almost certainly. And for fans of Detective Brady, it’s a welcome chance to see her back in action, even if it’s under less-than-ideal circumstances.
Law & Order “Bad Apple” airs Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 8:00 PM on NBC.
