“Unhealthy Apple” is a good mid-season finale that explores the challenges of holding police accountable for his or her corruption. The showrunner, centering on Lt. Jessica Brady (Maura Tierney), skillfully balances substance with accessibility, with out counting on over-used, sensational, race-based narratives about police misconduct. Let’s get into it.
The episode begins with Lt. Jessica Brady’s former narcotics unit executing a raid on the suspect, Edward White. After brawling with White, Det. Jordan Harrison (Chris Silcox) finds himself hanging from the rooftop by his fingertips. His companion, Det. Miles Brandt (Mike Vogel), rescues him, and later Det. Riley (Reid Scott) discovers him lifeless. Riley finds Harrison’s telephone, pockets, and badge nonetheless on his particular person, suggesting he wasn’t a sufferer of armed theft. Lt. Brady’s former Captain Greg Stockwell (Fredric Lane) emphasizes to subordinates, “There isn’t a doubt that Lt. Brady is main this staff.”
“Unhealthy Apple” — LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) Fredric Lehne as Captain Greg Stockwell, Maura Tierney as Lt. Jessica Brady. Picture by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved
Legislation & Order investigations usually contain three suspects earlier than the DA’s workplace costs one. Maureen Herrera, the girlfriend of Harrison, is cleared of suspicion after her texts have been despatched lengthy after her boyfriend’s demise. Tyler Harrison, the sufferer’s brother, is suspect quantity two, who despatched a textual content, “The one good cop is a lifeless cop.” Tyler helps the abolition of the police by way of his group “Abolish Now.” When Shaw (Mehcad Brooks) and Riley (Reid Scott) encountered him, he seemingly confessed, “I did what I needed to do and I’m not sorry.” He ultimately confesses to vandalizing a police automotive, as he loves his brother however didn’t need him to be a part of a corrupt establishment. The episode revolves round Tyler’s concern about police being unhealthy apples. Ballistics join the bullet to the third suspect, Eddie White, the goal of the drug raid. White denies killing Harrison stating that the gun was in a duffel bag with $50,000 and 10 kilos of fentanyl.
“Unhealthy Apple” — LAW & ORDER, Pictured: Mike Vogel as Det. Miles Brandt. Picture by: Ralph Bavaro/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved
Whereas paying tribute to Harrison on the bar, Brady reminded Captain Stockwell that, earlier than her switch, she had reported squad members for pocketing money. He mirrored with a chuckle that he advised the staff, “Sure stuff you don’t see even for those who do.” Brady mounted her gaze on Stockwell, who shifted uneasily earlier than replying, “You caught his killer—that’s all that issues. Simply let it’s.”
Brady can’t let it’s. She asks Brandt to get her a replica of Harrison’s bodycam so she will discover the duffel bag that was by no means logged as proof. As she evaluations the tape, Brandt repeats that Eddie White is the killer and that she ought to let issues be.
Brady sees the duffle bag on the video, implicating that it was stolen by police on the raid, which means that whoever stole it’s probably the assassin. Brandt implicates det. Melcher. Brady says she helped Melcher transfer his belongings into Don Jon’s storage facility. Reid bought the handle and unit quantity whereas Brady bought the search warrant. Upon arriving on the storage facility, the duffle bag was rapidly situated. Shaw handcuffed a shocked Brandt for the homicide of Harrison. Riley requested Brandt, “How do you know?” “Only a hunch,” she shrugged.
“Unhealthy Apple” — LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) Juan Javier Cardenas as Det. Travis Melcher, Hugh Dancy as ADA Nolan Value, Odelya Halevi as ADA Samantha Maroun. Picture by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved
Brady is assisted by Nolan Value (Hugh Dancy), Samantha Maroun (Odelya Halevi), and Nicholas Baxter (Tony Goldwyn). Value boasts that Lt. Brady labored with inner affairs to sting Brandt, however Baxter argues that possession of the bag would not show homicide. Value reveals Brandt’s sneakers additionally had traces of Harrison’s blood, resulting in a cost of first-degree homicide.
Brady confronts Captain Stockwell to testify for the prosecution, arguing that he’s placing corruption on cop’s identify. She confesses to Reid that she was conscious of Brandt’s corruption and the way his actions accelerated the corruption of surrounding officers, together with herself. She recounts her time in uniform, when her sergeant accepted cash to guard folks. They have been profitable. They appeared the opposite means. You don’t suppose you’re doing something improper. Twenty years later, she mused, cop is lifeless.
The next day in courtroom, Brady testifies that everybody knew Brandt was corrupt, regardless of Captain Stockwell by no means submitting a proper grievance. The jury discovered Brandt responsible. Jessica Brady walks into work, and everyone seems to be watching her. Reid nods within the course of her workplace the place somebody from inner affairs is ready. “We have to discuss Miles Brandt,” he says. Dun! Dun!
“Unhealthy Apple” — LAW & ORDER, Pictured: Maura Tierney as Lt. Jessica Brady. Picture by: Ralph Bavaro/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved
“Unhealthy apples” means you should frequently examine the fruit for indicators of decay. This step is essential for sustaining freshness. Inner Affairs is liable for figuring out “spoiled” cops to keep up accountability and public belief. The total ramifications of Lt. Brady’s actions have but to be decided. Will Lt. Jessica Brady be handled like a hero or a zero by the division? Let me know your ideas within the feedback.
General Ranking:
8/10
Lynette Jones