Law & Order: The Complete Original Series DVD Review
Dun-Dun.
If you’re a “Law & Order” aficionado, you’re in luck as the Law & Order: The Complete Original Series DVD box set is now available. The massive set (which could double as a hefty doorstop) contains the first 20 seasons spread out over 104 discs. None of the subsequent “Law & Order” seasons from the 2021 revival are included nor are any of the numerous spinoffs.
The 1990 New York set Dick Wolf created police and law procedural NBC series had a very distinct formula not unlike “Emergency” (which was largely a combination medical/firefighting series). The episodes begin with a crime and then cut to a Senior and Junior Detective investigating the crime and trying to find the culprit. The second half of the show takes place in court where the District Attorneys take on the case.
One could spend a week digging into the storylines, but given that this is a procedural, you know the cases frequently involve murder, sex crimes, mental health, revenge, attempted murder, negligence, theft, you get the picture.
The series had an ever changing cast over the course of its first 20 years, but the most notable figures included Michael Moriarty (Ben Stone), Chris Noth (Mike Logan), Steven Hill (Adam Schiff), Jerry Orbach (Lennie Briscoe), S. Epatha Merkerson (Anita Van Buren), Jill Hennessy (Claire Kincaid), Sam Waterson (Jack McCoy), Benjamin Bratt (Rey Curtis), Angie Harmon (Abbie Carmichael), Jesse L. Martin (Ed Green), Dianne Wiest (Nora Lewin), Elisabeth Rohm (Serena Southerlyn), Dennis Farina (Joe Fontana) and Anthony Anderson (Kevin Bernard).
“In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate and equally important groups: The police, who investigate crime; and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories.” Dun-Dun (can’t forget that iconic music cue). With that succinct opening statement, the show kicks into gear and continues to endure 36 years later having now branched out into a full fledged franchise. For many, it remains the gold standard of procedurals (if that’s your thing). It may be a fictional series, but the scripts were often based on stories in news headlines making it feel relevant and authentic throughout the ages all while digging into thought provoking aspects such as the flaws within the legal system.
Everyone is bound to have their own favorite era. Personally speaking, the series really found its footing starting in season 3 when Jerry Orbach came on board. The first 10 seasons are really the show’s peak with Orbach, Benjamin Bratt, Sam Waterson, and Jill Hennessy being the best group. Seasons 17-20 tend to be the weak link. Given that the series is a procedural though, the writing (and formula) remain consistent. You know what you are getting with this show and that’s likely the reason it has continued to find an audience through multiple generations now.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 1.33:1 and 1.78:1. How does it look? Considering the original run of the series ran 20 seasons, the quality obviously improves over time. The transfers are decent, but the series could use a hi-def upgrade to be sure (although that would probably be quite costly).
Audio Track: Dolby Digital 2.0. How does it sound? Much like the picture quality, the audio quality is unlikely to wow anyone but it does the job.
Extras include deleted/extended scenes, cast profiles, set tour, crossover episodes, and more.
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