Skeet Ulrich and Alfred Molina achieved a rather potent premier in "Law and Order: Los Angeles". The first episode provided young, hot, Hollywood actors, burglaries of the rich and famous, murders and betrayal. There was bright sunlight in the daytime and night-lights after dark. Its a new "Law and Order" and I like it. Alfred Molina and Terrance Howard will take turns as Asst. D.A.s in different episodes. While I'm not sure how that will flow, I enjoy both actors and look forward to seeing how this plays out. Ulrich does his character justice and, so far, is not a carbon copy of other "Law and Order" copsters. I hope, he maintains his own distinct persona, as D'Onofrio certainly did. It never hurts to be exclusive, especially in a herd. I believe "Law and Order: Los Angeles" has the potential to be extra-Order-nary. Sorry, couldn't help myself. Watch it, you could like it! 10/07/2010
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zaenkney7 October 2010
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aowarzani4 November 2010I have to admit, the 1st episode left something to be desired, but I have stuck with it and now enjoy the show -- give it a few episodes, get to know the characters, and it will be another L&O you will enjoy. The detectives have their own quirkiness that is enjoyable. I did like the episode where the one detective's wife was the arresting officer on a case that involved a woman that lost her kids to a fire -- where she said the woman admitted it -- and it was not true. I do like the setting of Los Angeles, because it does leave open many ideas for shows. Furthermore, the L&O seems to get back to the basics, where you see the police part, as well as the court room part -- whereas some recent L&O focus more on the police work nowadays.
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hotseatotsie26 April 2011At first I was sad to see Skeet Ulrich go, but the new lineup is working much better. It's grittier, more suspenseful, more like real L&O should be. I like the switchup of Alfred Molina's character, it adds some depth to the story. The UK Version is still my favorite now that the original is off the air, but I plan on hanging in there with this one. They took the ratings and feedback seriously and made changes. I'm not sure why Skeet was apparently part of the problem, I thought he was good and there was good chemistry with his partner, but the new mix works also. We don't see much of the Lieutenant anymore either. But I'll take any chance to look at Terrence Howard on a weekly basis!
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Having suffered through the first half of the first season of L&O: LA, and now watching the re-imagined second half of the same season, I'm pleasantly surprised they actually pulled it off. That is, it's becoming more like the original L&O and not some sunny disposition on life in LaLa land and rampant medical marijuana.
They are also scouting out and actually using more locations as they did in N.Y. so you don't feel confined to the same old places or inside a studio's back lot. In the last episode, I counted about 15 non-studio locations which really upped the ante as far as quality of story and realism of plot.
I also noticed they brought in some veteran screenwriters from the recently canceled L&O and are starting to "rip from the headlines" more. Not to mention adding the beautiful Alana De La Garza to the ADA's office (they never did explain her transplantation to L.A. but that's par for the course with this franchise). We just need the extraordinary writer Rene Balcer to pen a few scripts and we're halfway home.
As for Alana, they desperately need to give her more lines. She's not just a pretty face but a very good actress. She was always one to get up in someone's face or talk back to some pushy witness or suspect (or cop!).
A guest visit from Linus Roache or Lupo or Anderson or Epatha would be gimmicky but a lot of fun. Who cares? It's T.V. Does anyone really believe a murder trial starts and ends in less than a month? Real murder cases take years. But on T.V. you have to speed things up or you end up with a show like Murder One or viewers changing the channel. Too bad they can't find an L&O franchise for Lupo.
The East Pasadena episode is a perfect example of "headline ripping" that actually happened to one Calif. principality, then utilizing another incident that actually happened in Florida where a man went to a city council meeting waving a gun and finally shot himself, and then tying it all together with a murder mystery.
I'm especially glad to see Mr. Ulrich gone (shot! killed! never to return!) and Molina taking his place. Whilst Ulrich is an O.K. actor, half the time his eyes were bloodshot and he looked very tired and fatigued. I don't think the pace of T.V. sits well with his move schedule metabolism.
Molina is a veteran actor and it shows. He is literally the anchor for the show now. Let's hope he doesn't depart prematurely. And they need a prominent out gay character other than a shrink like on SVU.
And Corey Stoll looks so much better without the 'stache it's amazing. He'll be one of People magazine's hottest men of the year in no time (barring the show's cancellation). Having played second fiddle in so many shows, it's about time he was recognized for his talent.
Rachel Ticotin, who still looks great since Total Recall, makes a tough but charming Lieutenant. Still haven't figured out the role of the DA played ephemerally by Peter Coyote. He's simply not memorable and not sure what his function is other than to bark at his subordinates.
With all the above being said, I'm very excited about the rest of the season and hope it continues to deliver above-excellent scripts and performances to make up for the horrible first half of the year. Worst Episodes Ever I doubt L&O: LA will have the staying power of the original L&O, and NBC (now owned by Kabletown), is infamous for putting garbage on T.V. or doubling-up on what they consider a good thing (read: the Today show went from 2 hours to 4 to 5 to ?). Maybe Katie Couric can do the sixth and seventh hours! I'd like to see more episodes about the intricacies of Calif. law and business practices as they've done in a few episodes and on the original L&O. I always thought New York was a nanny state but Calif. makes N.Y. look like their babysitter's dead (don't tell Mom or Bloomberg!). I can now understand why so many businesses are fleeing CA for points East, and why people are moving to other states where the cost of living isn't so crippling.
So if you gave up on the show, give it another shot. I don't believe you'll be disappointed and like me will look forward to next week's episode. Who knows, maybe they'll shoot a couple of episodes during California's rainy season for a change of outdoor atmosphere. Flooding, rampage, riots, and of course, a floater. -
blanche-27 September 2021...and from the reviews, not a welcome one.
I looked through the reviews - I am currently watching the show on DVD. Some mention the opening dialogue not there - on the DVD, it is. Some mention the different music - it's the same music on the DVD.
Because the show is based in Los Angeles, the look is glossier, as opposed to the grittier L&O, SVU, CI, and even the UK version, which was marvelous. Later on, they attempt to make it grittier, which is partially successful. The main problem for me is that I can't relate to the police detectives of this series as I could in other franchises.
And of course, the big faux pas - I'm not sure if this is on the televised series or just the DVD, but a dead male character comes back to life in later episodes, and Alfred Molina, moved to one job, is suddenly back at his old job. Obviously on the DVDs the episodes are out of order. I am wondering if it was the same on television. If so, it just shows how much attention was paid.
One other thing: Most of the women in the smaller roles look like models, which makes the casting uninteresting. Hudson Leick, whom I know, was an extremely gorgeous top model who landed a role in Xena: Warrior Princess. She had a minuscule part in one of the episodes as a store clerk. So even the store clerks are knockouts!
I'm not sure what there is about it - I enjoy it, but somehow it doesn't draw me in as other L&Os. -
baconsizzla9 December 2019Winters dies in like episode 7 or 8 but yet he is alive again back in. Episode 18!
Otherwise its a great season and wish it could have gone for a few more season! -
carlcfoley6 October 2010I'vde noticed most reviews here are not kind. They whine about no theme song or opening credits. They complain about bad chemistry & story and say its just another Hollywood show. They say that this is not real L&O. I say shame on them. Yes, the opening dialouge is gone and I miss it but it doesn't ruin the show. Yes..., the theme is gone, but I actually love how they play the most recognizable notes of the song in a ghostly manner as the new logo comes onto screen. As for the stories, there's only one to judge so far but I liked it. Ya, it had the Hopllywood to it, but the producers have said not every episode will be Hollywood focused like this weeks. As for the actors, they are great! The detectives have great chemistry and the same is said for the DA's. To sum this up: The show is well written, acted, and laid out. I hope that this show does run for many years and doesn't suffer the fate of the equally good Law & Order: Trial By Jury. Yes, it's never going to replace the mother ship that NBC shouldn't of canceled (I cried when they did), but I feel as time goes on the show which has started out great will get better and better. I hope everyone else will give the show a chance. From just one episode I have to agree with USA Today's assessment when they said "What you get from LA is a show that's as solid and reliable as a well-built sedan. You know, the kind that keeps running for 20 years."
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I enjoyed this show I do like seeing new characters gelling together, the one main point that really let this show down is the fact that Skeet died half way though and then appeared back about 5 episodes later which really frustrates me as I like to see how the characters develop together as the show progresses and there was no way this could happen. I watched it on Hallmark channel and before every episode they said showing it in the order it was shown in the US. I don't care just get it right!!!!!!! I did like seeing Decker wish he was in it more and was getting a bit confused who was what rank within the DA's team but I suppose the more series there are the more I can get used to it. It was quite funny to see the lady from the Scary Movie films Regina Hall I was so expecting to see her crack a joke, run from a room screaming or kill someone.
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craig-4712 February 2019I began watching this show expecting it to be pretty bad based on what I read here. The first episode did seem a bit too LA, what with starlets and the goings on in Hollywood and all. After a few episodes, the series did pick up steam and find its direction. I must admit, after Molina and Stoll became partners it really all came together.
If I have to find some criticism it would be the complexity of the crimes. I've watched all the L&O franchises but this one seems to have the most outlandish twists and turns. By the time the episode ends you are typically miles away from how it started. Not a bad thing but at times way too contrived.
Finally, did the episodes air the way they are arranged on the DVD? A major character is killed off midway only to re-appear in subsequent episodes. Really odd way to arrange the shows. -
Dr_Coulardeau26 June 2017This Californian version of this series did not last long. It is true Los Angeles is a lot less spectacular than New York, Miami or Las Vegas, or even Washington DC. I am told that Sacramento is also quite attractive.
The stories are interesting always a little bit easy. Simple very direct crime stories and concentration on the prosecution and attorney's vision of things. It will not surprise Americans, but it will surprise even flabbergast anyone from another judicial system. To avoid as many court cases as possible deals are encouraged. Plead guilty for leniency and be a witness against other culprits to get a deal and total or partial immunity. Where is justice?
That explains some cases of self-justice: take justice in your own hands and get your vengeance performed in the name of self-defense. At least that is sustainable: you get the fair result you expect and it encourages the process to go on forever. You add to that the fact that there are more crimes in Los Angeles than in New York and you have the key to the lackluster series. Exceptional people in Los Angeles are the innocent and law abiding people. All the others are all criminals, crooked individuals and many other things. Too much concentration on hookers and other characters of this night time orgasmic life tied up to drugs makes it slightly humdrum.
The cases are just interesting but never really fascinating and the procedure is always sketchy. Do they ever read the Miranda rights to the people they arrest? Not once. Slightly more interesting about court procedure, but still quite sketchy.
That's probably why it was not stillborn but it died of Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). There is a severe competition on this market of thrillers and detective or police cases. Even J.K. Rowling writes some, under a male name though: she must be ashamed of her stooping so low to conquer an audience, when she had one anyway with Harry Potter.
Dr. Jacques COULARDEAU -
johnjag-21-79455317 December 2014The series starts out well. There are slight differences in the Law & Order formula. Some aspects of the detectives personal lives are shown. It also has a different feel. It is bloodier. Some of the characters are less likable, such as DA Hardin, Peter Coyote in an excellent performance.
The series has one big problem. The producers take the audience for idiots. In episode 9, detective Winters, played by Skeet Ulrich, is murdered. And in a way that is impossible to rewrite later as corpse misidentified or some other plot trick. Also deputy DA Morales, Alfred Molina, is demoted back to being detective Morales. Yet in episode 17 Winters magically is back, no explanation! And further in episode 18 Winters is still there and Morales is now deputy DA again. Again there is no explanation. Not even a lame attempt by putting up one of those ubiquitous Law & Order text screens with "one year ago".
I stopped watching the show at that point. Save yourself frustration, do not bother starting this show. If not for the good quality of the first 16 episodes I would have given this show just a 1 out of 10. -
kayaker3629 January 2011Skeet Ulrich and Corey Stoll, two relatively unknown actors, make an intriguingly contrasting pair--one a handsome young family man with a quick mind and a nose for the hidden truth, the other older, single (possibly gay?), completely bald and endlessly patient, and bringing a profound knowledge of human nature to crime solving.
Here is a wealth of original ideas such as subtitling each episode with an area of Greater LA, which Dick Wolf knows intimately. The whole idea is to spotlight the differences between Los Angeles, a new city shaped by and built to suit the automobile, and centuries-old New York, a product of the age of sail.
There are some lyrical camera shots, almost elegiac, of the canyons and vistas of Los Angeles, of its suburbs-in-search-of-a-city lifestyle, of its public beaches, its palatial beachfront homes and its slums. Best of all is its exploration of human types, so varied yet so...well, so LA.
Alfred Molina in a recurring role as a trial prosecutor, is part Englishman, part Spaniard, he has no non-European ancestry at all. Yet he is believable as a boy of humble Latino origins who has risen high in public service. There are exciting guest stars, original yet believable plots with the "ripped from the headlines" aspect remaining an L&O trademark.
If this show fails it will be because of its harshly realistic view of gender. The first two episodes feature women who have killed without legal justification. There are other repugnant acts committed by women. L&O - SVU, this ain't!
What it is is a crime show with scripts that other great chronicler of Los Angeles Raymond Chandler might have written. -
safenoe18 December 2023Over a decade after Law and Order: Los Angeles debuted to mixed reviews, I'm now watching it for the first time and I really think this series could have been a contender. I know some of the initial imdb user reviews were scathing (and a snapshop in leisure time with references to Tivo!) and perhaps the structure of the Los Angeles incarnation was jarring to some, for example the rotating district attorneys and deputy district attorneys was a bit unsettling somewhat, and also Peter Coyote was akin to Sam Waterston's pained characteristics when wrestling with ethics and justice.
Anyway, Law and Order: Los Angeles should have been a contender. -
stormlor29 September 2010The first episode has come and gone faster then you can remember. The new L&O is actually terrible. While many will argue that the casting is terrible, in actuality the casting is quite good. The problem with the show is the writing. The angles for the story are not written well, none of the characters feel like they have a point. We know nothing about the characters, and we know nothing of the story.
I am hoping the show gets better over the season as it does have a lot of promise to it. The acting is good, I just think the storytelling needs some work. I will continue to watch this season in hope it gets better. -
jpb195216 October 2010How in the world did this program replace the original Law and Order. The acting is weak at best, the story lines are even weaker. The original was on all those years because it was a QUALITY program with OUTSTANDING Actors and Actresses. Even when people left and were replaced the replacement was usually very good. Please wake up and smell the coffee and bring back the Original Law and Order. I will never waste my time again watching another Law and Order LA. It really is a shame that such a long running program as LAW and ORDER was canceled for such a weak and program like this. We always looked forward to watching the weekly series, now we'll have to look for a different program to watch in that time slot
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hist-3612317 June 2023So many shows had low viewing ratings while they were on, but were pleasantly discovered by audiences later (eg, The Wire). Like the original L&O, the focus is on arrest and trial instead of the interpersonal issues of the "stars." The only criticism I can offer is that the stories move at a very quick clip; it's easy to miss basic stuff about the plot.
Alfred Molina is great as a cop and a DA. Peter Coyote is fun as a borderline political sleaze District Attorney with none of Jack McCoy's integrity. The opening credits sequence is especially annoying.
LA crime shows are always entertaining. -
shelbythuylinh18 December 2021As that over in L&O along with Trial by Jury flopped. And that it may had been due to lack of leading star power despite having Terrence Howard and Alfred Molina there.
But at least it gave us Corey Stoll along with Skeet Ulrich as cops from the LAPD unit and the titles are named after the crimes took place and location in LA county.
A Dick Wolf rarely backfires there. Like he did this show. -
Harry_Wild10 November 2022I just finished the 1st episode and it is fresh and intriguing! All new actors that I never seen before! It is Hollywood based not the gloomy NYC atmosphere. I like the Hollywood & LA plot too. It straight, no side subplot in the episode. All the law enforcement are dressed up proper and the guests are in design t-shirts, nice rides and lots of fashion dress. The court room is in light color wood like birch, oak and modern lighting, big windows.
In some way this is better then Law & Order, the original! It more understated like real detectives are. I look forward to the future season one episodes! -
mysafetyemonline10 March 2022Sad, a non political, law focused show like the original!! Great acting but...lousy reviews bec too honest. The Hollyweird elite hate honesty as do the corrupt politicians. So many great actors appeared.
So much better than the far left leaning cowardly SVU. So obviously pandering. Thank God we have Blue Bloods. A neutral show. -
SamanthaGilbert-11 October 2010Bad, bad, bad! There was absolutely nothing "Law & Order" about this show. One reason many people love the Law & Order television shows is because of the artistic cinematography that is unique to them, but the way in which this TV show has been shot was anything but the great cinematography we are accustomed to. The theme music had been altered so much and in a annoying, techno-music fashion, that if I had not read the title or heard the iconic "doink doink" sound, I would have thought this was a TV show crated by pure amateurs. The fact that it wasn't created by amateurs makes it all the more disappointing. Even the story line made it seem as though Law & Order needed to fit in every headline in the gossip section it has missed out on in the past few months, in order to catch up, and thus leaving a mumble jumble of an episode. Sadly NBC has managed to shoot themselves in the foot by getting rid of a great show and putting in its place a big heap of steaming garbage.
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LaOFan30012 March 2022Come on, a character killed off in a fairly early episode returns in a much later episode? As though that episode had never happened? I honestly could watch Law and Order (exception SVU, which is too much for me) 24/7, but this wrinkle to the LA version train-wrecked it for me. Like the UK version abruptly ending in the middle of a season. That being said, I'm addicted to Criminal Intent, after watching the original Law and Order many times.
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ChicagoTVFan22 January 2011Every Law & Order fan waited for the new franchise, many of us willing to give it time, yet, it is missing the basic elements that make us watch Law & Order re-runs. Cops, prosecutors, defense attorneys, defendants and an environment that is a character as well. Actors, unknown to most of us, who later in life become stars, like Melissa Leo. Slowly, we become attached to the cops and their partner relationship. The prosecutor, we all loved Sam Waterson, his conflict with his blue collar roots, watching the struggle with values and the law as he prosecutes. These unfolded over time. But all of the characters stood in snow, in rain, they sweat in heat... struggled with the environment of urban living, crammed into small work spaces and that was essential to the formula of Law & Order. People were not pretty; they were interesting or funny, but not slick. As much as everyone wants to defend Hollywood and LA, it is not urban; it is suburban. The buildings, the streets, the weather. It's a young city and it's an industry city. Everyone is too pretty, too clean, too smooth. I hope the franchise survives; I hope it returns to its roots, to head to an urban environment with history, weather, its "run and gun" feel, gritty, interesting actors, and gives us both Law and Order.
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catgirl629 September 2010I was really looking forward to this new version of the L&O series. What a terrible disappointment! It's cliché beyond the imagination and the writing downright stinks. "He's an actor." "It's L.A." Nooooooo! How would I have known had you not beat me over the head with it? The defense attorney made statements that weren't questions without the prosecution objecting, and the witnesses gave speeches that didn't even answer the "questions".
The plot was boring and predictable. The acting was wretched. The fake paparazzi with all the cameras clicking was so overdone and looked so cheesy.
I won't be wasting my DVR space on this one. -
pierluca-lanzi3 October 2010I was looking forward to this new series since Law and Order got canceled. I hoped they could repeat the magic but it did not happened. The first episode is horrible. Everything looks exactly like any other series around too hip too youngish. May be the producers want to catch up with a younger audience but I have to say that this series does not cut it. It is too slow for youngster and too glossy for the people who loved McCoy and the others. Both the detectives and the prosecutor do not charm in anyway. It is so sad that NBC canceled something as perfect and well balanced as the original series to create this. I will watch L&O reruns rather than spend my time on this one. I hope they will continue to print the DVDs!
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lawnut953 October 2010i watched it and it just felt to bright and upbeat for a law and order show. the order of half cop/court was there but it just didn't feel right. they had a dramatic courtroom moment and I expected that dark suspense music when someone gets caught in a lie like the other series did but it was different. even the title sequence was a turnoff. as soon as a saw it and especially heard it, it was just different. that stuff is still a law and order signature, no matter where the show is, its just expected. everything was just to bright. it also feels like you can't relate with whats happening since it is so upscale and celebrity based. most of us can't relate with people getting murdered but just the way it works is more relate-able. somewhat good attempt at expanding but really needs work.