A good example of the series when it was hitting its stride. A soap opera star is found beaten half to death in Central Park, and Ceretta and Logan are on the case. Leads take them to fans of the series, then into the community of memento collectors, and into the darker depths of stalkers. It all gives the detectives plenty of opportunity to roll their eyes and make wisecracks about the nuts and weirdos who obsess over soap opera characters. The quips aren't too cutting for obvious commercial reasons. (Who knows how many obsessed fans are following "Law and Order"?)
The poor woman who was attacked has lost her career, her voice, her ability to walk properly. When the detective finally present the perp to Moriarty and his gang in the DA's office, he turns out to be a slightly wimpy, smiling, matter-of-fact young man who claims that he and Lucy, the TV star, are one and the same. The DA's shrink declares him fit for trial. The defense's shrink, with the support of the perp's father, a sadly aged Colonel Klink, claims that the perp has been hearing a voice since adolescence and that the voice told him to do it. Is the defense phonying up an insanity plea for attempted murder? If so, the jury doesn't find the argument convincing.
Actually, if the young man is hearing voices, he's lucky that there's only been one. And if he's telling the truth, the hallucinations started at about the age of highest risk, adolescence and early adulthood. Auditory hallucinations aren't pleasant either. They're usually commanding and accusatory. They don't sing an aria from Tosca.
There's one scene that is intended to be amusing, when Ceretta and Logan visit a female impersonator who has bought one of Lucy's dresses for his act. I thought the character was disgusting, using garish female garb and grooming in a night club act. I only wear mine on special Saturday nights, and then only your basic black with cute ruffles on the shoulders. That performer should be ashamed of himself, a nonpareil of flamboyant self display.
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