The Third Guy

Episode aired Feb 25, 2000
TV-14
45m

IMDb RATING

8.3/10

1.2K

YOUR RATING

Denis O'Hare in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)

Crime Drama Mystery Thriller

Two teenagers are arrested in connection with the assault and robbery of an elderly woman, but it soon becomes clear that someone else committed the attack.Two teenagers are arrested in connection with the assault and robbery of an elderly woman, but it soon becomes clear that someone else committed the attack.Two teenagers are arrested in connection with the assault and robbery of an elderly woman, but it soon becomes clear that someone else committed the attack.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.3/10

1.2K

YOUR RATING

1User review

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Captain Cragen says "we don't need another Richard Jewell on our hands." Richard Jewell was a former police officer and security guard who was working security at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. While doing his rounds, Jewell discovered an unattended backpack containing three pipe bombs. Jewell immediately alerted police and helped evacuate the stadium before the bomb went off, helping save dozens, perhaps hundreds of lives. Jewell was initially hailed as a hero and was interviewed by a number of media outlets. However, during their investigation of the bombing, an FBI agent leaked it to the media that Jewell was a suspect. Before long media outlets across the globe reported Jewell as being the bomber, even though the FBI didn't have sufficient evidence to arrest Jewell, let alone convict him. Jewell was fired from his job and reportedly shunned, having been "tried and convicted" by the media. Eventually the FBI cleared Jewell as a suspect and discovered the bomber to be an American domestic terrorist named Eric Rudolph, who also committed a number of other bombings in support of his anti-abortion and anti-homosexual agenda. The exonerated Jewell filed a number of lawsuits for libel and defamation of character, including suits against NBC (who settled for $500,000), the New York Post for $15 million (settled out of court for an undisclosed amount), and Cox Communications and CNN, who both also settled out of court. Since then Richard Jewell's case has been considered an example of the damage that can be done by media reporting based on unreliable or incomplete information. This case is also an excellent example of how mass media coverage about a suspect accused of a crime can poison and unduly influence prospective jury pools.

Goofs
When Munch pulls the prescription out of Alfonso's pockets he says he scored salicylamide, a prescription diuretic. Salicylamide is actually used for pain relief and fever reduction, not as a diuretic.

Quotes
Tech: Guy ejaculated on her thigh. Take a look at this. Tied up with her own support hose.
Detective Olivia Benson: The attacker came unprepared. The rape was probably an afterthought.
Detective Elliot Stabler: How do you get those thoughts about somebody who looks like your grandmother?

Connections
References The Third Man (1949)

User reviews1

Featured review

8/10

The Third Guy

Have very little bad to say about the surprisingly strong (for a stage for quite a number of shows that can be shaky in a couple or more components) but not completely flawless first season of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit', or of the previous episodes. "Wanderlust" and "Stocks and Bondage" disappointed, while still being watchable, but the rest of the episodes ranged from good to brilliant and don't consider any of the season's episodes bad.

"The Third Guy" is one of the very good episodes of Season 1. It is not one of the best episodes of the season and not perfect, but there is more good, or shall we say great, than not so good and it feels more like a 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' episode than the previous one "Entitled". That was also very good, though felt more like a 'Law and Order' episode with the 'Special Victims Unit' characters guest starring, which for me was not a bad thing necessarily but just a thought.

Regarding "The Third Guy", its only major problem really was that it felt over-stuffed. A lot of characters (a few too many) and a lot going on in a short space of time (so it could have slowed down and been a couple less revelations and developed a little more the crucial ones).

With that being said, it is a very compelling case with nothing being what it seems and with plenty of surprises. The characters may not be rich in development but still intrigue and are well written, one cannot completely hate the responsible. The writing is thought-provoking and taut, with some nice dry humour from Munch that doesn't come over as out of place, and love the chemistry between the regular cast.

Great to see Stabler and Olivia not being underused and seeing more of their chemistry that adds so much to the show's appeal, as well as how the case is solved by sometimes little things pieced together. The whole cast do a fine job (nice to see JK Simmons as Skoda, a recurring character on the original 'Law and Order' around that show's prime period and around the time when this first aired), while the quality of the production values and scoring remain high.

In summary, very good if over-stuffed. 8/10