The original post: /r/television by /u/ao01_design on 2025-11-10 10:09:36+00:00.
What is crazy 30 laters is how this show is a representation of the recent history of the U.S.
Virtually every case/episode is an opportunity to discuss a social issue from the current time. This show absolutely capture the zeitgeist and as such is a fascinating view into our recent past. Most of the case are inspired by real crime or are amalgam of different true crime with the same theme.
L&O is also a map of the technological progress of the past decades. The first season have almost no computer. DNA is talked about but not often really used so far. They almost never rely upon CCTV. Season 6 has the first detective with a cellphone.
This show should be used as an historical and sociological tool !
**** KIND OF SPOILERY FOR EARLY SEASONS *****
The only problem is each time you see an actor that later become famous later or that you recognize there’s almost 100% that they are the killer. A 13 years old ? Killer ! Amanda Peet ? Killer ! A pre Grey’s anatomy Ellen Pompeo ? Well I’m currently watching the episode but I bet she has something to do with crime…