Law & Order season 25 got started with a resolution to the Carter Mills case, but with a predictable episode that often felt underwhelming when it came to the case, the series proved it already knows exactly how to save itself. Throughout Law & Order’s long-running history, the series has had its ups and downs when it comes to storytelling, ratings, and cast retention.

After returning to NBC in 2021, Law & Order has had some difficult moments, especially when it comes to the show’s cast turnover. While Hugh Dancy, who plays EADA Nolan Price, and Odelya Halevi, who plays ADA Samantha Maroun, have stuck around throughout the revival, the rest of the cast has consistently changed. With those casting changes, ratings have been inconsistent.

Having been through it all, Law & Order season 25 has returned for another season of exploring the criminal justice system. While viewers were prepared to see the resolution of the Mills murder after the emotionally difficult trial, knowing that Maroun had a highly personal stake in the case left viewers on a cliffhanger. While the resolution was underwhelming, the series identified something important.

Law & Order Season 25’s Carter Mills Case Had A Predictable Resolution With A Personal Twist

The Case Itself Was Resolved In A Standard Law & Order Style

Throughout Law & Order season 25’s premiere, the question of the episode revolved around who murdered Carter Mills. While it was clear that Maroun had motive, she was adamant throughout that she hadn’t been the one to take Carter’s life. After a search was conducted on Maroun’s apartment and her gun wasn’t found in its safe, she revealed to Price that she’d considered killing Carter.

Having revealed she threw her gun in the East river after considering taking matters into her own hands, Maroun was cleared and back on the case. While lieutenant Jessica Brady (Maura Tierney) worked to move the needle, Carter’s girlfriend Julia (Christine Spang) became the prime suspect and eventually was caught in the act by an outdoor camera, bringing the episode to trial.

While Maroun and Price were divided on how to proceed, DA Nicholas Baxter (Tony Goldwyn) pushed for a murder charge as the case got underway. As the case proceeded, Maroun struggled to see how it was fair to prosecute someone who’d done something she’d felt strongly about. Fighting tears throughout the episode, Halevi’s performance was nuanced and impactful.

After Julia admitted to the murder being pre-meditated after being offered a plea, Maroun and Price stepped into a morally gray area, keeping the information to themselves. Law & Order may have laid out a predictable case, but proved something else in the process.

Law & Order’s In-Depth Look At Maroun’s Emotions Should Be A Blueprint Moving Forward

Focusing On The Characters Emotional Intensity Is The Key To Success

As Halevi move through the episode, touching on each of the most difficult moments of Maroun’s journey, it was clear that she understood now nuanced the emotional state of someone convicting the murderer of the man who’d murdered her own sister would be. Maroun had all of the motive and all of the access it would take to murder Mills, but her moral compass couldn’t allow her to do it.

Law & Order often depicts predictable cases that viewers strive to solve before the professionals on screen, and while some complain about its lack of originality, others take comfort in its predictability. Showing off Halevi’s abilities in the Law & Order season 25 premiere proved, however, that the show already has what it needs to succeed with its current cast.

Rather than trying to infuse its episodes with unpredictable twists and turns, Law & Order should continue to dig deep into the characters who solve the cases, allowing their inner lives to be more prevalent on screen. By letting the actors who lead the series do the emotional legwork, Law & Order could resonate with its viewers in a whole new way.