Law & Order Season 25 Episode 5, “Bend the Knee,” emphasizes bold political statements when the suspect of a murder is the son of a foreign diplomat.

The episode explores themes regarding freedom of speech and political morality in a harsh critique of the current administration while maintaining an entertaining narrative from beginning to end.

The beginning of the episode is especially a highlight as the narrative jumps back and forth between Nick Baxter at his campaign event and Roger Wallace at his firm.

Both Nick and Roger deliver compelling speeches to their respective audiences, but the most intriguing line comes from Wallace, who says his firm must “hold the line.”

However, Wallace is murdered by a fellow lawyer for daring to take a stand against the current administration, even if it costs their firm millions of dollars.

The investigation into Wallace’s murder is stimulating because of Riley and Brady’s fun banter. Riley and Brady do not generally converse beyond the facts of the case, so when they do, it is always a treat that often revives the narrative.

Riley and Brady’s investigation of Wallace’s murder quickly leads to the discovery of the politics behind his firm. The board is struggling with how to respond to the government’s subtle threat to pull millions of dollars because of specific clients.

This narrative choice is risky in today’s political climate. However, it is a testament to how endangered free speech has become.

Law & Order courageously pursues this theme as Roger Wallace pays the price of daring to speak out of line with his life.

Things take a turn for the worse when the government gets involved after the DA charges Nasser Al Hallaq with murder, another dicey narrative choice that eventually pays off.

Al Hallaq is the son of a Chief Envoy from the United Arab Emirates, a key US ally in West Asia. However, prosecuting Al Hallaq will lead to grave consequences, including the end of a billion-dollar arms deal between the two countries.

Law & Order boldly critiques how the US government will prioritize problematic partnerships at the expense of Americans. It is more important to the administration to acquire weapons of war than it is to achieve justice for a murdered American.

Nick Baxter’s arc in “Bend the Knee” is how Law & Order expresses its critique of political morality. Nick decides to prosecute Al Hallaq, despite his old friend Jack Drell’s warning not to proceed.

New York City’s DA Office knows how to pick and choose its battles, and “Bend the Knee” certainly has a battle worth fighting for.

The administration should not bully private companies just because they do not conform to the government’s ideologies. It is a direct violation of free speech and everything the United States stands for.

Foreign allies are essential, but they should never come at the cost of Americans.

Law & Order shows that the current administration might say “America First,” but its actions suggest otherwise.

This installment still has some faults — most notably, the absence of ADA Samantha Maroun.

It is perfect for Samantha to play a critical role because she is unafraid to stand up for what she believes in. While Nolan accomplishes this task, Samantha would be more passionate and vocal about it.

Even though “Bend the Knee” focuses on Nick’s arc, Samantha could be present for key scenes that would amplify the narrative.

Law & Order does a disservice when they do not include Samantha in audacious episodes, and this episode is no exception. Hopefully, the series will refrain from this narrative decision going forward.

“Bend the Knee” ends with a chilling conversation between Nick and Jack that portrays the peril free speech is in.

Jack Drell: When I came to you, asked you to drop this case, that wasn’t some friendly request from an old pal. This is how things work now. People get in line; people need to bend the knee, or else there are repercussions. I think it’s something for you to really think about, ponder, you know? Where your allegiances really are at the end of the day, whether it’s really worth being your own guy in this day and age.

Nick stands up to the current administration by defying them and sending Al Hallaq to prison. However, his re-election campaign is already affected when donors pull out, and his next event is canceled.

Even though Nick firmly positions himself as someone who must follow his conscience and moral obligations, only time will tell whether he changes his mind, especially if it continues to affect his campaign.

Nick also deeply cares about his employees, which is why he chooses to pursue a manslaughter charge instead of first-degree murder. He knows if he were to do the latter, Nolan could land in hot water, and Nick refuses to let anyone go down with him.

Law & Order rarely portrays a softer, more vulnerable side of Nick, so this moment is refreshing.

The musical score is another notable highlight, especially when the episode ends with a tense number that illustrates the potentially dire circumstances Nick might find himself in.

After all, Roger Wallace is murdered for daring to stand up to the government. While the administration has nothing to do with Wallace’s death, the show still shows that some people will go to any length to keep dissenters silenced.

As long as Nick continues to defy governmental authorities, his life could be in danger. This storyline will be engaging and thrilling going forward.

Despite the downside of Samantha’s absence, this remains a compelling episode, with brave narrative choices that will undoubtedly impact the characters in the long run.