This is a good episode. It shows how people can get involved in a belief to the point where they go to the extreme. I think the story is good. It is well done and handled with no bias. The only problem I have is the guy Greg. Sorry, but IMO that is the worst beard and moustache I have ever seen. You can tell they are fake.
5 Reviews
How Easy It is to make a Terrorist
bkoganbing8 February 2012
Center Stage in this Law And Order episode belongs to Will Horneff who plays a young American kid who converts to Islam and of the most extreme variety. He and another kid come in and murder a husband and wife pair of college professors.
This kid is so whacked out on his extreme interpretation of his faith that he's his own worst enemy. He insists on defending himself and keeps trying to drag in all kinds of global issues into his own murder case, trying to make it a political trial.
As Sam Waterston observes 'how easy is it to make a terrorist' at the end of the program. But the heroine of this particular program is Elisabeth Rohm. She handles the cross examination of Horneff on the witness stand and discovers the key to his conversion. It's a far more universal problem among kids than religious differences and in the end Horneff is quite broken.
But the episode does show that all kinds of different things can make a person go off the deep end whether they justify their crime with religion or not.
This kid is so whacked out on his extreme interpretation of his faith that he's his own worst enemy. He insists on defending himself and keeps trying to drag in all kinds of global issues into his own murder case, trying to make it a political trial.
As Sam Waterston observes 'how easy is it to make a terrorist' at the end of the program. But the heroine of this particular program is Elisabeth Rohm. She handles the cross examination of Horneff on the witness stand and discovers the key to his conversion. It's a far more universal problem among kids than religious differences and in the end Horneff is quite broken.
But the episode does show that all kinds of different things can make a person go off the deep end whether they justify their crime with religion or not.
Maybe there was a little hero worship going on.
Mrpalli7719 November 2017
After dinner, a man was walking the dog when he heard several gunshots and a Hispanic boy running away from the crime scene; the perp threw the gun in the trash can, leaving his fingerprints on it. The victims were a married couple: the husband was a scientist in charge of a significant research over stem cell; he had many enemies in his field, included a researcher who held a grudge against him for not receiving any credit. Anyway forensic pointed out the victims were killed by two different guns and the real target was the wife, a political activist for women's right; after the Latino was locked up (he's only a two- bit thief) he named the other guy, a nineteen years old converted brat (Wil Horneff), sick of American life and brainwashed in Pakistan shortly before. Detectives caught him in a mosque and he refused a no-Muslim attorney, acting as a racist over Jews and women throughout the trial. Anyway all this anger is not so religiously related...
Two episodes in a row related to Islamophobia, very popular at the time. The main actor looks like Jihadi John, sharing with him the same background; his performance was excellent.
Two episodes in a row related to Islamophobia, very popular at the time. The main actor looks like Jihadi John, sharing with him the same background; his performance was excellent.
American Jihad (13.1) Season opener 2002.The Best of the Best
van124314 May 2006
Greetings,
I've been a loyal fan of Law and Order for many years and for the most part enjoyed all, with very few exceptions. However, by far this episode is was the "Best of the Best"!!!! I recognize that the subject matter is timely, as is the case with the greater majority L&O's work but this one had a much deeper quality and the lead guest was riveting.
I could see how a young person, without much of an identity,an aimless direction, and a need to be loved could turn to the pressures of extreme fanatic religion, once exposed, to give him a purpose in life. Having a son the same age as the episode's guest lead,who is away at college in New York, briefly gave me pause. In fact, I called him several times that week just to keep connected and have a sense that he wasn't becoming associated with these extremist groups.
I believe this is one of the most repeated episodes in L&O's history, based upon the several times I have seen it re-televised over the past few years. Maybe some number counter out there can verify my assumption.
I've been a loyal fan of Law and Order for many years and for the most part enjoyed all, with very few exceptions. However, by far this episode is was the "Best of the Best"!!!! I recognize that the subject matter is timely, as is the case with the greater majority L&O's work but this one had a much deeper quality and the lead guest was riveting.
I could see how a young person, without much of an identity,an aimless direction, and a need to be loved could turn to the pressures of extreme fanatic religion, once exposed, to give him a purpose in life. Having a son the same age as the episode's guest lead,who is away at college in New York, briefly gave me pause. In fact, I called him several times that week just to keep connected and have a sense that he wasn't becoming associated with these extremist groups.
I believe this is one of the most repeated episodes in L&O's history, based upon the several times I have seen it re-televised over the past few years. Maybe some number counter out there can verify my assumption.
Taking it to the extremes
TheLittleSongbird13 June 2022
One of the biggest appeals of 'Law and Order' has been the topics it addresses and issues that come with the topics addressed. Also with how they are explored, the execution more often than not was hardly sugar coated or trivialised and was often pull no punches in quality. The Season 13 premiere "American Jahid" is one of the most daring ones of the later seasons and one of the boldest of the season, though could easily have been heavy handed and too much of a political statement if done wrong.
This turned out to be a truly marvellous premiere to Season 13 and one of the season's best. Am not surprised that it is very popular whenever 'Law and Order' repeats. A difficult subject is handled uncompromisingly but also without falling into any of the traps that can come with tackling it (like some episodes that tackled similar issues did). But it is a marvellous episode of 'Law and Order' on its own terms, and the few things that were recurring problems in Seasons 12-15 were not problems here.
Everything works here. As usual, the production values are solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough while also taut.
Moreover, the script challenges enough without being too much of a challenge in terms of understanding what's going on. It is not routine in the policing scenes and is very thought provoking and uncompromising when it comes to court. The writing is taut and doesn't get one sided or preachy, like it can easily do with this sort of subject. Nor does it become too much of a political statement, something that again could have been an issue.
Really loved and was suitably unsettled by its uncompromising approach to subject with no sugar coating, while still being tasteful and any characters that could have been stereotyped are more complex than that. The cross examination between Southerlyn and the perpetrator was the surprising dramatic highlight, was very surprised by its tension.
Acting all round is excellent. Will Horneff gives the chills and this is one of the very few times where Southerlyn has actually had personality and served point and where Elisabeth Rohm wasn't wooden. Sam Waterston, Jesse L. Martin and Jerry Orbach can't be faulted.
In conclusion, one of Season 13's best. 10/10.
This turned out to be a truly marvellous premiere to Season 13 and one of the season's best. Am not surprised that it is very popular whenever 'Law and Order' repeats. A difficult subject is handled uncompromisingly but also without falling into any of the traps that can come with tackling it (like some episodes that tackled similar issues did). But it is a marvellous episode of 'Law and Order' on its own terms, and the few things that were recurring problems in Seasons 12-15 were not problems here.
Everything works here. As usual, the production values are solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough while also taut.
Moreover, the script challenges enough without being too much of a challenge in terms of understanding what's going on. It is not routine in the policing scenes and is very thought provoking and uncompromising when it comes to court. The writing is taut and doesn't get one sided or preachy, like it can easily do with this sort of subject. Nor does it become too much of a political statement, something that again could have been an issue.
Really loved and was suitably unsettled by its uncompromising approach to subject with no sugar coating, while still being tasteful and any characters that could have been stereotyped are more complex than that. The cross examination between Southerlyn and the perpetrator was the surprising dramatic highlight, was very surprised by its tension.
Acting all round is excellent. Will Horneff gives the chills and this is one of the very few times where Southerlyn has actually had personality and served point and where Elisabeth Rohm wasn't wooden. Sam Waterston, Jesse L. Martin and Jerry Orbach can't be faulted.
In conclusion, one of Season 13's best. 10/10.
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