Law & Order (TV Series) Acid (2005) User Reviews

Van Buren takes a personal interest in a case

[garrard · 9/10 · 10 January 2010]

Lt. Anita Van Buren (Emmy winner S. Epatha Merkerson) takes charge of a case involving the suicide of the daughter of a college friend. The friend, well-played by guest Annie Corley, is reluctant to come forward because the daughter's ex-boyfriend - played with seedy relish and arrogance by guest John Mese - was seen on camera the day that the daughter was severely disfigured after having been doused with cleaning solution. The disfigurement led to the young lady's suicide, which, in turn, heightened Van Buren's resolve to bring the man to justice.

Van Buren almost commits perjury in her attempt to right the wrong; however, a planned "set-up" results in a situation wherein the boyfriend accidentally admits to doing the heinous act with the cleaning solution.

Merkerson, as always, is excellent and the installment offers her plenty of screen time, in both the "law" and "order" segments.

A bit of notable casting is that of "L.A. Law's" Michael Tucker as a defense attorney.

What did you throw on him? Vinegar.

[Mrpalli77 · 8/10 · 5 January 2018]

A family man couldn't manage to sleep because of a strange noise from upstairs; a neighbor maybe forgot to turn the music down from stereo. After getting into her apartment (accidentally still open), he noticed a girl hanged with a wire. After coming into the crime scene, Green figured out the victim had the left part of her face burned (a very big six months old scar). Van Buren knew her: she was the daughter of one of her best friends from police academy. Medical examiner stated she actually committed suicide, taking drugs shortly before hanging herself. Her mother (Annie Corley) had to know something, the victim hooked up with a guy very attractive whose drain cleaner went missing; furthermore, she panicked after the line up and ran away, fearing for the fate of her younger daughter.

A hard situation to deal with for Anita Van Buren. For the first time I see her committing perjury to protect someone else. Luckily for her, there were many people who wanted the perp locked up in jail.

Acidic jeopardy

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 16 August 2022]

Have loved the original 'Law and Order' for a long time, particularly the earlier seasons, and consider it my personal favourite of the 'Law and Order' franchise. "Acid" on paper immediately intrigued, to some (not me) it may seem too basic and ordinary. 'Law and Order' does have a good track record at making something great and more complex than expected out of stories that don't sound out of the ordinary on paper and understandably one expects similar from "Acid".

"Acid" delivers and wonderfully. It is one of the best episodes of a very good Season 16 and a great showcase for Anita Van Buren, a great character that did deserve more episodes to shine even more or at least more where she is a big focus. Like here in "Acid". From a character writing front, this is one of the more interesting episodes of the season and is one of Van Buren's most interesting and most emotionally impactful appearances.

Like other Season 16 episodes, and this was true for a number of latter seasons 'Law and Order' episodes, it is rather standard to begin with.

At the 15 or so minute mark, it becomes more complex from a writing and emotional standpoint and becomes a more special episode. ". On a visual level, the episode is 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 without being leaden, while having enough momentum to make the drama sing in its atmosphere.

The script is tight and lean, no extraneous fat here despite a lot of information to digest, as well as incredibly thought provoking and tense. The story is a complex one with many relevant and quite scary issues raised and handled uncompromisingly yet tactfully. But it never becomes incoherent or rushed. Lots of intensity and intrigue here and the character writing in the second half is riveting.

Especially for Van Buren. The acting is all round very, very good, with S Epatha Merkerson (in one of her best performances of the show) being superb throughout, an authoritative and poignant performance.

In conclusion, great episode. 9/10.

Unique in that it doesn't begin with a murder

[CrimeDrama1 · 8/10 · 12 October 2022]

This is a very compelling episode, at first glance. I have seen it several times over the years. Unfortunately, most of the conflict is forced by the writers. Lt. Van Buren's college friend, whose oldest daughter (Emily) commits suicide at the beginning of the episode, who all but sabotages the criminal case against the man who disfigured Emily months before her suicide. It seems to me that if I had a friend who was a high ranking police supervisor, I would ask THEM for help in that situation. Instead, we are supposed to believe Lt. Van Buren has to beg her friend multiple times to let her help? I don't understand why Callie's character didn't have more lines in this episode. It would have been very intriguing if Callie had approached Lt. Van Buren on her own. As much as I enjoyed seeing Callie dish out some medicine to the pompous jerk who is responsible for her sister's death, it's not entirely believable. How does Callie or anyone get to the suspect's front door completely unnoticed by police? My guess, police avoided the elevator(s) and had no surveillance in them. Anyway, I always enjoy seeing the jerk get what he deserves.

Skirting Perjury

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 23 June 2013]

This episode is belongs to S. Epptha Merkerssen who gets good and involved in a case that Lieutenant Van Buren takes a personal interest in. A young woman who turns out to be a daughter of an old friend of her's is found hanging in her apartment, her system loaded with drugs. The drugs were an anesthetic to prevent her gag reflexes from kicking in. There's also a healed scar, similar to the one Gloria Grahame had after Lee Marvin through hot coffee on her in The Big Heat.

That's what intrigues Van Buren when Fontana and Green bring her the crime scene photographs. They were the result of her former boyfriend who has a history of battering women and a history of intimidating them not to testify.

Van Buren almost ruins her career skirting perjury at the trial of John Mese who is one hateful man. It all works out in the end.

Michael Tucker who cut his teeth playing lawyers in LA Law is Mese's attorney and in the end shows how disagreeable a job that was. Nicely done story with S. Epptha Merkersen shining in this one.