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Law & Order

Savior

  • Episode aired Mar 13, 1996
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
251
YOUR RATING
S6.E16
  • S6
  • E16
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  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Ellen Pompeo in Law & Order (1990)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery
A hard-luck executive is accused of murdering his wife and son, and injuring his daughter. Dr. Olivet tells prosecutors that he fits the profile of a "family annihilator," but backs down whe... Read allA hard-luck executive is accused of murdering his wife and son, and injuring his daughter. Dr. Olivet tells prosecutors that he fits the profile of a "family annihilator," but backs down when he refuses to confess on the stand.A hard-luck executive is accused of murdering his wife and son, and injuring his daughter. Dr. Olivet tells prosecutors that he fits the profile of a "family annihilator," but backs down when he refuses to confess on the stand.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
251
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • David Platt
  • Writers
    • Dick Wolf
    • Michael S. Chernuchin
    • Barry M. Schkolnick
  • Stars
    • Jerry Orbach
    • Benjamin Bratt
    • S. Epatha Merkerson
Top credits
  • Director
    • David Platt
  • Writers
    • Dick Wolf
    • Michael S. Chernuchin
    • Barry M. Schkolnick
  • Stars
    • Jerry Orbach
    • Benjamin Bratt
    • S. Epatha Merkerson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

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    Top cast

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    Jerry Orbach
    Jerry Orbach
    • Detective Lennie Briscoeas Detective Lennie Briscoe
    Benjamin Bratt
    Benjamin Bratt
    • Detective Rey Curtisas Detective Rey Curtis
    S. Epatha Merkerson
    S. Epatha Merkerson
    • Lieutenant Anita Van Burenas Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
    Sam Waterston
    Sam Waterston
    • E.A.D.A. Jack McCoyas E.A.D.A. Jack McCoy
    Jill Hennessy
    Jill Hennessy
    • A.D.A. Claire Kincaidas A.D.A. Claire Kincaid
    Steven Hill
    Steven Hill
    • D.A. Adam Schiffas D.A. Adam Schiff
    Brooke Smith
    Brooke Smith
    • Margot Bellas Margot Bell
    Timothy Landfield
    Timothy Landfield
    • Ron Weberas Ron Weber
    Ellen Pompeo
    Ellen Pompeo
    • Jenna Weberas Jenna Weber
    Linda Emond
    Linda Emond
    • Laura Cochranas Laura Cochran
    Shawn Hatosy
    Shawn Hatosy
    • Chester Manningas Chester Manning
    Carolyn McCormick
    Carolyn McCormick
    • Dr. Elizabeth Olivetas Dr. Elizabeth Olivet
    Linda Atkinson
    • Judge Kyle Gainesas Judge Kyle Gaines
    John Driver
    • Mark Levinsohnas Mark Levinsohn
    Nancy McDoniel
    Nancy McDoniel
    • Sheila Gordonas Sheila Gordon
    Richmond Hoxie
    Richmond Hoxie
    • Dr. Lloyd Lipmanas Dr. Lloyd Lipman
    Geoffrey Wade
    Geoffrey Wade
    • Mitchell Weisbrodas Mitchell Weisbrod
    Ray DeMattis
    • Bob Sanetas Bob Sanet
    • Director
      • David Platt
    • Writers
      • Dick Wolf
      • Michael S. Chernuchin
      • Barry M. Schkolnick
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    Storyline

    Edit
    Detectives Briscoe and Curtis investigate the murder of Joyce Weber and her son Billy who were found shot in their beds. Her eldest daughter Jenna survived the attack but the father, Ron Weber, says he was out drinking and passed out in a local diner. Weber had been having a hard time of late. His alcoholism was getting the better of him and he had lost his job, something he had failed to tell his wife. He was worried about how he would care for his family and meet his responsibilities as the head of the family. Dr. Olivet confirms that he fits the pattern of a family annihilator and ADA McCoy proceeds with the prosecution. Part way through the trial however, Olivet begins to have doubts leading the police and the DA's office to take a second look at Jenna Weber's boyfriend Chester Manning. —garykmcd
    • reference to jimmy carter
    • reference to norman rockwell
    • reference to saks fifth avenue
    • reference to jim henson
    • state liquor authorirty
    • 17 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • TV-14
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This episode appears to be based on two different crimes of family annihilation cases:
      • The 1971/1989 John List (a.k.a. "The Boogeyman of Westfield") case. On November 9, 1971, List killed his wife, mother, and three children at their home in Westfield, New Jersey, then disappeared; he had planned the murders so meticulously that nearly a month passed before anyone suspected that anything was amiss. List became a fugitive from the law and assumed a new identity. He later remarried, and further eluded justice for nearly eighteen years. He was finally apprehended in Virginia on June 1, 1989, after the story of his murders was broadcast on the television program America's Most Wanted. After extradition to New Jersey, he was convicted on five counts of first degree murder and sentenced to five consecutive terms of life imprisonment without parole. List gave critical financial problems, as well as his perception that his family members were straying from their religious faith, as his rationale for the murders. He reasoned that killing them would assure their souls a place in Heaven, where he hoped to eventually join them. List died in prison in 2008 at the age of 82.
      • The 1976 Bradford Bishop case. One of the most famous family annihilation cases in American history. State Department official Bradford Bishop killed his entire family in 1976 when he didn't receive a promotion. He then vanished. He is still on the FBI's Most Wanted Fugitives list, and he has been featured on "America's Most Wanted (1988)"and "Unsolved Mysteries (1987)." As late as 2010, the FBI believed that he was still alive, likely in Europe, and that he fled the U.S. shortly after the murders using his diplomatic passport.
    • Quotes

      Lennie Briscoe: [after interviewing Ron Weber] If he loved his kids that much, he'd have been home to tuck them in.

      Detective Rey Curtis: Yeah? You tell me **you** never drank too much and blacked out.

      Lennie Briscoe: Hey -- I missed the whole Carter administration, but I was always home for breakfast.

    • Connections
      References Doctor Zhivago (1965)

    User reviews7

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Unhappy families
    With the episodes from 'Law and Order's' middle period (Seasons 7-14) and from its later seasons airing so often, it is very easy perhaps to overlook the pre-Season 7 seasons. That is a shame, because 'Law and Order' in its early years was more often than not good to fantastic with some truly fine episodes in each of the seasons in question. Wasn't blown away by every episode, indicated in the weakest episodes of Season 6, but when the show was at its best it was brilliant, and there were obvious good things in lesser episodes too.

    "Savior's" subject sounded very interesting and can't think of any 'Law and Order' episode beforehand that tackled it. Was a bit worried that it would be a bit too ordinary, as it did sound formulaic structurally and other Season 6 episodes tackled far bolder and heavier themes. As said a few times in reviews for previous episodes, 'Law and Order' has actually shown more than once that it can do something interesting and at times special with ordinary-sounding premises. The latter is not quite achieved with the latter category, but it succeeds in the former.

    The ending for my tastes did try to cram too much in in a too short space of time. Meaning pretty much everything in the last five minutes or so, as has been said already, and with the truth already being quite difficult to get the head round it did feel a little confusing at the end.

    However, "Savior" has so many good things and pretty much excels everywhere else. The photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has some nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way.

    Moreover, the script is thought provoking and smart, thankfully not rambling or too complicated that it makes things confused. A lot of the legal scenes' dialogue really probes thought and pulls no punches, which prime-'Law and Order' often excelled at brilliantly. It's not just non stop seriousness though, there are also humorous moments here and there such as Briscoe's one-liners. The story is an interesting and well paced one that is a lot less ordinary than it sounds.

    It has a lot to say about family annihilation, as said a unique topic back then for the show, and it is handled in a balanced and illuminating way. It is also quite creepy in terms of atmosphere. The performances are great all round, can't fault the regulars (especially Jerry Orbach and Sam Waterston). Standing out especially is Ellen Pompeo in the latter stages.

    Overall, very good. 8/10
    helpful•8
    1
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Mar 3, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 13, 1996 (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Wolf Films
      • Universal Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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