When Detective Green shoots a murder suspect, an internal investigation reveals that he had a gambling problem and once owed money to the suspect. The DA's office reluctantly pursues murder ... Read allWhen Detective Green shoots a murder suspect, an internal investigation reveals that he had a gambling problem and once owed money to the suspect. The DA's office reluctantly pursues murder charges against him.When Detective Green shoots a murder suspect, an internal investigation reveals that he had a gambling problem and once owed money to the suspect. The DA's office reluctantly pursues murder charges against him.
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- Des Chiarella
- (as Lou Carbonneau)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- Trivia"Burn card" is a term used in card games, most commonly in poker, referring to a playing card which is dealt from the top of the deck and "burned" (i.e. discarded and unused by the players); the practice of card burning is frequently utilized in casinos to cut down on cheating.
- GoofsThe victim is found near an elevated subway line which is later described as being "near Lexington and 96th". There are no elevated subway lines near that area.
- Quotes
Ed Green: Oh, hey, lieu. I just came back to get my date book and some personal stuff.
Anita Van Buren: Maybe I should have a look at it. Apparently, there's a lot I never knew about you, Ed.
Ed Green: Look, the gambling... I got back into it when Lennie left.
Anita Van Buren: Well, partners aren't forever.
Ed Green: Yeah. Then Lennie died.
Anita Van Buren: So you found comfort in a speakeasy on 121st Street.
Ed Green: As a matter of fact, yeah. I did.
- ConnectionsReferences Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Renewal (2007)
Along with "Betrayal", "Illegal" and "Executioner", "Burn Card" is one of the best episodes of an inconsistent season. It is a great, if very sombre, farewell to Green and one of the original 'Law and Order's' better character farewells (along with Briscoe and Borgia, the others were a mix of abrupt, indifferent and downright cheap, Cassady and even more so Southerlyn faring worse). And a wonderful 'Law and Order' episode overall and its tackling of the dark side of gambling was laudable.
Pretty much everything works and the episode contains one of the season's better and more compelling first quarters. Jesse L Martin is marvellous in his final appearance, one of his best of the show and it helps that character development-wise this is something of a showcase for Green. Who was always an interesting, gritty and commanding character, but this is the first proper time we got to know him as a person. Some may say that what is revealed here was sudden, but there was some subtle foreshadowing in other episodes that were only picked up upon on rewatch.
He has great chemistry with a more understated Jeremy Sisto and with the rest of the cast, S Epatha Merkerson always delivers. Anthony Anderson makes a promising first impression and the friction between Lupo and Bernard worked very well in this episode, with it being an intentional part of the plot. It did take a while for me to get used to their partnership in the episodes after this one, due to Bernard turning out to be a more interesting character but here any personality clashes or disconnect work.
Was a bit concerned at first about "Burn Card" being so heavy on showing Green's personal circumstances, but his plot tied in with the case (actually was the case/story and wasn't actually a subplot) incredibly well and was intense and also moving. It wasn't melodramatic, like too many of latter seasons 'Special Victims Unit's' personal life stories, didn't feel dragged out and didn't feel disjointed. It is also a case of both the first and second halves being equally good, rather than the second half being superior to the first or vice versa. The arrest and handing in of belongings was lump to the throat worthy at the thought of seeing Green go.
The episode is tightly and intelligently scripted, with the right amount of gritty edge and melodrama kept at bay. The dark side of gambling is familiar territory (all three major 'Law and Order' covered it at least once) but felt fresh here, with one of the most unyielding and most tense explorations of it of the franchise. Can find nothing to fault the production values for though, the slickness and grit still present and likewise with the more fluid editing. The music is used relatively sparingly and is not too intrusively orchestrated, fitting too with the mood. The direction is generally alert but also sympathetic, shining in the character interactions.
Overall, wonderful episode with one of the show's best faring farewells. 10/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Oct 16, 2022