In the landmark 400th episode of the legal drama of Law and Order, the tension runs high as Jack McCoy faces off against his own daughter, Rebecca, portrayed by Elisabeth Waterson, in a complex case involving the politics of gun control. As a formidable defense attorney, Rebecca proves to be a worthy opponent for her father in this family affair. Our protagonist is defending a man who took matters into his own hands and shot a senator at his daughter’s wedding as a form of retaliation for a vote on gun control. In a stunning turn of events, Executive ADA Price (played by the talented Hugh Dancy) goes against his boss and shows empathy towards the defendant, all while striving to maintain a neutral stance. Read on at tvacute.com for a comprehensive breakdown of the season 22 finale of Law and Order, and you’ll get all the answers you need.
Law and Order 400th episode Recap
After a U.S. senator was murdered at his daughter’s wedding, tensions ran high. Shaw and Cosgrove reviewed surveillance footage and identified their suspect as a waiter wearing a KN95 mask. (He committed murder, but at least he was COVID-aware.) Derek Quinn, disturbed over gun violence in the United States, was located by the police and saved from suicide. He felt betrayed by the senator’s about-face on gun legislation. Shaw calmed Derek down, and police eventually arrested him.
Jack McCoy said at a press conference that the state court system will be handling the prosecution of this case. We must not allow ourselves to devolve into a society in which political disputes are settled with violence, or in which capable, principled people are afraid to serve their country. Since McCoy’s daughter Rebecca (played by Sam Waterston’s real-life daughter, Elisabeth Waterston) represented the defendant, the case presented some peculiar challenges for him. In response to Price’s question on the next steps, he put up a brave front. McCoy remarked, “This is just another case, and she is just a different attorney, but I love my daughter very much.”
At his arraignment, Derek claimed he had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after surviving one of the bloodiest school shootings in American history. (After disarming the shooter and saving lives, Derek never recovered.) McCoy argued that despite Derek’s past exploits, he shouldn’t be given a free pass for murdering a senator out of anger, and Price and Maroun agreed. Price agreed legally but pointed out that the jury may throw out the verdict if they felt differently about it ethically. McCoy insisted on a first-degree murder allegation due to the attack’s deliberate nature.
Price had a little panic episode while clutching the gun he used to murder the senator and asked for a break during the trial. In spite of his attempts to dismiss it, Maroun pointed out that he had experienced something similar and was also dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. (Note that previously in the season, Price was shot in the subway, but he survived.)
Law and Order Season 22 Episode 22 Ending!
An emotional Price pleaded with McCoy to make a plea agreement after hearing testimony from a psychiatrist about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the best they could do was charge him with first-degree manslaughter and give him a 15-year sentence. After Rebecca turned down the offer, Derek was tried and convicted of first-degree murder. McCoy, who sat in the rear of the courtroom looking somber, was not the only one who was unhappy with the outcome. Rebecca declined her father’s invitation to supper because she was upset by his lack of compassion during the case. McCoy was making an excessive effort to avoid giving the impression that he favored his daughter, as pointed out by Price. It might have been the final straw in their relationship.
