‘Not A Chance In Hell’: Law And Order’s Hugh Dancy Talks Price’s Complicated Family Reunion, And I Love How Much Thought He Put Into It

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Warning: This discussion contains plot details from the Episode 11 of Law & Order Season 24 titled “The Hardest Thing.” To watch it, you’ll need a Peacock subscription.

2025 TV lineup found Law & Order kicking off its newest episode with Shaw, Riley, and Baxter apprehending the murderer of a wealthy individual initially, but matters became far more intricate as the case reached the hands of the prosecutors. Nolan, however, faced an additional challenge: his brother appeared at the office to confront him about their ailing father, eventually forcing Nolan to make a challenging choice and ultimately confide in Maroun.

In my chat with actor Hugh Dancy regarding “The Hardest Thing,” it became clear that he has delved deeply into understanding the intricacies of his character throughout the four seasons, demonstrating careful consideration and thoughtfulness.

Nolan’s Family Reunion

In the first episode following the reunion of Law & Order and ER, Nolan’s storyline concerning his father in the hospital was revisited, even though he wished it had nothing to do with the ongoing homicide case involving assisted suicide. His brother, Thomas, dropped by the office to discuss their ailing father, who had recently taken a turn for the worse and required either hospice care or a feeding tube.

Nolan found himself avoiding workplace discussions, while Hugh Dancy eagerly embraced the challenge of portraying a complex narrative for his role. In an interview with TopMob, he lavished praise on Justin Chatwin, who joined the cast as Thomas Price, commending his performance.

The activity was quite amusing due to the fact that typically, an episode is filmed within eight days. In these eight days, I usually participate for around four. Therefore, my scenes with Justin likely took up about half a day or so, spread across various days. However, considering their circumstances, we spent nearly as much time discussing our parts beforehand as we did filming, which was more than I’ve previously done. A slight overstatement, but significantly more than my previous experiences.

If a series plans to produce more than 20 episodes in a single season, it means the cast must work at a rapid speed! It’s been reported that the actors portraying the Price brothers even discussed their characters’ past together, in addition to the writing team. Dancy continued:

It proved beneficial for me, Justin included, as he was diving headfirst into unfamiliar territory, and also for the scriptwriters as they grappled with crafting the episode. This reflection on their family dynamics, particularly why two individuals who appear to be close are at odds, and the influence of their shared loss of a sibling, helped them immensely in their work.

In most instances on ‘Law & Order’, guest actors play characters unrelated to the main characters; however, Justin Chatwin’s role was significant. Was it likely that Nolan would have accepted a plea deal if Thomas hadn’t branded him as both reasonable and cruel for wanting to keep their father on life support, given the recent demise of their brother, Christopher?

Hugh Dancy, who has shared his preferences for certain types of “Law & Order” stories in the past, expressed excitement about the possibility of delving into Nolan’s past. When I enquired about how much of Nolan’s backstory had been kept hidden on the series that he knows but hasn’t yet revealed, he replied:

I have some information about a character, and parts of it were initially included but didn’t make it to the final version due to time constraints. For instance, in the first episode I ever directed, there was a reference to his past as a defense attorney, which he later decided to switch to prosecution – an unusual move. Also, during our first season, we learned that he lost a brother to addiction, and this detail has always been important to me as it carries great significance for the character. Although it’s not often mentioned in the workplace, I felt strongly that its relevance needed to be subtly introduced when family was discussed in this recent episode.

Given that it’s been several years since the premiere of the Law & Order revival and over 50 episodes have passed, fans might appreciate how meticulous the actor has been in maintaining his character’s early history throughout the four seasons. Even though Nolan experienced the departure of Sam Waterston’s DA Jack McCoy and a rocky beginning with new DA Nick Baxter, his past was still evident. Therefore, isn’t it appropriate that one of Dancy’s frequent co-stars be involved in this storyline?

Nolan Opening Up To Maroun (Begrudgingly)

Nolan and Maroun collaborated closely on a homicide/assisted suicide case, and she was present during both of Nolan’s visits to the office when his brother, Thomas, came by. The initial encounter with Thomas was cordial, but there was a noticeable strain between the siblings in their subsequent meeting. Curious about the source of this tension, the Assistant District Attorney subtly inquired from her boss later, who seemed unsettled. It was then that Nolan confided in her about his father’s situation.

Was it only because his brother unexpectedly appeared at work that Hugh Dancy might have shared private details of his life with her? That’s a thought I had, and Hugh Dancy confirmed it was indeed possible.

It’s highly unlikely that he would disclose any of this information, [laughs]. He’s not a robot, and under the right circumstances, I could envision him revealing some details if there were significant events unfolding in her life that he could relate to emotionally. They have a strong bond, though I’ve occasionally given her a warning about her job. However, in this specific situation, he probably wouldn’t discuss it because the incident is still fresh and ongoing. It’s very much alive for him, so his instinct would be to remain silent on the matter.

In previous episodes, Maroun and her co-star Odelya Halevi have portrayed somewhat delicate scenes together, as Maroun has disclosed parts of her personal history, including the sad demise of her sister. Recently, the actor from ‘Hannibal’ discussed the opportunity to perform such a scene with his fellow cast member.

It’s terrific! Their relationship is fascinating, as they share a similar standing but I, naturally, hold a higher position in terms of work dynamics. Since we spend most of our active hours together, I appreciate any opportunity to delve deeper into their interactions beyond just advancing the storyline.

Overall, the episode proved to be quite an emotionally exhausting experience for Nolan Price’s character, yet enjoyable acting-wise for Hugh Dancy. One might wonder how it feels for him to portray deeply personal narratives in a series known for its procedural nature. Here’s what he shared about his experiences:

[Hugh Dancy] described the process as: Each episode presents unique challenges and opportunities, especially when dealing with intimate storylines within a show that is primarily known for its procedural aspects.

This show is taking an unusual turn, I must say [laughs]. The writers are being more intentional this season, trying to connect the characters’ work lives with events happening outside their usual environment – be it office or precinct. It makes for a more engaging watch, adding another layer of depth to the storyline.

It’s yet to be determined if or when the TV series “Law & Order” will delve into Nolan’s family storyline once more during Season 24. The brothers chose to let their father pass away naturally instead of keeping him alive with a feeding tube, but that doesn’t rule out the possibility that Thomas Price might reappear for another encounter with his sibling, correct? Keeping my fingers crossed as fresh episodes keep airing on NBC Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET!

Every Thursday, “Law & Order” is typically succeeded by “Law & Order: SVU”. However, we’re all eagerly awaiting the premiere of “Law & Order: Organized Crime”, set to stream exclusively on Peacock, for Season 5.

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2025-01-31 05:37