Following Law And Order’s Career-Ending Fall Finale Twist, I’m More Attached Than I Realized To Maura Tierney’s Jessica Brady

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As a seasoned gamer of both virtual and real-life dramas, I can confidently say that the fall finale of Law & Order Season 24 left me more entangled than a high-stakes raid gone awry. The character development and plot twists have been nothing short of gripping, and Jessica Brady has become a beacon of resilience in this gritty landscape.

Spoilers ahead for the fall finale of Law & Order Season 24, called “Bad Apple,” which will be available streaming with a Peacock subscription.

Although not typically renowned for its suspenseful cliffhangers, the Season 24 fall finale of Law & Order certainly left some significant questions unanswered as the 2024 TV schedule comes to a close. In the episode titled “Bad Apple,” Jessica Brady found herself collaborating once more with her former narcotics team. However, things took an unexpected turn when one officer was fatally shot in the back. At first glance, it appeared to be a simple case of teaming up; but, as it turned out, another officer was corrupt and his superiors had a history of concealing his misdeeds… even involving Brady herself.

In the end, her decision led to the downfall of both the criminal and his superior, a move that could potentially bring about her own demise too, as an IAB detective paid her a visit at work. It turns out, I didn’t realize until now just how attached I was to Brady!

What Happened In Law & Order’s Fall Finale

Detective Miles Brandt stood accused of murdering his partner, Detective Harrison, amidst allegations of his corrupt past. However, this corruption had never been officially documented because figures like Detective Brady and their superior, Captain Stockwell, chose to turn a blind eye, even when Harrison raised concerns. When Brandt attempted to shift the blame onto Harrison in an attempt to avoid the murder charge, Brady understood that someone would have to come forward to shed light on Brandt’s real character.

In his upcoming retirement, Stockwell declined because police officers typically don’t testify against each other, as there’s an unspoken rule, often referred to as “the blue wall,” that the NYPD should not breach. He felt strongly about this and chose not to cross that line.

Brady chose to accept the consequences. She appeared in court and confessed, trying not to implicate Stockwell excessively without lying under oath. Although she acknowledged to Price during the trial that she had reported Harrison’s complaints to her superior and he had failed to act, she took complete responsibility for Brandt not receiving formal punishment, stating that “I was the one who convinced Harrison not to pursue the issue further.” She continued:

It was common knowledge that Brandt was taking some leeway, but no one anticipated it would escalate this much… There seems to be an unspoken agreement among the officers. Harrison found it hard to accept it. He believed that being a good police officer entailed ensuring that the other officers you were working with were also good. And now I understand he was correct.

The outcome led to Brandt being found guilty of first-degree murder, effectively bringing an end to his NYPD career and presumably Stockwell’s as well. Regarding Brady, the closing scene of the fall finale showed her walking through a less than welcoming hallway at work, even Shaw was brusque when he said “You have a visitor, Jess” before brushing past her. All Riley managed to give her was a nod towards her office, where IAB Detective Jason Cassidy was already seated, ready to discuss Miles Brandt with her.

Typically, it’s a thrill when Law & Order presents a cliffhanger that extends beyond a single case of the week. However, Brady’s future being uncertain has made me understand: though I strongly suspect she won’t be leaving, I genuinely hope she remains part of the series.

My Realization About Brady

It’s clear that I had a natural inclination towards Brady, as I am a devoted fan of ER who admired Maura Tierney’s performance as Abby on that extended NBC series. Yet, I was equally engrossed in Dixon’s narrative as the lieutenant in Law & Order, and Camryn Manheim played a significant role in revitalizing the show during its return to primetime after a multi-year hiatus. Interestingly, Dixon didn’t have a screen departure at the end of Season 23, and the only resolution came in the Season 24 premiere when Riley received a text from his former lieutenant.

Indeed, Mehcad Brooks was expressing enthusiasm about Tierney’s role in the cast before Season 24 started, but I must admit, I had doubts about Brady’s compatibility with the rest of the team. However, during the initial episodes this season, I found myself becoming a supporter… and then came the fall finale, hinting at Brady potentially sabotaging her career to seek justice for a fallen officer. At that moment, I truly appreciated how much Maura Tierney has enriched the show this season.

Luckily, Brady is featured in the trailer for the latter part of Season 24, suggesting she hasn’t experienced a demotion. Have a peek here:

In the upcoming year, starting from January 16th at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), “Law & Order” makes its comeback on NBC. Following this, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” will air as scheduled at 9 p.m. ET. As for “Law & Order: Organized Crime”, it’s uncertain if season 5 episodes will be available early in 2025. However, you can catch up with this spinoff on Peacock, instead of seeing it alongside “L&O” and “SVU” on NBC.

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2024-11-22 07:08