ABSTRACT
The visual confusion is compounded by the noises left in the soundtrack, among which it is often hard to distinguish any words other than those of the ‘lead’ cop, guide to the underworld. US-style violence has also been featured prominently in Ian Rankin’s bestselling novels, whose protagonist is the Edinburgh homicide detective Inspector Rebus. The show always opens with a crime which quickly becomes the object of the New York homicide detective gaze. The most common plot of cop films is the good cop’s struggle against a corrupt or malfunctioning system. The show’s half-and-half format has the highly political effect of formally precluding a third segment told from the standpoint of the defence. In contrast to lawyer films and books starring valiant defence counsel managing to obtain freedom for the clients, Law & Order completely excludes the defence bar.
