"Bad Apple" is a decent mid-season finale that explores the challenges of holding police accountable for their corruption. The showrunner, centering on Lt. Jessica Brady (Maura Tierney), skillfully balances substance with accessibility, without relying on over-used, sensational, race-based narratives about police misconduct. Let’s get into it.
The episode starts with Lt. Jessica Brady's former narcotics unit executing a raid on the suspect, Edward White. After brawling with White, Det. Jordan Harrison (Chris Silcox) finds himself hanging from the rooftop by his fingertips. His partner, Det. Miles Brandt (Mike Vogel), rescues him, and later Det. Riley (Reid Scott) discovers him dead. Riley finds Harrison's phone, wallet, and badge still on his person, suggesting he wasn’t a victim of armed robbery. Lt. Brady's former Captain Greg Stockwell (Fredric Lane) emphasizes to subordinates, "There is no doubt that Lt. Brady is leading this team."
"Bad Apple” -- LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) Fredric Lehne as Captain Greg Stockwell, Maura Tierney as Lt. Jessica Brady. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved
Law & Order investigations typically involve three suspects before the DA's office charges one. Maureen Herrera, the girlfriend of Harrison, is cleared of suspicion after her texts were sent long after her boyfriend's death. Tyler Harrison, the victim's brother, is suspect number two, who sent a text, “The only good cop is a dead cop.” Tyler supports the abolition of the police through his organization "Abolish Now." When Shaw (Mehcad Brooks) and Riley (Reid Scott) encountered him, he seemingly confessed, “I did what I had to do and I’m not sorry.” He eventually confesses to vandalizing a police car, as he loves his brother but didn’t want him to be part of a corrupt institution. The episode revolves around Tyler's concern about police being bad apples. Ballistics connect the bullet to the third suspect, Eddie White, the target of the drug raid. White denies killing Harrison stating that the gun was in a duffel bag with $50,000 and 10 kilos of fentanyl.
"Bad Apple” -- LAW & ORDER, Pictured: Mike Vogel as Det. Miles Brandt. Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved
While paying tribute to Harrison at the bar, Brady reminded Captain Stockwell that, before her transfer, she had reported squad members for pocketing cash. He reflected with a chuckle that he told the team, “Certain things you don’t see even if you do.” Brady fixed her gaze on Stockwell, who shifted uneasily before replying, “You caught his killer—that’s all that matters. Just let it be.”
Brady can’t let it be. She asks Brandt to get her a copy of Harrison’s bodycam so she can find the duffel bag that was never logged as evidence. As she reviews the tape, Brandt repeats that Eddie White is the killer and that she should let things be.
Brady sees the duffle bag on the video, implicating that it was stolen by police at the raid, which suggests that whoever stole it is likely the murderer. Brandt implicates det. Melcher. Brady says she helped Melcher move his belongings into Don Jon’s storage facility. Reid got the address and unit number while Brady got the search warrant. Upon arriving at the storage facility, the duffle bag was quickly located. Shaw handcuffed a surprised Brandt for the murder of Harrison. Riley asked Brandt, “How did you know?” “Just a hunch,” she shrugged.
"Bad Apple” -- LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) Juan Javier Cardenas as Det. Travis Melcher, Hugh Dancy as ADA Nolan Price, Odelya Halevi as ADA Samantha Maroun. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved
Brady is assisted by Nolan Price (Hugh Dancy), Samantha Maroun (Odelya Halevi), and Nicholas Baxter (Tony Goldwyn). Price boasts that Lt. Brady worked with internal affairs to sting Brandt, but Baxter argues that possession of the bag doesn't prove murder. Price reveals Brandt's shoes also had traces of Harrison's blood, leading to a charge of first-degree murder.
Brady confronts Captain Stockwell to testify for the prosecution, arguing that he is putting corruption on a good cop's name. She confesses to Reid that she was aware of Brandt's corruption and how his actions accelerated the corruption of surrounding officers, including herself. She recounts her time in uniform, when her sergeant accepted money to protect people. They were successful. They looked the other way. You don’t think you are doing anything wrong. Twenty years later, she mused, a good cop is dead.
The following day in court, Brady testifies that everyone knew Brandt was corrupt, despite Captain Stockwell never filing a formal complaint. The jury found Brandt guilty. Jessica Brady walks into work, and everyone is staring at her. Reid nods in the direction of her office where someone from internal affairs is waiting. “We need to talk about Miles Brandt,” he says. Dun! Dun!
"Bad Apple” -- LAW & ORDER, Pictured: Maura Tierney as Lt. Jessica Brady. Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved
“Bad apples” means you must regularly check the fruit for signs of deterioration. This step is crucial for maintaining freshness. Internal Affairs is responsible for identifying "spoiled" cops to maintain accountability and public trust. The full ramifications of Lt. Brady’s actions have yet to be determined. Will Lt. Jessica Brady be treated like a hero or a zero by the department? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Overall Rating:
8/10
Lynette Jones
