‘Law & Order’s Latest Episode Just Raised the Bar for the Long-Running Procedural

Over its 24-season run, the flagship Dick Wolf series Law & Order has mastered the procedural formula of intertwining intricate legal cases with police investigations. While the detectives and district attorneys on the show have always approached cases with a sense of humanity and empathy, the series truly shines when it layers those cases with the personal lives and struggles of its beloved characters. The most recent episode, "The Hardest Thing", is a great example of this, as ADA Nolan Price (Hugh Dancy) is navigating a case surrounding assisted suicide while also confronting the harsh reality of his father's health condition — making it one of the season's strongest episodes so far.

What Is the 'Law & Order' Episode "The Hardest Thing" About?

In Season 24, Episode 9, Nolan is tasked with prosecuting Victoria Beyer (Katie Lowes), accused of murdering her wealthy father. While the initial assumption is that financial greed was the motive behind the crime, it's later revealed that she assisted her father's suicide at his request after his diagnosis with Pick's disease, a form of frontal lobe dementia. Nolan struggles with the case, initially rejecting any kind of plea deal, arguing that "He told me to" is not a legal defense against murder. Running parallel to the case is Nolan's own personal crisis, as he faces a difficult decision about how to care for his ailing father.

In a rare instance for a Law & Order episode, "The Hardest Thing" weaves Nolan's professional and personal turmoil together, adding emotional depth to the case. Since the end of Episode 4, audiences have known that Nolan's father, William (Barry Kolman), wasn't doing well, and in Episode 9, Nolan’s brother, Thomas (Justin Chatwin), brings devastating news about their father’s decline. As Nolan grapples with the decision to either prolong his father’s life or let him go, the emotional stakes grow higher and bleed into his work in Victoria's case. Ultimately, Nolan has a "change of heart" and decides it's a good idea to give her the deal while eventually agreeing with his brother to let his father go. The result is a powerful, nuanced episode that not only elevates the show but also showcases Dancy's incredible talents, once again proving that he's a great addition to Law & Order.

‘Law & Order’ Rightly Leans Into Hugh Dancy’s Talents in “The Hardest Thing”

Hugh Dancy’s portrayal of Nolan Price has been one of the standout elements since Law & Order returned to NBC. While seeing Law & Order characters outside their jobs has become a little more common, “The Hardest Thing” gives the audience a rare look at ADA Price, typically known for his hardened, steely approach, as a son and brother facing a heart-wrenching personal decision. In an interview with TV Insider, Dancy himself said that there's maybe a slight move within the show that "finds ways to stay within the structure that everybody’s familiar with, which is pretty much people at work, but find ways within that to crack it open a little more personal." It's a great move, especially after seeing Dancy's nuanced performance, transforming what could have been a straightforward procedural episode into a deeply human story.

In his scenes with Chatwin's Thomas, Dancy brings a rare vulnerability to Nolan, making him painfully relatable. Their conversation about their father’s fate is one that people—and many viewers probably—face often. Experiencing this devastating reality through Nolan’s eyes, along with his change of heart regarding Victoria’s situation, offers audiences a fresh perspective on an equally relatable yet more controversial issue. By exploring a character’s personal connection to a case, Law & Order elevates itself beyond a typical procedural, becoming a more layered and emotionally resonant show without losing the core elements that have made it beloved for decades.

Episodes like "The Hardest Thing" remind audiences why the series has remained iconic for so long, proving that the best episodes are often those that stray from the typical procedural formula and deliver an emotional connection between the characters and their cases. In this particular case, Dancy’s ability to convey the inner struggle of a character balancing his job with immense personal loss showcases why Law & Order should continue to lean into opportunities to showcase his talents. This episode exemplifies how personal stakes can enhance the drama, offering something deeper while staying true to the heart of the show.

Law & Order Season 24 airs on Thursdays on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock.