Co-created by Dick Wolf and Rick Eid, NBC’s ‘Law & Order’ takes the New York Criminal Justice scene in a new direction through the integration of the inner workings of the New York City Police Department and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. The two forces are commanded by Lieutenant Jessica Brady on one front and District Attorney Nicholas Baxter on the other, apprehending

criminals and putting them to justice, respectively. But the tale is never identical, since every iteration brings its own twist to this police procedural cum legal saga. Whether it’s progressively shrewd offenders or the gaps in the law enforcement apparatus itself, the personnel are perpetually on their guard, whether reconciling personal morals with professional code or reconciling personal taste with company policy. In the 25th season opener, ‘Street Justice,’ one such conundrum reaches its climax, compelling everybody concerned to introspect. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Carter Mills’ Murder Brings a New Spin to an Ancient Mystery

The first episode starts immediately after season 24’s finale, with Carter Mills, the prime murderer of Georgia and Christina, acquitted in court.

Since Christina was the sister of Assistant District Attorney Samantha Maroun, the case acquires a personal touch, which makes Carter’s unexpected murder on an open street all the more fishy. Nolan Price, Manhattan’s Executive Assistant District Attorney, and Maroun’s most reliable supporter, is the first to arrive at her doorstep, with a touch of suspicion and concern muddled in his response. Although he hasn’t minced his words in questioning her, Maroun’s evasive answer seems to confirm his worst suspicions, and the case only grows more dense from there on out. Nicholas Baxter, the District Attorney, also arrives at the scene with the same set of questions, but an initial investigation provides no clear answers.

The police station is meanwhile in full operation, trawling through CCTV footage to get a glimpse of the killer. Though they miss in that endeavor, they do manage to capture some video of a cleaner reacting to the shot before running back to his laundromat workplace. Since he would have had a clear view of the killer, he is called into the station, where he informs them that the killer is really a female who yelled the words “You deserve this” as she shot Carter down. This disclosure only lends support to Maroun having been the one to have fired the shot, and Jessica Brady is left to broaden her line of investigation to the Assistant District Attorney. Being on the table,

the pair quickly gets down to business, and though Maroun does not negate the existence of a fireman consistent with the weapon wielded by the killer, she refuses to be searched, insisting on a search warrant instead. This compels the department to make the difficult move and barge into her home for evidence, but this just raises more questions.

Maroun Gets Herself Inextricably Linked to the Case

It happens that Maroun’s own gun is nowhere to be found, and she will not provide an indication as to where it could be. This virtually seals her guilt to the naked eye, but Price is not convinced, citing the confidence he has in his longtime partner. A quiet chat later confirms his suspicion as Maroun provides the in-depth story of what happened on that ill-fated night. She discloses that although she did go out with her gun, she had only one purpose in mind,

and that was to intimidate the man with the fear of judgment. Halfway there, however, she reconsidered, not wanting to let her emotions get the better of her and end up committing a crime. To this end, Maroun discarded her gun into the river, erasing any possibility of her position changing back. This is a convoluted twist of events that is the ultimate red herring of the story, but even a personal testimony is insufficient to exculpate her, and the police still pursue their investigation into her.

Yet another break-through in the murder case of Carter Mills is the discovery of a eye-witness who did not merely glimpse the murderer, but also ran into her while the latter was attempting to flee. He assures that the individual is a female, adding that she is an attractive-looking brunette, matching Maroun’s look further. But just when it all seems to be a foregone conclusion, the witness fails to confirm Maroun as the individual he recalls having seen. During the interview, he offers yet another clue, this time saying the killer was approximately as tall as he was, at around about five feet eight inches. This is a stark contrast to Maroun’s height, as she is clearly much shorter,

and this would effectively eliminate her as a suspect. Though Price is ecstatic about the opportunity to share this news, it only serves to ensure that the killer is still roaming, and the departments have their work cut out for them.

The Answer Lays With Carter Mills’ Ex-Girlfriend

As the investigation heats up a notch, Jessica Brady, together with her business partners, Vincent Riley and Violet Yee, run through the list of possible suspects, but catch wind of a new trail after Carter’s girlfriend, Julia Keaton, chimes in that his sister never got along with him. When questioned at her art gallery by the detectives,

she confirms that she spent the evening with her girlfriend, establishing that she is not the murderer. When explaining about her brother and his brutally manipulative ways, she mentions the fact that Julia had ended the relationship with Carter a few days before his murder. Again, the police turn their eyes to the ex-girlfriend, and Jessica interrogates her at the interrogation table. Though Julia starts off denying the allegations, she realizes midway through that all her avenues are cut off, and comes to in her request for a lawyer.

With Julia Keaton as the prime suspect now, the District Attorney’s office rolls into action, ready to put her away. Price tells Maroun and Baxter that the evidence is sufficient to win the case, and this is demonstrated in his courtroom performance. Even though the veteran prosecutor presents a multitude of evidence, from CCTV footage to testimonies, the defense turns the whole argument upside down by agreeing with the fact that Julia had murdered Carter Mills. But they frame it as a matter of self-defense by exploiting the narrow scope of the evidence. The prosecution rallies again, considering whether they could spike that notion by establishing intent, but in an open transmission to the judge, Price blows his lead, and the case moves one closer to Julia’s win.

But soon, there are doubts in his camp too because Maroun feels pity for Julia and what she had done.

Julia Keaton’s Version of the Story Puts Pressure on the District Attorney’s Office to Relax Its Rules

The plot twist is the argument between Maroun and Price as the latter tries to explain why Maroun would have taken such an extreme action.

While the latter identifies with the manifestation of intent, the former resonates with the psychological layer within her, viewing it as the product of someone who had been threatened with rape and lived with the possibility of her purported abuser getting away. The argument strikes Price to his very essence, compelling him to reexamine all he holds dear regarding law and the judicial system. This strand of the plot comes to its peak when the prosecution makes a plea of guilt in exchange for a reduced penalty. During discussions, however, Maroun decides to have a one-on-one meeting with Julia, and it is here that the two women discover a commonality, and the truth is revealed in spontaneous flow.

Julia describes her previous choices that led her to Carter. In addition, she describes how his criminal activities were motivated by a complex of superiority, where he was beyond the jurisdiction of the law. It is that philosophy, she goes on, which drove her to this specific action, outside the law. On the verge of completing a sentence that indicates she waited deliberately outside his condominium building for the kill, she returns to normal, noticing the mistake she has made. But Maroun takes an independent bold move of her own, hiding the discussion and guarding Julia’s secrets. Julia later thinks about taking the plea offer, and Maroun finds it the perfect time to reveal Julia’s confession to Price. Though he is vindicated, Price’s view now appears to be different on the topic, and he consents to keeping the fact under wraps as well, modifying the law so that justice can be implemented. Read More: What Is BX9 in Law & Order Universe, Explained