Law and Order 24x04 deals with a tense bombing case centered on reproductive rights

Crime dramas are no stranger to delving into hot button issues that have divided the masses. Law and Order season 24 already touched on one such topic, AI, in "The Perfect Man" which saw Cpt. Olivia Benson crossing over to advocate for the defendant. Now the procedural is set to do so again in an episode that's hopefully better than "Big Brother," the season's third outing guest starring Ryan Eggold. With a plot centered on reproductive rights, it likely will be.

Episode 4, "The Meaning of Life," is set to be a tense affair. The case is about a bomber. Shaw and Riley are brought in to investigate after a pipe bomb explodes in a brownstone. Due to the residence being home to a controversial author and a fertility doctor, it's unclear who the actual target was at first but the promo for the episode seems to give it away.

The police are dealing with a serial bomber and as Maroun puts it, "His mission is to kill doctors that give women reproductive choices." It'll be up to her and Price to bring the man to justice but they'll be doing so by charging him with murder. This will be tricky since his victim is still breathing.

While the episode isn't exactly a ripped from the headlines case, "The Meaning of Life" does nod to the real threat and danger doctors and medical professionals have been living under far before the overturning of Roe v. Wade. People have been gravely injured or their lives taken at the hands of attackers convinced they had a moral or God given duty to kill anyone who provides access to abortion care. The Department of Justice has been keeping track of the violence enacted against reproductive health care providers in criminal and civil cases.

Reproductive rights has been at the center of the national conversation. States are voting whether to enshrine abortion care in their constitutions. Attack ads are being run regarding politicians' positions on the matter and the issue could determine who is or isn't elected this year.

How Law and Order handles the story in episode 4 will be of the utmost importance but, from the looks of it, "The Meaning of Life" certainly appears to be an episode of season 24 you won't want to miss.

Law and Order season 24 airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Next day streaming is available on Peacock. Stay tuned to Americans Undercover for coverage. Follow us on X and Facebook for more content.