"Into the Breech" is an episode of JAG that first aired on January 11, 2000. The title is given incorrectly in some listings as "Into the Breach." Directed by Mark Horowitz. Written by Paul J Levine.
Commander Rabb and Lt. Colonel MacKenzie are sent to Iron Forge Military Academy to assist its Commandant, a retired Navy JAG officer, in conducting a mock trial.
The "case" they are trying is a gun turret explosion on a battleship, that killed many sailors, including the lead suspect, Petty Officer Greg Reardon (Frayne Rosanoff). The mock trial proceeds along the alternate history that Reardon survived the explosion somehow.
A cadet plays the part of Reardon, other cadets play the parts of prosecutor, defense attorney and defendant. Rabb assists the cocky young cadet assigned as the prosecution, while Mac assists Cadet Luisa Vasquez (Joanna Canton) with the defense.
During the trial however, they encounter a discrepancy in what was otherwise an Open-and-Shut Case, forcing Rabb and Mac to reinvestigate. They uncover evidence that might exonerate the deceased sailor, including former Petty Officer Kevin Saunders (Cameron Dye), now a civilian living with his wife and son practically off the grid.
Meanwhile at JAG headquarters, TV commercial director Renee Peterson (Cindy Ambuehl) arrives to shoot an advertisement enticing people to become JAG attorneys for the Navy. Problem is, that she finds routine run of the mill work at JAG to be boring administrative work, and she can't grasp the significance of trying certain weirdly named breaches of military discipline.
Then there is the fact that with a few exceptions, most people at JAG lead ordinary lives. She cannot compete with other commercials "selling" the more glamorous combat branches of the Navy. She needs to find someone who leads an exciting life.
Tropes
- Based on a True Story: The turret explosion is based on an actual explosion aboard the USS Iowa in 1990.
- Continuity Nod to "War Stories", in which Admiral Chegwidden was briefly the military consultant for Field of Gold. In this episode, the admiral tries to give Rabb some acting tips.Chegwidden: About your acting, you need to find an internal motivation. Different levels, colors if you will.Rabb: Sir?Chegwidden: Well, I was technical advisor on Field of Gold. I picked up a few things.Rabb: Weren't you fired from Field of Gold, sir?
- Dead Guy Junior: The fact that Kimberly's son is named Gregory Reardon, Jr. turns out to be an extremely significant factor that helps crack the case.
- For Want Of A Nail: Greg Reardon was confronted by a different guy about him stealing his girlfriend. That other sailor did this right when the gun crew were preparing to fire the gun. Because he was distracted, he didn't catch an inexperienced ordnanceman load too many bags of gunpowder, and as a result the gun blew up.
- Good Cop/Bad Cop: Before talking to Kimberly Saunders, Galindez decides Roberts should be good cop and Galindez will be bad cop.
- Horrible Hollywood: Renee dismisses the idea of her Navy commercial focusing on Lt. Roberts, and in his presence insults him as "the Pillsbury Doughboy."
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Iron Forge Naval Academy is totally not Valley Forge Military Academy, the prestigious prep school in Pennsylvania.
- Shout-Out:
- To Animal Planet: Working on the Navy commercial, Petersen regrets not taking a job on that sister channel of Discovery.
- To Arnold Schwarzenegger: Cadet Armstrong plays Prof. Zöller in moot court, tries to put on a German or Austrian accent. "I realize that you are playing a rôle, but there is no need to sound like Arnold Schwarzenegger," the judge tells Armstrong.
- To Jerry Springer: Lt. Singer prosecuted two Marines for dueling. When Singer tells Renee about it, Renee suggests Singer should go on Jerry Springer's show.
- Toilet Humor: Renee states that the crime of "missing movement"note sounds like an "intestinal problem."
