The title in retrospect is a curious one. Giving the impression that the story would centre around the military, which the title refers to in its usual meaning, but it's not. A long way from that, in fact the military plays no role here whatsoever. Plot-wise, reading the synopsis "Purple Heart" does not sound particularly special, but being a fan of 'Law and Order' and having loved the previous two episodes hopes were still oddly high on first watch.
On first watch "Purple Heart" struck me as a very good episode but not a great one, despite having a lot of great things. On rewatch, my feelings are the same. While "Purple Heart" is not one of the best episodes of Season 5 or of 'Law and Order', there is a lot to admire about it and still like it very much. Even if it is a couple of steps down in quality from the brilliant previous two episodes and doesn't quite have the extra something that they had so powerfully.
Not everything surprises, with the loan shark element of the story being a very been there done that strand that the episode does nothing new with and could have done with more tension in.
Luckily, everything else is great. Do agree that Michael Beach is the primary reason to see "Purple Heart". His performance is one of true ferocity and it plays a big part in as to why the legal scenes were so riveting and at their best thrilling to watch. He has strong interaction with Sam Waterston, who has by now settled as McCoy very well, while LisaGay Hamilton gives a powerful turn as a character whose actions are uncondonable but oddly at the same time one can see her point of view, if that makes any sense.
Although the story is not an innovative one, it is engaging and well paced and doesn't get simplistic or convoluted. The script has class and grit and is thoughtful without rambling, the moral dilemmas being tactfully explored and not one-sided.
"Purple Heart" again is a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key on the whole.
Summing up, very good with one truly great performance raising it above what could have been a little on the ordinary side. 8/10
On first watch "Purple Heart" struck me as a very good episode but not a great one, despite having a lot of great things. On rewatch, my feelings are the same. While "Purple Heart" is not one of the best episodes of Season 5 or of 'Law and Order', there is a lot to admire about it and still like it very much. Even if it is a couple of steps down in quality from the brilliant previous two episodes and doesn't quite have the extra something that they had so powerfully.
Not everything surprises, with the loan shark element of the story being a very been there done that strand that the episode does nothing new with and could have done with more tension in.
Luckily, everything else is great. Do agree that Michael Beach is the primary reason to see "Purple Heart". His performance is one of true ferocity and it plays a big part in as to why the legal scenes were so riveting and at their best thrilling to watch. He has strong interaction with Sam Waterston, who has by now settled as McCoy very well, while LisaGay Hamilton gives a powerful turn as a character whose actions are uncondonable but oddly at the same time one can see her point of view, if that makes any sense.
Although the story is not an innovative one, it is engaging and well paced and doesn't get simplistic or convoluted. The script has class and grit and is thoughtful without rambling, the moral dilemmas being tactfully explored and not one-sided.
"Purple Heart" again is a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key on the whole.
Summing up, very good with one truly great performance raising it above what could have been a little on the ordinary side. 8/10