Quite the opposite. The previous five seasons, a few disappointments aside, were very solid and enjoyable so anybody that also liked them would not surprisingly expect a lot from Season 6's premiere "Bitter Fruit" and the rest of the episodes that made up the season. "Bitter Fruit" is also notable for being the debut episode of Briscoe's second 'Law and Order' partner Rey Curtis after the somewhat abrupt departure of Logan in the Season 5 finale "Pride".
While a somewhat uneven episode and better in the season was to follow most definitely, "Bitter Fruit" was still a very well crafted and promising start to Season 6 that makes one excited for what was to follow. "Bitter Fruit" in my view does have a feel of one half being better than the other, with in this case the legal scenes intriguing more than the policing, though other episodes in the whole 'Law and Order' franchise did this far worse. There are a lot of great things and much of the episode is very good.
Those great things will be started off with. As usual for 'Law and Order' and its spin offs, the production values are solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough while also taut. The script is typically, certainly for early 'Law and Order', tight and thoughtful. Shining in Briscoe's ever cracking one liners and the intriguing and well balanced questions raised in the legal scene interactions.
Regarding the legal scenes, they are very absorbing and it is in these scenes where "Bitter Fruit" comes to life and where the twists are. Including a big one that shocked me. There is as usual great acting, especially from Jerry Orbach (as one of the franchise's longest serving characters for good reason) and Sam Waterston who has really settled well, McCoy has settled well now as a character. The perpetrator is suitably nasty played unsettlingly.
Did feel however that "Bitter Fruit" wasn't quite as good or as surprising in the policing scenes, where there is intrigue but with not an awful lot of tension and a slight blandness. While Benjamin Bratt does what he can as newly introduced Curtis, Curtis is not an interesting enough character yet and doesn't have an awful lot of likeability (on the sanctimonious side at times). Am aware that this is his debut episode, but Briscoe made a far bigger impression in his first introduced in Season 3 in more difficult circumstances.
It is admittedly a tall order following on from Mike Logan so soon after he left, but the chemistry between Briscoe and Curtis doesn't have enough fire yet, like they are not quite connected.
Concluding, very well done start. 8/10
While a somewhat uneven episode and better in the season was to follow most definitely, "Bitter Fruit" was still a very well crafted and promising start to Season 6 that makes one excited for what was to follow. "Bitter Fruit" in my view does have a feel of one half being better than the other, with in this case the legal scenes intriguing more than the policing, though other episodes in the whole 'Law and Order' franchise did this far worse. There are a lot of great things and much of the episode is very good.
Those great things will be started off with. As usual for 'Law and Order' and its spin offs, the production values are solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough while also taut. The script is typically, certainly for early 'Law and Order', tight and thoughtful. Shining in Briscoe's ever cracking one liners and the intriguing and well balanced questions raised in the legal scene interactions.
Regarding the legal scenes, they are very absorbing and it is in these scenes where "Bitter Fruit" comes to life and where the twists are. Including a big one that shocked me. There is as usual great acting, especially from Jerry Orbach (as one of the franchise's longest serving characters for good reason) and Sam Waterston who has really settled well, McCoy has settled well now as a character. The perpetrator is suitably nasty played unsettlingly.
Did feel however that "Bitter Fruit" wasn't quite as good or as surprising in the policing scenes, where there is intrigue but with not an awful lot of tension and a slight blandness. While Benjamin Bratt does what he can as newly introduced Curtis, Curtis is not an interesting enough character yet and doesn't have an awful lot of likeability (on the sanctimonious side at times). Am aware that this is his debut episode, but Briscoe made a far bigger impression in his first introduced in Season 3 in more difficult circumstances.
It is admittedly a tall order following on from Mike Logan so soon after he left, but the chemistry between Briscoe and Curtis doesn't have enough fire yet, like they are not quite connected.
Concluding, very well done start. 8/10