Have always loved the character of Bayard Ellis and wish that he had a lot more appearances. Just love his presence and Andre Braugher and Mariska Hargitay were always dynamite together, especially "Monster's Legacy" (a controversial episode due to Mike Tyson's casting but personally love it). Seeing Cragen back was also a joy, he was a great character who could have been used more. On first watch, feelings were mostly positive with some reservations.
Those feelings are pretty much the same now in regard to this episode, meaning a good episode with lots of great things but not a great one and with something missing. It is not one of the best episodes of Season 16, though one of the better faring ones of the second half of it (where the season was a lot less consistent), but it is also not one of the worst. Ranking the season's episodes, it's somewhere around high middle which is not too bad a position to be in.
As said, there is a lot of good here. Photography while very close up doesn't come over as too static or filmed play-like, while the production values are typically solid and have subtle atmosphere while not being drab and keeping things simple. When the music is used it is haunting and has a melancholic edge that is not overdone. The episode is sympathetically yet uncompromisingly directed, especially in the more tense second half.
Furthermore, the script mostly is intelligent and thought-probing, with a lot of talk but not in a way that rambles or feels padded. The digs at Carisi's expense were priceless. Seeing Cragen back was a joy and the episode doesn't waste him. The performances are without fault, with Braugher on truly commanding form. Samira Wiley is affecting in her role. Although the case is predictable due to familiar ground being covered with little new, it is also very intriguing and poses some questions worth pondering on.
It, the episode that is, is spoiled by the abrupt and too ambiguous ending that further adds to the already overdone unnecessary doubt. The opening wasn't necessary and pretty cheesy.
Did feel also that the daughter's testimony during trial was horribly written and her being better prepared for the questioning (uncharacteristically sloppy for Ellis) would have made a difference.
Good episode all in all, falls short of greatness. 7/10.
Those feelings are pretty much the same now in regard to this episode, meaning a good episode with lots of great things but not a great one and with something missing. It is not one of the best episodes of Season 16, though one of the better faring ones of the second half of it (where the season was a lot less consistent), but it is also not one of the worst. Ranking the season's episodes, it's somewhere around high middle which is not too bad a position to be in.
As said, there is a lot of good here. Photography while very close up doesn't come over as too static or filmed play-like, while the production values are typically solid and have subtle atmosphere while not being drab and keeping things simple. When the music is used it is haunting and has a melancholic edge that is not overdone. The episode is sympathetically yet uncompromisingly directed, especially in the more tense second half.
Furthermore, the script mostly is intelligent and thought-probing, with a lot of talk but not in a way that rambles or feels padded. The digs at Carisi's expense were priceless. Seeing Cragen back was a joy and the episode doesn't waste him. The performances are without fault, with Braugher on truly commanding form. Samira Wiley is affecting in her role. Although the case is predictable due to familiar ground being covered with little new, it is also very intriguing and poses some questions worth pondering on.
It, the episode that is, is spoiled by the abrupt and too ambiguous ending that further adds to the already overdone unnecessary doubt. The opening wasn't necessary and pretty cheesy.
Did feel also that the daughter's testimony during trial was horribly written and her being better prepared for the questioning (uncharacteristically sloppy for Ellis) would have made a difference.
Good episode all in all, falls short of greatness. 7/10.