Season 6 has been somewhat inconsistent. There are several fantastic episodes and there are no real misfires. Not every episode has entirely worked though as there was for instance a brief three episode slump in the season's middle period, having good noble intentions but with flawed execution of particularly difficult issues. All the episodes have been at least watchable, thanks to the regulars being so good, some terrific guest stars and the character interaction being terrific at its very best.
"Atonement" is not Season 6 at its best. It is also not it at its worst. It is one of those episodes of 'Law and Order' that is somewhere in the middle if anything. It is a mostly good effort with lots of great things, but at the same time there was room for "Atonement" to have been better than it was and it is a bit on the ordinary side. The concept didn't sound very exciting and while there are many 'Law and Order' episodes that do things special with basic concepts "Atonement" isn't quite one of them.
Will start with what "Atonement" does well in, and those good things outweigh the bad. The photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has some nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way. The acting is without complaint as well, with the best performance coming from Michael Imperioli. Appropriate seeing as his character is the one that "Atonement" mostly centres around.
It is a very nicely scripted episode as well, and much of the story compels. With a victim that becomes a lot more interesting than she seemed at first, when we see her in a different light later. The character interaction between the characters, especially Briscoe and Curtis and McCoy and Kincaid is beautifully done.
However, "Atonement" is another episode to have a somewhat rushed and over-crowded ending, from trying to cram in too much with not near enough time to explore it. The truth compels but is again needed more time for the viewer to digest it, it's far from simple.
Despite the story compelling, there is also nothing earth-shattering or unique about it and it could have done with more tension.
Concluding, good but not great. 7/10