Was rather disappointed in Season 15's first episode "Paradigm". Partly down to too high expectations and mostly because there was a good deal of big change to get used to and they were in this case inferior ones. A feeling that never properly went away for the rest of 'Law and Order's' run. Expectations though were higher for "The Dead Wives Club", with a more appealing and interesting premise that also sounded relatable and there have been times where change can improve in a short space of time.
"The Dead Wives Club" on the whole is a better episode, though it was a rather uneven one still and what was introduced in the previous episode has not settled yet. It did a much better job with its theme and the legal portions fare much better this time, but it is a case of one half being much better than the other. That has been known to happen with 'Law and Order' a lot, but with varying degrees of how much and the difference between the two halves in "The Dead Wives Club" is big.
By all means, it is far from a bad episode and has a good deal of good things. The episode is slick-looking and visually doesn't try to do anything too fancy or indulgent while also not being too safe. The music is not too dramatic and to me doesn't over-emphasise. The direction is not breakneck pace but it doesn't plod in my opinion either. Much of the acting is very good, Jesse L Martin and Sam Waterston being the easy standouts of the regulars and Amy Carleton making for a sympathetic suspect.
A big improvement can be seen in the writing here, which has more tautness and edge if more in the legal portions than the policing. The legal portion is very compelling, far from simplistic and has enough suspense, when it comes to trial there is a good deal of tension later on. The inequality aspect is handled very well, done with tact but also insightfully. Anybody who has encountered any inequality through witnessing or suffering personally will relate to what is covered and the subject itself.
However, Dennis Farina is still on the bland side to me and there just isn't enough to Fontana yet to make him memorable. Have always whole-heartedly believed in judging everything on their own merits for fairness sake, but sometimes it is not always easy when comparing when the difference between one thing and another is so big. Which is the case with Briscoe, who was the show, versus Fontana. His chemistry with Green is not igniting yet, the grit and snap are pretty much completely missing and they don't connect.
Did also find the first half very routine and ordinary, and the lack of chemistry and the lack of impact for one crucial character play major factors as to why. As well as that what happens is nothing new. Elisabeth Rohm is wooden once again.
Concluding, a better episode but a bit on the fence. 6/10.
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