Am not always a fan of this type of story, where the influence of medications is the reason for violent crimes (in fact am in general not always a fan of stories that have violent crimes being influenced by things like video games, vocal speakers). There are episodes of the 'Law and Order' franchise that does explore it very powerfully ("Pro Se" for example), but some others contain sloppy research, over simplicity and over-generalisations. On paper too the motive sounded on the extreme side.
Season 16's "Magnet" also handles this issue very very well and at its best very powerfully. It doesn't hold back and can be poignant, while not generalising or being heavy handed. The motive is also not as extreme as it sounded conceptually and is actually quite disturbing in that this scenario is not unheard of. A 'Law and Order' high point "Magnet" might not be, but as far as the very good Season 16 goes it is one of the best episodes in my view.
It does start off on the ordinary side, where there is a knowing where this is going feel but that very quickly subsides once the explanations start coming.
"Magnet" is great everywhere else. All the regulars are very good to excellent, Sam Waterston particularly and Fontana and Green's partnership and Dennis Farina's Fontana have come on a long way. Very interesting to see Kathleen Turner (an athiritis sufferer by the way, which is one of the reasons for why she looks the way she looks here in response to the attack on her appearance) on the defense side. James Sandin gives a strong turn too.
Furthermore, it is well made, intimately photographed and slick with no signs of under-budget or anything. The music didn't sound melodramatic or too constant and the direction is accomodating while still having pulse. The writing is taut and very thought provoking in the legal scenes, the questions raised fascinating (especially in regard to culpability) and making one think long and hard after. The story is engrossing and hard-hitting, with plenty to keep one guessing without feeling too much. McCoy's ways of getting to the truth never fails to wow.
Concluding, great. 9/10.
Season 16's "Magnet" also handles this issue very very well and at its best very powerfully. It doesn't hold back and can be poignant, while not generalising or being heavy handed. The motive is also not as extreme as it sounded conceptually and is actually quite disturbing in that this scenario is not unheard of. A 'Law and Order' high point "Magnet" might not be, but as far as the very good Season 16 goes it is one of the best episodes in my view.
It does start off on the ordinary side, where there is a knowing where this is going feel but that very quickly subsides once the explanations start coming.
"Magnet" is great everywhere else. All the regulars are very good to excellent, Sam Waterston particularly and Fontana and Green's partnership and Dennis Farina's Fontana have come on a long way. Very interesting to see Kathleen Turner (an athiritis sufferer by the way, which is one of the reasons for why she looks the way she looks here in response to the attack on her appearance) on the defense side. James Sandin gives a strong turn too.
Furthermore, it is well made, intimately photographed and slick with no signs of under-budget or anything. The music didn't sound melodramatic or too constant and the direction is accomodating while still having pulse. The writing is taut and very thought provoking in the legal scenes, the questions raised fascinating (especially in regard to culpability) and making one think long and hard after. The story is engrossing and hard-hitting, with plenty to keep one guessing without feeling too much. McCoy's ways of getting to the truth never fails to wow.
Concluding, great. 9/10.
