Decided a while back (three years ago) to review all the episodes of the original 'Law and Order', 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent', being someone who really likes all three shows in their prime/early years. Really loved a lot of the early seasons episodes of all three shows, while also finding all three less consistent later on (with the original not feeling the same post-Briscoe and even began to lose consistency in Season 11 and all the seasons after).
"All My Children" is another episode that executes a sensitive subject very well, in a way that hits hard for anyone who is troubled or who has difficult relationships with parents. It's another episode that is not one of the very best of Season 11, but is in the better half. Season 11's second half was generally better than its first, the first was very up and down and seldom exceptional whereas almost all the best episodes were in the middle and second half. "All My Children" is a good representation, if not one of the best, as to why that is.
Once again, "All My Children" starts off slightly routinely.
It also would have benefitted from everything that happens in the last 5 minutes or so to happen a little earlier so that it had more time to develop.
However, the production values are slick and are simple without being simplistic. The music is haunting and not too over-emphasised when used. The direction is sympathetic while having momentum and personality. The script is tight and thoughtful, raising some interesting points about the complications that come with prosecuting.
The story once it gets going is very compelling and has shock value (without being exploitative) and emotional power. It is a very hard hitting and heart-breakingly tragic case, handled uncompromisingly but also sensitively enough. Especially in the second half, which does not end in the way that is expected. It is hardly surprising too that the victim hated his father so much, and personally found myself hating him too. The acting from all the regulars is reliably on point and Julianne Nicholson is indeed terrific, hard to believe that her career had only started a few years before.
Concluding, very good. 8/10.
"All My Children" is another episode that executes a sensitive subject very well, in a way that hits hard for anyone who is troubled or who has difficult relationships with parents. It's another episode that is not one of the very best of Season 11, but is in the better half. Season 11's second half was generally better than its first, the first was very up and down and seldom exceptional whereas almost all the best episodes were in the middle and second half. "All My Children" is a good representation, if not one of the best, as to why that is.
Once again, "All My Children" starts off slightly routinely.
It also would have benefitted from everything that happens in the last 5 minutes or so to happen a little earlier so that it had more time to develop.
However, the production values are slick and are simple without being simplistic. The music is haunting and not too over-emphasised when used. The direction is sympathetic while having momentum and personality. The script is tight and thoughtful, raising some interesting points about the complications that come with prosecuting.
The story once it gets going is very compelling and has shock value (without being exploitative) and emotional power. It is a very hard hitting and heart-breakingly tragic case, handled uncompromisingly but also sensitively enough. Especially in the second half, which does not end in the way that is expected. It is hardly surprising too that the victim hated his father so much, and personally found myself hating him too. The acting from all the regulars is reliably on point and Julianne Nicholson is indeed terrific, hard to believe that her career had only started a few years before.
Concluding, very good. 8/10.
