With the episodes from 'Law and Order's' middle period and from its later seasons airing so often, it is very easy perhaps to overlook the early seasons. Meaning in my view pre-Season 7. That is a shame, because 'Law and Order' in its early years was more often than not good to fantastic with some truly fine episodes in each of the seasons in question. Wasn't blown away by every episode but when the show was at its best it was brilliant, and there were obvious good things in lesser episodes too.
Season 6 was not a consistent season up to this early stage of it, with some episodes being better than others, but none of the previous episodes are bad and a lot of them are even brilliant. "Angel" has a very interesting, if not exactly novel, idea for a story that sounds incredibly shocking and hard hitting when hearing of it. And that was exactly how the execution of the story was. While not one of my very favourite episodes of 'Law and Order', it is among Season 6's better episodes in my view.
The production values are solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden. The script is beautifully balanced tonally, tight and clever, that has some hard-boiled yet also entertaining exchanges between Briscoe and Curtis, thought-probing insight into the moral dilemmas that come with the case (prime 'Law and Order' was always very good at this) and the perpetrator's state of mind and some deliciously outrageous irony.
"Angel's" story is a fine example of what 'Law and Order' and the whole franchise at their best were so good at doing (and better than most shows before, during and since), tackling heavy and controversial topics and doing so in a way that hits hard. The story drew me right in and never let go, with a lot of emotional impact of genuine shock and poignancy. The truth is truly disturbing and utterly unthinkable in normal circumstances. The policing is some of the most intriguing and entertaining of the season.
Curtis is the most interesting and likeable here he was up to this early stage of his stint, especially in his pivotal scene with Leah where he is fiercely firm yet also empathetic. The legal scenes leaves one pondering afterwards and did like how the approach to the topic was not too one-sided, even with the pretty laughable defense argument (it was also though entertainingly ironic). The characters are interesting, especially the perpetrator. All the regulars are great, while Fisher Stevens has fun in his somewhat annoying role and Elizabeth Connors does unnerving and occasionally pathos with ease.
Overall, great. 9/10
Season 6 was not a consistent season up to this early stage of it, with some episodes being better than others, but none of the previous episodes are bad and a lot of them are even brilliant. "Angel" has a very interesting, if not exactly novel, idea for a story that sounds incredibly shocking and hard hitting when hearing of it. And that was exactly how the execution of the story was. While not one of my very favourite episodes of 'Law and Order', it is among Season 6's better episodes in my view.
The production values are solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden. The script is beautifully balanced tonally, tight and clever, that has some hard-boiled yet also entertaining exchanges between Briscoe and Curtis, thought-probing insight into the moral dilemmas that come with the case (prime 'Law and Order' was always very good at this) and the perpetrator's state of mind and some deliciously outrageous irony.
"Angel's" story is a fine example of what 'Law and Order' and the whole franchise at their best were so good at doing (and better than most shows before, during and since), tackling heavy and controversial topics and doing so in a way that hits hard. The story drew me right in and never let go, with a lot of emotional impact of genuine shock and poignancy. The truth is truly disturbing and utterly unthinkable in normal circumstances. The policing is some of the most intriguing and entertaining of the season.
Curtis is the most interesting and likeable here he was up to this early stage of his stint, especially in his pivotal scene with Leah where he is fiercely firm yet also empathetic. The legal scenes leaves one pondering afterwards and did like how the approach to the topic was not too one-sided, even with the pretty laughable defense argument (it was also though entertainingly ironic). The characters are interesting, especially the perpetrator. All the regulars are great, while Fisher Stevens has fun in his somewhat annoying role and Elizabeth Connors does unnerving and occasionally pathos with ease.
Overall, great. 9/10