The subject matter immediately is enough to grab the attention. It is yet another very sensitive and difficult topic to discuss, and if anybody has doubts about whether the execution would be tactful enough without being preachy, one-sided and too heavy that is understandable (those are common traps with this kind of topic and similar). Anybody though that has always admired how 'Law and Order' approached tough subjects and how it did so will be intrigued.
"Good Girl" is not quite on the same level as the previous two episodes "Causa Mortis" and "I. D." (especially the latter), but it is still good and there is a lot to like about it. It takes a lot of guts to address a topic like this and it is not easy pulling it off well, but "Good Girl" does very admirably in this regard. Not one of the best episodes of Season 7 or of 'Law and Order' in general, but nothing here disgraces the season, show or franchise. In fact, almost everything is executed very well, just that other episodes executed them better and with oomph.
As always for 'Law and Order', "Good Girl" is a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key on the whole. It was interesting seeing how attitudes towards interracial marriage/relarionships were back then, and although generally attitudes are different those shown here are not non-existent (far from it). The script is tight, well meaning and thought-provoking, successful too in not being in favour too much of one side on the whole.
Briscoe's one liners as always crack a fair share of smiles and the exchanges between McCoy and Ross (whose chemistry is already growing by quite a lot) are enough to inspire a debate on the subject, like with most 'Law and Order' episodes it was easy to see where both were coming from in their differing opinions on the same subject and easy to see all sides (rather than show too much of one). The story is compelling and interesting, it was not obvious how things were going to end and there was enough to it to make one care about finding out. On the most part, the subject is handled with tact but also without sugar coating. Not easy when racial division was and still is a big and controversial thing. All the performances are very good, lead and supporting.
Perhaps "Good Girl" though could have done with having more tension and edge, while everything is interesting it is not as edge of the seat-worthy as other episodes. Other episodes also have more subtlety, which the defense argument is lacking in which did feel ham-handed at first as did the manipulation of public opinion aspect.
Did think that Giancarlo Esposito's character could have been written more realistically and not been as prone to recklessness, indicting before having a solid enough case is as reckless as one can get and the equivalent of acting too quickly before thinking straight.
On the whole, good but not great. 7/10.
"Good Girl" is not quite on the same level as the previous two episodes "Causa Mortis" and "I. D." (especially the latter), but it is still good and there is a lot to like about it. It takes a lot of guts to address a topic like this and it is not easy pulling it off well, but "Good Girl" does very admirably in this regard. Not one of the best episodes of Season 7 or of 'Law and Order' in general, but nothing here disgraces the season, show or franchise. In fact, almost everything is executed very well, just that other episodes executed them better and with oomph.
As always for 'Law and Order', "Good Girl" is a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key on the whole. It was interesting seeing how attitudes towards interracial marriage/relarionships were back then, and although generally attitudes are different those shown here are not non-existent (far from it). The script is tight, well meaning and thought-provoking, successful too in not being in favour too much of one side on the whole.
Briscoe's one liners as always crack a fair share of smiles and the exchanges between McCoy and Ross (whose chemistry is already growing by quite a lot) are enough to inspire a debate on the subject, like with most 'Law and Order' episodes it was easy to see where both were coming from in their differing opinions on the same subject and easy to see all sides (rather than show too much of one). The story is compelling and interesting, it was not obvious how things were going to end and there was enough to it to make one care about finding out. On the most part, the subject is handled with tact but also without sugar coating. Not easy when racial division was and still is a big and controversial thing. All the performances are very good, lead and supporting.
Perhaps "Good Girl" though could have done with having more tension and edge, while everything is interesting it is not as edge of the seat-worthy as other episodes. Other episodes also have more subtlety, which the defense argument is lacking in which did feel ham-handed at first as did the manipulation of public opinion aspect.
Did think that Giancarlo Esposito's character could have been written more realistically and not been as prone to recklessness, indicting before having a solid enough case is as reckless as one can get and the equivalent of acting too quickly before thinking straight.
On the whole, good but not great. 7/10.
