"Ill Conceived" is another 'Law and Order' episode where the concept isn't anything original but still has enough to make one interested in seeing it. Personally do prefer the episodes that tackle difficult and controversial topics that are still to this day hardly outdated (which for me is what the franchise excels in doing at its best), or at least ones that are more so, but again if a fan of 'Law and Order' or wanting to see all the episodes there is no reason really to avoid "Ill-Conceived" in my mind.
Season 14 was a near-consistently solid season, one of the better and more consistent post-Season 10 ones, with the only disappointment being "Blaze" and even that was above average. "Ill Conceived" is towards the lower end in ranking the season and is no "Bodies" or "Identity" (both brilliant episodes), but it is well worth watching and has a lot of recommendable aspects. Recommendable aspects though that have been done better in other episodes in the season.
Beginning with the not so good, perhaps the episode 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. More surprises wouldn't have gone amiss as well as tighter pacing in the first quarter or so.
Elisabeth Rohm really struggles to bring such a cold, robotic character to life and continues to look ill at ease.
So much is done well though. It 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.
Furthermore, "Ill Conceived" has a thoughtful script that like a lot of 'Law and Order' episodes raises interesting questions worthy of debate with somebody. Love Briscoe's one-liners. The story is tactful while also providing lots of intrigue with the secrets, making one feel sad and angry and eager to know what the secrets are. Nothing is too simple or too complicated and the second half even is riveting. The character writing and interaction are near-on point for the regulars, faltering only with Southerlyn. The supporting character writing lacks subtlety but not as stereotypical as worried. The rest of the acting is excellent.
Overall, not great but well worth watching. 7/10.