'Law and Order' was a brilliant show in its prime and overall is actually my favourite of the 'Law and Order' franchise and out of it, 'Special Victims Unit' (the longest running) and 'Criminal Intent'. Despite not feeling the same post-Briscoe. Season 10 was a solid season on the whole, with many great episodes and only about two or three disappointments. On first watch, "Loco Parentis" struck me as a very good episode if not quite a great one.
On subsequent rewatches, "Loco Parentis" still comes over as very good, though falling slightly short of being great. Despite many aspects of it being incredibly well executed. It has yet another tough and quite controversial subject matter (something that was the case with a vast majority of the show and of the franchise and one of the main appeals) and handles it very well and admirably. There are better episodes of Season 10 and of 'Law and Order', but it is hard to not appreciate "Loco Parentis".
Sure there is not an awful lot that is unique about the first portion of the case.
Do agree to some extent that the ending was unsatisfying and felt like the writers ran out of gas, instead taking the convenient way out with a hastily resolved and anti-climactic solution that didn't really address the episode's argument.
A shame because the good, even great, things are many. It does look good, with the usual slickness and subtle grit. Really liked too that the photography was simple and close up but doing so without being claustrophobic. The music has presence when used, and luckily it isn't constant, and when it is used it doesn't feel over-scored. The direction allows the drama to breathe while still giving it momentum as well.
Furthermore, the script is typically tight and intelligent with an uncompromising grit and lump to the throat emotion. There is a lot to take in dialogue-wise, but it doesn't feel too much. The story grabs the attention with a riveting and emotional impactful second half, the depraved indifference dilemma handled thoughtfully without heavy-handedness or judgement despite rooting for a higher charge. The basement room is the stuff of nightmares as well. The acting is very good, with chilling Robert Clohessy as a truly despicable character standing out.
Concluding, very good. 8/10.