'Law and Order', and actually frequently the whole 'Law and Order' franchise (especially 'Special Victims Unit'), often excelled when it came to having cases that made the viewer feel truly sad and angry. It also often excelled when it came to tackling difficult topics. Alzheimer's Disease is very hard to discuss and something that will hit home for so many going through it or seeing it, as is the issue of whether a perpetrator is competent to stand trial.
While not one of the best episodes of Season 10, "Sundown" is very solid and tackles one of the more difficult and personal cases subject matter-wise very well indeed. It doesn't hold back, quite unyielding later, and has a large emotional punch as ought. It isn't perfect, with it being a case of one half being better than the other (which was the case with quite a lot of episodes from the early-mid seasons. But even the inferior half is still interesting, just not as riveting.
"Sundown" does start off on the routine side, from not standing above the ordinary, and doesn't have many surprises.
Did think too that it was lacking a little in tension and complexity.
On the other hand, "Sundown" does a lot absolutely right. As ever, the production values are slick, 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 overtime). 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. The performances are very good from particularly Angie Harmon, George Martin and Glynnis O'Connor.
Furthermore, the script is sharp, intelligent and gritty, again with a lot to take in without feeling too much. Especially in the latter stages of the second half and when one sees how much the case affects Carmichael. While the first half is interesting if routine, the second is truly riveting and emotionally powerful. It was very difficult to not feel angered or moved by what Carmichael finds going to the clinic and it is hard to not be completely on her side. Absolutely related to the subject and her and everything to do with the competence was handled intelligently and not in a heavy way.
In summary, very good with a riveting second half. 8/10.
While not one of the best episodes of Season 10, "Sundown" is very solid and tackles one of the more difficult and personal cases subject matter-wise very well indeed. It doesn't hold back, quite unyielding later, and has a large emotional punch as ought. It isn't perfect, with it being a case of one half being better than the other (which was the case with quite a lot of episodes from the early-mid seasons. But even the inferior half is still interesting, just not as riveting.
"Sundown" does start off on the routine side, from not standing above the ordinary, and doesn't have many surprises.
Did think too that it was lacking a little in tension and complexity.
On the other hand, "Sundown" does a lot absolutely right. As ever, the production values are slick, 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 overtime). 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. The performances are very good from particularly Angie Harmon, George Martin and Glynnis O'Connor.
Furthermore, the script is sharp, intelligent and gritty, again with a lot to take in without feeling too much. Especially in the latter stages of the second half and when one sees how much the case affects Carmichael. While the first half is interesting if routine, the second is truly riveting and emotionally powerful. It was very difficult to not feel angered or moved by what Carmichael finds going to the clinic and it is hard to not be completely on her side. Absolutely related to the subject and her and everything to do with the competence was handled intelligently and not in a heavy way.
In summary, very good with a riveting second half. 8/10.
