Have loved the original 'Law and Order' for a long time, particularly the earlier seasons, and consider it my personal favourite of the 'Law and Order' franchise. Did like the idea for Season 8's premiere "Thrill", though on paper it may seem too basic and ordinary. 'Law and Order' do have a good track record at making something great and more complex than expected out of stories that don't sound out of the ordinary on paper and understandably one expects similar from "Thrill."
Anybody who really liked Season 7, and loved most of its episodes, will understandably have high expectations for "Thrill." And if they got a lot out of Season 7's finale "Terminal". That is applicable to me on all counts. It luckily turned out to be a great start for Season 8, that did manage to not make a not particularly novel story predictable and more intricate than expected. While having one annoyance, "Thrill" was also a great 'Law and Order' episode in its own right.
That one annoyance is the character of Shatenstein, a character so irritatingly inept and incapable of not screwing up simple things that it is a wonder at how he ever became an attorney. Plus one really roots for the prosecution to win.
On the other hand, so much is great. As usual, 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 while also taut.
Moreover, the script challenges enough without being too much of a challenge in terms of understanding what's going on. It is not routine in the policing scenes and is very thought provoking and uncompromising when it comes to court. McCoy's legal trickery is especially well done and shows how shrewd and ruthless he can be within reason. The story has enough twists and turns to satisfy, the atmosphere is far from sugar-coated and the conclusion has a nice degree of tension. One is genuinely interested in finding out the answer to the major question that the case revolves around, and while not sure what to think it is easy to root for one particular person's guilt. The amorality of the responsible adds to the creepiness.
Performances are all great across the board. Can't fault the regulars and Michael Moronna unsettles.
In conclusion, great start to Season 8. 9/10.
Anybody who really liked Season 7, and loved most of its episodes, will understandably have high expectations for "Thrill." And if they got a lot out of Season 7's finale "Terminal". That is applicable to me on all counts. It luckily turned out to be a great start for Season 8, that did manage to not make a not particularly novel story predictable and more intricate than expected. While having one annoyance, "Thrill" was also a great 'Law and Order' episode in its own right.
That one annoyance is the character of Shatenstein, a character so irritatingly inept and incapable of not screwing up simple things that it is a wonder at how he ever became an attorney. Plus one really roots for the prosecution to win.
On the other hand, so much is great. As usual, 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 while also taut.
Moreover, the script challenges enough without being too much of a challenge in terms of understanding what's going on. It is not routine in the policing scenes and is very thought provoking and uncompromising when it comes to court. McCoy's legal trickery is especially well done and shows how shrewd and ruthless he can be within reason. The story has enough twists and turns to satisfy, the atmosphere is far from sugar-coated and the conclusion has a nice degree of tension. One is genuinely interested in finding out the answer to the major question that the case revolves around, and while not sure what to think it is easy to root for one particular person's guilt. The amorality of the responsible adds to the creepiness.
Performances are all great across the board. Can't fault the regulars and Michael Moronna unsettles.
In conclusion, great start to Season 8. 9/10.
