One of the biggest appeals of 'Law and Order' has been the topics it addresses and issues that come with the topics addressed. Also with how they are explored, the execution more often than not was hardly sugar coated or trivialised and was often pull no punches in quality. "Birthright" certainly does tackle a very tough issue and could either have been a very powerful and thought probing episode or one that could have been one sided.
Luckily, it is an example of the former. "Birthright" is a wonderful episode and one of the best episodes of Season 16 (perhaps the best one up to this point), as well as one of the saddest and most thought provoking. There is a ripped from the headlines aspect to the story, but never in a way that feels predictable or exploitative. 'Law and Order' excelled when it took the unflinching yet sensitive approach to divisive topics, and that is obvious in "Birthright".
It does start off on the slightly ordinary side.
But that very quickly subsides. The production values as ever have slickness and grit, with an intimacy without being claustrophobic. The music has presence when it's used but does so without being intrusive, some of it is quite haunting too. The direction is also understated but the tension never slips, the second half being full of it.
As expected, the script is lean, even with a lot of talk, and incredibly thought provoking and gritty. The story is a little ordinary to begin with but it quickly becomes eventful and twisty without feeling rushed or muddled. The moral dilemmas of the case are intriguingly and honestly handled, with no one-sided-ness. The story holds nothing back and is one of those cases that makes one incredibly saddened but also with pangs of anger too, the tough issue being explored being portrayed unyieldingly and sincerely. It s always compelling, with a suspenseful quality in the legal portions, with the many turns being unpredictable and not confusing. It also doesn't get preachy or overwrought.
Performances are excellent from all the regulars, particularly in the legal portions and the episode contains a powerful performance from Stephanie Roth Haberle and a devastating and unsettling one from Adapero Oduye (who indeed dominates the first quarter). Fontana and Green's chemistry has come on a long way and Borgia is still a big improvement over Southerlyn. Great to see Robinette again who has a very understandable point of view on the case.
Summing up, wonderful. 9/10.
Luckily, it is an example of the former. "Birthright" is a wonderful episode and one of the best episodes of Season 16 (perhaps the best one up to this point), as well as one of the saddest and most thought provoking. There is a ripped from the headlines aspect to the story, but never in a way that feels predictable or exploitative. 'Law and Order' excelled when it took the unflinching yet sensitive approach to divisive topics, and that is obvious in "Birthright".
It does start off on the slightly ordinary side.
But that very quickly subsides. The production values as ever have slickness and grit, with an intimacy without being claustrophobic. The music has presence when it's used but does so without being intrusive, some of it is quite haunting too. The direction is also understated but the tension never slips, the second half being full of it.
As expected, the script is lean, even with a lot of talk, and incredibly thought provoking and gritty. The story is a little ordinary to begin with but it quickly becomes eventful and twisty without feeling rushed or muddled. The moral dilemmas of the case are intriguingly and honestly handled, with no one-sided-ness. The story holds nothing back and is one of those cases that makes one incredibly saddened but also with pangs of anger too, the tough issue being explored being portrayed unyieldingly and sincerely. It s always compelling, with a suspenseful quality in the legal portions, with the many turns being unpredictable and not confusing. It also doesn't get preachy or overwrought.
Performances are excellent from all the regulars, particularly in the legal portions and the episode contains a powerful performance from Stephanie Roth Haberle and a devastating and unsettling one from Adapero Oduye (who indeed dominates the first quarter). Fontana and Green's chemistry has come on a long way and Borgia is still a big improvement over Southerlyn. Great to see Robinette again who has a very understandable point of view on the case.
Summing up, wonderful. 9/10.