"Slaughter" was one of those 'Law and Order' episodes on first watch that had a number of good things but did feel on the ordinary side and didn't stick in the mind long after. There are episodes of the show and the 'Law and Order' franchise in general that felt like this, but there are many on both counts where that type of episode on first watch fared better on rewatch and were better than remembered seeing it through older eyes.
While there is still a good deal to like, my good but not great feelings on "Slaughter" have not changed all that much. As said more than once, there are 'Law and Order' episodes that sound quite basic on paper but don't feel ordinary in execution so there is no close-mindedness intended here. "Slaughter" has everything present and most of it is done absolutely correct, but not everything comes off and the episode is on the ordinary side.
A lot is great here. It is very well acted by most of the regulars, particularly Sam Waterston, showing off his authority, resourceful and ruthlessness expertly. In support, an unnerving Phillip Casnoff as a particularly loathsome character stands out. The character interaction once again delivers wonderfully, how most of the characters communicate with each other in the legal scenes truly absorbs. The legal scenes are engrossing and tense, helped by that the subject has real urgency and tension which the episode delivers on.
The script is taut and intelligent. The story is a bit routine to begin with but really delivers in the legal scenes and becomes more interesting when things become not what they seem. 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.
Did think though that the final third was on the over-crowded and rushed side, with a lot of information in too short a time meaning that some of it feels under-explored. Other than the chemistry between Briscoe and Green, which is very well written and acted as always, the policing doesn't quite match the quality of the legal scenes and has a seen it all before feel.
Furthermore, Elisabeth Rohm is lifeless and adds little again which has always been true for the character of Southerlyn herself. She and Waterston are quite disconnected in chemistry.
Concluding, not great but good. 7/10.
While there is still a good deal to like, my good but not great feelings on "Slaughter" have not changed all that much. As said more than once, there are 'Law and Order' episodes that sound quite basic on paper but don't feel ordinary in execution so there is no close-mindedness intended here. "Slaughter" has everything present and most of it is done absolutely correct, but not everything comes off and the episode is on the ordinary side.
A lot is great here. It is very well acted by most of the regulars, particularly Sam Waterston, showing off his authority, resourceful and ruthlessness expertly. In support, an unnerving Phillip Casnoff as a particularly loathsome character stands out. The character interaction once again delivers wonderfully, how most of the characters communicate with each other in the legal scenes truly absorbs. The legal scenes are engrossing and tense, helped by that the subject has real urgency and tension which the episode delivers on.
The script is taut and intelligent. The story is a bit routine to begin with but really delivers in the legal scenes and becomes more interesting when things become not what they seem. 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.
Did think though that the final third was on the over-crowded and rushed side, with a lot of information in too short a time meaning that some of it feels under-explored. Other than the chemistry between Briscoe and Green, which is very well written and acted as always, the policing doesn't quite match the quality of the legal scenes and has a seen it all before feel.
Furthermore, Elisabeth Rohm is lifeless and adds little again which has always been true for the character of Southerlyn herself. She and Waterston are quite disconnected in chemistry.
Concluding, not great but good. 7/10.