"Tango" struck me as a very good episode on first watch some years ago, despite losing respect for Cutter and his lack of professionalism. Namely because of how chilling the perpetrators are and also because of its pull no punches approach to a tough gut wrenching subject. Have said many times about my admiration for 'Law and Order's' uncompromising handling of difficult and often controversial themes and subjects and "Tango" is no exception.
On rewatch, "Tango" is still a very good episode indeed. The aspect that bothered me on first watch still bothers me, but the things that stuck out in a good way before are even more noticeable and better now and also found more to appreciate. It is not one of the best episodes of Season 18 and a step down from the excellent previous three episodes, but compared to the season pre-"Quit Claim" it is great to see how much the season improved by the end of its first half.
After liking him a lot in the previous episodes and liking him a lot overall as a character, Cutter went down in my estimations here. Just found him and the way he spoke here inappropriate and unprofessional and the idea of Rubirosa swaying the jury was beyond ridiculous and should never have been considered by the writers or okayed.
It is a bit ordinary to begin with too.
However, a lot is excellent. 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. The perpetrators are two of the latter seasons' most reprehensible, while the acting all round is very good. Pedro Pascal seldom was this bone chilling.
Furthermore, 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. The story on the whole is incredibly absorbing and twisty and it certainly doesn't sugar coat its subject, making up for some truly messed up stuff.
Concluding, very good. 8/10.
On rewatch, "Tango" is still a very good episode indeed. The aspect that bothered me on first watch still bothers me, but the things that stuck out in a good way before are even more noticeable and better now and also found more to appreciate. It is not one of the best episodes of Season 18 and a step down from the excellent previous three episodes, but compared to the season pre-"Quit Claim" it is great to see how much the season improved by the end of its first half.
After liking him a lot in the previous episodes and liking him a lot overall as a character, Cutter went down in my estimations here. Just found him and the way he spoke here inappropriate and unprofessional and the idea of Rubirosa swaying the jury was beyond ridiculous and should never have been considered by the writers or okayed.
It is a bit ordinary to begin with too.
However, a lot is excellent. 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. The perpetrators are two of the latter seasons' most reprehensible, while the acting all round is very good. Pedro Pascal seldom was this bone chilling.
Furthermore, 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. The story on the whole is incredibly absorbing and twisty and it certainly doesn't sugar coat its subject, making up for some truly messed up stuff.
Concluding, very good. 8/10.