Am actually somebody that likes Logan as a character (do vastly prefer Goren though) and generally, not always though, liked his chemistry with Barek, a different chemistry but interesting in its own way. Also liked Barek better than expected in enough of her episodes, again in her own way, and it was a shame that she didn't last longer. They made big impressions in their first outing together "Diamond Dogs", so despite the plotline for "Unchained" being a very old hat one one cannot help have high expectations.
"Unchained" has always been a bit of a disappointing 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' episode to me. Didn't care for it on first watch, my mixed/indifferent feelings are the same now. After three such great previous episodes, Season 5 hits its first stumbling block and the show has with "Unchained" (up to this point of its run) its worst episode in a while, since perhaps either Season 3's "Ill Bred" or Season 4's "Eosphoros". It has nothing to do with Logan and Barek or their chemistry, it's the story that's the problem.
There are good things here. The production values as ever are slick and with the right amount of muted grit, the photography doesn't try to do anything too fancy or gimmicky while not being claustrophobic and keeping things simple. The music doesn't overbear with the theme tune still memorable. The episode starts off quite well.
Chris Noth is subtly tense and dryly humorous, although there is more of his grittier side this time, and Annabella Sciorra is understated without being overly-low key. Actually like Logan and Barek together, it certainly doesn't electrify or entertain as much as the one between Goren and Eames but Barek's perceptions are interesting and it was good to see more emphasis on investigating together and on more equal ground. The regulars are fine in their acting.
Not so much in support, with a mix of try hard and forgettable. Nobody really stands out, David Keith has the most presence but he could have toned it down as well and made his character less obvious. The characters are not developed enough to make one care about the situation, while the script lacks its usual tautness and is unusually stilted. The direction this time round dramatically is fairly pedestrian.
What lets "Unchained" down most is the story. Too much of the pace is dull and with a severe lack of tension and suspense it was bland too. Even the ending doesn't completely come off, it was the closest the episode got to having any kind of emotion but the lead up felt underdeveloped so it was too late to care enough. Everything with Logan's past is too heavily emphasised and gets in the way too much of the case, and while the case intrigued at first there is next to nothing original here, all major revelations easily foreseeable, and then when the episode tries to cram in too much with not much time left to go it became more convoluted than complex.
In summary, underwhelming. 5/10