Law and Order went through a late life renaissance in seasons 18-20, largely due to a sharpening up of the direction of the episodes. Gone was the increasingly bland and glossy lifestyle of the rich and famous episodes and we went back to the grimier, grainier style of the Ben Stone era. There's some really nice location work here, some very naturalistic acting and an absence of gloss and vanities about the whole deal. These aren't crimes of hubris, these are tales of pathetic, tawdry crimes shown much as we imagine they would have happened.
6 Reviews
Two to tango
TheLittleSongbird13 October 2022
"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.
Don't tell Connie she's a hot looking ADA
mloessel3 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of the times when Mike Cutter needed to keep his comments regarding ADA Connie Rubirosa's attractiveness to himself. If she doesnt know she is eye candy to guys when she walks by a time will come when such a conversation would be appropriate ... but not in the middle of a trial when it's discovered that a juror has been checking her out. Cutter should know better and the writers must've had some fun writing this script.
The 'Stupid' Male Ego on ALL SIDES
rbkjr11 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
When Mike Cutter's co-worker & fellow ADA, Connie Rubirosa, doesn't think her "Female Qualities" including her attractiveness to SWAY possible jurors' decisions--she must be as clueless as Mike Cutter who's STUPID enough 2 tell her 1 of the male jurors has been 'eyeballing' her throughout the trial & may vote 4 the prosecution's side when it's time 4 the verdict. Is she as Clueless as Cutter is Dumb??
Then add the HUGE male ego 1 of the defendants has added 2 the mix & how he juggles 2 girlfriends, 1 who's a strung-out junkie & jealous of the new chick on the block who's only getting away from her nemesis, Sugar who's the 2nd defendant 4 killing the 'new chick' along w/ her boyfriend who kept Sugar in a state of FEAR & strung out enough to "keep her in line." When both Defendants are convicted of 2nd degree Murder, Mike Cutter feels vindicated & starts 2 offer an apology to Connie who breaks away as the trial ends by telling him "DON'T" (as if she's been as abused as the junkie defendant, Sugar, who's now going to Jail--while Connie feels she's in a "Jail of Sorts' as well...just 1 w/o any walls or bars LOCKING HER IN). All 1 Big "Circle of Fire" both mentally & physically depending on which side you're on...EVERYONE'S GUILTY IN THIS SITUATION! A long, drawn-out hour I could have done without.
Youth and Intoxication
bkoganbing15 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
You'll find very few low lives lower than Maria Dizzia and Pedro Pascal in the history of Law And Order. These two are a junkie whore and her pimp and both
murdered a drunken and drugged out high school girl.
Dizzia is a runaway from her comfortable suburban home but she's been on the street for nearly 10 years. Pascal is her pimp and he's growing tired of her. Taking advantage of the victim's youth and intoxication Pascal and Dizzia inflict a truly cruel death.
The issue her for Linus Roache and Alana DeLaGarza is who did what and how the culpability is parsed out. The trial is really where it is revealed.
Connie Rubirosa really got a bit ridiculous when a juror made some unwanted communication with her. Mike Cutter has to remind her to keep eyes on the prize, putting two really disgusting people away.
Not the best or worst in the series.
Dizzia is a runaway from her comfortable suburban home but she's been on the street for nearly 10 years. Pascal is her pimp and he's growing tired of her. Taking advantage of the victim's youth and intoxication Pascal and Dizzia inflict a truly cruel death.
The issue her for Linus Roache and Alana DeLaGarza is who did what and how the culpability is parsed out. The trial is really where it is revealed.
Connie Rubirosa really got a bit ridiculous when a juror made some unwanted communication with her. Mike Cutter has to remind her to keep eyes on the prize, putting two really disgusting people away.
Not the best or worst in the series.
Right episode wrong series
jn-0294020 July 2022
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