We are still at a very early stage in Season 5 with "Blue Bamboo", only the third episode of it. These episodes were well done with a lot of great things, "Coma" especially, but the season doesn't feel completely settled yet and still was not completely used to McCoy yet (maybe part of it is down to loving Stone so much and not used to him being gone). 'Law and Order' though is a fantastic show at its best and Laura Linney is always worth watching.
She certainly is here. While "Blue Bamboo" was not great, doesn't stand out enough and could have been better, this is through no fault whatsoever of Linney. Despite what was just said, "Blue Bamboo" is also not a bad episode, not at all, and was interesting. It is not an easy subject to cover, 'Law and Order' often explored bold topics and didn't hold back, but the episode does its best with it, even though there was not much that was mind-blowing or illuminating.
Linney is the main reason to see "Blue Bamboo" as one of Season 5's most sympathetic characters. Part of me actually did sympathise with her and didn't think she was too overly perfect dramatically, despite her character writing being a bit too one-sided. The acting all round is great, it is great to see Carolyn McCormick again and Sam Waterston really does give his all as McCoy (still a problematic character but am blaming the writing here not McCoy). The character writing is not perfect by any stretch, especially McCoy, but it's interesting at least, have no problem with the rest of the regulars or with sympathetic Olivet.
The production values are slick and professional, not ever resorting to cheap or untested gimmicks or anything. The music is haunting in the right places and isn't constant or too loud, and the direction gives the drama urgency and breathing space. The script is thoughtful and intriguing enough, can't get enough of Briscoe's one liners. After seeing so many episodes of other shows (i.e. 'Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders') that treat different cultures in an insensitive light, it was good to see "Blue Bamboo" explore the cultural aspect tactfully and with insight. The moral dilemma of the case was also well done, again sensitively handled and the attitudes towards the subject hold up a lot better than the attitudes in "Second Opinion".
For all those great things, "Blue Bamboo" did have potential to be even better than it was. The case is agreed very derivative from having been done many times before (and since) and done with generally more of the same and too conventional execution. The episode could have been tighter pace wise, tends to lack tension and it generally is too predictable.
McCoy is back in jerk land, especially towards Olivet, and again there is too much premature conclusion jumping despite evidence being flimsy and pressing too hard in securing a conviction, which makes him look rather unprofessional.
Overall, decent and worth seeing for primarily Linney but not great. 7/10
She certainly is here. While "Blue Bamboo" was not great, doesn't stand out enough and could have been better, this is through no fault whatsoever of Linney. Despite what was just said, "Blue Bamboo" is also not a bad episode, not at all, and was interesting. It is not an easy subject to cover, 'Law and Order' often explored bold topics and didn't hold back, but the episode does its best with it, even though there was not much that was mind-blowing or illuminating.
Linney is the main reason to see "Blue Bamboo" as one of Season 5's most sympathetic characters. Part of me actually did sympathise with her and didn't think she was too overly perfect dramatically, despite her character writing being a bit too one-sided. The acting all round is great, it is great to see Carolyn McCormick again and Sam Waterston really does give his all as McCoy (still a problematic character but am blaming the writing here not McCoy). The character writing is not perfect by any stretch, especially McCoy, but it's interesting at least, have no problem with the rest of the regulars or with sympathetic Olivet.
The production values are slick and professional, not ever resorting to cheap or untested gimmicks or anything. The music is haunting in the right places and isn't constant or too loud, and the direction gives the drama urgency and breathing space. The script is thoughtful and intriguing enough, can't get enough of Briscoe's one liners. After seeing so many episodes of other shows (i.e. 'Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders') that treat different cultures in an insensitive light, it was good to see "Blue Bamboo" explore the cultural aspect tactfully and with insight. The moral dilemma of the case was also well done, again sensitively handled and the attitudes towards the subject hold up a lot better than the attitudes in "Second Opinion".
For all those great things, "Blue Bamboo" did have potential to be even better than it was. The case is agreed very derivative from having been done many times before (and since) and done with generally more of the same and too conventional execution. The episode could have been tighter pace wise, tends to lack tension and it generally is too predictable.
McCoy is back in jerk land, especially towards Olivet, and again there is too much premature conclusion jumping despite evidence being flimsy and pressing too hard in securing a conviction, which makes him look rather unprofessional.
Overall, decent and worth seeing for primarily Linney but not great. 7/10