The complete opposite really. "Juvenile" was one of those 'Law and Order' episodes on first watch that had a number of great things but did feel somewhat ordinary and didn't stick in the mind long after. There are episodes of the show and the 'Law and Order' franchise in general that had that sense, but there are many on both counts where that type of episode on first watch fared better on rewatch and had elements that were better than remembered seeing it through older eyes.
Something that was the case with many of Season 9's episodes, and something that is the case with "Juvenile". It is one of those episodes that starts off very intriguingly if not mind-blowingly, but later becomes a quite powerful episode with a memorable guest turn. As far as Season 9 (a very solid season overall with a lot of truly fine episodes) episodes go, "Juvenile" is in the better half if not one of the very best.
Not much at all wrong to find here, apart from a slightly crammed ending and a fairly familiar final quarter.
"Juvenile" however is excellent elsewhere. The photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has a lot of nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way. The writing is intelligent and although, like the show in general, there is a lot of talk it doesn't feel long-winded.
Both the investigating and legal subplots are brilliantly done and it doesn't feel to me too much like two stories in one, instead two different subplots that connect together. The legal scenes however have the slight edge as that's when the case becomes more complex and shocking (getting more shocking with each twist, of which there are many), the latter stages are very tense and powerful. Which is an incredibly clever and intricate one, and that there is much more to the truth than what it initially seems. The characters it centres around make a big impression and the chemistry between them is disturbing.
Disturbing is a very good way of summing up the performance of Marsha Dietlein. The regulars are excellent, particularly Sam Waterston.
Overall, very good and powerful. 8/10.
Something that was the case with many of Season 9's episodes, and something that is the case with "Juvenile". It is one of those episodes that starts off very intriguingly if not mind-blowingly, but later becomes a quite powerful episode with a memorable guest turn. As far as Season 9 (a very solid season overall with a lot of truly fine episodes) episodes go, "Juvenile" is in the better half if not one of the very best.
Not much at all wrong to find here, apart from a slightly crammed ending and a fairly familiar final quarter.
"Juvenile" however is excellent elsewhere. The photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has a lot of nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way. The writing is intelligent and although, like the show in general, there is a lot of talk it doesn't feel long-winded.
Both the investigating and legal subplots are brilliantly done and it doesn't feel to me too much like two stories in one, instead two different subplots that connect together. The legal scenes however have the slight edge as that's when the case becomes more complex and shocking (getting more shocking with each twist, of which there are many), the latter stages are very tense and powerful. Which is an incredibly clever and intricate one, and that there is much more to the truth than what it initially seems. The characters it centres around make a big impression and the chemistry between them is disturbing.
Disturbing is a very good way of summing up the performance of Marsha Dietlein. The regulars are excellent, particularly Sam Waterston.
Overall, very good and powerful. 8/10.