Have said more than once about my long term admiration for 'Law and Order's' handling of heavy and controversial topics, some of them being ones that many shows would go nowhere near, and how it does not hold back when it approaches any of them. Regardless of the overall execution of the episodes, this aspect always is deserving of credit. "Choice of Evils" joins the already long line of Season 16 episodes that tackled a serious and relevant issue.
And handles it very, very well, though to me there was room for it to go even deeper than it did. "Choice of Evils" is a very good episode while not quite great, while having many great things. Is it one of the best episodes of Season 16? Not quite, though considering the subject matter it had a good deal of potential to be. Is it one of the worst? Again, no and even the weaker episodes were much better than most of the show's seasons at their worst.
"Choice of Evils" is a slight slow starter and more could have been done with whether the victim was born bad or had become a psychopath. That would have made for a very interesting debate.
There is so much that is worth recommending. Molly Price gives a very affecting performance as someone whose behaviour you cannot condone but also someone where it was very difficult to hate them considering the circumstances. This is a case of the victim being hated more. The regulars are also excellent, especially in the legal portions.
Production values are still slick and suitably gritty (without being too heavy in it). The music is not too melodramatic and is not used too much, even not being too manipulative in revelations. The direction is tight and involved while having breathing space.
Writing is very thought provoking and doesn't over simplify or come over as inaccessible, like all 'Law and Order' episodes it is talk heavy but it doesn't feel too much so. The story is one that becomes truly disturbing and sad in a way that hits hard, where it becomes easier to sympathise with Price's character.
Overall, very good though could have been great. 8/10.
And handles it very, very well, though to me there was room for it to go even deeper than it did. "Choice of Evils" is a very good episode while not quite great, while having many great things. Is it one of the best episodes of Season 16? Not quite, though considering the subject matter it had a good deal of potential to be. Is it one of the worst? Again, no and even the weaker episodes were much better than most of the show's seasons at their worst.
"Choice of Evils" is a slight slow starter and more could have been done with whether the victim was born bad or had become a psychopath. That would have made for a very interesting debate.
There is so much that is worth recommending. Molly Price gives a very affecting performance as someone whose behaviour you cannot condone but also someone where it was very difficult to hate them considering the circumstances. This is a case of the victim being hated more. The regulars are also excellent, especially in the legal portions.
Production values are still slick and suitably gritty (without being too heavy in it). The music is not too melodramatic and is not used too much, even not being too manipulative in revelations. The direction is tight and involved while having breathing space.
Writing is very thought provoking and doesn't over simplify or come over as inaccessible, like all 'Law and Order' episodes it is talk heavy but it doesn't feel too much so. The story is one that becomes truly disturbing and sad in a way that hits hard, where it becomes easier to sympathise with Price's character.
Overall, very good though could have been great. 8/10.