Season 6 of 'Law and Order' was a bit of an up and down one. Curtis didn't settle straightaway (understandably to be fair) and neither did his and Briscoe's chemistry (also understandable), though it was a case of them being fine in some episodes and regressed in others. It was more though to do with the quality of the episodes, there were some fantastic ones but also a few disappointments. None were misfires though and even the weakest episodes showed good intentions.
"Encore" is closely linked to Season 5's "Coma", a very good episode if not one of my favourites from 'Law and Order', and sees the return of the character of Michael Dobson (played perfectly by Larry Miller, who made him entertaining and loathsome at the same time). It is as good as that episode and while not one of the best episodes of Season 6 it's somewhere around high middle in ranking. Once again, like "Coma", succeeding in making something very interesting and not as simple as feared out of a premise that sounds very ordinary.
The one thing that didn't quite work here is how difficult to buy Dobson giving up as easily as he does here. Considering the nature of his character, that easy and convenient a give up was too hard to swallow for my tastes.
However, "Encore" is excellent everywhere else. Miller once again steals the show, doing fast-talking with ease while also giving the creeps. Giving a pretty cliched and potentially annoying type of role a refreshingly unsettling personality without being too obvious or unbalancing things. The case is always intriguing and is not too obvious or convoluted, there are a couple of decisions in the writing mentioned already that don't quite come off but it was always compelling and didn't feel too ordinary. All the performances are great (do agree that Briscoe's reaction to coming across Dobson at the medical examiner's office was a highlight moment), but Miller is the one that one doesn't forget for a long time after.
Character interaction has tension and snap, but also looks natural and never too rehearsed that it comes over as clinical. Production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. The dialogue is smart and always intriguing, with plenty of it moving, chilling and provoking thought.
On the whole, very good with a terrific guest star. 8/10
