"Possession" is another 'Law and Order' episode where the concept isn't anything original but still has enough to make one interested in seeing it. Personally do prefer the episodes that tackle difficult and controversial topics that are still to this day hardly outdated (which for me is what the franchise excels in doing at its best), or at least ones that are more so, but again if a fan of 'Law and Order' or wanting to see all the episodes there is no reason really to avoid "Possession" in my mind.
After being impressed generally by three of the previous four episodes, with "Soldier of Fortune" being the one minor disappointment, it was hard to not have high expectations watching "Possession" on first watch. On the most part, they were met if not exceeded. "Possession" struck me as a good episode if not a great one. A lot of great things here, just like the previous episodes, but it is a case of other episodes doing a few elements better than here.
Perhaps "Possession" though could have done with having more tension and edge, while everything is interesting it is not as edge of the seat-worthy as other episodes. More surprises wouldn't have gone amiss as well as tighter pacing in the first quarter or so.
Elisabeth Rohm really struggles to bring such a cold, robotic character to life and continues to look ill at ease.
So much is done well though. It is a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key on the whole.
Furthermore, "Possession" has a thoughtful script that like a lot of 'Law and Order' episodes raises interesting questions worthy of debate with somebody. Love Briscoe's one-liners. The story is tactful while also providing lots of intrigue with the secrets, making one feel sad and angry and eager to know what the secrets are. Nothing is too simple or too complicated and the second half even is riveting. The character writing and interaction are near-on point, faltering only with Southerlyn. The rest of the acting is excellent.
In conclusion, good but not great. 7/10.