One can tell from the plot synopsis and even the title that "Manhattan Vigil" was not going to be an easy watch, quite the opposite. Also if one knows of 'Special Victims Unit's', and the 'Law and Order' franchise's, reputation of exploring heavy topics in an uncompromising way. It was certainly of no surprise to me that this was not going to be an easy watch, especially as the show and some other shows had episodes with a similar feel, even when the subject was not the same.
"Manhattan Vigil" left me mixed to low-ish on first watch, it certainly hit hard and was well acted but had uneven pacing and practically non-existent contunity. My feelings are pretty much the same now, not just the overall opinion but also what stood out as positive and negative. It's not a terrible episode, a long way from that, but considering the subject and that on paper it had a lot of potential "Manhattan Vigil" could and should have been a lot better.
Am going to start with the good. The photography while very close up doesn't come over as too static or filmed play-like, while the production values are typically solid and have subtle atmosphere while not being drab and keeping things simple. When the music is used it is haunting and has a melancholic edge that is not overdone. The episode is sympathetically yet uncompromisingly directed.
Enough of the writing is thought probing and uncompromising while not being too soapy. The present day story is tense and poignant, where finding out the truth is rooted for. The regulars are very good, and while Liza Colon Zayas' performance is very touching, it's Tom Sizemore's epitome of spine chilling creepiness that leaves the biggest impression.
However, the story is very uneven. While the flashbacks intrigue enough, the episode does lose momentum when they feature (always a big danger with flashbacks) and there are a couple too many. It did feel incomplete at the end, with too many unanswered questions such as the killer's motivations (which were vague at best). It did cry out for a sequel, which it did have a few seasons later and that turned out a lot better than expected on rewatch.
Continuity is pretty much not there at all and is badly messed around with, pretty much the original case is re-written. Do agree that the cop that contributed heavily towards getting the evidence in the original case is forgotten about.
Summary, above average but uneven and could have been better. 6/10.