"Sisters of Mercy" was made at a time where 'Law and Order' excelled at basing their stories on real life cases and also for tackling challenging themes. Something that in my view the later seasons, when the show also began to run out of ideas, weren't as strong in. This episode is an example of what the early seasons excelled in, here based on the 1990 Covenant House scandal and revolving around sexual abuse at a treatment house.
The episode "Sisters of Mercy" does a great job with presenting the issues raised, overcoming any hurdles that comes with tackling one of the most challenging subjects known to man. A subject handled in "Sisters of Mercy" with force and also tact, the full impact not being trivialised or downplayed and making for an appropriately not an easy watch sort of episode. One of the things that was particularly striking about the early seasons of 'Law and Order' and also of 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent' was the pulling no punches approach and the ability of displaying tension and emotion as a result.
Maybe the ending is a little too neatly wrapped up and hasty, but there is very little to dislike here about "Sisters of Mercy".
Production values are slick as usual, the locations are spare in number but not used in too confined a way. The music fits well, only used when needed (namely underscoring in revelations) and doesn't over-emphasise the mood. The theme tune has never stopped being memorable, all the theme tunes in the 'Law and Order' franchise are that. The story is compelling, with the procedural work keeping one on their toes and not confused. The legal scenes are even better though.
With any conflicts having the right amount of tension and how the attorneys conduct the cases and any issues raised intrigue. The writing is intelligently written, approaching the subject with edge and sensitivity, and paced tightly. All the characters are interesting, although Powell's nastiness (to put it lightly) is obvious almost immediately the character is juicy and makes one care about the case being solved.
All the performances are on point too, while Paul Sorvino and Chris Noth work well together Michael Moriarty (helped by Stone being the show's most interesting regular character at this stage) is the one that commands the most of the regulars. William H. Macy is chillingly vile in his role, one doesn't always see him this evil.
Overall, great. 9/10
The episode "Sisters of Mercy" does a great job with presenting the issues raised, overcoming any hurdles that comes with tackling one of the most challenging subjects known to man. A subject handled in "Sisters of Mercy" with force and also tact, the full impact not being trivialised or downplayed and making for an appropriately not an easy watch sort of episode. One of the things that was particularly striking about the early seasons of 'Law and Order' and also of 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent' was the pulling no punches approach and the ability of displaying tension and emotion as a result.
Maybe the ending is a little too neatly wrapped up and hasty, but there is very little to dislike here about "Sisters of Mercy".
Production values are slick as usual, the locations are spare in number but not used in too confined a way. The music fits well, only used when needed (namely underscoring in revelations) and doesn't over-emphasise the mood. The theme tune has never stopped being memorable, all the theme tunes in the 'Law and Order' franchise are that. The story is compelling, with the procedural work keeping one on their toes and not confused. The legal scenes are even better though.
With any conflicts having the right amount of tension and how the attorneys conduct the cases and any issues raised intrigue. The writing is intelligently written, approaching the subject with edge and sensitivity, and paced tightly. All the characters are interesting, although Powell's nastiness (to put it lightly) is obvious almost immediately the character is juicy and makes one care about the case being solved.
All the performances are on point too, while Paul Sorvino and Chris Noth work well together Michael Moriarty (helped by Stone being the show's most interesting regular character at this stage) is the one that commands the most of the regulars. William H. Macy is chillingly vile in his role, one doesn't always see him this evil.
Overall, great. 9/10