The subject matter immediately is enough to grab the attention. It is yet another very sensitive and difficult topic to discuss, and if anybody has doubts about whether the execution would be tactful enough without being preachy, one-sided and too heavy that is understandable (those are common traps with this kind of topic and similar). Anybody though that has always admired how 'Law and Order' approached tough subjects and how it did so will be intrigued.
It is also evident even from the title that "Homesick" would not be an easy watch, experienced it many times myself when on residential trips and tours abroad due to having attachment issues as part of my autism. When it comes to the execution it is appropriately not an easy watch, appropriately because the subject (different to what is expected reading the title) is a tough one and should have a pull no punches approach to tackling it. Which "Homesick" does and beautifully in another fine episode, if not quite one of my favourites of Season 6.
Am going to get my only gripe with "Homesick" out of the way first. Annika Peterson was on the bland side as Lila and yes her British accent has much to be desired.
Otherwise, "Homesick" is great. The rest of the cast are terrific. Jerry Orbach (always a pleasure to watch) and Benjamin Bratt (who has now settled very well) make for a great team, both gritty and amusing. Sam Waterston and Jill Hennessy are great authority figures and Patti LuPone excels at showing a different side to her.
"Homesick" also has beautifully written and balanced character writing. All the regulars are true to character and none of the supporting characters are too beige or too black and white, after seeing some irredeemably evil characters this season it was refreshing to see characters that were more complex than they seemed at first. The story is very powerful and sad, as well as twistier than it sounds on paper. One of the highlights being how McCoy and Kincaid get to the truth and what they do with the evidence.
Script is suitably sensitive and while there is a lot to digest it doesn't come over as too talky or hard to follow. As usual for 'Law and Order', the production values are solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden.
Concluding, excellent. 9/10
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