As has been said quite a few times in some of my other reviews, 'Law and Order' often excelled when it came to exploring subjects and themes that are not easy to explore or discuss and still topical now. Managing to do it in a way that on the most part wasn't done too heavy-handedly or trivialised, the best of them hitting very hard as ought. The subject here is one of Season 3's most difficult and polarising, one that was very relevant back in 1993 and is very much now.
Season 3's penultimate episode is one of the better ones of the season when it comes to how the subjects covered in Season 3 were executed. Also consider it one of the best episodes of the season and despite how controversial the subject is it is a hard-hitting episode without over-emphasising that it becomes preachy. Nor did it seem too careful to not offend, this subject needs a pull no punches approach to have the full emotional punch and that is what can be seen here.
"Manhood" as said doesn't have an easy topic to explore, it's a controversial one with extreme opinions on both sides and is too often a target of unfair discrimination. It's dealt with very well here, despite the attitudes of the defendants no judgement is actually made and there isn't too much of one opinion favoured over the other. It doesn't feel heavy-handed and is likely to hit home with many, having a close family member in a happy same sex marriage this did resonate and made me feel a wider range of emotions than most episodes of the third season.
Really enjoyed the script too, not just the tension and insight of the legal scenes. But also the banter between Briscoe and Logan and cannot get enough of Briscoe's wisecracks. The acting is very good from especially Jerry Orbach and Michael Moriarty as the show's most interesting characters at this point.
Production values are slick and professional, not ever resorting to cheap or untested gimmicks or anything. The music is haunting in the right places and isn't constant or too loud, and the direction gives the drama urgency and breathing space. The case is compelling and intricate, keeping one guessing without over-stuffing or convolution. The moral dilemmas of the subject and how to prosecute it being complex and insightful without taking sides.
For my tastes, having said all those great things, the outcome however was too unsatisfyingly lenient.
Overall, great. 9/10
