Even from reading the plot synopsis, one sort of knows that "View From Up Here" is going to be a somewhat strange episode. Strange is not always a bad thing, there are films and television episodes that are that but also manage to intrigue and entertain. But there are also those that go overboard and become silly and confused. So it depends on the execution. This is an episode that is going to divide viewers, and has divided come to think of it, methinks.
"View From Up Here" for me was something of an uneven episode and one of the lesser episodes of Season 4. It is better than "Eosphoros" and "In the Dark", but is no "Semi-Detached", "Want" or "Magnificat" comparing it briefly to the previous Season 4 episodes. It is something that starts off incredibly promisingly, but becomes too bizarre and not as probable later on. Which is a shame because the concept actually was one of the more oddly interesting ones of the first half of the season.
Will start with the many good things. The production values as ever are slick and with the right amount of muted grit, the photography doesn't try to do anything too fancy or gimmicky while not being claustrophobic and keeping things simple. The music doesn't overbear with the theme tune still memorable and the direction is accomodating yet tight enough. As said, "View From Up Here" started off with great promise, the case was very absorbing and wasn't obvious or over-serious. The method of murder is quite a unique one for up to this point of the show's run.
Much of the script is thought probing and flows well, the quoted line from Goren is a powerful one and Eames has a wonderfully sassy one-liner comparing buildings to wall. There are some nice character moments, such as seeing Goren in compassionate mode (he is amazing in this regard with younger characters) and when he plays with a circular saw at his desk. Did appreciate that the subject didn't get too heavy-handed, a big danger with this type of story. Vincent D'Onofrio is terrific as always and the guest performances from particularly Missy Doty and Kathleen Robertson are of strong quality too.
However, to me the second half wasn't as good as the first. It did intrigue but wasn't as focused and could have gone into more detail with what is revealed, which made things become muddled. It also became silly and uncomfortably bizarre, and took the off the wall factor to extremes.
Instead of being suspenseful or shocking, the story became increasingly unlikely. Which is most obvious in one of the show's most absurd and "stretching credibility to beyond breaking point" denouements.
Summing up, decent but uneven. 6.5/10
