While the premise on paper is not an innovative one, it was a great one (one of the best and most promising of Season 15) and when done right it is tense and chilling. When not done right, it is heavy handed, one sided and goes too far on the uncomfortably bigoted levels. Was not that bowled over by the previous two Season 15 episodes and Briscoe's replacement Fontana did not sell it really in those episodes. Absolutely love the show, which is brilliant at its best, so rewatched "Brotherhood" and the whole season anyway and willingly.
Am glad about doing so, as "Brotherhood" is a vast improvement over the previous two episodes and among the better episodes of the first half of Season 15. It is also an episode that does a great job with its subject, which was much more difficult than the subjects of the previous two episodes, and is closer to the tense and chilling side of the way it's executed than the preachy and one sided way it could have easily been. "Brotherhood" is far from being one of the best 'Law and Order' episodes but is proof that despite being well past prime that 'Law and Order' hadn't completely lost it.
"Brotherhood" isn't perfect. Its biggest problem being the anti-climactic and rushed ending that cried out for a second part.
Elisabeth Rohm seldom did anything for me as Southerlyn, likewise with the character herself, with a small handful of exceptions, and she doesn't here. There is just absolutely nothing to her and she never looks comfortable.
The rest of the performances are absolutely fine, Sam Waterston and Jesse L Martin faring best. Dennis Farina starts to bring out the grit and snap that was missing in his previous two episodes, though Fontana has a long way to go, and while his chemistry with Martin doesn't scintillate it's more connected than before. The supporting cast are even better, particularly a terrifying Chance Kelly. Gary Basaraba successfully makes his character interesting and rootable.
Lots of suspense can be seen in the second half, and quite a lot of the reason is because of how chilling the group is. The script is taut and thought provoking with uncompromising edge, a lot of what is said by the supporting characters really shocks and it is scary that there are actually people that speak and think like that but this is a case of it being about their way of thinking rather than the writers thinking and agreeing with it.
Furthermore, the episode is slick-looking and visually doesn't try to do anything too fancy or indulgent while also not being too safe. The music is not too dramatic and to me doesn't over-emphasise. The treatment of the subject is scary but also tactful enough.
In conclusion, very good. 8/10.
Am glad about doing so, as "Brotherhood" is a vast improvement over the previous two episodes and among the better episodes of the first half of Season 15. It is also an episode that does a great job with its subject, which was much more difficult than the subjects of the previous two episodes, and is closer to the tense and chilling side of the way it's executed than the preachy and one sided way it could have easily been. "Brotherhood" is far from being one of the best 'Law and Order' episodes but is proof that despite being well past prime that 'Law and Order' hadn't completely lost it.
"Brotherhood" isn't perfect. Its biggest problem being the anti-climactic and rushed ending that cried out for a second part.
Elisabeth Rohm seldom did anything for me as Southerlyn, likewise with the character herself, with a small handful of exceptions, and she doesn't here. There is just absolutely nothing to her and she never looks comfortable.
The rest of the performances are absolutely fine, Sam Waterston and Jesse L Martin faring best. Dennis Farina starts to bring out the grit and snap that was missing in his previous two episodes, though Fontana has a long way to go, and while his chemistry with Martin doesn't scintillate it's more connected than before. The supporting cast are even better, particularly a terrifying Chance Kelly. Gary Basaraba successfully makes his character interesting and rootable.
Lots of suspense can be seen in the second half, and quite a lot of the reason is because of how chilling the group is. The script is taut and thought provoking with uncompromising edge, a lot of what is said by the supporting characters really shocks and it is scary that there are actually people that speak and think like that but this is a case of it being about their way of thinking rather than the writers thinking and agreeing with it.
Furthermore, the episode is slick-looking and visually doesn't try to do anything too fancy or indulgent while also not being too safe. The music is not too dramatic and to me doesn't over-emphasise. The treatment of the subject is scary but also tactful enough.
In conclusion, very good. 8/10.