Like Season 19, the twentieth and final season of the original 'Law and Order' really surprised me in a good way. So many shows have final seasons not worthy of them, but 'Law and Order' is one of the shows to have a generally good and worthy final season, even if it didn't feel like it was meant to be the end (don't think it was intended to be). A few episodes disappointed, them being "Blackmail", "Brazil" and "The Taxman Cometh", but Season 20 did boast one of the highest numbers of great episodes of the show.
The season finale (and sadly also show finale, sob!) "Rubber Room" is one of those great episodes. It's a beautiful and powerful farewell that did a truly impressive job at tackling one of the most difficult and most relevant subjects covered in the latter seasons. Perfect it may not be, but 'Law and Order' started off excellently and finished every bit as excellently with "Rubber Room". As far as Season 20 goes, it's one of the best episodes in my view if not one of the best 'Law and Order' episodes overall.
Did feel that the ending was a bit too pat, in an episode where a darker ending would have been more realistic, and it did feel to me quite clear that it was not intended to be the final season. Otherwise there would have been more finality.
However, the acting ranges from great to exceptional, with all the regulars shining in some way, in one of the best acted episodes in a long time. S Epatha Merkerson was always great on 'Law and Order', but Season 20 really pulled out all the stops making Van Buren a more fully developed character in a heart wrenching and relatable subplot that went on throughout the season (without feeling dragged out) and Merkerson's acting was powerful throughout the season. She is magnificent here, one of her best performances of the show and even better than her performances in for example "Fed".
Furthermore, it looks professional and the camerawork is neither overblown or static. The music has a haunting and not too melodramatic presence. The direction keeps things tight while allowing time to breathe. The script is intelligent, layered, lean and provokes a lot of thought. The story is compelling and is intricate without being convoluted, the moral dilemmas of the case are intensely and thoughtfully handled and it is amazing seeing how relevant the episode is still.
Conflict has a lot of tension, very fascinating in the subject it covers and the kind where a result, and the right kind, is rooted for, while the approach to the subject is uncompromising and suspenseful while not being preachy. Also extremely moving, the complex themes insightfully and unyieldingly explored. Really admired "Rubber Room" for even going near this subject and admired every bit as much that it didn't pass judgements or feel incomplete, which is amazing considering how much is covered.
Overall, was hugely impressed by this final episode and as far as final episodes of great shows go it's much better than most. Much better than those of 'House of Cards', 'Game of Thrones', 'Lost' and from memory 'Dexter', that's for sure. 9/10.
The season finale (and sadly also show finale, sob!) "Rubber Room" is one of those great episodes. It's a beautiful and powerful farewell that did a truly impressive job at tackling one of the most difficult and most relevant subjects covered in the latter seasons. Perfect it may not be, but 'Law and Order' started off excellently and finished every bit as excellently with "Rubber Room". As far as Season 20 goes, it's one of the best episodes in my view if not one of the best 'Law and Order' episodes overall.
Did feel that the ending was a bit too pat, in an episode where a darker ending would have been more realistic, and it did feel to me quite clear that it was not intended to be the final season. Otherwise there would have been more finality.
However, the acting ranges from great to exceptional, with all the regulars shining in some way, in one of the best acted episodes in a long time. S Epatha Merkerson was always great on 'Law and Order', but Season 20 really pulled out all the stops making Van Buren a more fully developed character in a heart wrenching and relatable subplot that went on throughout the season (without feeling dragged out) and Merkerson's acting was powerful throughout the season. She is magnificent here, one of her best performances of the show and even better than her performances in for example "Fed".
Furthermore, it looks professional and the camerawork is neither overblown or static. The music has a haunting and not too melodramatic presence. The direction keeps things tight while allowing time to breathe. The script is intelligent, layered, lean and provokes a lot of thought. The story is compelling and is intricate without being convoluted, the moral dilemmas of the case are intensely and thoughtfully handled and it is amazing seeing how relevant the episode is still.
Conflict has a lot of tension, very fascinating in the subject it covers and the kind where a result, and the right kind, is rooted for, while the approach to the subject is uncompromising and suspenseful while not being preachy. Also extremely moving, the complex themes insightfully and unyieldingly explored. Really admired "Rubber Room" for even going near this subject and admired every bit as much that it didn't pass judgements or feel incomplete, which is amazing considering how much is covered.
Overall, was hugely impressed by this final episode and as far as final episodes of great shows go it's much better than most. Much better than those of 'House of Cards', 'Game of Thrones', 'Lost' and from memory 'Dexter', that's for sure. 9/10.