Season 17's "Depravity Standard" follows on from the events in Season 14's "Manhattan Vigil". My memories of the episode were not too great, loving the performances but disliking the pacing of the outcome and the character of Hassler. Speaking as someone who was mixed on "Manhattan Vigil", also a divisive episode within the fandom, so expectations were quite mixed before sitting down to watch this episode again as part of my whole show rewatch.
This was one of the episodes that was much better than remembered and turned out to be very impressive in many areas this time. Absolutely do not agree with the low rating, one of the biggest examples of lowly rated episodes of the show here that are not only not that bad but also to me good. Whether it adds anything new to what was said in "Manhattan Vigil" is up for debate but to me this was on rewatch a superior episode to that as there aren't as many contradictions or inconsistencies in continuity.
Is it perfect? No. Dodds comes over as bland.
Also found Hassler annoying, due to being too pushy in personality and indifferently acted. Did find the outcome of the case rushed still, the episode could have done with 5-10 minutes more or the conclusion happening earlier.
"Depravity Standard" has so many great things on the other hand. On a visual level, the episode is 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, while having enough momentum. The script is tight and thought provoking, with no rambling or overdone melodrama. Shining particularly in Barba's cutting one liners.
Carisi is amusing and there is a heartfelt final scene for Rollins, Kelli Giddish has come on massively since her first appearance. The story is always compelling and did shock and move me. The tension is plenty and chilling and emotionally it's poignant. Tom Sizemore is spine chilling. Actually didn't find Olivia that over-sanctimonious, something that was a frequent big problem in the later seasons, and do feel that other episodes before and since have done this a lot worse than here, her feelings towards Hassler are understandable.
Overall, very good and much better than expected. 8/10.
This was one of the episodes that was much better than remembered and turned out to be very impressive in many areas this time. Absolutely do not agree with the low rating, one of the biggest examples of lowly rated episodes of the show here that are not only not that bad but also to me good. Whether it adds anything new to what was said in "Manhattan Vigil" is up for debate but to me this was on rewatch a superior episode to that as there aren't as many contradictions or inconsistencies in continuity.
Is it perfect? No. Dodds comes over as bland.
Also found Hassler annoying, due to being too pushy in personality and indifferently acted. Did find the outcome of the case rushed still, the episode could have done with 5-10 minutes more or the conclusion happening earlier.
"Depravity Standard" has so many great things on the other hand. On a visual level, the episode is 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, while having enough momentum. The script is tight and thought provoking, with no rambling or overdone melodrama. Shining particularly in Barba's cutting one liners.
Carisi is amusing and there is a heartfelt final scene for Rollins, Kelli Giddish has come on massively since her first appearance. The story is always compelling and did shock and move me. The tension is plenty and chilling and emotionally it's poignant. Tom Sizemore is spine chilling. Actually didn't find Olivia that over-sanctimonious, something that was a frequent big problem in the later seasons, and do feel that other episodes before and since have done this a lot worse than here, her feelings towards Hassler are understandable.
Overall, very good and much better than expected. 8/10.