In Season 11's "Endurance", we are introduced to Adam Schiff's replacement Nora Lewin, played by fine actress Dianne Wiest. Even from reading the synopsis, it was clear that this was not going to be an easy watch and if done well it would make for a truly powerful episode that hit the feels factor. In my mind, 'Law and Order' wasn't as consistent from Season 11 onwards, but Season 11 had enough episodes that showed how good the show was in its glory years.
One of the best episodes of the season is its season opener "Endurance", for me one of the best season openers of 'Law and Order' and one of the most powerful. Season 11 perhaps did not reach this level of powerful than this episode. It had a truly harrowing subject matter that is indeed truly unthinkable, and the execution of the subject matter is uncompromisingly heart-breaking and enough to make one angry as well. Which 'Law and Order' was very good at.
There are a lot of truly fine things here in "Endurance". Have nothing to fault the production values for, which are suitably slick and gritty without being static or gimmicky. Or with the music, used relatively sparingly and didn't sound over-scored or over-emphasised. It is a dependably directed episode that hits its stride in the second half and excels in the character interaction.
Dialogue is taut and thought-provoking with a nice amount of edge, especially in the increasing tensions in the legal scenes. There is a lot of information to take in but it doesn't feel like too much. The story maintains full attention throughout and has real tension and emotional impact, especially later on as things get more complex without being convoluted. There were to me a number of 'Law and Order' episodes where the second half was better than the first, but "Endurance" is one of those episodes where the two halves were equally strong (though the more complex second half gets the slight edge).
Acting from all is great, all the regulars are reliably strong. With Jerry Orbach and Jesse L. Martin continuing to make an entertaining and gritty team and Sam Waterston typically authoritative and ruthless. Did generally find Lewin on the underwritten side, but Wiest's first impression is promising. Nick Chinlund is effectively smarmy, but "Endurance" belongs to the devastating turn of Megan Follows.
In conclusion, wonderful and one of the season's best. 10/10.