"Mayhem", as has been said already, is somewhat different from the usual 'Law and Order' structure. It has a very heavy emphasis on the detective and investigative work, meaning lots of chemistry between Briscoe and Logan (who can complain about that), and has very little of the legal stuff. Not that that bothered me, it was nice to have more of the detectives after so many memorable legal scenes in the previous Season 4 episodes. On first watch, apart from one thing that bothered me, it was a standout episode of a mostly very well done Season 4.
On re-watches, that is an opinion still held. My feelings on "Mayhem" are exactly the same, the detectives are spot-lighted brilliantly and the case is very diverting and full of atmosphere. There was still one thing that bothered me which will be come to later on in the review, but that was outweighed by the numerous fantastic things that "Mayhem" is full of. It may not be an episode for everybody, some may feel that there is too much of a three episodes in one feel but that's not how it has ever felt to me personally.
The production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. The direction has enough taut urgency when needed while giving the case breathing space. The script is beautifully balanced tonally and is taut and intelligent as one always expects from 'Law and Order'. Briscoe's one-liners are gold here in both a droll and tense way and his chemistry with Logan is on fire.
Really loved the case. Actually thought it was quite intricate and clever with a good deal of gritty tension and one particularly tragic murder that still has the shock factor. The characterisation is near-spot on, one can see why Briscoe was and still is one of the franchise's most popular characters, and the chemistry pitch-perfect, Briscoe and Logan for me was one of the show's best and most interesting pairings (as well as one of the most entertaining). Van Buren, one of the show's and franchise's longest-serving characters, has settled so well and have always preferred her over Cragen. The acting all round is great.
For all those fantastic things, here is the episode's Achilles heel and it seems to be a problem for others as well. To me, the detectives' reactions to the last murder came over as too unrealistically indifferent especially for such a personal case.
Concluding, a great episode apart from that. 9/10
On re-watches, that is an opinion still held. My feelings on "Mayhem" are exactly the same, the detectives are spot-lighted brilliantly and the case is very diverting and full of atmosphere. There was still one thing that bothered me which will be come to later on in the review, but that was outweighed by the numerous fantastic things that "Mayhem" is full of. It may not be an episode for everybody, some may feel that there is too much of a three episodes in one feel but that's not how it has ever felt to me personally.
The production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. The direction has enough taut urgency when needed while giving the case breathing space. The script is beautifully balanced tonally and is taut and intelligent as one always expects from 'Law and Order'. Briscoe's one-liners are gold here in both a droll and tense way and his chemistry with Logan is on fire.
Really loved the case. Actually thought it was quite intricate and clever with a good deal of gritty tension and one particularly tragic murder that still has the shock factor. The characterisation is near-spot on, one can see why Briscoe was and still is one of the franchise's most popular characters, and the chemistry pitch-perfect, Briscoe and Logan for me was one of the show's best and most interesting pairings (as well as one of the most entertaining). Van Buren, one of the show's and franchise's longest-serving characters, has settled so well and have always preferred her over Cragen. The acting all round is great.
For all those fantastic things, here is the episode's Achilles heel and it seems to be a problem for others as well. To me, the detectives' reactions to the last murder came over as too unrealistically indifferent especially for such a personal case.
Concluding, a great episode apart from that. 9/10