'Law and Order' was solid to great in its earlier seasons and there has always been a preference for them over the more commonly aired late-Briscoe and post-Briscoe episodes. Not only love the show for its interesting cases and strong and more writing and acting in the Briscoe and pre-Briscoe years. But also its brave handling of controversial subjects and themes (the 'Law and Order' franchise at its best was very good at that), and the exploration of the moral dilemmas.
"Bronx Cheer" is a return to the kind of premise that immediately appealed to me and with the ingredients that 'Law and Order' did so well at doing. "Bronx Cheer" also turned out to be a great episode, one of the best of an inconsistent Season 11 and a huge improvement over the disappointing previous episode that made an unappealing idea more so. A perfect episode it isn't, but this was a latter seasons episode that reminded me of why the early seasons were as good as they were and one of the best of the second half of Season 11.
Am another person that did think that Schaeffer's decision and the reason for the confession was really ridiculous and extreme, that is something that somebody would be immediately turned off by rather than being impressed.
Everything else however is great and at its best excellent. Cannot fault the production values, which have the right amount of gritty yet non-flashy atmosphere. The direction is both alert and accomodating and the music fits the tone without over-emphasising. The performances from all the regulars are very good, authoritative yet amusing Jerry Orbach (who has a dynamite chemistry with the equally good Jesse L. Martin) and Sam Waterston.
Peter Greene, as one of the season's most near-amoral characters, and Keith David provide unsettling turns and it was interesting to see pre-Gregory Yates Dallas Roberts (always good at playing creeps). Kevin Kash does a good job too.
Furthermore, 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. The conflict has tension and the kind where a result, and the right kind, is rooted for.
Overall, great. 9/10.
