"Exchange" struck me as a mostly good if uneven episode, with one half being better than the other, which was a common thing in the latter seasons, but also with a great guest turn. It's not a novel scenario here or a theme that is new, but the topic is hardly irrelevant and does hit hard when done right. As has been said with many other episodes of 'Law and Order', the show has proven many times at doing wonders with familiar or basic stories.
While not quite fitting this distinction, "Exchange" was pretty much what was remembered from first watch. So a good episode, but not a great one with a mix of good and not so good (thankfully more of the former) and very much worth seeing for the prime guest star primarily. As far as Season 19 (which surprisingly impressed me excepting three episodes that were still watchable) goes, "Exchange" with two episodes to go is neither one of the best or worst and is one of the solid middle ones.
As said, one half is better than the other. The first half isn't as interesting or as twisty and it took quite a while for any tension or anything similar to build. While Lupo and Bernard eventually became a very dependable teaming and have come on a long way since the end of Season 18, their roles are the case of functional but nothing extraordinary. Some of the writing in the first half could have been a little tighter.
Did find the very end on the slightly rushed side.
However, a lot is good and even great. It is shot with the right amount of intimacy without being claustrophobic and that the editing has become increasingly tighter over-time has been great too. Nice use of locations too. The music doesn't get over-scored or overwrought, even in the more dramatic revelation moments. The direction doesn't try to do too much and is understated but never flat or unsure.
The script is lean and thought-probing with the right amount of grittiness. The story is riveting in the second half and is intricate and tense without being over simple or too complicated. Surprises are not many, especially with the premise not being a novel one, but what is here is solidly executed. Cutter's McCoy-like ways of getting to the truth are both intriguing and entertaining. Can't fault the performances, with the standout being David Lansbury who chills when on the stand. Linus Roache is typically commanding.
Concluding, another good if not great episode. 7/10.
While not quite fitting this distinction, "Exchange" was pretty much what was remembered from first watch. So a good episode, but not a great one with a mix of good and not so good (thankfully more of the former) and very much worth seeing for the prime guest star primarily. As far as Season 19 (which surprisingly impressed me excepting three episodes that were still watchable) goes, "Exchange" with two episodes to go is neither one of the best or worst and is one of the solid middle ones.
As said, one half is better than the other. The first half isn't as interesting or as twisty and it took quite a while for any tension or anything similar to build. While Lupo and Bernard eventually became a very dependable teaming and have come on a long way since the end of Season 18, their roles are the case of functional but nothing extraordinary. Some of the writing in the first half could have been a little tighter.
Did find the very end on the slightly rushed side.
However, a lot is good and even great. It is shot with the right amount of intimacy without being claustrophobic and that the editing has become increasingly tighter over-time has been great too. Nice use of locations too. The music doesn't get over-scored or overwrought, even in the more dramatic revelation moments. The direction doesn't try to do too much and is understated but never flat or unsure.
The script is lean and thought-probing with the right amount of grittiness. The story is riveting in the second half and is intricate and tense without being over simple or too complicated. Surprises are not many, especially with the premise not being a novel one, but what is here is solidly executed. Cutter's McCoy-like ways of getting to the truth are both intriguing and entertaining. Can't fault the performances, with the standout being David Lansbury who chills when on the stand. Linus Roache is typically commanding.
Concluding, another good if not great episode. 7/10.
