Marginally better than the previous episodes in the re-boot. I think other reviewers need to realize that they probably shot the majority of these many months ago, so any comments and feedback from we viewers won't have an effect on any new episodes for quite some time. Which is too bad, I hope they see how many true blue fans have been left underwhelmed by the scripts and the acting, particularly the political overtones of the show.
This episode was a bit better - there were far fewer lectures on how the audience is "supposed" to feel about race and gender issues, and a little more attention paid to legal strategy. And for once the conclusion of the show is not completely in doubt. I actually liked the final exchange between Waterston and the ADA - a nice whiff of conflict that didn't seem completely manufactured. Although what preceded it certainly did - how many consecutive cases can the ADA insist on prosecuting rather than settling despite the weaknesses of his case, and then have it pay off? Hopefully a major comeuppance is in order for this character, and I hope it becomes a major plot point at least, and at best perhaps an actual character arc.
The detectives are unfortunately still one-note characters which is too bad as I really like both actors. Manheim is still unfortunately miscast but the writers aren't helping anyone. Everything seems forced, even down to the little "whaddya got" interplays that seem stilted. As noted above, there is probably nothing the creators can do about this for some time as these episodes were probably shot months ago but I hope they will finetune. I really want to see L&O as successful as its earlier incarnation. Maybe they need some better legal advisors? The actual cases so far continue the "ripped from the headlines" style, but it doesn't seem like the writers know what to do with the stories, other than lecture on social issues.