'Law and Order', and actually frequently the whole 'Law and Order' franchise (especially 'Special Victims Unit'), often excelled when it came to having cases that made the viewer feel truly sad and angry. It also often excelled when it came to tackling difficult topics. Racism is one of the most difficult and most controversial subjects to tackle on film and/or television, 'Law and Order' tackled it many times and more often than not very well indeed.
It is tackled very well indeed too in "Black, White and Blue". Other 'Law and Order' episodes handled the subject better in my view, where it was done with more subtlety and had more satisfying denouements. "Black, White and Blue" appropriately doesn't hold anything back and is unyielding and it definitely has punch. There have been a lot of Season 10 episodes that had one half being better than the other, and this is no exception. It is still a very good episode.
"Black, White and Blue" is a bit ordinary to begin with, aside from the grisly opening, and isn't as riveting as the legal scenes.
Also have always found the ending unsatisfying in this episode, rather unrealistic and it felt on the rushed and abrupt side too.
This is all outweighed by the numerous good things. It looks good, with the usual slickness and subtle grit. Really liked too that the photography was simple and close up but doing so without being claustrophobic. The music has presence when used, and luckily it isn't constant, and when it is used it doesn't feel over-scored. The direction allows the drama to breathe while still giving it momentum as well.
Furthermore, the script is sharp, intelligent and gritty, again with a lot to take in without feeling too much. Especially in the latter stages of the second half, where the writing is particularly thought-provoking and uncompromising. While the first half is interesting if routine, the second is truly riveting and emotionally powerful. The subject is far from sugar-coated. The cast are all very good, Sam Waterston conveyed McCoy's authority and ruthlessness extremely well.
In conclusion, very good. 8/10.
