'Law and Order' was incredibly good at exploring challenging topics and themes that hit hard and are still relevant and important to address. It was also, as has been said more than once in previous reviews, incredibly good at exploring them in an honest and pull no punches way and in a way that still holds up for many episodes. One of the most challenging topics from Season 19 is for "Chattel", a case that is incredibly intense and sad.
Those adjectives are perfect ways to describe the execution of "Chattel". Was generally impressed by the overall standard of Season 19, and this is one of the best episodes and one of the most shocking. Remember very vividly how the episode moved and shocked me on first watch, and not only does it still do both those things they do so even more so now, partly because of being more aware and understanding of the subject and understanding more of what is being argued.
Everything works here. The truly powerful performance of Thuliso Dingwall is the main reason to see "Chattel", his character's actions are hard to condone but his circumstances are truly tragic too. It is hard to not hate him at first because of what he does, but once more is revealed about him it is even harder to not feel sympathy for him without being manipulated in doing so because of how he was treated and his goals. The regulars are every bit as top notch, especially later on.
Moreover, 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 is sympathetic but also alert.
It is a brilliantly written episode, thought provoking, tightly structured, tough as nails and also sensitive. The story is intense in the second half the more the tension of the legal scenes builds, but also heart-breakingly tragic. The outcome haunted me and Dingwall's character is very richly drawn and complex.
Concluding, brilliant. 10/10.
