"Love Eternal" is another 'Law and Order' episode where the concept isn't anything original but still has enough to make one interested in seeing it. Personally do prefer the episodes that tackle difficult and controversial topics that are still to this day hardly outdated (which for me is what the franchise excels in doing at its best), or at least ones that are more so, but again if a fan of 'Law and Order' or wanting to see all the episodes there is no reason really to avoid "Love Eternal" in my mind.
On first watch, "Love Eternal" was a very, very good episode with a pretty unique character and a lot of fond vivid memories, and to be honest it was something that this reviewer was not expecting to enjoy this much. Rewatching it recently, it turned out great and even better than remembered, a great penultimate episode for the show and one of the season's most easy to remember long term. Despite the very tacky clothing, which doesn't really flatter Anna Gunn at all which was the intent, "Love Enternal" is a long way from tacky and is not near as weird and silly as it sounds.
Did think personally that Cutter's way of catching the murderer and how he is incriminated is too much of a risk and slightly silly, also it is one of the most cliched ways of getting to the truth in the genre.
However, no issue can be had with everything else. The episode is very well acted, with Linus Roache and S Epatha Merkerson (who was on scintillating form this season) standing out of the regulars and Anna Gunn is unforgettable as a deliciously outrageous character (indeed among the most outrageous the show has ever had). All the characters are well written, even the ones that sound strange when reading the plot synopsis.
Can find nothing to fault the production values for though, the slickness and grit still present and likewise with the more fluid editing. The music is used relatively sparingly and is not too intrusively orchestrated, fitting too with the mood. The direction is generally alert but also sympathetic, shining in the character interactions in the legal scenes. Liked the tautness, edge and thought-probing of the second half's writing.
The story is intriguing and intricate, especially in the second half and when things take an unexpected turn. The truth was a real shocker. The moral dilemmas are interesting and provokes a lot of thought.
In conclusion, great penultimate episode for the season and show that was very memorable on first viewing and still is. 9/10.
