Skate or Die

'Law and Order' was a great show in its prime and there has always been a preference for the earlier seasons over the more commonly aired late-Briscoe and post-Briscoe episodes. Not only love the show for its compelling cases and terrific writing and acting in the Briscoe and pre-Briscoe years. But also its admirable tackling of difficult subjects and themes (the 'Law and Order' franchise at its best was very good at that), their cases often based upon real-life ones and the moral dilemmas raised. There were numerous instances of the latter seasons doing all of that though and extremely well.

"Skate or Die" certainly does all of that absolutely brilliantly in a truly brilliant episode. That is easily among the best episodes of Season 19, a strong contender for the best and even of the later years. It is indeed one of those episodes that is a lot more complex and tense than it seems and sounds at first and is particularly advantaged by the performance of the main guest star. One that left a big impression when first getting into 'Law and Order' via this period, and who still leaves a big impression in a good way.

Production values are fine, have always liked the photography's intimacy and grit and the look of the show has come on a good deal over-time (and it was good to begin with). The music doesn't intrude and has a haunting quality, have not always remembered to say that the theme tune is easy to remember and holds up.

Moreover the script is full of tension, intelligence and tautness. Brian Gant having the best lines, lines that have a wide range of emotions. The character interactions between the characters are some of the best and most riveting in a while. The story is neither too over-easy or hard to follow and especially shines in the second half, that has a good deal of scary tension. While the first half is very intriguing and absorbs, the second half is even better when things become more complex and urgent.

While no issues can be found with the regulars, especially in the second half (also will say that Jeremy Sisto gives one of his better performances of the show), the episode belongs to a chilling and also moving Gant, managing to make a character that could have been one dimensional truly complex to the extent that it is hard to fully hate him.

In conclusion, brilliant. 10/10.