Despite seeing every episode of all the 'Law and Order' shows (especially this, 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent') overtime for over a decade, most of them more than once and some of them recently when airing on a regular basis in the past few years, the decision to review all the episodes was fairly recent. In the past few months actually.
And it has been a more than worthwhile quest despite, due to being busy and being behind reviewing other things, having a huge amount more to review. "The Secret Sharers" is the eighteenth episode of the first season of 'Law and Order' and it is not one of the season's best in my view. Which doesn't mean that my opinion of the episode is negative, just think that there are better episodes and the best are so good. "The Secret Sharers" lacks the mounting tension of the two part "The Torrents of Greed", which has one of Season 1's and the show's nastiest antagonists, and the hard-hitting emotional impact of "Mushrooms" (talking about the previous two/three episodes, which were among the best of Season 1). And it is a slight disappointment in comparison. It is still a very solid episode though.
Although the case is diverting enough and goes at a good pace, it's also a touch standard and there is not an awful lot that's surprising. As said too, other episodes of Season 1 have more tension (only just as there is some here) and emotional impact.
It does primarily have two things in its favour. JD Cannon really dominates "The Secret Sharers" in a good way (without unbalancing the rest of the episode, a danger when someone/something's presence is so strong) and steals the show from under everybody in the last third. Chet is an interesting character and Cannon does wonders with him. The last third is great and in a different league to the still solid first two thirds, rising the episode above the ordinary. The dialogue and interaction with Chet, Stone and Markham agreed really makes the episode and a fond reminder of what makes 'Law and Order' such a great show (or at least in its prime years) in the first place.
Production values are slick as to be expected and the music has enough presence while being well utilised and letting the crackling script (in the last third especially) do all the talking. The procedural and prosecution elements are balanced well, though the latter makes more of an impression, while the moral dilemmas and fearless tackling of them are well handled. While Cannon steals the show, Michael Moriarty also fares strongly.
Overall, very solid if not classic. 8/10
And it has been a more than worthwhile quest despite, due to being busy and being behind reviewing other things, having a huge amount more to review. "The Secret Sharers" is the eighteenth episode of the first season of 'Law and Order' and it is not one of the season's best in my view. Which doesn't mean that my opinion of the episode is negative, just think that there are better episodes and the best are so good. "The Secret Sharers" lacks the mounting tension of the two part "The Torrents of Greed", which has one of Season 1's and the show's nastiest antagonists, and the hard-hitting emotional impact of "Mushrooms" (talking about the previous two/three episodes, which were among the best of Season 1). And it is a slight disappointment in comparison. It is still a very solid episode though.
Although the case is diverting enough and goes at a good pace, it's also a touch standard and there is not an awful lot that's surprising. As said too, other episodes of Season 1 have more tension (only just as there is some here) and emotional impact.
It does primarily have two things in its favour. JD Cannon really dominates "The Secret Sharers" in a good way (without unbalancing the rest of the episode, a danger when someone/something's presence is so strong) and steals the show from under everybody in the last third. Chet is an interesting character and Cannon does wonders with him. The last third is great and in a different league to the still solid first two thirds, rising the episode above the ordinary. The dialogue and interaction with Chet, Stone and Markham agreed really makes the episode and a fond reminder of what makes 'Law and Order' such a great show (or at least in its prime years) in the first place.
Production values are slick as to be expected and the music has enough presence while being well utilised and letting the crackling script (in the last third especially) do all the talking. The procedural and prosecution elements are balanced well, though the latter makes more of an impression, while the moral dilemmas and fearless tackling of them are well handled. While Cannon steals the show, Michael Moriarty also fares strongly.
Overall, very solid if not classic. 8/10