Anybody who has read any of my other reviews for for example individual episodes of the 'Law and Order' shows, am slowly working my way through writing reviews for all the episodes of 'Law and Order, 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent' with a long way to go, will know already how much admiration there is from me for anything that tackles difficult and controversial themes and issues. The topic here did sound interesting and quite brave.
"Lost Traveller" was a very good episode on first watch and a few re-watches on it is still very good. Not quite one of Season 13's very best, but nowhere near close to being one of the worst. Of the first half of the season it's to me one of the better episodes, with more good things than not so good. With the good things being many and at best really quite excellent. Was really worried about how the topic in "Lost Traveller" would be handled, luckily it's handled very well here.
The good things will be listed first. The production values as ever have slickness and grit, with an intimacy without being claustrophobic. The music has presence when it's used but does so without being intrusive, some of it is quite haunting too. The direction is also understated but the tension never slips. The script is taut and intelligent, a lot of talk but doesn't ramble or confuse.
Furthermore, the story is very sad and disturbingly dark with uncompromising yet tactful handling of deep themes (i.e. Prejudice). It was truly admirable that "Lost Traveller" manages to not stereotype a group of people that underwent and still undergo prejudice daily. The episode also features one of the season's most amoral perpetrators, with the most chilling amoral line since Season 4's "Damaged". The acting is excellent in lead and support, the regulars are faultless and the prime suspect and perpetrator are especially impressive in support. Amaro has settled very well and Rollins seems more comfortable.
By all means, "Lost Traveller" isn't perfect. Gilbert Gottfried is very annoying and out of place, he is meant to be a comic relief sort of character, but not only are the humour attempts not particularly funny it is also humour that may belong in animation but badly jars in such a serious story. Which made the tone not always consistent.
Did find the opening on the pointless side too and the chemistry between Amaro and Rollins is bland and forced.
In conclusion, very well done mostly. 8/10.
"Lost Traveller" was a very good episode on first watch and a few re-watches on it is still very good. Not quite one of Season 13's very best, but nowhere near close to being one of the worst. Of the first half of the season it's to me one of the better episodes, with more good things than not so good. With the good things being many and at best really quite excellent. Was really worried about how the topic in "Lost Traveller" would be handled, luckily it's handled very well here.
The good things will be listed first. The production values as ever have slickness and grit, with an intimacy without being claustrophobic. The music has presence when it's used but does so without being intrusive, some of it is quite haunting too. The direction is also understated but the tension never slips. The script is taut and intelligent, a lot of talk but doesn't ramble or confuse.
Furthermore, the story is very sad and disturbingly dark with uncompromising yet tactful handling of deep themes (i.e. Prejudice). It was truly admirable that "Lost Traveller" manages to not stereotype a group of people that underwent and still undergo prejudice daily. The episode also features one of the season's most amoral perpetrators, with the most chilling amoral line since Season 4's "Damaged". The acting is excellent in lead and support, the regulars are faultless and the prime suspect and perpetrator are especially impressive in support. Amaro has settled very well and Rollins seems more comfortable.
By all means, "Lost Traveller" isn't perfect. Gilbert Gottfried is very annoying and out of place, he is meant to be a comic relief sort of character, but not only are the humour attempts not particularly funny it is also humour that may belong in animation but badly jars in such a serious story. Which made the tone not always consistent.
Did find the opening on the pointless side too and the chemistry between Amaro and Rollins is bland and forced.
In conclusion, very well done mostly. 8/10.