"Post Mortem Blues" details the events after the tense and traumatic climax of the previous episode "Beast's Obsession" and sees Olivia under scrutiny. It's an interesting structure and relatively different, instead of the usual policing and legal structure or whether one is more dominant, this is done in interview/assessment format. This never bothered me at all, 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' did plenty of changes of pace and did many very well.
On the most part, "Post Mortem Blues" is done well and is a lot more interesting than it sounds. It is not one of the best episodes of Season 15, could easily have been shorter and a couple of the characters could have been written better, but it is not one of the worst. Structurally, it is one of the more interesting episodes of the season and stands out. Also gained a lot of respect for one character and rooted for Olivia in a difficult situation.
The best aspect is the acting. Mariska Hargitay in particular does does traumatised, vulnerable, steely and conflicted so intensely and movingly. The rest of the acting is very good, Donal Logue being another standout especially in his defense of Olivia. Had so much respect for Murphy here, some normally wouldn't like what he does but he proves here that he can be trusted, is loyal and is sympathetic when nobody else was. His outburst is particularly powerful. Regardless of Strauss being one of those love or hate it characters strictly speaking professionally his point of view is the right one.
Furthermore, Olivia's character writing is realistic for somebody having undergone so much trauma and struggling to cope with not enough support. The structure of the episode is cohesive and doesn't come over as simplistic or disjointed. It is a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key. The script is thought provoking.
Against all this, "Post Mortem Blues" could have been better. It feels over-stretched from having quite a thin story that could easily have done in a shorter length, so it drags at times.
Some of the character writing disappoints and was disappointed and surprised at how little support Olivia got, Amaro comes over as too bratty and Rollins is usually one of those take no prisoners and strong minded characters but instead clams up. The treatment of Olivia came over as too extreme.
In summary, interesting but not flawless. 7/10.
On the most part, "Post Mortem Blues" is done well and is a lot more interesting than it sounds. It is not one of the best episodes of Season 15, could easily have been shorter and a couple of the characters could have been written better, but it is not one of the worst. Structurally, it is one of the more interesting episodes of the season and stands out. Also gained a lot of respect for one character and rooted for Olivia in a difficult situation.
The best aspect is the acting. Mariska Hargitay in particular does does traumatised, vulnerable, steely and conflicted so intensely and movingly. The rest of the acting is very good, Donal Logue being another standout especially in his defense of Olivia. Had so much respect for Murphy here, some normally wouldn't like what he does but he proves here that he can be trusted, is loyal and is sympathetic when nobody else was. His outburst is particularly powerful. Regardless of Strauss being one of those love or hate it characters strictly speaking professionally his point of view is the right one.
Furthermore, Olivia's character writing is realistic for somebody having undergone so much trauma and struggling to cope with not enough support. The structure of the episode is cohesive and doesn't come over as simplistic or disjointed. It is a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key. The script is thought provoking.
Against all this, "Post Mortem Blues" could have been better. It feels over-stretched from having quite a thin story that could easily have done in a shorter length, so it drags at times.
Some of the character writing disappoints and was disappointed and surprised at how little support Olivia got, Amaro comes over as too bratty and Rollins is usually one of those take no prisoners and strong minded characters but instead clams up. The treatment of Olivia came over as too extreme.
In summary, interesting but not flawless. 7/10.
