Even from reading the plot synopsis, the story for "Cruel and Unusual" resonated with me as a person with autism myself. It sounded quite bizarre, with the whole experimental therapies thing, but it also sounded beautiful. Part of me knew on my first watch when getting into the show over a decade ago, that it would connect with me emotionally and that was proven luckily to be very much correct when watching an episode that came over on first watch as unusual but very moving.
A few rewatches afterwards, "Cruel and Unusual" still comes over that way. It is easily one of the best episodes of Season 5, along with "White Rabbit" and "Rage", the best 'Law and Order' episode since "Rage" and is possibly Season 5 at its most touching. "Cruel and Unusual" doesn't go overboard on the strangeness and really connected with me emotionally, in a way that made it very easy to relate to what was going on and the characters.
"Cruel and Unusual" is successful in all areas. 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 another truly fine one, with "Cruel and Unusual" being one of the season's best written episodes. It is very intelligently crafted and has intensity and edge while handling the topic sensitively too, really admired it too for seeing the subject from all angles and sides which is not easy to do, complete with one of the most tear inducing final lines of the whole show in my view (something that should hit home and hard for parents).
Furthermore, the story doesn't go too heavy on the experimental therapies angle while keeping it very intriguing and creepy, enough to make one think twice about putting themselves through it, and has a very strong emotional core. The ending is heart-wrenching and the moral dilemmas/ethics of the case are intriguing and well argued.
Have no issues with the performances, all the leads are on fine form particularly Sam Waterston. It is another example of an episode where the supporting cast are even better. Lawrence Pressman does give one the creeps and Edoardo Ballerini is touching as a character that hit home with me, but the biggest impression comes from Sheila Tousey as the character whose point of view is the most understandable and felt.
Overall, wonderful and one of the season's best. 10/10
A few rewatches afterwards, "Cruel and Unusual" still comes over that way. It is easily one of the best episodes of Season 5, along with "White Rabbit" and "Rage", the best 'Law and Order' episode since "Rage" and is possibly Season 5 at its most touching. "Cruel and Unusual" doesn't go overboard on the strangeness and really connected with me emotionally, in a way that made it very easy to relate to what was going on and the characters.
"Cruel and Unusual" is successful in all areas. 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 another truly fine one, with "Cruel and Unusual" being one of the season's best written episodes. It is very intelligently crafted and has intensity and edge while handling the topic sensitively too, really admired it too for seeing the subject from all angles and sides which is not easy to do, complete with one of the most tear inducing final lines of the whole show in my view (something that should hit home and hard for parents).
Furthermore, the story doesn't go too heavy on the experimental therapies angle while keeping it very intriguing and creepy, enough to make one think twice about putting themselves through it, and has a very strong emotional core. The ending is heart-wrenching and the moral dilemmas/ethics of the case are intriguing and well argued.
Have no issues with the performances, all the leads are on fine form particularly Sam Waterston. It is another example of an episode where the supporting cast are even better. Lawrence Pressman does give one the creeps and Edoardo Ballerini is touching as a character that hit home with me, but the biggest impression comes from Sheila Tousey as the character whose point of view is the most understandable and felt.
Overall, wonderful and one of the season's best. 10/10
