This was one of those 'Law and Order' episodes on first watch that had a number of good things but it did feel on the ordinary side and didn't stick in the mind long after. There are episodes of the show and the 'Law and Order' franchise in general that felt like this, but there are many on both counts where that type of episode on first watch fared better on rewatch and were better than remembered seeing it through older eyes.
My generally positive but not blown away thoughts felt on first watch for "Boy on Fire" are pretty much the same today. As far as Season 20 goes, it had real potential to be one of the best but was closer to being one of the lesser ones. There are plenty of good things with "Boy on Fire", namely the opening and the guest turn, but time constraints and that it doesn't do enough with such a tough subject stopped it from being the great episode that it had potential of being.
"Boy on Fire" could have been better. For a less than an hour format, to me it did try to include too much, all with good potential, and doesn't do enough with some of them (like the advantages and disadvantages of charter schools) due to the limited time (this is a subject that lends itself better to a film due to its complexity).
Did think also that there could have been a little more tension and emotion, they were there but more in the second half than the first, which is quite formulaic outside of the opening.
However, a lot is good. The production values are still fully professional, the slickness and subtly gritty style still remaining. The music is sparingly used and is haunting and thankfully non-overwrought. The direction shows some nice tension in the legal scenes, which is where "Boy on Fire" fares a good deal better. The script is intelligent, lean enough and thought-provoking on both sides of the arguments, not too much of one side here.
Most of the story absorbs and moves, starting truly harrowingly and with Debra Winger's character's testimony being the dramatic highlight, thought-provoking and devastating. The performances are all of high quality, with Winger searing in her role.
In conclusion, pretty good but not great. 7/10.
My generally positive but not blown away thoughts felt on first watch for "Boy on Fire" are pretty much the same today. As far as Season 20 goes, it had real potential to be one of the best but was closer to being one of the lesser ones. There are plenty of good things with "Boy on Fire", namely the opening and the guest turn, but time constraints and that it doesn't do enough with such a tough subject stopped it from being the great episode that it had potential of being.
"Boy on Fire" could have been better. For a less than an hour format, to me it did try to include too much, all with good potential, and doesn't do enough with some of them (like the advantages and disadvantages of charter schools) due to the limited time (this is a subject that lends itself better to a film due to its complexity).
Did think also that there could have been a little more tension and emotion, they were there but more in the second half than the first, which is quite formulaic outside of the opening.
However, a lot is good. The production values are still fully professional, the slickness and subtly gritty style still remaining. The music is sparingly used and is haunting and thankfully non-overwrought. The direction shows some nice tension in the legal scenes, which is where "Boy on Fire" fares a good deal better. The script is intelligent, lean enough and thought-provoking on both sides of the arguments, not too much of one side here.
Most of the story absorbs and moves, starting truly harrowingly and with Debra Winger's character's testimony being the dramatic highlight, thought-provoking and devastating. The performances are all of high quality, with Winger searing in her role.
In conclusion, pretty good but not great. 7/10.