Of all the subjects of Season 14, which had a lot of tough and ambitious (as well as topical) subjects covered, that for "Evil Breeds" is one of the toughest and most controversial. Anything that tackles this topic deserve some credit for even trying, and it is not always easy to execute well. It can either be harrowing, intense and moving. Or it could be heavy handed, biased and with too much content that is enough to make one offended.
"Evil Breeds" is luckily in the former category, when it could very easily have been in the latter. It was clear from even reading the synopsis that it was not going to be an easy watch, and "Evil Breeds" did not disappoint in this aspect. It is an outstanding, powerful episode of 'Law and Order' and an outstanding, powerful one in its own way as well. As far as Season 14, a very solid season and only post-Season 10 one without a less than decent episode, goes, it is one of the best.
Pretty much everything is spot on. 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 second half being full of it.
Script is taut and intelligent. It is very intelligently crafted and has intensity and edge, most of it doesn't preach either and tries to not make too much of a judgement. The story is lean and pulls no punches, providing edge of the seat tension and emotion. The tape testimony is indeed heart-wrenching.
Character writing is spot on with genuinely tense conflict in the chemistry for the legal scenes. As is the acting from all the regulars, while Marshall Logan Green is terrifying. William Atherton is at his most snake-like.
Overall, outstanding. 10/10.