"Fallout" was one of those 'Law and Order' episodes on first watch that had a number of good things but 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.
On rewatch, "Fallout" was actually one of the 'Law and Order' episodes that fared quite a bit better. Instead of the good episode that it was on first watch, it fared as very, very good on rewatch and the good things were even greater rewatching as well. What starts off as what seems a standard 'Law and Order' episodes turns out to be one of the most tense outings of Season 17 due to its uncompromising approach to a subject matter that makes the blood boil. One of the better episodes of the season for sure for me.
It is at its weakest in the somewhat standard first quarter and maybe the ending is on the slightly rushed side.
Not to mention that Cassady and Milena Govich's acting don't register that much.
Any reservations aside, "Fallout" is still great. Production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. The direction is taut and also accomodating.
The dialogue is smart and always intriguing and on the whole the story is very compelling and wrenches the gut to intense and heart-wrenching effect. The horrific events are truly unspeakable. The acting is near-uniformly good, especially from Sam Waterston and Alana De La Garza.
Very, very good episode overall. 9/10.
