With "Hate" comes one of Season 5's, and the early seasons', boldest topics. It is such a controversial issue, that is still shockingly relevant today with extreme opinions on both sides, and anything that would even try to go near it let alone portray it would get some respect from me. Even if the execution wasn't great. This was an episode that on first watch really chilled me to the bone and left me very unsettled, in a good way of course.
"Hate" still makes me feel this way. Despite it being as of now rated lower than the previous episode, to me this was actually the better episode. It still is very powerful and thought-probing with one of the season's most hateful perpetrators. As far as Season 5 episodes go, "Hate" is among the better half, certainly of the first half of it. Just to say that in my mind there is quite a difference between something being racist/bigoted and something being about racism/bigotry with a bigoted character with extreme views that is clearly thought of in very low regard by the rest of the characters (any phrases and slurs in the writing are from the viewpoint of the character not the writers). "Hate" is in the latter category.
The only thing that didn't really ring true was the defense's argument, one that is irrational and quite hard to swallow as well as one that would be laughed out of court.
Wouldn't have said no to more Fin and Munch, though that is more nit-picky.
Otherwise, "Hate" is great. It's well made, intimately photographed and slick with no signs of under-budget or anything. The music didn't sound melodramatic or too constant and the direction is accomodating while still having pulse. The writing doesn't ramble, although as usual there is a lot of dialogue to digest, and really provokes thought, disturbs and brings a lump to the throat. There is a good deal that is insightful here and despite being forceful and very gutsy there is more tact actually than there is in "Brotherhood", the execution being not near as overboard.
Moreover, the story is a tautly paced and thoroughly engrossing one, with a good deal of suspense, some neat plausible twists and a pull no punches approach that doesn't get too preachy or gratuitous. It was very interesting and shocking to seeing what people's attitudes towards muslims were at the time, and just as shockingly is that there are people that still feel that way. The perpetrator is one that has no real redeeming quality in their body, everything they say especially makes one feel disgusted.
As ever, the acting is on point. BD Wong stands out here, especially agreed when he annihilates the defense expert. Reynaldo Rosales is bone-chilling and gets the acting honours.
Concluding, terrific episode. 9/10