I’m rewatching it now, it’s so well written that it almost stands out from the rest of the episode. It comes off like something from David Mamet or The West Wing. It’s not Far Beyond The Stars or In The Pale Moonlight, the stakes of the episode are too low. But the material it gave all the actors to work with, the incredibly realistic way it weaves together different conversations going on between a large group, that the (really really good) acting abilities of the cast just get pushed over the top. It’s all in one room, no effects, no cost except for the appearance of Bareil, but it’s riveting, you can’t stop paying attention. It’s kind of a master class in writing. And it’s buried after the opening credits in the second episode of season 2.
Then Frank freaking Langella pops up, parts way through the same unbelievable episode, to chew the scenery like a boss. And, in an absolute power move, he drops that shit and goes completely uncredited and unpaid for doing it. He says he did it for his kids, I think he did it because he’s just that talented, and humility can be a boss move when you’re that good.