The premise is a very interesting one, though it was one that if not done right could be potentially sleazy and convoluted. If done right though, "Perfect" would have been an episode that would hit hard and be suitably creepy. Found the latter, so feeling that the premise was done right, to be the case watching "Perfect" for the first time a few years back when seeing some of the early season episodes airing more. Saw it again a week or so ago for the third time.
And my positive feelings about "Perfect" still hold up, actually appreciated it more and noticed a few more things that impressed me. It doesn't quite live up to its perfect name, though there is so little to criticise, and not one of my favourite episodes of Season 4 (a mostly very good season with a number of brilliant episodes and only two disappointments). It is though great and with almost everything working, the best assets are wonderfully done.
"Perfect" is only really let down by the over-obviousness of the perpetrator, one of those that one gets a really bad feeling from as soon as they're introduced. On a more nit-picky note, there is a sloppy goof regarding Olivia calling human cloning illegal when it wasn't at that time.
Other than that, "Perfect" is great. The production values are slick and professional, not ever resorting to cheap or untested gimmicks or anything. The music is haunting in the right places and isn't constant or too loud, and the direction gives the drama urgency and breathing space.
Script is intelligent and doesn't ramble, handling the subject again with force yet also tact. Huang has some very powerful dialogue and personally was completely on his side and there are splashes of Munch's usual dry humour. Jessica and Stabler's interaction is always intriguing. The story is always compelling, anything centered around cult-like groups can have potential to be on the wrong side of bizarre if done in too over the top a way and did worry that the latter stages would be confused. Luckily, it wasn't over the top or bizarre and it was not hard to follow while generally not being obvious. The latter stages did shock me and wrench my gut.
All the regular characters are well written, as is the easy to root for Jessica (one is shocked at what she goes through). Lang is a real nasty piece of work. Can't fault the performances from the main cast, or from chilling Gale Harold and heartfelt yet unsettling Kimberly J. Brown. Barbara Barrie shines too in the final third.
To conclude, great. 9/10
And my positive feelings about "Perfect" still hold up, actually appreciated it more and noticed a few more things that impressed me. It doesn't quite live up to its perfect name, though there is so little to criticise, and not one of my favourite episodes of Season 4 (a mostly very good season with a number of brilliant episodes and only two disappointments). It is though great and with almost everything working, the best assets are wonderfully done.
"Perfect" is only really let down by the over-obviousness of the perpetrator, one of those that one gets a really bad feeling from as soon as they're introduced. On a more nit-picky note, there is a sloppy goof regarding Olivia calling human cloning illegal when it wasn't at that time.
Other than that, "Perfect" is great. The production values are slick and professional, not ever resorting to cheap or untested gimmicks or anything. The music is haunting in the right places and isn't constant or too loud, and the direction gives the drama urgency and breathing space.
Script is intelligent and doesn't ramble, handling the subject again with force yet also tact. Huang has some very powerful dialogue and personally was completely on his side and there are splashes of Munch's usual dry humour. Jessica and Stabler's interaction is always intriguing. The story is always compelling, anything centered around cult-like groups can have potential to be on the wrong side of bizarre if done in too over the top a way and did worry that the latter stages would be confused. Luckily, it wasn't over the top or bizarre and it was not hard to follow while generally not being obvious. The latter stages did shock me and wrench my gut.
All the regular characters are well written, as is the easy to root for Jessica (one is shocked at what she goes through). Lang is a real nasty piece of work. Can't fault the performances from the main cast, or from chilling Gale Harold and heartfelt yet unsettling Kimberly J. Brown. Barbara Barrie shines too in the final third.
To conclude, great. 9/10
