The body of an online call girl is found in a suitcase, and the prime suspect for her murder is an Internet entrepreneur who was one of her "sugar daddies."The body of an online call girl is found in a suitcase, and the prime suspect for her murder is an Internet entrepreneur who was one of her "sugar daddies."The body of an online call girl is found in a suitcase, and the prime suspect for her murder is an Internet entrepreneur who was one of her "sugar daddies."
- Sergeant John Munch
- (credit only)
- Special Agent Dr. George Huang, M.D.
- (as B.D. Wong)
- (credit only)
- ME Dr. Melinda Warner
- (credit only)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAbigail Savage also plays Dot in season 5's Control (2003) and Sister Nina Kelly in season 17 Manhattan Transfer (2016) and Unholiest Alliance (2016).
- GoofsThroughout this episode, references are made to a Florida-bound NY train headed out of Grand Central Station; however, there are no Florida-bound trains that leave Grand Central, in that trains from there only travel northward into New England. This has always been the case ever since the station was built.
- Quotes
[Stabler and Benson are approaching two argumentative witnesses]
Detective Elliot Stabler: Fellas... fellas, NYPD. You found the body?
Ed: Yes, sir.
Rusty: Uh, he did not!
Ed: Shut up, Rusty!
Rusty: No, I was here first!
Ed: Yeah, and *I* opened the suitcase!
Olivia Benson: Girls, girls! You're both pretty.
- ConnectionsFeatured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Best Law & Order: SVU Cameos (2018)
"Sugar" is one of those episodes. Likewise my opinion of Paxton is much higher now than it was on first watch, due to getting more out of her. Like "Unstable", "Sugar" is not perfect and one scene in particular underwhelms so the episode could have done with more spice. It is though well done on the whole and to me while not amazing Season 11 at this stage was leagues better than Season 10, which was very rocky for a vast majority of its first half.
It is not a perfect episode, with the biggest issue (like with "Unstable") being the rather ridiculous and rather melodramatic ending that makes the SVU look like incompetent idiots. We are talking "Trade" level here. It has to be said though that the consequences for the show up to this point are unusually graphic.
Also didn't like the master baiter schtick, which came over as tired and immature. Snarkiness doesn't fit Benson in my view too, it needs a less serious character like Munch or Fin for it to work. The physics in regard to the crime do requires some disbelief suspension and actually the truth was pretty predictable some time before it was revealed.
However, a lot is good. All the regulars are great, while Christine Lahti proves herself to be a good and refreshing addition. McCormack is excellent in his guest turn and seeing this side to him after growing up with seeing him on 'Will and Grace' (was very fond of that show for a long time) was an eye opener. Melissa Farman is very good too, especially in her chemistry with McCormack in the final quarter. Loved the tension between Stabler and Paxton, and Paxton despite criticisms of her meanness now strikes me as a breath of fresh air. While not agreeing with some of her actions, she is one of those people that says things that can be agreed with or understood.
The production values as ever are slick and with the right amount of muted grit, the photography doesn't try to do anything too fancy or gimmicky while not being claustrophobic and keeping things simple. The music doesn't overbear and the direction is accomodating yet tight enough. The script is generally tight and intriguing and the story is suitably disturbing and diverting, even if not having enough twists.
Overall, another good but not great episode. 7/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 9, 2022
Details
- Runtime1 hour
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD