Law & Order (TV Series) Human Flesh Search Engine (2009) User Reviews

Website plays "rough" with the "L&O" cops!

[garrard · 9/10 · 1 November 2009]

As is the case with many episodes of both "Law & Order" and "SVU", "Human Flesh Search Engine" begins one way and takes a surprising turn in another direction. The method by which the photographer dies, similar to the demise of the late David Carradine, is inconsequential, as the story lies in the ease with which one's privacy is endangered by the "freedom" of the Internet.

As the story unfolds, Detective Bernard (Anthony Anderson) finds himself the "mark" of the website being investigated and has a part of his private life revealed to the public. This plot element is quite effective, allowing the viewer to ponder his own "safety" on the Internet.

The acting is, as usual, great with kudos going to Anderson and guest star Tina Benko as the very disturbed Kerri Sands.

Carolyn McCormick returns as psychiatrist Carolyn Olivet.

In a secondary development, Lt. Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) approaches a benchmark in her fight against cancer.

Searching for flesh

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 26 February 2023]

This 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.

"Human Flesh Search Engine" is one of those episodes. Actually thought it very well done on first watch, despite some credibility straining, but it's even better through older eyes due to finding more to appreciate. As far as Season 20 episodes go, this is closer to being in the better episodes category and is a marked improvement over the heavy handed and not very well balanced previous episode "Dignity". The topic here is a gutsy one and while it isn't novel, it doesn't feel too unoriginal in execution.

As said there is some credibility straining with what happens between the perpetrator and the leader of the Flash Posse group and the episode starts off quite ordinary.

On the other hand, as has been said elsewhere, when things take a different and completely unexpected turn it becomes a more intricate and tense episode. It is truly amazing at how what happens initially turns into what is revealed later. In a scheme that is incredibly unsettling and downright scary, especially when reminded that it actually can happen. The story is not over simple and neither is it convoluted, plenty of surprising twists and turns to satisfy and the big turn of events doesn't happen in an abrupt or jarring gear change.

Visually, "Human Flesh Search Engine" is solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden, while having enough momentum to make the drama sing in its atmosphere.

The script is intricate and thought probing with a wide range of emotions. The moral dilemmas that come with the case are handled sensitively but also is pull no punches in quality. The acting is very good from particularly Tina Benko, who does disturbed so frighteningly.

Concluding, very well done. 8/10.

Flash Posse

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 26 June 2016]

That phrase that Clarence Thomas used to describe his confirmation hearings is the best thing that came to mind for this Law And Order episode. Indeed victim Rene Ifrah was such a victim for real.

Rene Ifrah is this fashion mogul not the best of the city's citizen who probably a lot of people would have motive to kill was found hanging in his apartment. It was made to look like death by erotic asphyxiation. But of course it isn't and Jeremy Sisto and Anthony Anderson go to work.

The killer was crackerdoodle Tina Benko who has a fixation with people who text while drive. That's what Ifrah was doing one fine day and it set her off. Priming this crazy woman for the kill is this internet group called the Flash Posse. They go after all kinds of people whom they don't take a fancy to at a given point. Head of the group is Rob Corddry.

After putting Benko away in the loony bin and her performance is the best in this episode, the plot takes on some wildly improbable turns. Anderson becomes a target of the Posse's wrath.

I'm still not sure how culpable Corddry still is and I doubt the events that took place with him and Benko would ever take place in real life. But we're still in the infancy stage of developing law for the information age.

This episode was really a reach.