Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) Beast's Obsession (2014) User Reviews

Exhausting

[wrenleung · 8/10 · 17 June 2020]

The season 14 finale + season 15 premiere, featuring Pablo Schreiber as Lewis William (arguably the biggest antagonist of SVU) were excellent episodes. This is followed by flashbacks for Benson throughout the season until the trial mid-season. That was also a good episode. Then Lewis escapes in this episode where he rapes, kills, and torments Benson again. My eyes rolled. Same formula but this time we it is the end for Lewis. We know Benson won't die so it was a matter of how Lewis dies. Russian Roulette? Kinda cheesy.

Lieutenant Murphy was right: she should have killed Lewis in the cabin when she had a chance.

Russian Roulette

[yazguloner · 10/10 · 31 July 2021]

For William Lewis, it is the story of putting the final point.

Only in the last part, the conversation between Olivia and Lewis as they walk, and the Russian Roulette scene address the past Lewis and Olivia stories.

Lewis's game of Russian Roulette is like revenge for his defeat in court. Somehow, he drags Olivia, the representative of the law enforcement, after him, obsessed with taking down the courts and the law and the cops.

In the next chapter, we learn that the little girl taken hostage is also her own iconography for Olivia.

Actually, the last story for Lewis could have been written really well by Svu standards. It could be unforgettable. In the twenty-five-year history of Law and Order, memorable adaptations could have been made to fit the Lewis and the Law story. I wish it hadn't been rushed. Because, once we get used to very good, strong stories, we are always looking for stronger stories.

Paloma Faith, the music is great. It fits the story perfectly.

Also, there's an angel, Declan Murphy.. whether he's a good angel or a bad angel is revealed in the next story. It will touch Rollins' life. It will appear in the next chapters.

Other scenes are immersive. There are detective action scenes when Stabler is present. For those who see the series only as a crime and detective series, some action is of course necessary. It's also great to watch the mighty Olivia who doesn't break down no matter how many blows the beast takes against Lewis.

But sex, rape etc. Considering the audience, we can say that the vampires were fed with a little blood.

A sick life ends

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 12 March 2015]

Way back when Pablo Schreiber's William Lewis was introduced to SVU in that first episode it was Kelli Giddish who got on to him first because she recognized certain traits and patterns from his crimes. Yet for whatever reason Schreiber fixated on Mariska Hargitay and was determined to torment her whatever the cost.

Now he's escaped from prison and he's armed and we know how dangerous he is and how sadistic. He's kidnapped a series of young girls and he's now got the last one who is only about 12 and he wants Olivia Benson to recant all she said at the trial that got him convicted.

Schreiber is the kind of criminal that the death penalty was meant for. No doubt of his guilt, no hope for redemption. Getting rid of him would be a public service.

Let's hope he doesn't come back like Freddy Kruger.

Return of the Beast

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 4 August 2022]

The William Lewis (one of the show's most hard to forget supporting characters) arc started off so promisingly with two outstanding episodes in "Her Negotiation" and "Surrender Benson", but then gave the feeling of the storyline having gone on for too long in the waste of potential that was "Psycho/Therapist". There was still intrigue in seeing how the arc would end though, being a fan of Pablo Schreiber's portrayal and the chemistry between Olivia and Lewis.

"Beast's Obsession" turned out to be very well done in most areas but had potential to be even better than it was (can understand the mixed to positive reception it got), being an episode that finished better than it started. As far as the other episodes in the arc go, "Beast's Obsession" is not as good as "Her Negotiation" and "Surrender Benson". But it was a lot better than "Psycho/Therapist" and even that was still watchable despite being disappointing.

A lot is great here. Mariska Hargitay brings a lot of determination and vulnerability to Olivia, while Schreiber is as creepy as they come as Lewis. The chemistry blisters between the two, especially in the climax, and the two characters are psychologically fascinating. These were the four aspects that were consistently fantastic throughout the Lewis arc. The rest of the cast are also very good, and Murphy is a great and refreshing addition playing very impressively by Donal Logue. Did appreciate too that Murphy was also the most professional character in the case.

Photography and such as usual are fully professional, losing none of its slickness. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has nice and at its best (such as towards and at the end) thrilling tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way. The script has the right amount of intensity and intelligence without feeling over-heated. The obsession aspect being chilling and not overdone and Lewis' taunting and demands particularly chill.

There is a lot of creepy tension in "Beast's Obsession". The ending intensely thrills and was not expecting the outcome as it seemed as though it would be clichéd and then did not what is expected. Don't agree with Lewis being out of character in the climax, he is not just a psychopath but also a narcissist, my interpretation was that he wanted Olivia to suffer as much as possible psychologically and professionally and for more than the guilt. Something that he did succeed in and already had.

However, there are a few things that stop it from being great. Everything with the escape is truly preposterous and unrealistic, like the cupcakes, remember on first viewing considering giving up on the episode because it was not just a little preposterous, it was insultingly and jarringly so. Still stuck with it, due to interest and because of Hargitay, Schreiber and the chemistry between them and am glad about making that decision.

Did think that the rest of the SVU's involvement in the manhunt could have done with more urgency, they didn't seem(and this is just perspective) as passionate about getting a positive outcome with the exception of Murphy. There is a feeling with Olivias behaviour and decisions that she is taking on too much too soon, having been promoted during a traumatic period and was clearly close to breaking point.

Overall, not great but good. 7/10.