Season 16 was not too bad a season overall at all, though it was an uneven one. Especially the second half of it. There were a few great episodes, especially "Holden's Manifesto" and "Pattern Seventeen" and found a lot to like about the 'Chicago PD' crossovers. There were also episodes that disappointed, particularly "Decaying Morality" and even more so "Intimidation Game" (one of the show's all time worst). "Surrender Noah" also looked so good from its advertising.
Overall, "Surrender Noah" is a worthy season finale and a more than decent way to end the season. 'Special Victims Unit' wildly varied with its previous season finales, with winners such as "Slaves", "Scourge", "Screwed", "Rhodium Nights" and "Her Negotiation". But also major disappointments such as "Cold", "Zebras", "Shattered" and "Smoked". "Surrender Noah" is in neither extreme of best or worst, but had potential to be better than it was considering the hype (which it doesn't quite live up to).
A lot is good. Mariska Hargitay and Danny Pino are excellent, particularly in the second half. All the acting is of good quality, but those two stand out. Everybody has an active role and an active role that is substantial and the teamwork is cohesive and never looks stiff or disconnected. The episode has a consistently gripping and intriguing case that did have tension and wasn't too simple or convoluted. It also feels like a finale, whereas some previous season finales of the show don't do and feel more like excuses to get rid of panned characters with a thrown in melodramatic event, "Zebras" being a prime example. The second half is compelling and tense.
Writing is taut and thought provoking, while being respectful of target audience. The episode is a good farewell to Amaro, who has a bit of an inconsistent journey when on the show (liked him in Seasons 13 and 14, less so when his personal life started to dominate too much). Unlike Stabler, whose exit was anti-climactic, Amaro's final appearance is rounded off and poignant as well as treating his character with respect, clearly written by somebody who liked the character. The production values are still slick and suitably gritty (without being too heavy in it). The music is not too melodramatic and is not used too much, even not being too manipulative in revelations. The direction lets the drama breathe while having enough tautness too, so things don't get dull.
Not everything works. There is too much of Olivia's subplot, which is also rather soapy. Was mixed on the climax, it does have tension but the promos gave so much of the episode away that the shock and surprise factors were lost.
Lots of fans talk about the final scene between Olivia and Amaro, both good and bad. Was mixed on it myself. It is heartfelt in acting and character interaction but the Stabler diss was not needed or in good taste. Was mixed on how true what Olivia said was, Amaro was the most respectful and most sympathetic character towards her in his tenure though his anger issues did dominate and frustrate a lot. Stabler did actually support and help her a lot and did help her grow (actually think the two are about equal here), his problems were that his loose cannon personality affected his peoples skills in seasons 8-12 and his very anti climactic exit.
Concluding, not perfect but worthy. 7/10.