Personally found Season 18 rather underwhelming on the whole, though the second half of it was quite a big improvement. With quite a lot of the episodes having similar flaws that were already frequent issues in the seasons since Olivia's promotion. Do think that 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' was a truly fine show at its best and the early seasons have a lot to recommend, but it has not been the same for a while though not exempt from great episodes.
Season 18's opener "Terrorised" is not too bad a start, pretty promising actually in spite of having a few major issues with it (one in particular being one of the season's biggest faults). Which are fortunately balanced out by a lot of major good things, making for what is easily one of the better episodes of the season's first half (which on the whole was not particularly good with a few exceptions like "Terrorised"). There are only a small handful of recommended episodes from Season 18, this is one of them.
There are a lot of good and even great things here in "Terrorised". First and foremost, the production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. The direction is taut in the early stretches but suitably more accomodating later. There is quite a lot of thought provoking writing, balanced by moments of welcome and not out of place levity such as Fin's mayflower quip.
Also found the story on the whole suitably twisty and atmospheric with plenty to think about. There are some very heavy themes here that are not too heavily executed, Season 18 covered a lot of heavy themes. Most of the time sadly not very well, but this is one of the more tactful and powerful examples of it. The acting all round is very good, and most of the character writing is very good. Really did feel for Dodds, his anger and upset more than understandable here and this was a case of it not being directed at the wrong person. Barba's point of view was also understandable and Ana is one of the few sympathetic victims of the season.
Did find that "Terrorised" had a few major issues as said already. Olivia comes over again as too one sided and judgemental, jumping to conclusions too quickly and thinking only she is right. Also thought that Carisi is incompetent here, especially with the phone call.
It was felt too later on that this was not a case that SVU or Barba should have taken on, not their kind of case. Ana is treated too unfairly and shouldn't have been indicted considering how flimsy the evidence was.
Pretty good episode on the whole though and one of the few episodes of the first half to be properly worth watching. 7/10.
Season 18's opener "Terrorised" is not too bad a start, pretty promising actually in spite of having a few major issues with it (one in particular being one of the season's biggest faults). Which are fortunately balanced out by a lot of major good things, making for what is easily one of the better episodes of the season's first half (which on the whole was not particularly good with a few exceptions like "Terrorised"). There are only a small handful of recommended episodes from Season 18, this is one of them.
There are a lot of good and even great things here in "Terrorised". First and foremost, the production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. The direction is taut in the early stretches but suitably more accomodating later. There is quite a lot of thought provoking writing, balanced by moments of welcome and not out of place levity such as Fin's mayflower quip.
Also found the story on the whole suitably twisty and atmospheric with plenty to think about. There are some very heavy themes here that are not too heavily executed, Season 18 covered a lot of heavy themes. Most of the time sadly not very well, but this is one of the more tactful and powerful examples of it. The acting all round is very good, and most of the character writing is very good. Really did feel for Dodds, his anger and upset more than understandable here and this was a case of it not being directed at the wrong person. Barba's point of view was also understandable and Ana is one of the few sympathetic victims of the season.
Did find that "Terrorised" had a few major issues as said already. Olivia comes over again as too one sided and judgemental, jumping to conclusions too quickly and thinking only she is right. Also thought that Carisi is incompetent here, especially with the phone call.
It was felt too later on that this was not a case that SVU or Barba should have taken on, not their kind of case. Ana is treated too unfairly and shouldn't have been indicted considering how flimsy the evidence was.
Pretty good episode on the whole though and one of the few episodes of the first half to be properly worth watching. 7/10.
