Law & Order Franchise

The ending was surprisingly heartwarming but there is no escaping it: The episode was totally off the rails. Unfortunately, as good a drama as this show can be, whenever they do a longterm arc and case, they go off the rails. The problem is the case is a no-brainer so having a juror fall in love with this off-putting skeevy defendant with bad hair is this show's best hope of complicating things.

This show has the craziest jurors. It really speaks badly of the franchise's view of women that the terrible jurists are always in love with the offenders and tampering with the case. It's pretty obnoxious actually.

And while maybe the fact that it turns out Eileen was trying to toy with the dude is not completely insane, having the candid text photos be an alarming act break IS off the rails.

And of course he defends himself because this show has to make something completely straightforward and easy hard as hell.

Let me be blunt. This episode was not needed. The arc should have ended when he was caught. Having a huge trial and having things up in the air is complete nonsense. One of the things I don't like about the show is how often it indulges in nonsense. This episode did it too much. 1 1/2 stars.

I really hope Joe isn't Red Coat. It wouldn't be believable to me. But the cliffhanger was good.

Angus and his mother are not all bad.

Super lucky that lady was ATF. Stabler was busted otherwise. The team taking out Hightower was good too.

Not okay with what happened to Sam. There isn't enough Muslim representation on television and to kill him off like that is wrong. It's gross the dude took his wedding ring. I like that Stabler told Angus he was a Marine and one of them. Good tack to take.

I like that the mom likes Stabler.

I'm not happy about Sam but this was a decent episode. 3 1/2 stars.

Not great. Kind of dark and dour and creepy. I know the show is in general but it was a little too much this this week.

Is Kelli Giddish having second thoughts about leaving the show? I think she might have.

Not good. 2 stars.

Is Joe the Big Bad of the season? I think that would work.

I loved the episode. My favorite scene was Angus confronting Elliot in interrogation. His perspective is that Stabler is traitor. I love how Stabler reveals he KNEW Bashir, he was one of his, he had a daughter at home, and a pregnant wife, and I love Angus' reaction to that. He immediately realizes he does not have the high ground after all, and is willing to both cooperate and reveal how he got himself into this mess. Whatever magic Stabler has as an OC is pretty special if he can win over the people he's fooling after the fact by being real with them. And the thing I appreciate most about that is the Stabler on SVU would not have the skill to do that. His character has actually evolved a decade later.

For the record, Dean Norris and Christopher Meloni have a wonderful chemistry and interplay with each other. I did not buy them as brothers at first. But I do now. Which is cool.

I thought it was great. 4 1/2 stars.