Law and Order: SVU"Signature"
Original Air Date: January 8, 2008
Kara - TwoCents Reviewer
In this episode, Erika Christensen guest stars as Lauren Cooper, an FBI agent who is hell bent on capturing a serial killer called The Woodsman. Her mentor had been obsessing over the case until it took its toll on him and he killed himself. The killer horribly mutilates and tortures women for a very long time and then kills them. It's all very disturbing and makes for an episode that's very hard to watch. On top of that, it's not a very good episode.
Continue reading...
Posts
Law and Order: SVU
ReplyDelete"Signature"
Original Air Date: January 8, 2008
Kara - TwoCents Reviewer
In this episode, Erika Christensen guest stars as Lauren Cooper, an FBI agent who is hell bent on capturing a serial killer called The Woodsman. Her mentor had been obsessing over the case until it took its toll on him and he killed himself. The killer horribly mutilates and tortures women for a very long time and then kills them. It's all very disturbing and makes for an episode that's very hard to watch. On top of that, it's not a very good episode.
Five signs it's a bad SVU episode:
1. Either Benson or Stabler isn't in the episode. In this case, Stabler was off on what was referred to as "that extradition." Oh, right, of course. That extradition.
2. The notable name guest star isn't exactly too notable or interesting and becomes the main backbone of the episode. Sorry, Erika Christensen. It's nothing personal, except I guess it kind of is.
3. The director has some issues. There's a way too long shot of a torture chamber, that's really disturbing. It's far too disturbing for SVU, which is a show that will always tell you all kinds of horrible things but doesn't usually show them to you in great, unflinching detail. I'll freely admit I flinched. Between that shot and last week's shot of Josie cut up like the Joker, SVU seems to be heading down the path of let's try to be more graphic. No, thanks.
4. The court case has no purpose. Poor Casey Novak gets dragged in there for two seconds just so they could try to fulfill half of the Law and Order title.
5. The twist is obvious. I don't need a big twist in my SVU episodes but NBC seems to think the entire point of SVU is to throw you for a loop. If it is, maybe they should try harder. The second Olivia walks in and we see Lauren in her apartment, seated at a desk with her gun and badge in front of her and her hands in her lap, you just know it's all going to end badly. The only part of it that made me jump was when Olivia screamed. Honestly, that whole scene with Olivia having a breakdown after witnessing Lauren shoot herself was the only thing that makes this episode notable. Mariska Hargitay is such an amazing actress and those few minutes really break your heart, not because of Lauren but because of Olivia.
I have to note that there's a scene early on with a guy who works in or owns a strip club. The detectives call him Lavender and he says, "It's LaVander." Well, LaVander was most definitely wearing a lavender suit so maybe he's a bit conflicted.
Next week is all new (finally!) and it looks like dear Liv is going to prison. It's definitely going to be an interesting episode to say the least. I can't wait!
Wow, I thought that when you said the show was becoming too graphic you would say that you would never watch it again, instead you are excited for more episodes LOL.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to agree with what you said about the tortue chamber being too graphic. It actually made me a bit queezy. It would have been enough to show the TV on with the girl in the bathtub, and then them finding her under the table, but to pan over the entire room of torture tools, that was a bit much.
ReplyDeleteBut tonight's episode looks to be VERY GOOD and I cannot wait for it!
Great review :)