When the parents of a teenage murder victim approach Stabler, he goes with Dr. Huang to interview their prime suspect, a serial killer soon to be executed in a New Jersey prison.When the parents of a teenage murder victim approach Stabler, he goes with Dr. Huang to interview their prime suspect, a serial killer soon to be executed in a New Jersey prison.When the parents of a teenage murder victim approach Stabler, he goes with Dr. Huang to interview their prime suspect, a serial killer soon to be executed in a New Jersey prison.
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- Special Agent Dr. George Huang, M.D.
- (as B.D. Wong)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaNick Chinlund, who plays Matthew Brodus in this episode, was one of the finalists for the role of Detective Stabler prior to the start of the series.
- GoofsWhen Brodus is talking with Stabler and Huang before his scheduled execution he makes reference to his will being probated. Condemned prisoners and those serving life sentences are deemed "civilly dead" and not competent to dispose of property by will.
- Quotes
John Munch: Tell me again how my partner failed to get his weapon re-certification.
Olivia Benson: He choked.
Odafin Tutuola: I didn't choke.
Olivia Benson: Okay. He got poor marks for shooting off his gun early.
John Munch: That happens to everybody, Fin. You know, they have a pill for that now.
- ConnectionsReferences Wheel of Fortune (1983)
"Execution" still holds up on re-watches, an example of an episode that got even better with each viewing with more to like and observed. It was a great premise and brilliant in execution. What struck me as particularly striking on first watch still strikes me as particularly striking now and even more so, for examples the whole mind games being creepier. One of my favourite episodes of Season 3 and the best 'Special Victims Unit' episode since "Monogamy", the episodes in between that and this saw a quality-dip (not massive but enough for it to be noticeable) in my view so this is saying quite a bit.
The production values are still going strong, the prison setting is creepy and made creepier by the intimate but never over-claustrophobic photography. The music is spare and has presence without being over-scored and there is some clever and ominous use of sound at the beginning. Christopher and BD Wong (who comes into his own here) are excellent. Even better is a terrifying, even when saying nothing, Nick Chinlund as one of the most monstrous supporting characters of Season 3 and of the early seasons.
It is with him and his chilling mind games that he plays when with Stabler and Huang, that plays a big role in the episode and that whole dynamic really blisters when at its peak and the main source of the vast amount of suspense "Execution" has. The story is a slow burner but is always atmospheric, suspenseful and exciting with an unforgettable ending that sees the episode at its most action-oriented.
Stabler and Huang work beautifully together, proof that Stabler can work with team members other than Olivia. It was great to see his compassionate side too, a good remedy for somebody who was put off by his attitude in "Ridicule".
Brilliant episode all in all, one of the season's best. 10/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 3, 2020