It must have been extremely hard and even daunting following on from an episode as brilliant as "Scavenger", one of those once seen never forgotten outings. And it is always a Herculean task for any episode of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit', or of anything for that matter, to be on the same level or even better when immediately following on from something particularly note-worthy. When that has happened, the success has varied.
"Outcry" isn't as brilliant as "Scavenger", but is still great admirable. Of the four particularly great to outstanding episodes in a row for the season in a consistently strong first half to it, "Outcry" may be the weakest. Namely because it slightly lacks the extra something that "Scavenger" and the next two episodes had. That it still manages to be great says a lot for the exceptionally high quality of this period and between the season premiere "Birthright" and "Charisma", a particularly strong period for the season, there was not a single bad episode or one that was below very good.
As said, "Outcry" doesn't quite have the same extra something of the previous episode, the suspense and emotion are not quite as much.
However, it is just great everywhere else. 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 has enough taut urgency when needed while giving the case breathing space.
Can't find anything to fault the regulars for, nobody disappoints and can't get enough Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay's tough yet sympathetic chemistry. Amanda Seyfried is affecting and Michael O'Keefe is a suitably uneasy presence while effectively making one uncertain about whether he's guilty or innocent. The script has a tightness while also being very thought probing.
Found the story to be riveting and was kept guessing what the truth was throughout. The episode does a great job with making one think that one has the truth figured out but is then steered into another direction.
In conclusion, great. 9/10
"Outcry" isn't as brilliant as "Scavenger", but is still great admirable. Of the four particularly great to outstanding episodes in a row for the season in a consistently strong first half to it, "Outcry" may be the weakest. Namely because it slightly lacks the extra something that "Scavenger" and the next two episodes had. That it still manages to be great says a lot for the exceptionally high quality of this period and between the season premiere "Birthright" and "Charisma", a particularly strong period for the season, there was not a single bad episode or one that was below very good.
As said, "Outcry" doesn't quite have the same extra something of the previous episode, the suspense and emotion are not quite as much.
However, it is just great everywhere else. 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 has enough taut urgency when needed while giving the case breathing space.
Can't find anything to fault the regulars for, nobody disappoints and can't get enough Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay's tough yet sympathetic chemistry. Amanda Seyfried is affecting and Michael O'Keefe is a suitably uneasy presence while effectively making one uncertain about whether he's guilty or innocent. The script has a tightness while also being very thought probing.
Found the story to be riveting and was kept guessing what the truth was throughout. The episode does a great job with making one think that one has the truth figured out but is then steered into another direction.
In conclusion, great. 9/10
