Great chemistry between Keith and Maloni. This would have been an interesting character to bring back.
6 Reviews
Male Chemistry in a Macho Episode
rlamybarlow23 May 2021
Time for the other guy's crimes
bkoganbing22 March 2013
David Keith guest stars as Detective John Hawkins on this SVU episode, a man who made his bones as a detective catching a serial killer and now after 18 years he's out on parole. And some sex murders with the same MO are starting to happen again.
In the meantime Chris Meloni is feeling real down about all the good he thinks he's not doing after a case he worked on went south when the killer was acquitted and killed again. He's now teamed with Keith working with the squad.
But as it turns out the man that he sent away was really innocent. Now both of these guys have to redouble their efforts to find the real killer. And the evidence better be rock solid as Stephanie March points out the first guy's conviction makes it harder to convict a second perpetrator.
Kevin Chamberlin plays the original suspect who did the time for the other guy's crime. He plays Bertram the butler on the Disney series Jessie currently. This pathetic man, a delivery man for a florist shop gives Chamberlin a role totally different than his Disney part.
Nice episode, don't miss it.
In the meantime Chris Meloni is feeling real down about all the good he thinks he's not doing after a case he worked on went south when the killer was acquitted and killed again. He's now teamed with Keith working with the squad.
But as it turns out the man that he sent away was really innocent. Now both of these guys have to redouble their efforts to find the real killer. And the evidence better be rock solid as Stephanie March points out the first guy's conviction makes it harder to convict a second perpetrator.
Kevin Chamberlin plays the original suspect who did the time for the other guy's crime. He plays Bertram the butler on the Disney series Jessie currently. This pathetic man, a delivery man for a florist shop gives Chamberlin a role totally different than his Disney part.
Nice episode, don't miss it.
Character Development for Stabler
dillanholliday18 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
You either love Elliot or you hate him. This episode did him no favors.
He begins by throwing a tantrum after a grandfather accused of touching his grandchild is set free by a jury. He remarks that the system is broken. Elliot is of course sensitive to kids he has 4 of his own after all. He had promised the girl everything would be ok.
Later the detectives are called to a brutal crime scene and Elliot begins getting visually annoyed while interviewing the victims friend. Olivia Benson has to step in and call Stabler away.
This episode does a great job showing the growing riff between Benson and Stabler. They have arguments and even not so subtly barb at one another. These arguments come only a few episodes after Olivia told Stabler "If you can't trust your partner, it's time to find a new one." or something to that same effect.
When Stabler and Benson are interrogating David Steadman (1st suspect) Elliot gets physical pushing him against the wall. Olivia again tries to intervene. Steadman gives his alibi and is quickly left alone. Upon a follow up they learn that Steadman was in the hospital during the time of the crime.
It's at this point we meet Stabler's old mentor/partner John "Hawk" Hawkins. Hawk and Stabler are tasked with investigating Roger Berry who is the paroled Soho Killer.
Hawk and Stabler go to the apartment of Berry. Hawk kicks in the door and Stabler asks "Do you have a warrant?" The two of them begin to search the apartment.
They duo try to find Berry at his mothers residence. The bicker until Stabler says "Sometimes finesse goes a long way." Hawk responds "Finesse is for fairies." (That did not age well)
Stabler and Hawk argue at a bar about grandstanding then they apprehend Roger Berry who tries to resist after they find him on the pier with a noose around his neck.
Hawk and Stabler begin interrogating Berry and after an outburst from Berry, Hawk begins literally slapping the suspect around. Stabler then intervenes.
Upon further investigating Hawk and Stabler learn that Roger Berry wasn't the Soho Killer in the first place. He was wrongly convicted. Hawk got him to falsely confess.
Hawk and Stabler begin following up on Arthur Blessard an IRS worker and former neighbor to Berry. It turns out Blessard was using tax returns as a way to find victims. Stabler, Hawk, and Benson apprehend the suspect. Benson interrogates the would be victim while Hawk and Stabler interrogate Blessard.
Hawk and Stabler start screaming at the suspect and once again Hawk gets physical threatening to "put your (Blessard's) through that wall." When Blessard says "I'll be sure to tell my lawyer." Stabler retorts "I didn't see anything." Hawk smiles ear to ear.
It becomes rather clear that Arthur Blessard was setting up Roger Berry. The detectives have to go back 18 years to try to find a way to connect Blessard to the original murders. They do.
Stabler and Hawk try to apprehend Blessard who tries to escape to the roof. The detectives chase him down. Hawk catches Blessard who is dangling from the roof. Hawk crushes his fingers telling Stabler "We both know the system is broken." Stabler talks Hawk into saving Blessard.
A good story slightly tarnished by its rather rushed ending. This is a common predicament for SVU.
He begins by throwing a tantrum after a grandfather accused of touching his grandchild is set free by a jury. He remarks that the system is broken. Elliot is of course sensitive to kids he has 4 of his own after all. He had promised the girl everything would be ok.
Later the detectives are called to a brutal crime scene and Elliot begins getting visually annoyed while interviewing the victims friend. Olivia Benson has to step in and call Stabler away.
This episode does a great job showing the growing riff between Benson and Stabler. They have arguments and even not so subtly barb at one another. These arguments come only a few episodes after Olivia told Stabler "If you can't trust your partner, it's time to find a new one." or something to that same effect.
When Stabler and Benson are interrogating David Steadman (1st suspect) Elliot gets physical pushing him against the wall. Olivia again tries to intervene. Steadman gives his alibi and is quickly left alone. Upon a follow up they learn that Steadman was in the hospital during the time of the crime.
It's at this point we meet Stabler's old mentor/partner John "Hawk" Hawkins. Hawk and Stabler are tasked with investigating Roger Berry who is the paroled Soho Killer.
Hawk and Stabler go to the apartment of Berry. Hawk kicks in the door and Stabler asks "Do you have a warrant?" The two of them begin to search the apartment.
They duo try to find Berry at his mothers residence. The bicker until Stabler says "Sometimes finesse goes a long way." Hawk responds "Finesse is for fairies." (That did not age well)
Stabler and Hawk argue at a bar about grandstanding then they apprehend Roger Berry who tries to resist after they find him on the pier with a noose around his neck.
Hawk and Stabler begin interrogating Berry and after an outburst from Berry, Hawk begins literally slapping the suspect around. Stabler then intervenes.
Upon further investigating Hawk and Stabler learn that Roger Berry wasn't the Soho Killer in the first place. He was wrongly convicted. Hawk got him to falsely confess.
Hawk and Stabler begin following up on Arthur Blessard an IRS worker and former neighbor to Berry. It turns out Blessard was using tax returns as a way to find victims. Stabler, Hawk, and Benson apprehend the suspect. Benson interrogates the would be victim while Hawk and Stabler interrogate Blessard.
Hawk and Stabler start screaming at the suspect and once again Hawk gets physical threatening to "put your (Blessard's) through that wall." When Blessard says "I'll be sure to tell my lawyer." Stabler retorts "I didn't see anything." Hawk smiles ear to ear.
It becomes rather clear that Arthur Blessard was setting up Roger Berry. The detectives have to go back 18 years to try to find a way to connect Blessard to the original murders. They do.
Stabler and Hawk try to apprehend Blessard who tries to escape to the roof. The detectives chase him down. Hawk catches Blessard who is dangling from the roof. Hawk crushes his fingers telling Stabler "We both know the system is broken." Stabler talks Hawk into saving Blessard.
A good story slightly tarnished by its rather rushed ending. This is a common predicament for SVU.
Bad Cop and Good Cop
yazguloner26 March 2021
Law and Order SVU is like a civilization school like a democracy course. Previous cops used brute force and pressure for real crime. However, the new police, civil and democratic police are trying to explain that the real criminal can be reached through legal means and communication through civilian solutions. Stabler represents the police trying to be civilized, and Hawk the former brute force and coercive police. Both policemen want a real system with justice, to reduce the murder of women and to protect the rights of innocent people, their grandparents who harassed their grandchildren. And I can only pray a little bit; If only the justice system and justice institutions were not only in the movies ... If only the justice and justice institutions were like law and order.
Days of redemption past
TheLittleSongbird25 June 2020
"Redemption" had a fair few things going for it. The premise is not a novel one but is always interesting in seeing how it affects people, what is done to figure out the truth, how the truth is figured out and how it turns out. The title was attention grabbing. The theme of redemption is a sensitive and relevant one that's important to disguss, 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' in its prime was always very good at this and in a way that was never softened or trivialised.
There were some prime-'Special Victims Unit' episodes that to me could have been better while still being watchable certainly. Didn't care for "Redemption" on first viewing, while still appreciating what it tried to do. On a couple of re-watches, it still doesn't wow me. "Redemption" does have a good deal that is good, but to me it could have handled its subject and one key character a lot better. Season 3 was a solid season, but this was one of the weaker episodes.
Will start with what "Redemption" does well, which is a lot. The script does intrigue and has some nice edge in the exchanges between Stabler and Hawk. The second half does fare quite a lot better than the first, it's tighter paced and has some interesting questions raised. Also thought that any surprises were a lot less obvious later.
Christopher Meloni gives his usual hard-boiled performance, a type of acting that he did very well on 'Special Victims Unit'. Kevin Chamberlain does a good job in an atypical role. "Redemption" has a nice atmospheric slick look in how it's shot and the music doesn't over-emphasise or feel used too much, synchronising well with the mood too. The direction is more uneven, with it doing well in how the characters interact in the latter stages. The performances from the rest of the cast are good. Stabler and Hawk work quite well together, at least it's cohesive team-work, and one can see what it means to Stabler to solve the case.
However, the first third or so of "Redemption" is a bit dull and it is for my tastes too obvious too early that the prior conviction was wrong and very unlikely. Especially considering it is a pretty done to death plot device that was familiar ground elsewhere before and used even more since.
Also felt that there could have been a lot more development to Hawk, who comes over as too unlikeably stubborn and difficult to root for throughout, so any change of heart doesn't ring true enough. Although he and Stabler work quite well together, there could have been a lot more spark between them and it could have developed more. Too many of the other characters are too underused and what is essentially the Stabler and Hawk Show.
Summing up, decent but falls somewhat short. There are far better Season 3 episodes. 6/10
There were some prime-'Special Victims Unit' episodes that to me could have been better while still being watchable certainly. Didn't care for "Redemption" on first viewing, while still appreciating what it tried to do. On a couple of re-watches, it still doesn't wow me. "Redemption" does have a good deal that is good, but to me it could have handled its subject and one key character a lot better. Season 3 was a solid season, but this was one of the weaker episodes.
Will start with what "Redemption" does well, which is a lot. The script does intrigue and has some nice edge in the exchanges between Stabler and Hawk. The second half does fare quite a lot better than the first, it's tighter paced and has some interesting questions raised. Also thought that any surprises were a lot less obvious later.
Christopher Meloni gives his usual hard-boiled performance, a type of acting that he did very well on 'Special Victims Unit'. Kevin Chamberlain does a good job in an atypical role. "Redemption" has a nice atmospheric slick look in how it's shot and the music doesn't over-emphasise or feel used too much, synchronising well with the mood too. The direction is more uneven, with it doing well in how the characters interact in the latter stages. The performances from the rest of the cast are good. Stabler and Hawk work quite well together, at least it's cohesive team-work, and one can see what it means to Stabler to solve the case.
However, the first third or so of "Redemption" is a bit dull and it is for my tastes too obvious too early that the prior conviction was wrong and very unlikely. Especially considering it is a pretty done to death plot device that was familiar ground elsewhere before and used even more since.
Also felt that there could have been a lot more development to Hawk, who comes over as too unlikeably stubborn and difficult to root for throughout, so any change of heart doesn't ring true enough. Although he and Stabler work quite well together, there could have been a lot more spark between them and it could have developed more. Too many of the other characters are too underused and what is essentially the Stabler and Hawk Show.
Summing up, decent but falls somewhat short. There are far better Season 3 episodes. 6/10
ruined by a ridiculous rooftop foot chase and a just plain silly literal cliffhanger
wdstarr-13 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was doing okay until it reached its climax, at which point it became laughable farce. The three-person footchase on the rooftops - Stabler and Hawk chasing a bad guy who looked like an out-of-shape late-middle-age insurance salesman - was insultingly clearly rigged to put Hawk and the bad guy alone with Stabler far behind them just so Hawk and the bad guy could have a dramatic two-person scene together, and the literal cliffhanger, with the bad guy dangling off the edge of a rooftop holding on with just his hands looked ridiculous: the guy shouldn't have lasted more than maybe ten seconds like that before falling to his death. It all just made the "dramatic" bit where Stabler's talked Hawk out of killing the guy just... silly.
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