The previous seven episodes, and actually the whole of Season 7, were a very mixed bag on the whole. Which is disappointing after such a great Season 6. As far as the previous episodes go, there were fantastic outings such as "Raw" and especially "911" (the latter being up there with the best of the whole show). But also disappointments with "Demons" (which didn't feel like a season premiere) and particularly "Name" (a change of pace episode that ended up not feeling like 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit').
"Starved" for me has always been one of the disappointments. It is marginally better than "Name", but "Raw" and "911" it is not. One of the biggest examples for the whole of 'Special Victims Unit' of a truly great guest star turn that was infinitely better than the episode in question and deserved better. The concept sounded interesting and it is an interesting and polarising issue to raise, but "Starve" just didn't execute it that well. There are also other episodes in the franchise, such as 'Law and Order's' "Age of Innocence" that came out at a similar time, that explored the same issue and did it a lot better.
By all means, "Starved" does have things that it does well. 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 episode does start off great and very intriguingly, not to mention very creepy.
All the regulars are reliably excellent with no weak link, in fact the acting is fine. The best thing about "Starved" though is Dean Cain, here against type as the most despicable character he has ever played and he is magnificent and absolutely skin crawling. The amount of contempt one has for his character by the end of the episode is through the roof.
He did however deserve a much better episode, which started off well but went downhill drastically too early and got worse. Do have to agree that "Starved" would already have been a better episode by revealing the perpetrator much later, that way there would have been more suspense. The investigation elements of the case could have had more depth as the policing did seem underused in favour of Olivia's undercover work to the point that it seemed wasted. There are some taut and thought-provoking moments, but generally the script could have been tauter and more tasteful and too much is crammed in in the second half.
Too much of the case is predictable, no real surprises here beyond seeing how much further the perpetrator would go with his manipulation, and it is lacking in tension. The issue of right to life it tackles is interesting on paper, but the episode offers nothing new or illuminating on it (to the point where one questions its point) and also doesn't execute it in good taste, instead of handling it sensitively it felt like it was being exploited and rather heavy-handed. Like the writers were looking for another opportunity to push forward their views on the subject and doing so in a way where it is too clear which side of the argument they're on. Of the characters, the only meaty one is Cain's, the others are ciphers and not made to look good. Cora especially is portrayed as too naive and too easily manipulated to an insulting degree. It didn't sit well with me seeing a character so obviously vile and not one to trust being seemingly treated the opposite when talking about the issue that dominates the second half.
On the whole, disappointing. 5/10.
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