Before my first watch of "Hunting Ground", part of me knew in my gut that it would be at least decent. Really did love the idea of the story, okay it's not innovative material (it is the kind of story you see on 'Criminal Minds' for example) but it sounded incredibly atmospheric and creepy. Things that 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' did very well in at its best and in particularly dark cases. On first watch, my thoughts on the episode were very positive.
My thoughts on recent rewatch of "Hunting Ground" are also very positive. To me it is a very good episode and nearly a great one, as far as Season 13 (which mostly was pretty solid) goes it's in the better half. Proof that despite Seasons 10-12 being generally rocky, despite high points (three of the show's best episodes were in Season 12), that 'Special Victims Unit' hadn't completely lost it. Found it very atmospheric and creepy on first watch, that is still the case now despite never being crazy about the beginning.
Have personally never liked that the perpetrator is revealed for my tastes far too early, which did dilute the suspense a bit (a shame because otherwise the episode is very suspenseful), especially when done with an opening that felt forced and overlong.
Also really didn't like everything with Olivia and Haden, which was neither necessary or interesting and Harry Connick Jr's limited acting abilities continue to show. Am not trying to be horrible to him, he seems a nice person, he was a fair judge on 'American Idol', do like his music, his acting on the whole doesn't do it for me other than his voice work in the amazing 'The Iron Giant'.
However, "Hunting Ground" is a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key.
The script is taut without descending into melodrama, which would not have meshed well with such a dark case, and has some welcome dry humour from Munch in one of his few latter seasons appearances where he isn't wasted. The story is also truly disturbing, one of the darkest and most suspenseful of Season 13. The ripped from the headlines aspect of it is not exploitative, which was the case quite a lot with ripped from the headlines type stories from the latter seasons.
Furthermore, the perpetrator is truly creepy, namely because he comes over as so normal and incapable of such inhumanity but actually does crimes so despicable and tbat is so scary. The methodology is also squirm inducing and there is a lot of tension at the end. Can't fault the acting, lead and supporting. Mariska Hargitay is the standout of the regulars while the perpetrator is especially well acted in support, doing creepy so well without making it too obvious initially.
Summing up, very good and nearly great. 8/10.
My thoughts on recent rewatch of "Hunting Ground" are also very positive. To me it is a very good episode and nearly a great one, as far as Season 13 (which mostly was pretty solid) goes it's in the better half. Proof that despite Seasons 10-12 being generally rocky, despite high points (three of the show's best episodes were in Season 12), that 'Special Victims Unit' hadn't completely lost it. Found it very atmospheric and creepy on first watch, that is still the case now despite never being crazy about the beginning.
Have personally never liked that the perpetrator is revealed for my tastes far too early, which did dilute the suspense a bit (a shame because otherwise the episode is very suspenseful), especially when done with an opening that felt forced and overlong.
Also really didn't like everything with Olivia and Haden, which was neither necessary or interesting and Harry Connick Jr's limited acting abilities continue to show. Am not trying to be horrible to him, he seems a nice person, he was a fair judge on 'American Idol', do like his music, his acting on the whole doesn't do it for me other than his voice work in the amazing 'The Iron Giant'.
However, "Hunting Ground" is a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key.
The script is taut without descending into melodrama, which would not have meshed well with such a dark case, and has some welcome dry humour from Munch in one of his few latter seasons appearances where he isn't wasted. The story is also truly disturbing, one of the darkest and most suspenseful of Season 13. The ripped from the headlines aspect of it is not exploitative, which was the case quite a lot with ripped from the headlines type stories from the latter seasons.
Furthermore, the perpetrator is truly creepy, namely because he comes over as so normal and incapable of such inhumanity but actually does crimes so despicable and tbat is so scary. The methodology is also squirm inducing and there is a lot of tension at the end. Can't fault the acting, lead and supporting. Mariska Hargitay is the standout of the regulars while the perpetrator is especially well acted in support, doing creepy so well without making it too obvious initially.
Summing up, very good and nearly great. 8/10.
