Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) Institutional Fail (2015) User Reviews

Hit those numbers

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 23 March 2020]

This was an SVU story I could truly identify with. As a former investigator at the New York State Crime Victims Board I saw in my own agency this relentless pursuit of numbers and statistics.. Close your claims and whether the crime victim clients were serviced was definitely taking second place.

A young pre-school kid is found wandering the streets and when they find out who he is, Mariska Hargitay finds the older sister locked in a cage and nearly starved to death in their apartment and the child dies in hospital. After that it becomes a personal crusade.

At the Department of Social Services indictments come down on John Magaro, Whoopi Goldberg, and Josh Marcentel.

Whoopi Goldberg is the high point of the episode with her scene in the witness box with ADA Raul Esparza. Guilty as she was I can truly sympathize with her.

I've been there.

Not a failure of an episode

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 20 September 2022]

One can tell from the plot synopsis and even the title that "Institutional Fail" was not going to be an easy watch, quite the opposite. Also if one knows of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit's', and the 'Law and Order' franchise's, reputation of exploring heavy topics in an uncompromising way. It was certainly of no surprise to me that this was not going to be an easy watch, especially as the show and some other shows had episodes with a similar feel, even when the subject was not the same.

Was hugely impressed and even blown away by "Institutional Fail" on first watch. Primarily for the performance of Whoopi Goldberg and her big scene on the stand, which stayed with me for a long time afterwards. On rewatch, "Institutional Fail" struck me as a great episode and one of Season 17's best (as well as being the first great episode of the season). The subject matter is a hard hitting one and one of the season's toughest and this is one of the most tactful handlings of the particularly difficult subjects explored this season.

The only thing that didn't impress me that much was Barba's maternal outrage comment. That was a very unsympathetic comment, have never known Barba to be as tactless as he was then, and something he wouldn't usually say about women or even dream of saying.

"Institutional Fail" is pretty much brilliant everywhere else. In her second appearance of the franchise, with her also being in the 'Criminal Intent' episode "To the Bone", Goldberg gives one powerful portrayal that chilled and moved. Her speech on the stand is one of the season's most talked about scenes and deservedly so, being very raw and shocking because of how truthful it is. The other acting standout, and the episode is very well acted all round, is Raul Esparza, showing his usual authority and sassy spark.

On a visual level, the episode is solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden, while having enough momentum to make the drama sing in its atmosphere.

Script is tight and has always made me think long and hard after (a lot of 'Special Victims Unit' episodes do), with grit, class and tact. While it is clear what side the writers are on, it is not done in too one sided a manner (evident in Goldberg's speech) while also being truthful about the subject that is being tackled. The story is very absorbing and has a lot of emotional power, due to handling a difficult relevant subject in a way that is not sugar coated without being too heavy at the same time.

In summary, great and one of Season 17's best. 9/10.

Whoopi Goldberg is incredible

[qxnwztyr · 9/10 · 16 October 2022]

I love Law & Order Special Victims Unit. I really do. The specials participations are awesome , all ways full of great actors and actresses. This particular episode has Whoopi Goldberg performing a social worker supervisor during a case when a which sakes the city hall structure. Her testimony at the court is unbelievable. She can confront you in a raw way. It is unbelievable her delivery as an actress. The sentences were very well pointed and amazingly written. This final scene is unbelievable and memorable. It worth watch and watch one more time to fill the emotion. I'm intense and true. I do recommend very much!

Whoopi Goldberg

[degaswilson · 10/10 · 8 October 2015]

She is excellent in her part. Emmy or Oscar time. She should get it.

She is still a good actress, even after years on The View.

Her acting chops have not gone anywhere.

She can be on any show she likes and will kill it every time.

Watch this episode on Hulu if you missed it on the 7th of October.

Watch the entire episode. He best moment is at the trial.

She is speaking the truth about DCFS across the country and the recent reports out of San Bernardino County (or Santa Barbara - I forgot which one).

Anyway, watch it...

Dregs of Humanity

[yazguloner · 10/10 · 28 December 2021]

Great topic, great article and great Whoopi Goldberg

The court scene of Barba and Whoopi Goldberg is terrific and the lyrics are very, very striking.

The gangrene side of institutions is very well explained. In particular, the state of the office during the social services visit should be looked at...

The first opening scene is like a dramatic short film. The situation of the little boy at home, going out alone, the uncanny state of the street... it is very well reflected. It's an award-winning scene, just like a child's body, passing by cars bigger than him.

It is one of the solid parts. The svu squad and guest cast are amazing. I will keep it in my svu stone episodes file.

Chapter 5x18 has a different look at utilities.

This episode is the guest appearances for season 17. He begins as Dean Winters (Brian Cassidy)'s brother, detective Dumas (Scott William Einters). Mike Dodds, chief dods' son, will come. Ed Tucker's charisma is growing. We're also preparing the Hank Abraham file from Nypd.

In These are their story, Rollins' motherhood period begins after Olivia's motherhood. It is admirable that the themes of working women with children and working pregnant women are included.

Ps. Carisi is so charismatic, so is Rolins... they shine.

Great and revealing truth about DCS

[marzekiel · 2/10 · 6 October 2017]

This was a fine show, revealing and riveting.

I have always been a fan and admirer of Whoopi Goldberg's, but in this show I found her unbelievable. Her timing was off, she had an almost flattened affect, and her "performance" or lack thereof distracted from the story. I was quite disappointed because, as she is an Academy Award winner, I expected more. Now I see she can put on a performance but she can't act.

Nevertheless, the story was compelling and worth watching.