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Any fan of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' that was a long-term victim of bullying is going to find that "Mean" hits home with them. Was expecting it to be an umcompromising and not easy watch episode, mainly because that is true of a vast majority of 'Special Victims Unit' episodes, but was not preparing for it to be to this extent, even the plot synopsis when watching it for the first time years back didn't really prepare me for that.

My feelings are exactly the same on my rewatches, it actually got even better, as well as admittedly more painful, on rewatch. Was happy though on watching "Mean" more than once because it is wonderful in pretty much every area. One of Season 5's best episodes, one of the powerful and the one that actually hit home the most for me as a victim of long-term bullying myself and in a way similar to the bullying depicted here. In my case it got so bad in my GCSE years that suicide was contemplated. Thank goodness that life did improve since, despite moving on the memories remain still.

This is an episode of 'Special Victims Unit' where everything works. It's well made, intimately photographed and slick with no signs of under-budget or anything. The music didn't sound melodramatic or too constant and the direction is accomodating while still having pulse. The writing doesn't ramble, although as usual there is a lot of dialogue to digest, and really provokes thought, disturbs and brings a lump to the throat.

Loved the story furthermore. Not only because it is truly intriguing and provides a lot of daringly scathing insight into American surburban life and what bullying does to somebody, but it did make for emotional viewing. As said, bullying victims are going to find this a quite harrowing watch, especially if the bullies here are exactly like those that bullied you. The ringleader mirrored my primary bully exactly, except it was more verbal and mental than physical in my case. The end twist was a real shock and was edge of the seat-like. One really feels for the victims and roots for the bullies to be put in their place.

Cannot fault the performances and the courtroom scenes are masterpieces of character interaction and tension. Mariska Hargitay and Lindsay Hollister really shine in their intensely poignant scene together and Olivia and Stabler are such a cheering on-worthy team here. Novak has her meatiest appearance here up to this point of the view, where she is at her most authoritative and understandable. This is the episode where Novak may grow on those that disliked her at first, there are fans of the show out there that fit in this category. Kelli Garner more than convincingly plays a vicious character.

Overall, wonderful. 10/10

I (an adult male) found this to be a very engrossing episode because I've known about the power dynamics amongst teenage girls for a long time. I taught at a middle school, and in our faculty meetings this topic would come up quite often. When boys didn't like each other, they would tend to have a brief physical fight and then it would all be over--they could even become friends afterward. But with girls, their ways of getting back at another female would often be cruel and show absolute indifference to the other girl's well being. And rather than being brief--as with the boys--girls can keep a chip on their shoulders for a very long time, often until they are disciplined. And even after that, they will harbor feelings of resentment until they at last grow up.

Thankfully the actions seen in the show are few and far between, but the dynamic portrayed here between young females is real and not uncommon.

The body of a teenage girl with multiple and I mean multiple stab wounds is found in an isolated spot in Manhattan and Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni catch the case due to the victim's age and the bizarre manner of death.

The investigation leads to a certain clique of some very mean girls in their Westchester High School. Stephanie March takes a real personal dislike to them and thinking fast in court does quite a job. You have to see her cross examination of one of them.

Acting honors go to Lindsey Hollister who plays another girl that was picked on by this terrible trio. Her performance will bring a tear to your eye.