Am a fan of the original 'Law and Order', especially the early Briscoe years, and also watch 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent' regularly. Will admit about being hard on the former years back, feeling that it started off brilliantly but jumped the shark. Although the early seasons in my mind are definitely better when there was a much better balance of case, trial, moral issues and personal lives, that's part of my opinion that has not changed, this show has grown on me over-time.
Cannot believe that "Payback" was the first episode of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit'. It honestly feels like a "show hit its stride and in its prime" episode and could easily pass for one, with so much so well established and its different aspects expertly balanced with nothing coming over as questionable. To this day, to me it is one of the show's finest episodes, of its prime years and overall. Everything here just works.
"Payback" to this day is one of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit's' most harrowing, most uncomfortable to watch episodes. Not just the grisly case, that the victim is one of the show's nastiest (a reprehensible piece of work indeed) and that one in a way feels sorry for the killer despite not condoning their actions. Also because of the moral issues it raises, in a way that's not heavy-handed and done sensitively, and providing a character that is already remarkably richly drawn in Olivia Benson (one of the show's crowning achievement even when past prime).
It is a complex, disturbing case without feeliing over-stuffed or convoluted, and the personal lives of the team succeeds in making them interesting and it is an aspect that doesn't take over too much or feel too soap-operatic. The writing is taut and thought-provoking, while the direction is wholly competent while with enough personality and style.
Visually, "Payback" is slick and matches the gritty yet layered tone perfectly. The locations are great and made good use of. The music is only used when necessary and when it is used it does stick in the mind and not done so ham-handedly, difficult to forget the main theme too or the opening voice over. The acting is very strong here, excellent in the case of Mariska Hargitay in particular.
Overall, brilliant start that doesn't feel like a debut episode at all. 10/10