"Lessons Learned" was one of the episodes from Season 14 with the most vivid memories had from first watch. And in an extremely positive way. 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' since and especially before covered a lot of sensitive and controversial issues and this one is one of the most harrowing and most relevant. The beginning and Elliot Gould's performance were particularly memorable on first watch. Season 14 was an inconsistent season.
Of which "Lessons Learned" is one of the best episodes from and one of not many outstanding ones from the season. Felt that way on first watch, and my feelings are the same and even better. It handles a difficult topic incredibly well, while the topic is not a new one for 'Special Victims Unit' this is one of the fresher, most tactful (no one-sided-ness, conclusion jumping or victim blaming) and most powerful episodes to tackle it of the latter seasons.
First and foremost, the production values are fine, have always liked the photography's intimacy and grit and the look of the show has come on a good deal over-time (and it was good to begin with). The music doesn't intrude and has a haunting quality, have not always remembered to say that the theme tune is easy to remember and holds up. The direction is impeccable.
The writing is tight yet also sensitive, more than appropriate with this subject. A subject that could have been approached in too heavy-handed and one-sided a way, and where the writers would make too much of a judgement. Actually thought it was handled with tact, and it was also uncompromising and thought provoking without being soapy.
It further benefits from a hard hitting and poignant story that is also incredibly courageous, with real potential to inspire anybody else abused in the past to come forward and get closure. The regulars are excellent, especially the scene stealing Raul Esparza who turned out to be one of the show's best additions of the latter seasons. While Charles Grodin and Gould are in meaty roles and are unsettling in them, while Gould was more memorable on first watch Grodin this time around was even more skin crawling than remembered.
Concluding, fantastic and infintely better than the disappointing previous two episodes. 10/10.
