Am actually trying to review the 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' episodes by season and in order they aired. But with my review writing being a little less prolific than before, part of me didn't want to wait for a while before being able to review an episode with a guest star that makes such a big impression and elevates things hugely. So decided to, and will be doing the same with another Season 12 episode "Totem", make an exception or two.
"Mask" is not 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' on top form (have said frequently about having a preference for the earlier seasons in alternative to later), but it is an intriguing enough episode with a few frustrations, in components done much better elsewhere before and even since this episode, and one brilliant asset. A brilliant asset that almost single-handedly elevates what could have been a mixed feelings episode to an actually still quite good one that ranks somewhere in the high middle of the variable twelfth season.
That brilliant asset is Jeremy Irons, a very seldom less than watchable actor, one of the better ones still working today, in one of not enough post-'Lolita' (the point when his project choices became more spotty, though he was nearly always one of the bright spots in in his lesser projects) roles, 'Margin Call', 'The Borgias', 'Last Call', 'Henry IV' and 'The Man Who Knew Infinity' being the others, to fully play to his strengths and show how good an actor he is. Those strengths, on full display here, being that wonderful instantly recognisable voice that one can listen to forever, having eyes and expressions that tell so much while not having to say much and really tell a story, being one of the best at portraying seemingly respectable characters with a dark/conflicted side and not making his characters black and/or white (also giving his "good" characters flaws and, mostly, not making his "villains" too evil and giving them a dignity and ambiguity). His Cap Jackson is a complex and richly drawn character in a different league to the rest of the characters here, one that could easily have been a total creep but actually a worth rooting for one with understandable motivations. It's a magnificent performance, not just the joint best guest starring turn of that season (same with "Totem", a much better episode), along with Elizabeth Mitchell, but also one of the entire show's best, that "Mask" would have been much worse without, while somewhat deserving of a better episode.
Getting that out of the way, "Mask" does have other good elements too. All the acting is on par, with Christopher Meloni more than holding his own against Irons and AJ Cook (best known as JJ from 'Criminal Minds') brings pathos to her reasonably small but pivotal role. It was great to see actual discussions being made while investigating instead of throwaway more than one or two way conversations. The chemistry between the cast was nicely done, Meloni and Irons faring best which is good as it was the most crucial one here. The production values are stylish as always and the music is used when needed and not being overbearing or manipulative. The writing has problems but does intrigue and leaves things on ponder upon, the dialogue for Jackson being very meaty. The case also was not perfect but did compel, with the twists keeping on coming and the intrigue being constant. The perpetrator was a surprise and everything with Jackson's personal life fascinated. The episode did actually start off very well.
Sadly, "Mask" had issues too. It did feel disjointed at times and some parts veered on being nonsense. Too much of the undercover subplot is patchy, it is great to have Stabler have a major role here but his lack of professionalism in a situation that should never have been okayed and his ignorance towards confidentiality is a turn off (something that bugs me in too many of the latter season episodes). Everything with the arms was rather dumbly contrived too and a few things didn't quite add up, like how the perpetrator knew the address when they had no way of knowing (am pretty sure that that wasn't explained).
Wouldn't have said no to more Olivia and much more of the chemistry between her and Stabler, which is the heart of the show. One of her bigger scenes is in the hospital with the victim, and was a bit of a misjudgment, the questioning really should have been done much later and she usually handles victim questionings more tactfully, this was like a softer version of an interrogation and came over as pushy.
In conclusion, not bad at all, an example of an episode that started off very well but lost its way halfway through, but Irons' performance makes a huge difference to the overall quality. 7/10
"Mask" is not 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' on top form (have said frequently about having a preference for the earlier seasons in alternative to later), but it is an intriguing enough episode with a few frustrations, in components done much better elsewhere before and even since this episode, and one brilliant asset. A brilliant asset that almost single-handedly elevates what could have been a mixed feelings episode to an actually still quite good one that ranks somewhere in the high middle of the variable twelfth season.
That brilliant asset is Jeremy Irons, a very seldom less than watchable actor, one of the better ones still working today, in one of not enough post-'Lolita' (the point when his project choices became more spotty, though he was nearly always one of the bright spots in in his lesser projects) roles, 'Margin Call', 'The Borgias', 'Last Call', 'Henry IV' and 'The Man Who Knew Infinity' being the others, to fully play to his strengths and show how good an actor he is. Those strengths, on full display here, being that wonderful instantly recognisable voice that one can listen to forever, having eyes and expressions that tell so much while not having to say much and really tell a story, being one of the best at portraying seemingly respectable characters with a dark/conflicted side and not making his characters black and/or white (also giving his "good" characters flaws and, mostly, not making his "villains" too evil and giving them a dignity and ambiguity). His Cap Jackson is a complex and richly drawn character in a different league to the rest of the characters here, one that could easily have been a total creep but actually a worth rooting for one with understandable motivations. It's a magnificent performance, not just the joint best guest starring turn of that season (same with "Totem", a much better episode), along with Elizabeth Mitchell, but also one of the entire show's best, that "Mask" would have been much worse without, while somewhat deserving of a better episode.
Getting that out of the way, "Mask" does have other good elements too. All the acting is on par, with Christopher Meloni more than holding his own against Irons and AJ Cook (best known as JJ from 'Criminal Minds') brings pathos to her reasonably small but pivotal role. It was great to see actual discussions being made while investigating instead of throwaway more than one or two way conversations. The chemistry between the cast was nicely done, Meloni and Irons faring best which is good as it was the most crucial one here. The production values are stylish as always and the music is used when needed and not being overbearing or manipulative. The writing has problems but does intrigue and leaves things on ponder upon, the dialogue for Jackson being very meaty. The case also was not perfect but did compel, with the twists keeping on coming and the intrigue being constant. The perpetrator was a surprise and everything with Jackson's personal life fascinated. The episode did actually start off very well.
Sadly, "Mask" had issues too. It did feel disjointed at times and some parts veered on being nonsense. Too much of the undercover subplot is patchy, it is great to have Stabler have a major role here but his lack of professionalism in a situation that should never have been okayed and his ignorance towards confidentiality is a turn off (something that bugs me in too many of the latter season episodes). Everything with the arms was rather dumbly contrived too and a few things didn't quite add up, like how the perpetrator knew the address when they had no way of knowing (am pretty sure that that wasn't explained).
Wouldn't have said no to more Olivia and much more of the chemistry between her and Stabler, which is the heart of the show. One of her bigger scenes is in the hospital with the victim, and was a bit of a misjudgment, the questioning really should have been done much later and she usually handles victim questionings more tactfully, this was like a softer version of an interrogation and came over as pushy.
In conclusion, not bad at all, an example of an episode that started off very well but lost its way halfway through, but Irons' performance makes a huge difference to the overall quality. 7/10