During prime-'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit', which has always been the early seasons to me (it became a little more variable around Season 8 or so), as well as being riveted by the cases it was very difficult to not feel a wide range of emotions. Many episodes were not easy watches (and that did continue in the show's mid period too and many times, if not as consistently when the show became not as good as it was, in the latter seasons as well), and left me disturbed and deeply moved.
"Nocturne", Season 1's penultimate episode, is one such example. It is very hard hitting, with one of the season's most shocking twists that one does not see coming before, and very moving, like the best 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' episodes (and to me it is a high point of the early seasons) a wide mix of emotions are felt. It is also interesting for having one of Season 1's most interesting "victims" in Evan, who is not as black and white in terms of type of character as he seems. Meaning that he is quite complex and not one-dimensional good or evil.
It has a very powerful story, with a difficult subject tactfully handled, that grabs the attention from the get go and gets even more compelling with the twist being the explosive turning point. Stabler and Munch's reactions to the shocking and very disturbing turn of events is a big reason for why "Nocturne" is as great as it is for me. Some may find the courtoom scenes too few, maybe but in this case having a "victim" character that is one of those shades of grey sort of characters, seeing different sides to a couple of the detectives and showing the full impact of abuse when the crime is being investigated matter more. Anything concerning Stabler's family doesn't get in the way and this time is important in showing Stabler's feelings on the case and why he reacts the way he does when finding out things are not what they seem. The ending is both moving and satisfying.
Wilson Jermaine Heredia's very harrowing performance as Evan is a major bonus here, one of the best of Season 1 and of the early seasons. Very nearly, if not quite, on the same level as the show's best guest star turns, a list that includes Robin Williams, Carol Burnett, Jeremy Irons, Elizabeth Mitchell, Ludacris, Martin Short and John Stamos. One feels an equal amount of sympathy and disgust for Evan, not condoning in any way his actions but understanding how he came to be that way. Our complete and utter hatred is directed at the real villain of the story, who is pure evil through and through due to his lack of any remorse and chillingly played.
How the case affects Stabler and Munch adds enormously to "Nocturne's" emotional impact. It was great to see a sympathetic Stabler in the role Olivia usually fills, this aspect has a lot of heart. Munch, until seeing his empathetic side in the previous episode "Remorse", was the character providing the dry humour, but here we see how much the case affects him and how truly disturbed he is by it. Some of Christopher Meloni's best acting of the show, and an acting high-point of the episode, is his reaction to the tape, our own reaction is the same and is the equivalent of believing something for a long time without having reason to think otherwise and then find you're deceived in one of the worst possible ways. Have been there myself when scammed by an alleged domestic violence victim.
Production values are still fine as is the music, while the direction is alert and accomodating and the dialogue taut.
Summing up, wonderful and a first season high point. A must for 'Special Victims Unit' fans. 10/10
"Nocturne", Season 1's penultimate episode, is one such example. It is very hard hitting, with one of the season's most shocking twists that one does not see coming before, and very moving, like the best 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' episodes (and to me it is a high point of the early seasons) a wide mix of emotions are felt. It is also interesting for having one of Season 1's most interesting "victims" in Evan, who is not as black and white in terms of type of character as he seems. Meaning that he is quite complex and not one-dimensional good or evil.
It has a very powerful story, with a difficult subject tactfully handled, that grabs the attention from the get go and gets even more compelling with the twist being the explosive turning point. Stabler and Munch's reactions to the shocking and very disturbing turn of events is a big reason for why "Nocturne" is as great as it is for me. Some may find the courtoom scenes too few, maybe but in this case having a "victim" character that is one of those shades of grey sort of characters, seeing different sides to a couple of the detectives and showing the full impact of abuse when the crime is being investigated matter more. Anything concerning Stabler's family doesn't get in the way and this time is important in showing Stabler's feelings on the case and why he reacts the way he does when finding out things are not what they seem. The ending is both moving and satisfying.
Wilson Jermaine Heredia's very harrowing performance as Evan is a major bonus here, one of the best of Season 1 and of the early seasons. Very nearly, if not quite, on the same level as the show's best guest star turns, a list that includes Robin Williams, Carol Burnett, Jeremy Irons, Elizabeth Mitchell, Ludacris, Martin Short and John Stamos. One feels an equal amount of sympathy and disgust for Evan, not condoning in any way his actions but understanding how he came to be that way. Our complete and utter hatred is directed at the real villain of the story, who is pure evil through and through due to his lack of any remorse and chillingly played.
How the case affects Stabler and Munch adds enormously to "Nocturne's" emotional impact. It was great to see a sympathetic Stabler in the role Olivia usually fills, this aspect has a lot of heart. Munch, until seeing his empathetic side in the previous episode "Remorse", was the character providing the dry humour, but here we see how much the case affects him and how truly disturbed he is by it. Some of Christopher Meloni's best acting of the show, and an acting high-point of the episode, is his reaction to the tape, our own reaction is the same and is the equivalent of believing something for a long time without having reason to think otherwise and then find you're deceived in one of the worst possible ways. Have been there myself when scammed by an alleged domestic violence victim.
Production values are still fine as is the music, while the direction is alert and accomodating and the dialogue taut.
Summing up, wonderful and a first season high point. A must for 'Special Victims Unit' fans. 10/10