Family annihilation is not unfamiliar territory for the 'Law and Order' franchise or on television, but it is very interesting and harrowing when done well and some eerily reminiscent of real life cases. A prime example being the 'Law and Order' episode "Invaders". With the right execution Season 8's "Annihilated" could have been a very tense episode, the title alone promises tension and 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' was no stranger to tension-filled episodes before and since.
"Annihilated" could have been much better and is one of those episodes that promises a lot more than it delivers. As far as Season 8 episodes go, it is one of the weaker ones. It is definitely a watchable outing, none of the 'Special Victims Unit' episodes at this stage of its run fitted this negative unwatchable distinction. But the show did have disappointments prior to "Annihilated", and "Annihilated" is another one of the disappointments and shouldn't have been.
Shall start with the good things. It is shot with the right amount of intimacy without being claustrophobic and that the editing has become increasingly tighter over-time has been great too. The music doesn't get intrusive or overwrought, even when the episode gets more dramatic. The direction doesn't try to do too much and is understated but never flat or unsure when the episode picks up.
Christopher Meloni brings his usual trademark intensity and Dylan Walsh is very good against type in a darker role. Stabler's character development interests and illuminates.
On the other hand, the case is very bland and predictable, with the truth actually being over-obvious very soon after the crime occurs. It was actually the first thing that sprung in my mind as a possibility, as someone who has seen similar scenarios in television. "Annhilated" is also rather short on twists, surprises and suspense and feels sometimes like 25-30 minutes stretched to twice as long.
The pace could have been tauter as it did feel padded out. The script needed more flow and life and less melodrama.
In conclusion, worth two watches (a first one and a rewatch) but nothing special. 5/10.
"Annihilated" could have been much better and is one of those episodes that promises a lot more than it delivers. As far as Season 8 episodes go, it is one of the weaker ones. It is definitely a watchable outing, none of the 'Special Victims Unit' episodes at this stage of its run fitted this negative unwatchable distinction. But the show did have disappointments prior to "Annihilated", and "Annihilated" is another one of the disappointments and shouldn't have been.
Shall start with the good things. It is shot with the right amount of intimacy without being claustrophobic and that the editing has become increasingly tighter over-time has been great too. The music doesn't get intrusive or overwrought, even when the episode gets more dramatic. The direction doesn't try to do too much and is understated but never flat or unsure when the episode picks up.
Christopher Meloni brings his usual trademark intensity and Dylan Walsh is very good against type in a darker role. Stabler's character development interests and illuminates.
On the other hand, the case is very bland and predictable, with the truth actually being over-obvious very soon after the crime occurs. It was actually the first thing that sprung in my mind as a possibility, as someone who has seen similar scenarios in television. "Annhilated" is also rather short on twists, surprises and suspense and feels sometimes like 25-30 minutes stretched to twice as long.
The pace could have been tauter as it did feel padded out. The script needed more flow and life and less melodrama.
In conclusion, worth two watches (a first one and a rewatch) but nothing special. 5/10.