This is my first time watching season 12. So far, this has been a better episode than the previous episodes. There's a different air without Chris Meloni. He and Mariska Hargitay worked well together, and their interaction added intensity to the story. It was refreshing to see a caring, professional relationship that didn't fall into the trite trap of romantic involvement. The stories and interactions between all the characters were much richer and deeper with Stabler in the mix. This season seems a little flat and formulaic without Stabler in the mix, like everyone is just going through the motions. A lot of the Munch/Fin banter is missing, and the new detectives haven't sparked much interest. Maybe it's the writing, I don't know. I rated it 8 simply because, so far, it's the best of this season, but ir doesn't compare at all to the first 12 seasons.
Review of Official Story
