My feelings on "Manipulated" have always been a bit conflicting. Have always found that there is a lot done well and that it starts off great, while also finding some drawbacks and that it doesn't end anywhere near as strongly. My feelings on Season 7 have been mixed, some fantastic episodes but some real misfires too. What "Manipulated" has going for it in order to see it is the concept, if you are a fan of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' and Rebecca DeMornay.
As indicated above, "Manipulated" is generally a very interesting and wildly entertaining episode. It is also a very odd one, some serious suspension of disbelief is needed when the truth is revealed for example. It's neither one of the best episodes of Season 7 or of 'Special Victims Unit' or one of the worst on both counts. It is though a big improvement over the previous episode "Taboo", which was one of the season's worst. Have seen a fair share of mixed reviews elsewhere and no wonder, "Manipulated" is not one of those episodes that will be universally loved.
Will start with what "Manipulated" does well, which is actually quite a lot despite what the above indicates. It is as ever shot with the right amount of intimacy without feeling too up close, even with a reliance of close up camerawork. That the editing has become increasingly tighter over-time is great too. The music isn't over-scored, manipulative or used too much. There is intimacy and tautness in the direction.
Enough of the script is thoughtful and also surprisingly funny, Stabler has some real hilarious corkers which was not unexpected for a character who was very intense in Seasons 6 and 7. "Manipulated" starts off very intriguingly with tension and entertainment value, loved the whole chemistry between the regulars, their exchanges and how they work. Everything with the responsible's state of mind and how they carried out the plan, the manipulation and how it unravels particularly intrigued. The regulars are all round excellent, especially Christopher Meloni and Diane Neal with the meatiest material. Chris Potter does very well too, and while views on DeMornay's performance were more mixed she seemed fine on the whole to me apart from the seizures.
Once the truth starts to emerge, "Manipulated" begins to get silly. Didn't mind that this was the sort of episode where the truth is not as much about the who (which is obvious a little too early) but more the how. This aspect did interest somewhat, especially the extent of the manipulation and how it all unravels, but much of the plotting later is also pretty improbable and excessively bizarre. Especially everything regarding the assassin, which stretched credibility and ridiculousness to breaking point to the point that it does not make sense.
Did think too that the twist was silly and the ending over the top.
In conclusion, interesting but quite odd. 7/10.
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