The investigation of a bride-to-be's murder uncovers a man's double life; a turn in the case rattles Stabler, who turns to his wife and children for comfort.The investigation of a bride-to-be's murder uncovers a man's double life; a turn in the case rattles Stabler, who turns to his wife and children for comfort.The investigation of a bride-to-be's murder uncovers a man's double life; a turn in the case rattles Stabler, who turns to his wife and children for comfort.
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BD Wong
- Special Agent Dr. George Huang, M.D.
- (as B.D. Wong)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen the Armed Forces Repository of Specimen Samples for the Identification of Remains was first created in 1991 (to help identify the remains of soldiers killed in action by taking a DNA sample of all active duty armed forces personnel), it was unlawful for a soldier's DNA profile to be used to identify suspects in a criminal investigation. However, the 2003 National Defense Authorization Act overrode Pentagon policy that the DNA samples be used solely to identity troops killed in combat. The Act allowed for the DNA samples maintained for identification of human remains to be used for law enforcement purposes, but not in the same way that the DNA database in AFIS can be accessed. Any state or federal law enforcement agency can access the AFIS database at will to look for fingerprint and DNA matches, but they cannot access the Armed Forces DNA registry without first getting a court order from a Federal or military judge. To get a court order, law enforcement needs at least some evidence showing that the suspect is a member of the Armed Forces. So it is partly incorrect when Olivia says that they can simply run the DNA from the rape victim against the Armed Forces database to identify a suspect. NYPD would need evidence that their suspect is a member of the military (more evidence than the victim being killed by having her neck broken using the "subluxation" technique) for the DA's office to have enough probable cause to request a court order to run the DNA sample found on the victim against the Armed Forces database. The search would only tell them if their suspect is an active member of the Armed Forces, as DNA samples in the database are supposed to be destroyed upon a solider's discharge.
- GoofsIt is stated that Mrs. Royce's car was tracked via EZ-Pass, leaving Staten Island going into Manhattan, through Brooklyn via the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. In reality, there is a one-way toll on the Verrazzano-Narrows, leading into Staten Island, not leaving it. Therefore, it would be impossible to track a car leaving Staten Island that way, as a car can't be tracked by EZ-Pass going from Staten Island to Brooklyn.
- Quotes
John Munch: Hey, I got something spooky on your spook.
Featured review
Family annihilation
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.
helpful•81
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jul 29, 2021
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