This is a special episode for me. As good as always, this one truly hits the mark thanks to the marvelous turn of Fame, Footloose and Short Cuts star Lori Singer. After years and years of hiatus, the actress demonstrates that she is a powerful presence of screen. She's fully commited in her role and shines in her most dramatic scenes. She's just great in this episode. John Stamos is also very good.
12 Reviews
Harem
yazguloner12 July 2021
Establishing a harem of the past is its transformation into a breeding predator in modern life. It has the simplest scenario that can fit this subject.
Guest casting John Stamos was a very fitting choice. Its performance is very good.
It was also nice to see Noella Beck and Trisha from the soap opera Loving, which I enjoyed watching for many years.
What I don't like is that the vehicle used as an assault weapon is almost as advertised. It sets a bad example for the youth. Because it is an easily accessible tool of violence.
As true as the self-defense moves in the previous chapter were... This is just as wrong.
Guest casting John Stamos was a very fitting choice. Its performance is very good.
It was also nice to see Noella Beck and Trisha from the soap opera Loving, which I enjoyed watching for many years.
What I don't like is that the vehicle used as an assault weapon is almost as advertised. It sets a bad example for the youth. Because it is an easily accessible tool of violence.
As true as the self-defense moves in the previous chapter were... This is just as wrong.
wild and fast
SandcastlesofDiamonds5 May 2011
It was a wild one. Unexpected and tremendous fast paced edit. Lori Singer was stunning and jumped off the screen, Mariska Haggerty is strong and had feeling towards attempts at protecting a woman (Singer) against the wrong kind a guy. Chris Meloni was powerful yet a loving family man, and Ice T is one tough guy with heart. it was compelling, weird and unexpected. john stamos always a cutie. The Law and Order series has a distinct feel to each one of their shows.. This SVU show is gritty, and always leaves you feeling like you just lived through some
kinda New York personal drama, hopefully it's the neighbor down the block, not the guy next door..
kinda New York personal drama, hopefully it's the neighbor down the block, not the guy next door..
High Ratings For the Highly Disturbing
flixster-206585 March 2024
Well! This was certainly a hard episode to watch (and I mean that complimentarily). I remember John Stamos--Uncle Jessie from Full House--being in this episose, and WOW did he deliver?! His acting GENUINELY creeped me out and made me feel extremely uncomfortable. And the ending left me equally surprised and petrified. Definitely one of the best well-written episodes of SVU I've ever seen, but also one I *don't* plan on seeing again for quite a while (probably never again). Kudos to the Wolf Team!
(Don't mind the mumbo jumbo below, didn't meet the character limit)
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(Don't mind the mumbo jumbo below, didn't meet the character limit)
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Charles II
bkoganbing7 April 2013
Back in the 17th century the Merry Monarch Charles II reportedly had something like 35 illegitimate children that could be accounted for. And on this SVU episode John Stamos, former Assistant District Attorney and now with a high powered Wall Street firm is looking to break that record like Barry Bonds was doing to Ruth and Aaron. He must have been on something good, a combination of testosterone and steroids.
The case of an abandoned infant, adopted by Lori Singer leads the SVU squad to Stamos who is keeping company with Singer who is a well to do career woman. But status has nothing to do with whom he mates with, he was even doing nanny Marta Milans when Singer was away.
But has he broken any laws by doing that? Apparently not though the highlight of the story is when Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay confront with about 20 angry women from the New York metropolitan area, all with his bambinos.
Stamos is priceless in his reaction. It was a privilege for them to be bearing his kids like he was the monarch of his world. He modestly tells the SVU squad they haven't scratched the surface yet. But his little swimmers have taken their last plunge when he's found dead in an alley in what is a most gruesome manner.
Good episode up to the end and Stamos is just classic. But the perpetrator they found came from way out of left field and the ending was strictly anti-climactic for me.
The case of an abandoned infant, adopted by Lori Singer leads the SVU squad to Stamos who is keeping company with Singer who is a well to do career woman. But status has nothing to do with whom he mates with, he was even doing nanny Marta Milans when Singer was away.
But has he broken any laws by doing that? Apparently not though the highlight of the story is when Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay confront with about 20 angry women from the New York metropolitan area, all with his bambinos.
Stamos is priceless in his reaction. It was a privilege for them to be bearing his kids like he was the monarch of his world. He modestly tells the SVU squad they haven't scratched the surface yet. But his little swimmers have taken their last plunge when he's found dead in an alley in what is a most gruesome manner.
Good episode up to the end and Stamos is just classic. But the perpetrator they found came from way out of left field and the ending was strictly anti-climactic for me.
No bang to this
TheLittleSongbird3 June 2022
There are not many episodes of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' that have very unappealing premises and has plot points that sound so ridiculous when reading any full synopsis. Season 12's "Bang" is one of those episodes and one of the worst examples. My opinion of it on first watch was not positive at all, a case of liking the guest star but hating the writing and story. On top of its complete lack of appeal on paper, not a lot stuck out as memorable on first viewing.
My overall feelings on the couple of re-watches since when watching 'Special Victims Unit' via re-runs have really not changed all that much. In fact, the issues had on first watch are still major problems now and even more so, and, like "Dirty", "Spectacle" and "Bully", more problems were noticed on the subsequent re-watches. 'Special Victims Unit' had so many outstanding episodes and even when it started becoming hit and miss there were numerous flashes of brilliance, hence why the show is still watched because of those fond memories, but it's episodes like "Bang" that make me sad that a show capable of brilliance is also capable of such mediocre at best quality.
It is not irredeemable by all means. The best thing about it is its main guest star John Stamos (one of the finest examples of great guest stars that deserved a much better episode). Here Stamos is at his most unusually sleaziest, had never seen that side to him and it was unnerving to watch as he did it so well. The role is written too obviously but he plays the heck out of it without overdoing it and really makes him detestable. The regulars are also fine, very seldom was there a problem found with them in Seasons 1-12 and this is no exception.
Visually, "Bang" is a slick episode, typical for 'Special Victims Unit' and the 'Law and Order' franchise, and one with the right amount of muted grit, the photography doesn't try to do anything too fancy or gimmicky while not being claustrophobic and keeping things simple. The music doesn't overbear past the early stages with the theme tune still memorable. The beginning intrigues.
"Bang" unfortunately has a lot of major problems. The story is pretty much a mess, it is very draggy and to me the case was paper thin. When the truth about Stamos' character is revealed, which was also when the story gained a little momentum, it has always struck me as very far fetched and uncomfortably bizarre. Of the season this is the episode with the silliest revelation and will admit to finding it hard to believe (well a big stretch actually) that any woman could find much appeal in someone who seemed so obviously off.
Furthermore, "Bang" really did run out of steam after one of the shows most brutal murders, especially obvious with the rushed and anti climactic ending and the practically last minute feeling reveal of the killer, which wasn't hard to figure out. Tension and suspense are next to nought. The dialogue is very heavy handed, especially the overuse of reproductive abuser. The one liners are cringe inducing this time, almost bad children story-like quality and almost like 'Desperate Housewives' at its most soapy.
Other than Stamos' character, the supporting characters are bland (though his character just about missed going too far the other way). The female supporting cast are pretty bad, Lori Singer for instance looking ill at ease and the line delivery from most was just flat.
Summing up, has never worked for me. One of an inconsistent Season 12's worst. 4/10.
My overall feelings on the couple of re-watches since when watching 'Special Victims Unit' via re-runs have really not changed all that much. In fact, the issues had on first watch are still major problems now and even more so, and, like "Dirty", "Spectacle" and "Bully", more problems were noticed on the subsequent re-watches. 'Special Victims Unit' had so many outstanding episodes and even when it started becoming hit and miss there were numerous flashes of brilliance, hence why the show is still watched because of those fond memories, but it's episodes like "Bang" that make me sad that a show capable of brilliance is also capable of such mediocre at best quality.
It is not irredeemable by all means. The best thing about it is its main guest star John Stamos (one of the finest examples of great guest stars that deserved a much better episode). Here Stamos is at his most unusually sleaziest, had never seen that side to him and it was unnerving to watch as he did it so well. The role is written too obviously but he plays the heck out of it without overdoing it and really makes him detestable. The regulars are also fine, very seldom was there a problem found with them in Seasons 1-12 and this is no exception.
Visually, "Bang" is a slick episode, typical for 'Special Victims Unit' and the 'Law and Order' franchise, and one with the right amount of muted grit, the photography doesn't try to do anything too fancy or gimmicky while not being claustrophobic and keeping things simple. The music doesn't overbear past the early stages with the theme tune still memorable. The beginning intrigues.
"Bang" unfortunately has a lot of major problems. The story is pretty much a mess, it is very draggy and to me the case was paper thin. When the truth about Stamos' character is revealed, which was also when the story gained a little momentum, it has always struck me as very far fetched and uncomfortably bizarre. Of the season this is the episode with the silliest revelation and will admit to finding it hard to believe (well a big stretch actually) that any woman could find much appeal in someone who seemed so obviously off.
Furthermore, "Bang" really did run out of steam after one of the shows most brutal murders, especially obvious with the rushed and anti climactic ending and the practically last minute feeling reveal of the killer, which wasn't hard to figure out. Tension and suspense are next to nought. The dialogue is very heavy handed, especially the overuse of reproductive abuser. The one liners are cringe inducing this time, almost bad children story-like quality and almost like 'Desperate Housewives' at its most soapy.
Other than Stamos' character, the supporting characters are bland (though his character just about missed going too far the other way). The female supporting cast are pretty bad, Lori Singer for instance looking ill at ease and the line delivery from most was just flat.
Summing up, has never worked for me. One of an inconsistent Season 12's worst. 4/10.
Bad, Waste of Time
LoneWolfKyle244 May 2011
Weak episode, bad acting. Storyline was just plain silly, I felt like I was watching Desperate Housewives. Any other show I would given it between one and three. But since its a Law and Order episode I give it a very generous 5/10. I am willing to say this is the worst episode in SVU history in my opinion. Even the Rose McGowan episode was better and that was still rather weak. By the way Law and Order Los Angeles has really improved with Skeet gone. Reseda episode was brilliant. Back to SVU though I am looking forward to next weeks SVU because "Bang" had no BANG to it but only Bore. Horrible acting by Lori Singer who sounded like a damn robot all episode. I don't fully blame Lori Singer for her bad acting cause if she went fully by the script then the writing was just weak as it has been a lot of this season. Where's B.D. Wong and Tamara Tunie? No ADA either lately or even the court part just boring garbage in between with one liners like "We looked back into your file and found some dirt". Anyways Crap episode. Watch it anyways obviously just because it is Law and Order special victim units. Also tune in to Law and Order Los Angeles.
Awful!
waelderbeast13 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Watch it if your a die-hard SVU fan. Do not show this episode to someone who has never seen or has seen little of the show as it will do little to make a lifelong fan of the series. What makes the show awful is the writing. The story may have been saved if not for the horrible script. What was it that Lawrence Oliver said "can turn gold into crap, but not crap into gold." There was no saving this train wreck. For fun and those over 21, take a shot each time the phrase "reproductive abuser" is used----you will be hammered by the shows end. Despite this episode, the following was very good---so SVU is not a lost cause. Still love the serious.
Babies - A Trail of Destruction!
fabiogaucho17 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
The plot starts with a kidnapped baby left in an alley. The kidnapper is quickly found, however, and quickly absolved by the writers. Even though the guy nearly killed a 6-month old, the villain we are supposed to dislike is a rich guy who impregnates every one night stand he has by poking holes in the condom. The specialist SVU invites says he is a "reproductive abuser" - but try googling that phrase and find a link to anything else than this episode. The character is so implausible that the actor is clearly at a loss on how to play him. A sicko whose fetish is paying child support to a bus-load of children? He has dozens of sons and daughters, apparently each with a different mother - a "trail of destruction", in Olivia's words, and in the opinion of every other character in the episode, even though not a single woman was raped or coerced into having the baby. In the end he is actually equated to the rapist of 10-year-old children, and his gory demise is not-so-subtly celebrated.
Yes, that is the ultra-PC world of Law & Order. There is no shortage of rapes and murders in the show, but pregnancy turns out to be the ultimate horror. But America may not be ready yet to such progressive ideas. The episode got a lower score on IMDb than any other in the season.
To be fair, there is one brief, redeeming dialogue when Stabler tells the jerk about the difference between siring and being a father.
Yes, that is the ultra-PC world of Law & Order. There is no shortage of rapes and murders in the show, but pregnancy turns out to be the ultimate horror. But America may not be ready yet to such progressive ideas. The episode got a lower score on IMDb than any other in the season.
To be fair, there is one brief, redeeming dialogue when Stabler tells the jerk about the difference between siring and being a father.
Worst Episode of SVU
jeanpierrexxiii27 July 2022
There are some mysteries in the universe I'm happy to never understand. How this episode got rated a 7.9 is one of them. I haven't seen every episode of SVU but I've seen a good amount. This is easily the worst I've ever witnessed.
I actually showed this to a friend just to see if we were in agreement. She had no defense.
The irony of John Stamos giving an impotent performance. The levels of idiocy and ridiculousness it asks us to accept. The lame twists in a story I never cared about. This is just horrific.
They can't all be great.
I actually showed this to a friend just to see if we were in agreement. She had no defense.
The irony of John Stamos giving an impotent performance. The levels of idiocy and ridiculousness it asks us to accept. The lame twists in a story I never cared about. This is just horrific.
They can't all be great.
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