"Delinquent" was one of those difficult to rate and review episodes on first watch. The case struck me as intriguing, despite having some issues with it, and the guest star was memorable, but Stabler's character writing and how he is made to behave is a perfect example as to why he became such a problematic character in his later episodes. It is one of those subjects where he is the right one to take it on and be the primary focus, but generally am not crazy when someone's behaviour gets in the way of the investigation and that's the case here.
On latest re-watch fairly recently, part of me moderately liked Season 12's penultimate episode "Delinquent". Part of me also was conflicted and gave me the impression that with the right story execution and if Stabler was written better that it could have actually been a good episode, rather than the just slightly above average one that to me it turned out to be. As far as Season 12 goes, "Delinquent" is neither one of the best or worst, somewhere in the middle category.
Regardless of my feelings on how Stabler was written, this does not lie at the door of Christopher Meloni. He as usual nails Stabler's steely intensity and hard boiled edge and really commits to what he is given. The other acting standout is Sterling Beaumon, he proved on 'Criminal Minds' (in the episode "Safe Haven" from Season 6) that he could do creepy. He is even creepier here, have not seen manipulation this chilling all season. Rita Wilson is also strong and all the acting is without issue.
As ever, the photography and such are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has some nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way. The script is thought provoking enough in the detective scenes and doesn't come over as too talky. There is some nice tension.
Conversely, the episode could have been much better. The legal portion is rather weak, the pace drags, it is low on suspense and there is a good deal of bland and awkward dialogue. Too little is done with the ADA, who doesn't have that much to do.
Most of the SVU behave absolutely idiotically here. Especially Stabler, who makes more fundamental errors than one can count that you seriously question his competence. The ending is too overwrought and it also easily could have happened much earlier, not to mention part of me did suspect that something happened in the perpetrator's past in order to act that way against Stabler.
In conclusion, just slightly above average penultimate episode to the season but could have been more. 6/10.
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