Read the reviews after watching and disagree. No this is not your typical case to solve, with chase and fight scenes or a perfect episode. But this was definitely an actors episode and unfolds like a one act play. As the story unravels before with excellent couple that guest stars, there is part of you that wants a better outcome. I thought they amazing characters and I found them realistic and pained. To me this played out like a Shakespearean tragedy that could not be avoided. I enjoyed it.
7 Reviews
Claustrophobic episode
bkoganbing17 May 2013
If this episode of SVU brings out symptoms of claustrophobia in you the reason is that most of it seems to be spent in the interrogation room. The squad with new members Danny Pino and Kelli Giddish is out looking for a missing infant.
Unmarried couple Lisa Joyce and Dennis Flanagan come down to Buffalo with their infant son to see the Halloween parade. Having lived in both places they have nothing like that in Buffalo. Joyce goes into a convenience store to buy something and the car is taken with the kid inside.
There whole story doesn't add up to Dann Florek nor the rest of the SVU team. Getting at the truth here involves some work by the Medical Examiner Tamara Tunie and the squad questioning them separately until a coherent and reasonable conclusion is reached.
It's tragic, but that's all I'll say.
Unmarried couple Lisa Joyce and Dennis Flanagan come down to Buffalo with their infant son to see the Halloween parade. Having lived in both places they have nothing like that in Buffalo. Joyce goes into a convenience store to buy something and the car is taken with the kid inside.
There whole story doesn't add up to Dann Florek nor the rest of the SVU team. Getting at the truth here involves some work by the Medical Examiner Tamara Tunie and the squad questioning them separately until a coherent and reasonable conclusion is reached.
It's tragic, but that's all I'll say.
GOOF SPOILER!
brkbaby20007 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
When detectives go to the park to find the panhandler who sold the missing baby's car seat, there a spread on the ground of other baby stuff that would have been in the stolen car too. There's a huge pack of diapers right there in the mix! I figured one of the detectives would surely mention that "if the parents already had diapers, why would the mom need to go to a store and buy diapers, which inadvertently gets the baby kidnapped?"
Missing a lot
TheLittleSongbird20 June 2022
The story, when it comes to the concept, sounds very been there done that initially, or at least that is the case with the first quarter. There are a good deal of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' episodes, and episodes even in the 'Law and Order' franchise, that have stories and themes done before, but they do something a lot less simple and more complex than it seems with them. They are though themes that are worth addressing and need to be.
"Missing Pieces" is one of those episodes that could have done a lot more with the theme it had. It had all the ingredients to be a very sad case, but somehow it left me rather cold and that is being said with regret. Considering that this is the kind of story where that left cold feeling is not felt a lot. Not a terrible episode by all means, but could have been a lot better. "Missing Pieces" for me was the first disappointment of Season 13 and in the weaker end.
Of course there are good things. The production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. Some of the direction is suitably accomodating
Where "Missing Pieces" is at its best is the acting, with one exception it's near-uniformly good. Especially the hard hitting performances for the parents. Amaro has settled very well and is still a good addition, tough but not too much so.
However, there are shortcomings as well. There is one exception when it comes to the acting and that is Kelli Giddish, who is still rigid (luckily she improved massively in later seasons). A big issue is the execution of the story, which is far too thin and is more suited to 30 minutes than nearly an hour, so it feels over-stretched. It is very predictable with very few surprises from having seen similar quite a lot over the years and better, which does kill the suspense. What should have been a very sad episode that induces anger instead came over as bland.
Didn't find the supporting characters particularly interesting, they didn't seem developed enough. The dialogue is on the too talk heavy side and lacks the tautness and edge that one associates the franchise with at its best. Not everything makes sense, especially Olivia's decision regarding what would become of the couple which is not plausible for a minute and something that early years Olivia would not consider. Rollins' reaction is completely understandable.
In conclusion, disappointing. 5/10.
"Missing Pieces" is one of those episodes that could have done a lot more with the theme it had. It had all the ingredients to be a very sad case, but somehow it left me rather cold and that is being said with regret. Considering that this is the kind of story where that left cold feeling is not felt a lot. Not a terrible episode by all means, but could have been a lot better. "Missing Pieces" for me was the first disappointment of Season 13 and in the weaker end.
Of course there are good things. The production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. Some of the direction is suitably accomodating
Where "Missing Pieces" is at its best is the acting, with one exception it's near-uniformly good. Especially the hard hitting performances for the parents. Amaro has settled very well and is still a good addition, tough but not too much so.
However, there are shortcomings as well. There is one exception when it comes to the acting and that is Kelli Giddish, who is still rigid (luckily she improved massively in later seasons). A big issue is the execution of the story, which is far too thin and is more suited to 30 minutes than nearly an hour, so it feels over-stretched. It is very predictable with very few surprises from having seen similar quite a lot over the years and better, which does kill the suspense. What should have been a very sad episode that induces anger instead came over as bland.
Didn't find the supporting characters particularly interesting, they didn't seem developed enough. The dialogue is on the too talk heavy side and lacks the tautness and edge that one associates the franchise with at its best. Not everything makes sense, especially Olivia's decision regarding what would become of the couple which is not plausible for a minute and something that early years Olivia would not consider. Rollins' reaction is completely understandable.
In conclusion, disappointing. 5/10.
poorly written, poorly executed
mttiro14 May 2018
Dick Wolf wrote this? You're kidding me. My complaint with this episode is with the writing and the methodology, the execution of the plot, which seems almost non-existent. Perhaps the writers and the show's executives felt that a change of pace from the usual slam-bam action would be good, but this approach seemed almost too far to the opposite extreme. And for those who love the mental challenge of the detective sleuthing out the answers to a difficult crime, this episode seemed especially unsatisfying.
Is it possible that the episode was based on a real case, or perhaps more on the way real-life detectives work? Maybe. I don't know. Because otherwise, I can't figure out why anyone connected with the show would think this clunker would appeal to their viewers.
Is it possible that the episode was based on a real case, or perhaps more on the way real-life detectives work? Maybe. I don't know. Because otherwise, I can't figure out why anyone connected with the show would think this clunker would appeal to their viewers.
Episode 50 minutes too long
Originator199415 May 2015
This episode was one of the most boring episodes on SVU..the story line was too long and what could have been done in less than one-half hour, instead dragged into 60 minutes. Not one of the better episodes or seasons ...
The writer took a plausible story line and lengthened it to the point of complete boredom. It lacked suspense , mystery and judging by the characters in the show, they appeared as bored as myself .
Not sure what more I can add to come up with ten lines for a review because this episode has nothing redeemable about it . The actors appear to be tired ,,physically , and maybe they are as fed up with the length of this episode as I am
The writer took a plausible story line and lengthened it to the point of complete boredom. It lacked suspense , mystery and judging by the characters in the show, they appeared as bored as myself .
Not sure what more I can add to come up with ten lines for a review because this episode has nothing redeemable about it . The actors appear to be tired ,,physically , and maybe they are as fed up with the length of this episode as I am
Waste of my time
alexanderhunter-365133 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Baby dies of natural causes and instead of parents reporting it to the police for help they try to bury him and report him missing. When things fall apart both parents lie and say that they murdered the baby to cover for eachother. So instead of them both asking for help as soon as it happened , they come up with this crazy idea because they dont think anybody would believe them. Thats it .. thats literally it. Waste of time and possibly the worst episode of not only Law and Order , but any Drama related television show in the past 25 years. Disgusted.
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