I thought this was a good episode. However, why was Cragen such an ass about there being a connection to Hector Rodriguez? He says Hector's case is closed. No case is closed until it's solved. They never proved his father took him. Was it pride that wouldn't let him admit it until he has no choice given the evidence in Wyatt's kidnapping? The flashbacks were clever. There never was an episode about Hector Rodriguez sad o I they took old episodes from season 1 and did some editing with Olivia and Munch. Tom Sizemore was great as Louis Hoda. Unfortunately this episode has a sequel in season 17 that is crap. The only good thing about it is BD Wong returns as Dr. Huang.
7 Reviews
What about the cop who solved the case?
nicknelson-3244716 July 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I concur with everything that the other review says but I find one aspect of this episode very disturbing.
I am not sure exactly where the cop who actually tracked down and collated all the evidence fits into the policing system.
However I find it deeply disturbing that an obviously talented and dedicated law enforcement officer was simply disregarded as a full time detective simply because he suffered from depression and anxiety.
He had more talent and concern for the victims than all the other detectives who worked the cases of the disappeared boys, as was additionally attested to by the relatives of the disappeared children.
In the end he was not even given recognition for the fact he had identified all the other boy victims and handed SVU the case on a plate.
I am not sure exactly where the cop who actually tracked down and collated all the evidence fits into the policing system.
However I find it deeply disturbing that an obviously talented and dedicated law enforcement officer was simply disregarded as a full time detective simply because he suffered from depression and anxiety.
He had more talent and concern for the victims than all the other detectives who worked the cases of the disappeared boys, as was additionally attested to by the relatives of the disappeared children.
In the end he was not even given recognition for the fact he had identified all the other boy victims and handed SVU the case on a plate.
Cops go the extra mile for the wealthy
bkoganbing15 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
The son of a wealthy real estate magnate is kidnapped while the father and the kid are on a subway on the way to a ballgame. This one requires a full maximum effort by the NYPD as this is a rich kid and probably being snatched for a ransom. But the whole thing bothers Mariska Hargitay who had eerily similar case of a young Hispanic kid around the same age, snatched just like that and was never seen again.
Digging a little deeper the squad finds a couple of more cases with same MO and they're also just like Olivia's case the method was the same, but how does the wealthy kid fit in.
When you're wealthy you can expect the cops to go the extra mile. Maybe if Benson had had the resources put out on this case she might have made an arrest and saved her victim.
Liza Colon-Zayas as the mother of the cold case victim gives a very touching performance. And the perpetrator of all these crimes is Tom Sizemore. Telling you what his connection was to all the victims will spoil it, but I will say he's some piece of work.
In the end the inequality of it all still bothers Mariska Hargitay.
Digging a little deeper the squad finds a couple of more cases with same MO and they're also just like Olivia's case the method was the same, but how does the wealthy kid fit in.
When you're wealthy you can expect the cops to go the extra mile. Maybe if Benson had had the resources put out on this case she might have made an arrest and saved her victim.
Liza Colon-Zayas as the mother of the cold case victim gives a very touching performance. And the perpetrator of all these crimes is Tom Sizemore. Telling you what his connection was to all the victims will spoil it, but I will say he's some piece of work.
In the end the inequality of it all still bothers Mariska Hargitay.
Cold Case: Museum of lost children
yazguloner23 July 2021
It is a story with the shadow of the inconclusive and sad case from the first season. It's still gnawing at Olivia and Munch.
Attention is drawn to the predator-arsonists in child abduction cases.
Tom Sizemore and Liza Colon-Zayas are great.. With Hamish Linklater, Mili Avital, Alex Karpovsky...
Attention is drawn to the predator-arsonists in child abduction cases.
Tom Sizemore and Liza Colon-Zayas are great.. With Hamish Linklater, Mili Avital, Alex Karpovsky...
This one WILL have a sequel
bkoganbing9 July 2019
This episode stems from a 2012 story where building superintendent Tom Sizemore is arrested for one child's death, the abduction of another and just suspicion in some more.
Looks like a plea deal is going through, but Sizemore blows it up in court even with a taped confession. But Sizemore now has high priced lawyer Mili Avital and the trial ain't no slam drunk for Raul Esparza.
The worst thing of all is a certain betrayal together with a blast from the past for Mariska Hargitay. In her position I'd feel betrayed.
Can't say anything about the ending, but with all loose ends left danging this story cries out for another sequel.
Looks like a plea deal is going through, but Sizemore blows it up in court even with a taped confession. But Sizemore now has high priced lawyer Mili Avital and the trial ain't no slam drunk for Raul Esparza.
The worst thing of all is a certain betrayal together with a blast from the past for Mariska Hargitay. In her position I'd feel betrayed.
Can't say anything about the ending, but with all loose ends left danging this story cries out for another sequel.
300
TheLittleSongbird11 July 2022
One can tell from the plot synopsis and even the title that "Manhattan Vigil" was not going to be an easy watch, quite the opposite. Also if one knows of 'Special Victims Unit's', and the 'Law and Order' franchise's, reputation of exploring heavy topics in an uncompromising way. It was certainly of no surprise to me that this was not going to be an easy watch, especially as the show and some other shows had episodes with a similar feel, even when the subject was not the same.
"Manhattan Vigil" left me mixed to low-ish on first watch, it certainly hit hard and was well acted but had uneven pacing and practically non-existent contunity. My feelings are pretty much the same now, not just the overall opinion but also what stood out as positive and negative. It's not a terrible episode, a long way from that, but considering the subject and that on paper it had a lot of potential "Manhattan Vigil" could and should have been a lot better.
Am going to start with the good. The photography while very close up doesn't come over as too static or filmed play-like, while the production values are typically solid and have subtle atmosphere while not being drab and keeping things simple. When the music is used it is haunting and has a melancholic edge that is not overdone. The episode is sympathetically yet uncompromisingly directed.
Enough of the writing is thought probing and uncompromising while not being too soapy. The present day story is tense and poignant, where finding out the truth is rooted for. The regulars are very good, and while Liza Colon Zayas' performance is very touching, it's Tom Sizemore's epitome of spine chilling creepiness that leaves the biggest impression.
However, the story is very uneven. While the flashbacks intrigue enough, the episode does lose momentum when they feature (always a big danger with flashbacks) and there are a couple too many. It did feel incomplete at the end, with too many unanswered questions such as the killer's motivations (which were vague at best). It did cry out for a sequel, which it did have a few seasons later and that turned out a lot better than expected on rewatch.
Continuity is pretty much not there at all and is badly messed around with, pretty much the original case is re-written. Do agree that the cop that contributed heavily towards getting the evidence in the original case is forgotten about.
Summary, above average but uneven and could have been better. 6/10.
"Manhattan Vigil" left me mixed to low-ish on first watch, it certainly hit hard and was well acted but had uneven pacing and practically non-existent contunity. My feelings are pretty much the same now, not just the overall opinion but also what stood out as positive and negative. It's not a terrible episode, a long way from that, but considering the subject and that on paper it had a lot of potential "Manhattan Vigil" could and should have been a lot better.
Am going to start with the good. The photography while very close up doesn't come over as too static or filmed play-like, while the production values are typically solid and have subtle atmosphere while not being drab and keeping things simple. When the music is used it is haunting and has a melancholic edge that is not overdone. The episode is sympathetically yet uncompromisingly directed.
Enough of the writing is thought probing and uncompromising while not being too soapy. The present day story is tense and poignant, where finding out the truth is rooted for. The regulars are very good, and while Liza Colon Zayas' performance is very touching, it's Tom Sizemore's epitome of spine chilling creepiness that leaves the biggest impression.
However, the story is very uneven. While the flashbacks intrigue enough, the episode does lose momentum when they feature (always a big danger with flashbacks) and there are a couple too many. It did feel incomplete at the end, with too many unanswered questions such as the killer's motivations (which were vague at best). It did cry out for a sequel, which it did have a few seasons later and that turned out a lot better than expected on rewatch.
Continuity is pretty much not there at all and is badly messed around with, pretty much the original case is re-written. Do agree that the cop that contributed heavily towards getting the evidence in the original case is forgotten about.
Summary, above average but uneven and could have been better. 6/10.
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