Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) Poisoned Motive (2013) User Reviews

Eames joins Swat

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 10 March 2019]

This episode opens with Kelli Giddish being shot by a sniper. But she's lucky in that she's only wounded. The same sniper takes out a number of other people in and around Ice-T.

It all comes down to Yul Vazquez who was Fin's partner way back when he was in narcotics undercover. Vazquez took a couple of bullets saving Fin's life, but over the years Fin lost touch with him. Vazquez has had his troubles with the police pension bureau and also the loss of his wife and the home they had.

Taking it all in is Vazquez's daughter Jessica Camacho. Camacho steals this one, she is a truly twisted and sick individual blaming people who came into something good with no intent. The final confrontation is when she holds a mother and a little boy hostage because they now live in what used to be her home.

Kathryn Erbe returns to the Law And Order franchise. It seems as though Detective Eames left Major Case and is now a negotiator with NYPD's SWAT unit.

Watch this one for Jessica Camacho.

Twisted

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 28 September 2014]

It's Kelli Giddish who is shot right at the beginning of this SVU story, but it's Ice-T as her partner who is featured in this episode. There are some sniper shootings, first of Giddish and then of the son of Ice-T's old lieutenant Cathy Moriarty-Gentile. It's about Fin in some way, but then a real curve gets tossed the squad. The mother of the son of a known drug dealer kingpin who Fin was instrumental in putting away is also shot dead by the same sniper. Giddish is quite lucky to be alive.

The investigation goes back to Yul Vazquez who was Ice-T's old partner who took a bullet meant for Fin in their last bust the drug dealer Emilio Rivera. Nothing but bad luck has come his way since then, but he has a daughter Jessica Camacho who is in the Police Academy now. She's his pride and joy.

Can't say more, but I have to give it away because it's Camacho who is the perpetrator. She's bitter at the world for what has happened to her family. But she is a really a study in both narcissism and self pity. A few more killings of people who never did anything to her or her father show how twisted Camacho has become.

She's worth seeing in this frightening story. And what happened to her father has happened to many.

Unsettling poison

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 15 July 2022]

It was a pleasure to see Alexandra Eames again, after she made a big impression earlier on in the season in "Acceptable Loss". Did not like how the team treated her at times, but as a character she was a big asset to that episode. Have not always been a fan though of Amaro's character writing in Season 14, liked him in the previous season but this was a case of overdoing his flaws. Do remember "Poisoned Motive" being very good on first watch.

My mostly positive feelings from first watch of "Poisoned Motive" are still the case now, so a very good episode if not a great one but with lots of great things. Eames did make a much bigger impression in "Acceptable Loss", despite this episode as an overall whole being superior and Amaro's character writing continues to be a problem. Loved however that it was action packed and tense, as well as that it evoked a lot of emotion inside.

Eames is too underused here, what is the point of her returning and then give her hardly anything to do.

Also felt that Amaro's sackable offense worthy and borderline criminal unprofessionalism in the prison was overdone and that it was also skated over, really don't like it when people get away with too much (having had it frequently with Stabler in his latter seasons). The perpetrator's identity seemed obvious as soon as they were introduced, the motive was less foreseeable though and did shock me.

So much is great about "Poisoned Motive". The acting is very good, although the regulars are without complaint (particularly Mariska Hargitay and sympathetic and tough Ice-T) it's the terrific supporting cast that are even better. Especially genuinely unnerving Jessica Camacho. The story is one of the best of the season, the action thrills, the tension of the opening and of the suspenseful climax hits hard and the aftermath of the opening is truly emotional, did well up in the scene at the hospital.

The story is never dull and there are times where it is touching, especially the team's abundantly clear genuine care for Rollins (particularly Fin). Visually it is well made, especially the intimate photography. It looks stylish and slick with a more refined look than when 'Special Victims Unit' first started all the way back in 1999, while maintaining the show's grit. The music doesn't overbear and is not overused. The direction keeps things moving well while letting the drama breathe. The script is tightly structured, made me think and as usual had an uncompromising edge, particularly in the climax. It also flows very naturally.

In conclusion, very, very good. 8/10.

Partnership: Please Walk Behind

[yazguloner · 10/10 · 29 July 2021]

The strongest chapters are a solid story that I will put in my box and keep.

Jessica Camacho playing father and daughter and Yul Vazquez is great, he is unforgettable.

There is a huge tragedy in the middle of the action between the police units and the sirens. This tragedy turns into a storm. It creates new tragedies on an innocent family and innocent people.

The intensity of emotion is heart-rending and throat-choking.

Fin is center of story. We are looking at a serial sniper case that indirectly affects Amanda as well. Svu tries to solve the case around organized crime: gangs, debtors, organizations, threats etc... but all to no avail. All nypd gets mobilized. To solve the crime, they will have to go as far as intimidating a jailed gangster.

Fin is a cop who lives up to his identity and the events coming from the street. He is one of those who have to walk barefoot against those who wear shoes while walking on his path. That's why he always had a fighting life. Fin's cases are therefore very intense and poignant.

However, this case also tells about those who have suffered like him. Here you see Fin as one of those responsible. However, he just took a different turn in life. Maybe things would have been different if they had asked for help. Difficult situations...

The guest cast is like a stellar mix: Kathryn Erbe, Cathy Moriarty, Fredric Lehne, Emilio Rivera.

Unexpectedly emotional

[tommieadamsphoto · 8/10 · 14 August 2021]

Watching this I thought it was fairly typical fare but midway as the team makes discovery, especially Finn, it takes a very deep emotional touching turn. Act 3 of this episode was well made and a tough watch for the conscious.

As always - amazing guest stars. Give it a watch.

Good but these cops will do anything

[fbupdates1 · 6/10 · 14 April 2020]

While this was a god episode and Jessica Camacho stands out but these cops have no qualms breaking the rules. Planting guns and threatening people and beating up people when it suits them. Of course they're angry because one of their own and the son of one of their own are shot. But this isn't the only time something like this has happened. In reality none of these cops would have a badge.

No sympathy

[michelle-m94 · 5/10 · 13 May 2021]

Rollins gets shot as a way to hurt Fin.

But there wasn't much about her performance that made me feel sorry for her. It would've been better to bring back Munch. He had Fin had more chemistry.

Nothing about the shooter makes viewers sympathetic to her situation. She's just someone who can't accept a bad situation. The actress tries, but this role was too demanding. She doesn't have the emotional range to evoke a response from the audience.

Ice-T does ok as the hero, he listens to the team when they have concerns and reacts calmly and appropriately.