Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) Unholiest Alliance (2016) User Reviews

Sin

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 28 September 2022]

The first part of this two parter "Manhattan Transfer" was a very good episode and one of the better faring ones of the latter half of Season 17. Not a perfect episode, with a couple of things that don't quite come off but when it works it is truly excellent. Memories of "Unholiest Alliance" were extremely positive and that it was a very powerful and memorable episode, the episodes that fit those adjectives is very good sign of when the show is on form.

Re-watching "Unholiest Alliance" not long after "Manhattan Transfer", my thoughts are still extremely positive and actually found it an even better experience than the previous times. While liking "Manhattan Transfer" very much, this is even better and even more powerful. Containing all the great things of that episode yet executes them even better, while also having even more great things. One of the best episodes of Season 17.

My only issue is that it did try to cram a little too much towards the end.

"Unholiest Alliance" otherwise is excellent. It looks good, with the usual slickness and subtle grit. Really liked too that the photography was simple and close up but doing so without being claustrophobic. The music has presence when used, and luckily it isn't constant, and when it is used it doesn't feel over-scored. The direction is controlled but also tight. The script is thought provoking and doesn't ramble, while also having edge and tact.

Story-wise, this is even more sinister and more tear and anger inducing than "Manhattan Transfer". It is a topic that is in need of addressing as it certainly is not dated, and what is scary is that it does happen. It is not unrealistic at all. We also don't have to worry about Olivias fundamental errors that compromised the case in the first part, which stuck out too much.

Peter Scanivino is splendid here, in a Carisi-heavy case where one sees how it affects him, and Robert John Burke's reaction in regard to Eugene is very believable. Carisi's hurt and shock at this breaks the heart, underneath all that straight talking carisi really does have a heart.

In conclusion, excellent. 9/10.

To Bury Everything for the Good of the Church

[yazguloner · 10/10 · 12 January 2022]

It is the second story of a dirty party that turns into a church quagmire, where power groups such as politicians and police are involved.

Some sexual pleasures that disturb believers are more innocent in the face of many immoral acts.

Father Eugene is very strong with his acting.

Nina Kelly's acting is great. I wish this character had continued.

Carisi comes to terms with her Catholic faith. The prayer of Carisi and father eugene together is a very, very solid scene that will make your heart tremble.

The encounter of faith with justice is like the transformation of two great powers with the sword... These are difficult issues and bottomless pits that will never end. The only common result: Morality (goodness) and Justice.

Svu episodes need to be watched twice. The second time you watch it, you notice twice as much as what you saw the first time. Also, watching the svu for the second time gives you maturity. We get used to sex, women's femininity and sexuality is not a bad thing. The worst is sex crimes, corruption and dirty dealings. And there are only good and bad people in this world.

Well done!!

[Marynewcomb2013 · 10/10 · 13 January 2019]

This episode and the one before it are well done, contrary to what the other reviewer says!!! Theses two episodes point out serious problems that all Americans have to open their eyes and mind to!! Why we need separation of church and state & why all religious exemptions have to end!! The other is the true corruption of politics!! What we saw in these episodes is really happening in our country!! It's not just the Catholics, but the others as well!! As long as we turn a blind eye and do nothing, the sex, drugs, killings, lies will all continue with cover ups!! We have to take these episodes seriously with reality!!

I Love Benson, But . . .

[markthurman-44228 · 7/10 · 31 August 2022]

This and the previous episode make an interesting two-part drama. But, there are aspects of Lieutenant Benson's character that don't set right with me in this and recent episodes.

First, I agree with another reviewer who says that Benson's intimate relationship with Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) Captain Ed Tucker doesn't feel right given the extensive abrasive history between Tucker and basically every past and present member of SVU. I'm still trying to decide what this tells us about Benson. But so far this "relationship" doesn't seem to me like anything closely resembling a natural fit.

Second, my biggest problem with this and the previous episode is Benson's adamant insistence that Tucker is innocent of the allegations against him. Only three episodes earlier ("Collateral Damages") we saw Assistant District Attorney Pippa Cox have to come to terms with her husband's (NYPD Deputy Commissioner Hank Abraham) involvement in child pornography. Pippa and Hank had been together for twelve years and had two children together, yet Pippa was completely blindsided by the evil actions of her husband. Benson witnessed Pippa's world come apart from very close range. Benson had far less history with Tucker than Pippa had with Hank. Yet, Benson never considered for a second that the allegations against Tucker may have been true. Benson did not utilize any skepticism and wait to see what the investigation revealed. As it turned out Tucker had, in fact, been set up and was not guilty of being a dirty cop. For this, I suppose we are to surmise that Benson could not have been wrong about Tucker. If so, what makes her instincts about Tucker so superior to Pippa's instincts about her husband Hank? The idea that Benson learned nothing from Pippa's experience only three episodes earlier seems to me to be very bizarre.

Finally, we saw Benson go off on Rollins near the end of the episode "Star-Struck Victims" two episodes prior to this one. Benson made the false accusation that Rollins leaked a video to the press. Then, Benson claimed that Rollins was lying when she (Rollins) denied the accusation. Moments later Benson found out from Sergeant Mike Dodds that he had been the person who leaked the video. Benson looked stunned by Dodds' admission, but we never saw her apologize to Rollins. For anyone with Benson's background it should be fully-ingrained to investigate the possibilities before jumping to a forgone conclusion that Rollins was guilty of the leak. Then after Benson discovered that she had been wrong about Rollins, Benson should have been profusely apologetic to Rollins. But, no apology ever occurred. Why?

I've loved this show and the Benson character since I started watching the series from the beginning a couple of years ago. But, I hope the writers resolve some of these problems with Benson's character. Human weaknesses are one thing, but these character inconsistencies serve no useful purpose.

Beats raffles for revenue

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 21 July 2017]

There are some that might feel that this was to big and too broad an attack on the Catholic church. I must confess even I thought this second of a two part episode was a bit way out. A prostitution ring being run by priests? Well it beats those church raffles for revenue.

I never liked the friendship blossoming into romance that happened between Mariska Hargitay and Robert John Burke who for years was SVU's nemesis from Internal Affairs. It looked like once Christopher Meloni wasn't around his attitude suddenly reversed.

With all the history between I would Sergeant Tucker was the last person Lieutenant Olivia Benson would kanoodle with.