SVU is one of my favorite shows but in the last few seasons it has become evident that it has been on the air too long. No one wants a great show to end but when something is on for years and years, producers and executives sometimes resort to cheap tricks in the hopes of keeping it going, and in the process oftentimes force a show into "jumping the shark".
As SVU approaches 20 seasons, I'm hopeful they'll find a satisfying way to wrap it up. I'll keep watching regardless, waiting for gems like this episode. It's not perfect but it's the best this season and has so many elements of what made this show great in the first place.
The best episodes of all of the L&O franchise series are the ones that explore moral quandaries, the justice system's faults, and what law should be in the first place. Bringing Cabot back for this appearance was a delightful treat. She and Benson portray two characters who are good, honest people both trying to do what they hope is "right", even when it's opposite of what the other thinks. I won't spoil the episode but it is well worth the watch, as it makes you think without forcing any ideas upon you as a viewer.