The guest actors on this episode is what made it more interesting to me. I enjoyed Rotimi's performance. Truthfully this episode had my jaw on the floor several times. I loved that this episode had an equal balance of police investigation and court room scenes. Sure, the plot of this episode is pretty common but it's SVU, most of the cases are rape cases. However the added element of the brother pimping out his sister as well as her extreme denial of the abuse that she was enduring was incredibly interesting to me. I also don't think it's uncommon for a child who's being abused to excel in school. It was most likely an escape for her.
5 Reviews
Guardian
bobcobb30128 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
SVU at its most predictable in this episode.
They introduce a rape, give us some annoying little twist and then spend too much time in the interrogation room for no reason.
Not horrible, just the same thing we have seen a dozen times.
They introduce a rape, give us some annoying little twist and then spend too much time in the interrogation room for no reason.
Not horrible, just the same thing we have seen a dozen times.
Fin a pleasure, case a dud
TheLittleSongbird2 February 2023
This was one of the Season 19 episodes where first impressions generally were not positive, loved what was done with Fin but the story never got into gear. It was so great to finally after so long see Fin getting not just a bigger role but also pretty much the main regular. After so much Olivia and to a lesser extent Rollins, this was refreshing and after being underused for goodness knows how long it was needed. All the previous Season 19 episodes on rewatches were pretty much the same as on their first times (both good and not so good) but expectations were not high.
"Guardian" is another Season 19 episode where rewatch impressions was pretty much exactly the same as on first watch. As far as the not particularly great Season 19 goes, this is in the lesser end. As said with first watch, Fin was an absolute pleasure (although there are better Fin centric episodes, primarily in the earlier seasons) but the storytelling just wasn't there. Is "Guardian" a terrible episode? No it isn't, personally don't consider any of the 'Special Victims Unit' episodes so (even the duds like "Intimidation Game"). Is it a particularly good episode? No, not really.
Albeit still with 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. The direction has momentum while being accommodating in enough parts. The acting is very good, with Ice T giving a performance that mixes tough and sympathetic adeptly.
Fin here is a pleasure. Loved that there was lots of screen time for Fin and he has some real corkers for lines, whether he's all sympathetic and wise or tough talking. We see and hear plenty of both here. It does start off intriguingly.
Really did wish that it stayed that way but it didn't alas. The case is paper thin and very predictable, with too much use of old ideas. Actually knew what was the truth well before it was revealed. Really do agree that there is a run out of ideas feel and that it is presented rather routinely. Intriguing start but the second half lacks suspense and momentum. Also didn't care for any of the supporting characters, which are very little variation on seen before types of characters (that is in regard to the franchise) and not much is done to make them interesting or worth rooting for. Fin is the only character that makes a good impression.
Other than with Fin, the script is very bland and manages to be both overwrought and under-cooked, as well as being too talky. The pace is dull most of the time, with too much emphasis on talky interrogation tactics. Very little so far has been done to make Stone interesting and he is still as flat as a pancake, Phillip Winchester comes over as very one-dimensional as him.
Concluding, watchable for Fin but not recommended for anybody that likes their cases to be strong. 5/10.
"Guardian" is another Season 19 episode where rewatch impressions was pretty much exactly the same as on first watch. As far as the not particularly great Season 19 goes, this is in the lesser end. As said with first watch, Fin was an absolute pleasure (although there are better Fin centric episodes, primarily in the earlier seasons) but the storytelling just wasn't there. Is "Guardian" a terrible episode? No it isn't, personally don't consider any of the 'Special Victims Unit' episodes so (even the duds like "Intimidation Game"). Is it a particularly good episode? No, not really.
Albeit still with 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. The direction has momentum while being accommodating in enough parts. The acting is very good, with Ice T giving a performance that mixes tough and sympathetic adeptly.
Fin here is a pleasure. Loved that there was lots of screen time for Fin and he has some real corkers for lines, whether he's all sympathetic and wise or tough talking. We see and hear plenty of both here. It does start off intriguingly.
Really did wish that it stayed that way but it didn't alas. The case is paper thin and very predictable, with too much use of old ideas. Actually knew what was the truth well before it was revealed. Really do agree that there is a run out of ideas feel and that it is presented rather routinely. Intriguing start but the second half lacks suspense and momentum. Also didn't care for any of the supporting characters, which are very little variation on seen before types of characters (that is in regard to the franchise) and not much is done to make them interesting or worth rooting for. Fin is the only character that makes a good impression.
Other than with Fin, the script is very bland and manages to be both overwrought and under-cooked, as well as being too talky. The pace is dull most of the time, with too much emphasis on talky interrogation tactics. Very little so far has been done to make Stone interesting and he is still as flat as a pancake, Phillip Winchester comes over as very one-dimensional as him.
Concluding, watchable for Fin but not recommended for anybody that likes their cases to be strong. 5/10.
What a gang of lowlifes
bkoganbing22 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Sometimes in life you truly make your own bed to lie in. The SVU squad catches a case
where it is claimed that some youths raped a 14 year old girl. Investigation proves
it was more than that. In fact her barely legal teenage brother guardian was
pimping his sister out to make the rent money.
Before it's all over and at trial of the pimp brother we learn he's guilty of more than that.
They must be running out of material for good plots to let this one slip through.
Before it's all over and at trial of the pimp brother we learn he's guilty of more than that.
They must be running out of material for good plots to let this one slip through.
A Straight-A Student?? Really???
markthurman-442288 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I felt like this should be submitted as a "Goof". But, I'll submit it as a short review instead.
Tiana has spent the past two years hooking, using hard drugs, and drinking hard liquor - from the age of 14 to 16. She was so concerned about finances that she couldn't sleep at night unless she was using drugs.
I find it implausible that any teenager living this lifestyle could also be a straight-A student. Are we to believe that she would wake up on school mornings and attend school and turn in homework assignments and make A's on tests after nights of drinking, drugging, and selling herself for money? That makes no sense.
I'm a big fan of the series and this episode has some good elements. But, the straight-A student characterization is outlandish.
Tiana has spent the past two years hooking, using hard drugs, and drinking hard liquor - from the age of 14 to 16. She was so concerned about finances that she couldn't sleep at night unless she was using drugs.
I find it implausible that any teenager living this lifestyle could also be a straight-A student. Are we to believe that she would wake up on school mornings and attend school and turn in homework assignments and make A's on tests after nights of drinking, drugging, and selling herself for money? That makes no sense.
I'm a big fan of the series and this episode has some good elements. But, the straight-A student characterization is outlandish.
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