Lt. Benson suspects Rob Miller is behind the mysterious death of a girl found dead in the Hudson River but can't prove it. Despite having only circumstantial evidence ADA Stone takes the cas... Read allLt. Benson suspects Rob Miller is behind the mysterious death of a girl found dead in the Hudson River but can't prove it. Despite having only circumstantial evidence ADA Stone takes the case to court before Miller can destroy more lives.Lt. Benson suspects Rob Miller is behind the mysterious death of a girl found dead in the Hudson River but can't prove it. Despite having only circumstantial evidence ADA Stone takes the case to court before Miller can destroy more lives.
- Sergeant Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola
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- TriviaChina White is a dangerous and deadly cocktail of opioids, it is a mixture of diacetylmorphine (heroin) and the potent synthetic opioid a-Methylfentanyl (a less potent, longer acting derivative of fentanyl); sometimes the base compound of fentanyl is used instead but a-methylfentanyl is preferred because it isn't as potent and has a longer duration of action (1-2 hours versus 20 minutes for fentanyl). Diacetylmorphine is about five times the potency of morphine whereas a-Methylfentanyl is about 80 times the potency of morphine. The main reason heroin is cut with fentanyl analogs like a-Methylfentanyl is to give long term users who have developed a tolerance to opioids the ability to get a high; but it is often sold to people who have little to no tolerance to opioids and in those cases if often fatal. There have been several notable deaths from heroin/fentanyl cocktails in recent years, the most notable probably being actor Philip Seymour Hoffman who died of a massive overdose of heroin and fentanyl in 2014.
- GoofsAlthough it is clear that Rob Miller has connections in law enforcement that help protect him, it makes absolutely no sense that Lt. Benson wouldn't have by now filed a restraining order or other order of protection against Miller. She has repeated corroborated proof of him stalking, intimidating, and harassing her and her son.
If she had obtained a restraining order or order of protection right after he accosted her and her son in the restaurant, she could have him arrested every time he appears and threatens her, which is at least three times in this episode.
- Quotes
Olivia Benson: [about Rob Miller] He's targeting me, Fin. He wants me to know that he has all the power.
Odafin Tutuola: Liv, we have a unmarked car on your block, one in front of Noah's school. There's no way he can get at you.
Olivia Benson: There's no way he can get at me? He walked right into that restaurant and introduced himself to Noah. I should have shot the son of a bitch.
Odafin Tutuola: No, not so loud.
"End Game" was a pretty lame way to end this patchy season, though not irredeemable. Felt this way when seeing it for the first time a few years back, my feelings are pretty much similar on rewatch except a little worse. Can't fault the guest cast, but like their previous appearance "Assumptions" it is a case of their performances being much better than the episode themselves where they deserved so much better. There are a few good things with "End Game" but also a lot wrong.
Those good things are going to be started off with. It is slickly photographed throughout, a perfect match for the gritty tone, and the location work looks both striking and atmosphere-filled. The music is only used when necessary and when it is used it does stick in the mind and not done so ham-handedly. Both the main theme and opening voice over are memorable.
Once again the interesting and very sinister character of Rob Miller pretty much steals the episode, with a quite creepy performance from Titus Welliver. Callie Thorne is a strong presence too and can't fault the regulars on the whole.
Unfortunately, there is plenty to fault the rest of "End Game" for. The story is tension-free, flimsily plotted in terms of the case and rushed from trying to do too much (this would have been better as a two parter). Too much of it doesn't make sense and neither does everything related to Stone, which has no tension either and Stone is as flat as ever. Phillip Winchester is the exception when it comes to the acting, never looking comfortable and he is very bland.
Did also find the dialogue awkward and ham handed, with a difficult issue not handled with much tact. The ending insults the intelligence and left me indifferent emotionally, considering what happens that should not have been my reaction. It would have left more impact though if the show did a better job in general of developing Stone as a character, "Dear Ben" is the one episode where there is any development that is illuminating or investable, but everything here is stuff we never got to know or wasn't explored enough.
In conclusion, not a good way to end and not a good representation of a show that was brilliant in its best years (which has been long behind it for a long time now). 4/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Sep 13, 2023