User Reviews

What really interested me on first watch of "Sacrifice", on top of the title, was the premise (an intriguing one) and seeing Mark Paul Gooselaar and Elizabeth Banks in against type roles. That was another thing that 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' excelled at, on top of how it explored challenging themes and the moral dilemmas raised, it also got the best out of actors playing different roles to usual (i.e. Robin Williams, Martin Short).

"Sacrifice" is another very good episode of Season 3 and of 'Special Victims Unit' in general, with all of its interest points being executed very well indeed. It is not a season high point like for example the next episode "Inheritance" was, and there are better episodes of the show. It is quite a vast improvement though on the still decent, up to this still quite early point of 'Special Victims Unit' there was not a bad episode, but undercooked previous episode "Redemption".

As ever for the show, "Sacrifice" is well made, not flashy but never cheap, and assuredly directed. The music is unobtrusive and doesn't feel over-scored. The acting is never less than great, most impressive being against type Gooselaar in a layered and quite brave performance. Banks is suitably repellent.

The regular cast are all solid, though have seen better from all before and since. It is an intelligently written episode with a compelling and never too simple or confusing story, its portrayal of the subject being uncompromisingly sordid in places but also one of those making one sad and angry kind of episodes (plenty of those through the show and even the whole 'Law and Order' franchise).

Pacing though could have a little tighter at times. Some of the middle lags a little.

Overall, very good. 8/10

Look, this episode is okay for being over 20 years old, from the start of the series, this is one where they tried to branch out a little and they didn't get it quite up to snuff. But honestly it's the low stakes things that they mess up that really bites on me. I wouldn't be reviewing an ancient episode from 2001 except for the fact I went all the way back to the beginning of the show and decided to binge the series. (I've floated around the seasons over the years but this was my first time going to season one episode one and just letting them run) but with the industry they decide to explore (which at that time, the adult entertainment industry was wildly different and just starting to radically change with the matches struck by the internet) and twist in this crime but then to dump the sick kid on top of it... and that's my gripe is the whole CF kid. Where they're talking about "she has Cystic Fibrosis, there's Dr. Visits, shots, pills..." what shots? Unless she also has CFRD, which she's kind of young for, she'd be on insulin but there's no other injectables for CF so what is she talking about? It's just annoying. Especially after in another episode they tried to use a kid not having insulin as falling into a coma the second his pump ran out of insulin. Which is also wrong and not how it happens. These are giant network shows. They have enough resources to have consultants to fact check this stuff and they have a responsibility to because people watch it then think they know what they're talking about referencing medical issues. It's annoying. But they really stretch this story way too much, beyond just trying to add MORE drama with a sick kid story that they don't really need.

Good episode.

Gangrene is one of the issues. Adult entertainment and the drama of the women in those movies...

One of the best references of this section 16x5 Pornstar's Requiem And also 22x5... solid episodes.

The detectives were interviewing a homeless man who happened to be a Veteran. The man states "I know I have veteran's benefits but I am homeless, you have to have an address."

Hollywood gets it wrong AGAIN.

You do NOT have to have an address to get VA benefits. The local VA where I live are constantly having calls for homeless veterans to take advantage of their benefits. They even built housing on the VA Hospital's campus for homeless Vets. So they get it wrong again.