'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' really did vary when it came to showing the detectives' personal lives. It did well with Stabler and Olivia in the early seasons, where there was some powerful storytelling that furthered their character development. Too many personal life stories however did come over as melodramatic and was focused upon too much, doing so while overshadowing the case, especially in the latter seasons.
"Friending Emily" focuses upon the personal life of Amanda Rollins, something that was needed as she was a pretty underdeveloped character in Season 13. Rollins' personal life dramas was hit and miss for me, the gambling story was on the whole done very well indeed and was illuminating, but the dysfunctional family stuff never worked for me. And it doesn't here. With "Friending Emily", we have our first average or less episode of Season 14 and one of the season's weakest episodes.
There are good things. The production values are solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The regulars are very good, with Kelli Giddish beginning to hit her stride.
Chris Coy also registers memorably in a truly creepy turn, a case of a great guest performance that deserved a better episode. Rollins' development was appreciated.
Unfortunately though, her subplot is poorly handled and that was always the case whenever her family life was explored. There is far too much of the subplot, which is full of overripe dialogue, soapy and tension free melodrama, truly obnoxious over-acting from Lindsay Pulsipher and was just not interesting. Kim is one of those characters that is impossible to engage with or invest in, her manipulation is too overt and there is just something off about her from the very start. What always strained credulity when any episode with Kim happens is how easily naiive Rollins is.
Also found the case far too thin in content and pedestrian in pace, as well as being riddled with predictability and completely lacking in tension. The outcome is easily foreseeable far too early, which takes away from the suspense, and all the characters are underdeveloped and one dimensional. While liking Amaro in Season 13, Season 14 really overdid his hot headed-ness and his development has been too reminiscent of Stabler 2.0. There is a lack of chemistry between the SVU and the dialogue is trite and overripe.
Overall, not a good episode. 4/10.
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