User Reviews

Of all the episodes of Season 20, "Man Up" really stood out when it came to the memorability factor. Especially Dylan Walsh and the interrogation of the mother. 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' was great in its early seasons with many outstanding episodes. It did become very hit and miss from Season 10 onwards, and Season 16 onwards in Season 16 saw some real low points and Olivia changed for the worse (with some exceptions) once she was promoted.

Was not particularly impressed by Season 20 on the whole, give me Season 20 of the original 'Law and Order' any day, but there were still good episodes. And the seaon opener "Man Up" was one of them, with the two things that made it particularly memorable first time making an even bigger impression. On rewatch, there was more that impressed me and hardly in a small way. "Man Up" was an episode that was very good on first watch, certainly compared to a lot of other episodes from the season, and was even better on rewatch.

There are a lot of good things here in "Man Up". With the exception of some occasionally too dark lighting in the interrogation scenes, the production values are strong. It is shot with the right amount of intimacy without being claustrophobic and that the editing has become increasingly tighter over-time has been great too. Nice use of locations too. The music doesn't get over-scored or overwrought, even in the more dramatic revelation moments and that it is with the music in Season 20 having a more dramatic quality compared to before.

Direction has momentum while also breathing space. The episode has a thought provoking script that pulls no punches without being overwrought or sensationalist. As well as a creepy story that isn't too predictable, despite it not being a novel concept for 'Special Victims Unit'. The wife's scene in the interrogation room did appropriately make me sick to the stomach. Did like the brief development of the team, which was nice and done without it dominating the case (something that was a big recurring problem in the latter seasons). The acting from the regulars is very good, including Mariska Hargitay whose acting was becoming more hit and miss for the past few seasons. The supporting cast make an even better impression, with an unsettling Walsh (in a way one has never seen him before) and affecting Bryce Romero.

It isn't a perfect episode. For me the final act was a little on the rushed side.

Phillip Winchester has shown no improvement from his persistently flat, wooden acting in the previous season. Stone also was not the right prosecutor for the case.

On the whole, very good. 8/10.

Honestly, these two premier episodes give a meer glimpse of all the drama and action that are yet to unfold in this landmark Season 20. Once again the storyline is always consistent with current incidents and things that happen everyday which may often go unnoticed. SVU is the gift that keeps on giving. Can't wait for next week.

Domestic violence and violence to prove masculinity are also addressed in the 12 season 11 episode Pop.

However, this story has dealt with the shocking effects of an earthquake.

Amazing... both parts.

SVU has been pretty awful these past 10 years, to the degree that any semblance to reality the show once had is gone. There are any number of flaws. But let's start with the casting. The bland guy playing Ben Stone's son . . . I mean, seriously. Who would have thought Stone, who was not just a brilliant legal mind but a steady, moral character, would have such a muttonhead for a kid. Michael Moriarty was terrific. But this guy? The dopey opening with him after a threesome is just part of the silliness designed to prop up an actor and character who are so incredibly boring on their own, just letting them act as, you know, an attorney will never be enough. So they need to distract with silliness like this.

Of course, that all goes nowhere, too. It's just part of the dodge and hustle to disguise the poor writing. The rest of the episode is full of such silliness. You get the usual hillbilly family that believes killing things is just what life's all about. Nobody has to hunt for meat when there's already plenty of it at the store. They do it because they like the kill. And that becomes integral to the shallow examination of manhood that is at the center of the episode.

To counterbalance such, we have the usual Carisi whining. It doesn't help the actor already has a whiny face, but, man, Carisi is the most hormonal character the series has ever had, and that's even taking Michelle Hurd's relentlessly moody, unhappy character from Season One into consideration.

I wish there was more to talk about here, but there's not. It's another episode that wishes to make a message, so there's just the usual stacking on of pontification.