SVU tries to make the case against a Christian zealot who is targeting prostitutes, but it hangs on the cooperation of a pregnant prostitute who is terrified of the man and has her own demon... Read allSVU tries to make the case against a Christian zealot who is targeting prostitutes, but it hangs on the cooperation of a pregnant prostitute who is terrified of the man and has her own demons.SVU tries to make the case against a Christian zealot who is targeting prostitutes, but it hangs on the cooperation of a pregnant prostitute who is terrified of the man and has her own demons.
- Sergeant John Munch
- (credit only)
- Special Agent Dr. George Huang, M.D.
- (as B.D. Wong)
- (credit only)
- ME Dr. Melinda Warner
- (credit only)
- See all cast & crew
- Director
- Writers
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDetective Stabler says "DNA doesn't lie." Yet in episode 9 of this season, Benson was framed for murder based on "spoofed" DNA.
- GoofsIn the opening segment when Benson and Stabler are examining the victim, Benson refers to a previous victim "Maggie Sanchez". Every following reference to this victim, she is named "Maggie Ortiz".
- Quotes
Alexandra Cabot: Mr. Buchanan wants to talk about you being a criminal, Gladys, so let's just do that. How long were you under the control of your pimp?
Gladys Dalton: Since I was 12, so ten years.
Alexandra Cabot: And how many nights a week did he force you to work?
Gladys Dalton: Five.
Alexandra Cabot: And how many men did he force you to have sex with each night?
Gladys Dalton: Like, at least six.
Alexandra Cabot: And since you were 12, you couldn't consent. And because you were forced, you were raped. So would you estimate you were raped a total of 13,000 times over those 10 years?
Gladys Dalton: Yeah.
Alexandra Cabot: [to Buchanan] I hope I cleared things up for you, Counselor. That is a victim...
[points to Skags]
Alexandra Cabot: and that is a criminal.
Unfortunately, it was not. While marginally better than "Anchor" and "P. C.", "Savior" is one of the weaker episodes of an inconsistent but not too bad season and to me one of the few to not really feel like an episode from 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit'. "Savior" definitely has its good things and it does sadden me to be the dissenting voice here, but considering how brilliant 'Special Victims Unit' can really be at its best or close to it this should have been better.
Am going to start with the good. The production values are fine, have always liked the photography's intimacy and grit and the look of the show has come on a good deal over-time (and it was good to begin with). The music doesn't intrude and has a haunting quality, have not always remembered that the theme tune is easy to remember and holds up.
It was great to see Olivia's more maternal side, which sees a different side to her, and the ending is heart-wrenching. The acting is very good from the regulars, while Mischa Barton is affecting in her guest turn. Lee Tergesen does freaky so well, making much out of an underused cliche of a character. Delaney Williams sure has authority in the courtroom.
The story on the other hand didn't grab me. It spends far too much time on the plight of Gladys, which is little more than melodramatic soap-opera. Was expecting it to not be an easy watch and feel a lot of emotions watching this, but this was just too soapy and comes at the expense of the work of the SVU. The case itself is very slight, is badly lacking in momentum and is pretty predictable too. The episode is very investigation-light, and what there is is routine and not particularly illuminating or new. A couple of strands could have been better done, the power of attorney stuff was far too cruel and it was a mistake for the whole baby dilemma to be left as a loose end.
Moreover, the script was in serious need of a tweak. Too talk-heavy and over-heated and it was hard to ignore the contradiction concerning Stabler's line regarding the DNA, where the writers had clearly forgotten that "Perverted's" ending existed. Somehow it didn't feel like 'Special Victims Unit', with far too much of Gladys and with the investigative and legal stuff, so basically what the show and franchise are all about, being not used enough. The direction felt going through the motions like.
Bottom line, not terrible but could have been a lot better. 5/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 11, 2022
Details
- Runtime1 hour
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD