User Reviews

'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' was always a mixed bag when it came to mixing cases and characters' personal lives. A number of the episodes from the earlier seasons that did so did so quite well, where characters were progressed in an illuminating way in hard hitting situations (ie. Olivia's trauma post-"Undercover"). Too many of the later episodes to do this didn't do this as effectively, with subplots being too soapy and dragged out with characters not worth caring about (i.e. Rollins' dysfunctional family life).

"Next Chapter" is one of the latter seasons episode to achieve the mix of case and personal life well, with the personal life not dominating too much while having too a case that was good. Actually a case of the case faring better. It's not perfect or a 'Special Victims Unit' high point, but it is easily the best Season 18 episode since the season premiere "Terrorised" (having been disappointed in the others between that and this) and one of the better episodes of what was a not particularly great season.

A lot is good here in "Next Chapter". The production values are still slick and suitably gritty (without being too heavy in it). The music is not too melodramatic and is not used too much, even not being too manipulative in revelations. The direction is both alert and accomodating, particularly in the second half. The acting all round is very good.

The writing on the whole is solid, not too soapy despite it being a personal episode, while the story was a good one. With some lovely contemplative personal touches, a refreshing change from the hypocrisy and the victim blaming that most of the previous season 18 episodes did and a case that had an early SVU feel (so there is tension, especially in the climactic moments).

It is however predictable in spots, he perpetrator's identity agreed is given away much too soon in such an over explanatory giveaway fashion. Maybe it is a little routine to begin with.

Am not really on board with the Olivia and Tucker relationship, Tucker has definitely evolved and mellowed as a character but the way they've been written is like the acrimoniousness caused by him when Stabler was still in the show didn't happen.

Summing up, liked it quite a lot and surprisingly so. 7/10.

I found the victim quite annoying and unlikeable. Not a well put together episode. Obvious who the perp was going to be from early on and seems like a massive overreach that he would go to this extreme - without a real explanation of why. Overall it just seemed like a bit of a ridiculous storyline/episode.

How did the SVU creators put this one before the camera? I can't really talk about the plot too much lest I give it away.

Back in the day young Annie Monroe got stalked y a man who was totally fixated on her from her college days. In fact said stalker was busted and did some time.

Now years later she's assaulted by someone again from behind and while she didn't see the attacker the SVU squad goes off in th direction of the same perpetrator.

All I'll say is that someone else felt that Monroe should have shown her appreciation better than she did.

Pass this ridiculous episode by.

A perfunctory case about a young woman raped by a masked man, and accusing a stalker who's out on parole. Episode title refers to a subplot, involving Hargitay's police captain who is pondering retirement, with the next chapter of his life to include settling down with her.

After the pretty victim Annie Monroe wrongly accuses her stalker of the crime, the how turns into a routine whodunit with many suspects, red herrings and blind alleys until Mariska finally solves the crime and faces a violent climax. It turns out to be just another predator on the loose, that is until Mariska blasts him to kingdom come. The constantly repeated theme that "people don't change" is specious and laid on with a trowel.