Review: 'Law & Order: SVU' "Father's Shadow", An Emmy-worthy Episode

I don't want to spend a whole post recapping, so I'll send anyone who flies through here to All Things Law and Orders Recap/Review of "Father's Shadow".

My simple review of "Father's Shadow" is, The best Law & Order: SVU episode of the 13th season and likely Mariska's best in 5 years! Writers Warren Leight & Julie Martin, kudos! 5 very high points of this episode:

Miranda Lambert's debut, she delivered some very believable acting, I was shocked to see she was only seen in two scenes, she did marevelous for someone who's never acted before! And a plus, she's a fan of SVU (who could blame her).

Kelli Giddish, a few of us have seen her on the NBC canceled Chase, so we know what she can do. She was seen minimally this episode (she has a Rollins-centric episode next week) but I feel in this episode she's doing a LOT better playing Rollins (even if it were short scenes) than she has in earlier episodes in the season. Don't shrug on Kelli just yet folks.

Danny Pino, a few good men, the writers should write Nick Amaro like the did last night, he seemed to "come out" more in "Father's Shadow". He got smart with BC Mike Cutter (Linus Roache) and he just seemed to be playing the SVU equivalent of his Cold Case character, Scotty Valens (not Elliot Stabler, Chris Meloni). Hope we see more of this from Amaro in the future.

Cameron Monaghan (Shameless) portrayed a disturbed teen named Eddie Sandow in Law & Order: SVU episode, "Father's Shadow".

Guest star Cameron Monaghan really shocked the world (or almost 7 million people at least) in "Father's Shadow", I think I'm going to start watching Shameless. His portrayal of the "rocked" teen Eddie Sandow was tops, best performance of someone young on SVU we've seen in a while. Monaghan was very believable and I found myself questioning his character and even in the end, feeling sorry for him. He had a selfish bastard rapist father (who doesn't, your lucky if you don't have to use any of those three words about your father) and his mother abandoned him. His scenes with Mariska Hargitay made me feel moved to applaud (the whole episode really). He deserves some kind of award for this episode of SVU!

Mariska Hargitay and Harry Connick, Jr. in the beginning of the SVU episode "Father's Shadow".

Star Mariska Hargitay; need I say anything? Mariska has done top notch work on SVU since the show's first seasons, even when the writing made you want to chunk your television set out the window! But "Father's Shadow" is proof of why Mariska Hargitay is frequently nominated for awards with her portrayal of Detective Olivia Benson. Mariska's delivery last night was simply breathtaking (again, moved to applaud), I was disappointed when the episode ends. It's episodes like "Father's Shadow" that shows Mariska Hargitay hasn't "lost her groove" after 13 years and that she and SVU itself still have life.

Even the ratings show that, SVU is likely the only NBC drama (excluding Smash premiere) that pulls well above 2.0 in the 18-49 age demo, even with the blasted competition from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on CBS and Revenge on ABC. A big mistake for these 3 shows to be on on the same night at the same time. In final ratings SVU pulled 2.0 (18-49) and 6.55 (million viewers total).

To quote David Letterman back when NBC had that "Leno-O'Brien Tonight Show" issue in 2009-2010, NBC has the 10 o'clock dramas "that will leave you staring at your TV for days." I felt that when my local news came on. Now NBC's currently fairly good dramas are Law & Order: SVU, Grimm, and Parenthood really. Still shaky about Smash, Awake yet to premiere (looks pretty good, SVU's B.D. Wong is in it).

SVU, "Father's Shadow", 9.5/10, I'd recommend this episode for any SVU fan!

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airs Wednesdays 10PM/9c on NBC.

Review: 'NCIS' "Life Before His Eyes", It Makes You Think

Me and likely over 20 million others tuned in to see #NCIS200 (NCIS's 200th episode), and in my opinion it was well above average, it's all I can really say for the episode. No real big-bang with it, I was more interested in the case at hand and McGee's (Sean Murray) possible transfer than a "Gibbs-back" (Mark Harmon, flashback).

SPOILERS AHEAD, SKIP THIS IF YOU WANT TO:

In "Life Before His Eyes" (written by: Gary Glasberg, directed by: Tony Wharmby) Gibbs is shot in a cafe and everything freezes and with help from the late-great Mike Franks (Muse Watson), Gibbs flashes back to things and ponders how thing would go differently if:

He had protected deceased Special Agent Kate Todd (Sasha Alexander) from Ari Haswari (Rudolf Martin) - she would have lived and married DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) would just be some Israeli chick in a world of trouble instead of kick-ass Special Agent Ziva David.

Special Agent Gibbs (Mark Harmon, left) and deceased Mike Franks (Muse Watson, right) in the 200th NCIS episode, "Life Before His Eyes".

If Gibbs would have convinced his wife not to testify, she and their daughter would still be alive, though Gibbs would have likely died in combat since he would have stayed a Marine. If Gibbs hadn't killed the drug dealer that killed his family, Gibbs would have secluded himself from everyone.

Plus we see other past characters we've seen in previous flashbacks or episodes like: deceased NCIS director Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly), Gibb's father Jackson Gibbs (Ralph Wiate) and Mark Harmon's own son Sean playing a younger Gibbs (which to be truthful, they look so much alike until it's not even funny).

Meanwhile the case at hand, NCIS has to deal with the typical dead Marine but the son of the suspect is the one with the shocker in this episode. At the end, it's discovered he shot Gibbs. At the end of the episode, McGee sticks with NCIS in D.C. and Gibbs returns to his job, and he wouldn't have it any other way. The NCIS credits thanking their fans for 200 episodes.

DONE WITH SPOILING.

As for "Life Before His Eyes", it's a good episode for Mark Harmon, we haven't seen him do his thing in a minute on NCIS, but me personally I like NCIS when they deal with the case at hand primarily and the personal drama is in a mix. This felt like an episode of House M.D. to me to see Gibbs in the "alive-dead" state. I could have done without that; Shane Brennan really needs to let someone else run NCIS: Los Angeles and return to the flagship NCIS. Next week's NCIS looks very stupid, "someone's killing superhero's", really?! 7/10 NCIS, could have been better but it's could have been worse; at least E.J. Barret (Sarah Jane Morris) wasn't in this episode.

NCIS airs Tuesdays 8PM/7c on CBS, only CBS.

'Law & Order: SVU' - Deliberate Act, An Original Story

Wanting to write an SVU fan-fic. I got inspired by the loss of my uncle here (RIP Uncle "Lean") and I got inspired to try to do it in the shower (I'm not kidding); I'm searching for an outlet I guess. Season 13 has been Law & Order: SVU's best season in a couple years by the means of it's writing, I guess you could say it's more intelligent (under new show runner/executive producer Warren Leight, formally of Lights Out and Law & Order: Criminal Intent).

I've also been wanting to do something with new characters: Detectives Nick Amaro (Danny Pino) & Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish); I feel there is more to them than what is given to us on Law & Order: SVU. Plus I want to do something dealing with EADA David Haden (Harry Connick, Jr.); because in the fan-fiction world, pretty much anything goes.

Following season 13's formula:

DELIBERATE ACT (Saturday, December 4, 2012: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1808736/)

THE SVU DETECTIVES SOLVE A CASE A LITTLE CLOSE TO HOME FOR DETECTIVE NICK AMARO (DANNY PINO). BUREAU CHIEF MIKE CUTTER (LINUS ROACHE) PUSHES HIS ADAs TO CONVICT.

Sr. Narcotics Detective Allison Harmon is found crying rape in the streets, the Special Victims Unit is on the clock to track down her rapist with the city and the department breathing down their necks. With SVU's credibility on the line with their arrest, Bureau Chief Mike Cutter (Linus Roache) pushes his ADAs to seek a conviction in the interest of justice, instead of pressure and politics. Meanwhile Detective Nick Amaro's (Danny Pino) future with the Special Victims Unit is unclear.

Also starring: Mariska Hargitay (Det. Olivia Benson), Richard Belzer (Sgt. John Munch), Ice-T (Det. Fin Tutuola), Kelli Giddish (Det. Amanda Rollins), and Dann Florek (Capt. Don Cragen). Guest starring: Stephanie March (ADA Alex Cabot), Diane Neal (ADA Casey Novak), and Tamara Tunie (ME Melinda Warner). Special guest starring: Laura Benanti (Marie-Grazie Amaro), Andre Braugher (Bayard Ellis), and Harry Connick, Jr. (EADA David Haden).

--
I bet if this was an episode everybody would be ready to see it! I wish it were, but in the meantime, I need to actually write this. Don't want to make a false-promise; this will be one of those that'll make fans wish I was on the SVU writing team (so do I). I'll probably start posting on the night of Saturday, January 4th and post chapters from there, instead of hitting it all at once. Read it here: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1808736/

My e-mail to NBC about 'Law & Order: CI'

The title of this says it all: I mean what I say, and I say what I mean. And NBC can go to hell bring back Law & Order: Criminal Intent!

Here's my e-mail to NBC about bringing back Law & Order: CI - I hit NBC up with the facts - where is yours?!


Click to view enlarged, you may want to!



Can 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' Be Saved, by NBC?

USA Network, character's welcome? I think not. I know of at least over 4 million fans averaged got their dreams shattered on July 15, 2011 when USA Network announced they were done with Law & Order: Criminal Intent due to the ratings being low, not equaling out the budget. "CI is expensive" basically compared to light weight comedy-dramas Royal Pains, White Collar, Fairly Legal, and Suits - which in my opinion, Fairly Legal and Suits shouldn't have made it to their pilot's being green-lit!


USA Network Promo: Vincent D'Onofrio & Kathryn Erbe portrayed Detectives Robert Goren & Alexandra Eames from the show's inception in September 2001 until April 2010 and again in May/June 2011

Let me briefly go down Law & Order: CI's rocky history:
Green = Good
Yellow = Caution
Red  = Danger

• Law & Order: CI premiered September 2001 on NBC, high rated, renewed 5 seasons.
• Starring: Vincent D'Onofrio (Det. Robert Goren), Kathryn Erbe (Det. Alex Eames), Jamey Sheridan (Capt. James Deakins), & Courtney B. Vance (ADA Ron Carver).
• D'Onofrio had health issues mid season 4. Chris Noth joined the cast with Annabella Sciorra, alternating episodes with Vincent D'Onofrio & Kathryn Erbe.
• Season 5 ratings good for season 6. Annabella Sciorra, Jamey Sheridan, & Courtney B. Vance depart.
• Season 6 moved to Tuesday night's 9/8c, ahead of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
• Warren Leight takes over as show runner. Co-creator/show runner Rene Balcer departing back to the flagship Law & Order.
• Julianne Nicholson (Det. Megan Wheeler) & Eric Bogosian (Capt. Danny Ross) join the cast.
• BOTH Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent falling in the ratings.
• USA Network offers to take L&O: Criminal Intent a 7th season. TNT seeking L&O as well. NBC keeping L&O season 18.
• L&O: CI becomes one of the highest rated shows on USA Network, Summer 2008. USA Network renewing it an 8th season!
• End of season 7: Warren Leight departs with star Chris Noth.
• Season 8: Chris Noth replaced by Jeff Goldblum (Det. Zach Nichols). Warren Leight replaced by Walon Green (Goren/Eames episodes). First Robert Nathan and later Ed Zuckerman & Michael S. Chernuchin (Nichols/Wheeler episodes).
• CI still high rated in season 8, Jeff Goldblum praised. Renewed 9th season.
• Julianne Nicholson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, and Eric Bogosian depart the cast.
• CI moved to Tuesday's 10/9c; during 2009-2010 broadcast network TV season.
• Walon Green show runner of all episodes of Law & Order: CI. Jeff Goldblum show lead, Julianne Nicholson/Kathryn Erbe replaced by Saffron Burrows (Det. Serena Stevens), Eric Bogosian replaced by Mary Elizabth Mastrantonio (Capt. Zoe Callas).
• Ratings slowly decline after "Loyalty (Part 1)", decline sharply mid-season.
• USA Network shaky about Criminal Intent season 10. Jeff Goldblum, Saffron Burrows, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio don't sign contracts to return.
• USA Network renews CI 10th and 8-episode final season, due to season 9 decline.
• Vincent D'Onofrio & Kathryn Erbe return. Show runner Walon Green replaced by Chris Brancato.
• CI ratings bounce back from season 9 decline. Possibility for 11th season renewal. Creator Dick Wolf/Chris Brancato plan to end the series in a way it could be open to return for another season.
• CI finales on June 27th, 2011; without word of renewal.
• USA Network announces Law & Order: Criminal Intent is done on USA Network.

You can pretty much see what lead to Law & Order: Criminal Intent's decline on both NBC and USA Network. The quick timeslot change on NBC (due to them taking on Sunday Night Football). And the whole 9th season pretty much had an effect on the 10th season on USA Network. But the $1,000,000 question is: "Can Law & Order: Criminal Intent be Saved/Revived by NBC again.?"


Det. Alex Eames (Kathryn Erbe) in the 9th season premiere episode, "Loyalty". Erbe has many notable episodes in the series, more recent ones would be "Amends", "Smile", "Purgatory", "Frame", "Lady's Man", "Loyalty", and "The Last Street in Manhattan"

The answer: yes it can. Law & Order: CI is probably the one off-air L&O show able to make a return, how:

• A strong bombardment of letters, emails phone calls, postcards, etc. towards NBC.
• Follow: @reviveNBCLOCI (Twitter) & "Like": Renew Criminal Intent (Facebook).
• They have contact information for NBC. Bob Greenblatt included.
• Law & Order: CI is the one L&O show without the "canceled" label.
• LOCI's ratings/popularity did a turn around in the 10th season. Plus NBC has slightly bigger budget to take LOCI back.
• NBC needs some more programs for 2012-2013.
• Dick Wolf wants to do more LOCI.

BE SURE TO INCLUDE THIS TO ANYTHING SENT TO NBC ABOUT "SAVE LOCI":

• If it was to make a return, Kathryn Erbe would have to be in the lead-role. D'Onofrio is doing another project titled "Blue Tilt" (created by Chris Brancato, season 10 LOCI show runner). But the Goren character must stay alive/open for D'Onofrio to return, esp. if "Blue Tilt" flops. Meanwhile recommend a good/younger/strong/compelling actor is partnered with Erbe's Eames.
• A good show runner would be a good idea to include, probably should mention Rene Balcer. Since Warren Leight is on Law & Order: SVU and Brancato has "Blue Tilt". DO NOT SAY: Walon Green, if you do, might as well not even bring the show back.
• A damn good time slot: again, should probably be with Law & Order: SVU, I can't see the show perform well in season 11 without SVU with it, this time.
• NBC needs to be reminded how they are declining in the ratings, how they are canceling [crappy] shows, & how the L&O franchise helped give them the ratings they had years ago! Persuade them to want to revive Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

If everyone (Law & Order, SVU, LOLA, etc.) was to do this, not just LOCI fans, I'd bet NBC would be willing to consider a revival of Law & Order: Criminal Intent!

But in the meantime, new episodes of Law & Order: SVU air, Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC!

Review: 'Law & Order: SVU', "Official Story"

The Law & Order: SVU episode "Official Story" is one mother of a tale. One where I need to use bullets instead of long ass paragraphs. A few things tuggged at me with this fairly well episode (written by Law & Order: CI and LOLA writer, Peter Blauner):

• This episode seemed too 'political' and it showed too much 'intent'.

(Left to Right) Guest star John Doman (William Rand), Dann Florek (Capt. Don Cragen), Danny Pino (Det. Nick Amaro), Guest star Harry Connick, Jr. (EADA David Haden), and Mariska Hargitay (Det. Olivia Benson), in the episode "Official Story".

I get the style of the Law & Order franchise, today's issues often come into play with many crimes (real world or fictional). But why the hell was the Special Victims Unit investigating William Rand’s (guest star John Doman) company’s involvement in the cover up of a years old rape in Iraq? The Special Victims Unit isn't some kind of NYPD/military special force, which investigates things of that nature. And of course, with SVU running things, the witness typically is killed. Are all the police officers in the NYPD this careless and in over their heads, I think NOT.

• Too much of Nick & Marie Amaro (Danny Pino & guest star Laura Benanti)?

Again, I understand, Amaro has a life outside the SVU, as the other characters do, but are we seeing a bit much of Mrs. Amaro and young daughter Zara? I feel queasy here, I have the urge to yell "STABLER FAMILY DRAMA", I thought Warren Leight was trying to verge away from the personal lives being involved in the cases. It wasn't direct involvement, but they had enough involvement in this already mess of a case. I'd like to continue seeing Laura Benanti come in to play the sexy military wife of Nick Amaro, but in a normal capacity (like Kathy was for Stabler in the first season of SVU). NO AMARO FAMILY DRAMA PLEASE?!

• Too much hype for Harry Connick, Jr., not enough courtroom scenes.

Guest star Harry Connick, Jr. (EADA David Haden) and Mariska Hargitay (Det. Olivia Benson) after kissing in "Official Story".

I like the character, EADA David Haden, and I like what he's doing for Olivia (Mariska Hargitay), making her smile, after 13 years, she needs to seek finding a relationship (and having Calvin, guest star Charlie Tahan). But Harry Connick, Jr. pissed me off last night, I thought we were going to see Connick getting down in the courtroom and taking it to Olivia's bedroom.

I compare Connick, Jr. to Jeff Goldblum in the 9th season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Connick's acting was so wooden, a plank of wood would have probably done a better job! Connick singing and looking good on the eyes doesn't mean jack if he can't act! I hoped with Connick coming in, courtroom scenes would have been added to these already wonderful episodes.

Because it's LAW & ORDER: Special Victims Unit, emphasis on "Law & Order". I miss powerful and compelling testimony from the victims and some of the perpetrators, I miss the forensics and medical experts battling it out on the stand. I miss seeing ADA's Cabot and Novak grill the hell out of people on the stand. I assumed Harry Connick, Jr. was going to be doing that during the day and having dinner with Olivia at night... guess one can't be too hopeful.

Three of my favorite episodes this season are: "Scorched Earth", "True Believers", and "Spiraling Down", mostly because of the court scenes! Look, I love a good compelling confession in the Law & Order world as much as the next fan, but I have to scream this: "STOP MAKING SVU; LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT".

Am I displeased with the whole episode "Official Story"? - No, just certain points I feel could have made this episode even better than it was. Personally I found it to be a damn good episode: for Law & Order: Criminal Intent. But, I enjoyed seeing the scenes with Holt McCallany last night and even Laura Benanti, she and Danny Pino are "the perfect match" as Mr/Mrs. Amaro!

But as for Harry Connick, Jr., unless he turns into Linus Roache, I don't think I'm going to want to see him continue his role of EADA Haden. But this is just one man's opinion.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit returns Wednesday, February 8th at 10PM/9c on NBC, and it's one you don't want to miss!

Chris Meloni is NOT Replaced on 'Law & Order: SVU'

Everyone's got an opinion, and that's fine. 1st Amendment, Freedom of Speech/Religion/Opinion. I'm not trying to shut people (L&O: SVU Elliot Stabler/Christopher Meloni fans) up... but I am trying to stop people from judging Law & Order: SVU as it is now without watching it (more than 2 episodes in season 13).

Chris Meloni portrayed Detective Elliot Stabler since the series premiered in 1999, he left after season 12. Stabler shot a young girl in the sqaud room (episode "Smoked") and chose to quit in season 13 (episode "Scorched Earth").

People are quick to judge the show now without former lead Christopher Meloni aka "Stabler". Mimicry here: "I ain't watching SVU anymore. No Stabler, No Me. Hope SVU is canceled." Yeah, I follow the Twitter/Facebook feeds, you know who you are. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is not, "The Christopher Meloni/Elliot Stable" Show, it never was, even if the writing suggested it (thanks a lot Neal Baer, but he can't be totally blamed, he gave SVU some of it's best episodes in the earlier seasons).

Law & Order: SVU is about showing how detectives in the actual NYPD Special Victims Unit investigate some of the most shocking and brutal crimes - sex related crimes - and how those detectives interact with the district attorney's office and the Assistant DA's who prosecute these obviously careless offenders. It's not about one certain detective, it never was. All the Law & Order's from their inception have had casting changes, and expect them. (Even Law & Order: Trial by Jury and Law & Order: LA had cast changes in their first and only seasons).



Danny Pino (left) and Kelli Giddish (right) in the episode "Double Strands". They joined the cast of Law & Order: SVU as Detectives Nick Amaro and Amanda Rollins.

Danny Pino ("Cold Case") and Kelli Giddish ("Chase") - Detectives Nicholas "Nick" Amaro and Amanda Rollins - are NOT coming to SVU to replace Chris Meloni and Mariska Hargitay, they are there to be another set of detectives in the squad room with Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Fin Tutuola (Ice-T) being the lead detectives, and this season Sargeant John Munch (Richard Belzer) and Captain Don Cragen (Dann Florek) sharing the commanding officer duties. Pino and Giddish have slowly but surely warmed up to me, they ARE NOT Meloni and Hargitay, but if Mariska was to leave (God forbid, she's said she's staying with the show for now) I think I could watch them be the lead team.

Chris Meloni CHOSE to opt out of his contract, he CHOSE NOT to return. Sad as that is (I liked Stabler too) it's life, and life goes on. He's going to be in the 5th season of HBO's "True Blood". Meloni wanted to do other projects, he's portrayed angry Elliot Stabler for 12 years, he deserves a break! Will Meloni return to close out Stabler? - I hope so, but I'm not going to go all over the Internet and bitch and beg about it! If Meloni was fired, maybe, but Meloni left ON HIS OWN!

It's time to watch SVU go into the future. Bob Greenblatt has said; NBC's had "a bad fall" (he is to blame from canceling Law & Order: LA and not trying to revive it or the original flagship Law & Order). SVU is one of NBC's highest right now (which says something). We ALL (Stabler/Huang fans) need to support SVU, we need to see it get renewed on NBC for the next 20 years (not exaggerating).

I understand watching the show to see your favorite actor/actress, but if the show was that good with them and is still that good without them (thank you Warren Leight), why on Earth would you stop watching?! I know FOR A FACT that Chris Meloni wouldn't want fans to stop watching Law & Order: SVU JUST because he left! I used to watch CSI: Crime Scene Investigation for William Petersen's Grissom, I watched CSI after he left, but after he left; CSI's new writers didn't capture the same "pizzazz" the show used to have, to this day I can't stand to watch CSI or CSI: Miami.

But come on everyone, let's be a little smarter than this. I can't force people to watch, but I'm not going to sit idly by and let people not watching SVU bad mouth it because Stabler is out. And yeah, I hope NBC renews Law & Order: SVU season 14 (and more), they'd be even more foolish not to.

We've all heard the rule: "If you don't have something nice to say about someone, don't say it at all." Don't bad mouth the new SVU if you're not even watching it.

Everyone who's watching knows Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airs Wednesdays 10/9c on NBC.