'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' "Ballad of Dwight and Irena" (2020)
Opening thoughts: Season 22 really wasn't one of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit's' better seasons, though it on reflection was quite a lot better than Seasons 20 and 21 and the misses while very underwhelming were not on the same level as the worst of Seasons 16-20. It though did have a higher number of good episodes than those two seasons, even if few were above very good, and the season did finish a lot stronger than it began. Was not expecting a huge amount from this episode in all honesty.
Due to being so unimpressed by the previous episode "Guardians and Gladiators", which was such a lacklustre start to the season. The good news is that "The Ballad of Dwight and Irena" is an improvement over "Guardians and Gladiators", not that that would have been too difficult. The not so good news is that it is still not particularly good, with it being a case of familiar territory being done a lot better elsewhere and also of the surprisingly good personal life subplot faring much better than the flawed case.
Good things: "Ballad of Dwight and Irena" has good things. The slick, subtly gritty and intimate production values are still present, while not going too far on the intimacy that it becomes too drab and closed up. The music lets the writing do all the talking without over-emphasising the emotions. Most of the acting is fine, especially tough and sympathetic Ice-T.
Fin comes over very well and the only character that is well written. Fin's story is a lot more interesting and investable than the case, that could easily have been soap operatic but actually made me root for Fin without feeling forced to.
Bad things: Unfortunately "Ballad of Dwight and Irena" is one of those episodes that has a good subject but does too little with it. While it is a relevant everyday issue, the case that it revolves around is just not interesting enough. Have seen everything present in this case before in Season 12's "Pop" (a much better episode), except it was more powerful and relatable in that than here. The tension and emotion are lacking, which makes the episode bland. Didn't find myself caring for the characters, the sole exception being Fin.
Moreover, the writing is too often awkward and lacks tautness. The second half has a running out of steam quality, where momentum does sag. Rollins and Tamin don't connect together as a partnership, no tension or respect, and Tamin has little personality and is also annoying from what was unlikeable about her in the previous season still being present here. Jamie Gray Hyder plays her with very little personality, so she comes over as flat.
Closing thoughts: Concluding, better but very average.
5/10.
