Dare

The subject matter for "Dare" is a very hard hitting. It has, and similar subjects too, has been tackled more than once in the 'Law and Order' franchise and mostly very well (and better than here). It is one of those subjects that could go either way, which is true of a lot of topics tackled on 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' over the years, of disturbing and moving or far fetched and borderline implausible. Was really hoping it would be the former, having seen too many of Season 19 tackling topics every bit as difficult and not doing it well.

"Dare" luckily is one of the episodes that tackles its subject on the most part quite well. Other episodes in the franchise have done it better, back when both 'Law and Order' and 'Special Victims Unit' were in their prime periods. It is not an exceptional outing and is not exempt of a couple of the flaws that were big recurring flaws throughout Season 19, especially in its second half, but when it comes to ranking the season's episodes "Dare" is in the better half in one of not enough episodes to be close to very good.

A lot is excellent here. The production values are suitably slick and gritty, with photography that is reliant on close ups that have an intimacy without being too claustrophobic. The music is didn't come over as too melodramatic or like it was emphasising the emotion too much. The direction is sympathetic while still giving momentum. The acting from all the regulars and supporting cast is never less than very good.

Furthermore, the script is tight and intelligently written with nothing coming over as soapy or too loose. Story is never dull and is heart breaking and thought provoking, difficult subject done in a way that will evoke a lot of emotions, spark much debate and personally didn't think it too far fetched on the whole.

Except not finding it at first easy to buy the doctor getting away with what she did so many times for so long, but it is not as if it's never been achieved.

Olivia comes over as very sanctimonious and hypocritical (which was a major recurring problem this season with almost all the episodes having it with a few exceptions), in the earlier seasons she would not have treated other characters in the way she treats the doctor and would have been more sensitive in the situation. Am still finding Stone a very flat character and Phillip Winchester shows very little personality, which sadly did not improve all that much.

Concluding, good, close to very good even, if not exceptional. 7/10.

An interesting SVU episode. Not the fastest, most exciting one, but it leaves an impression on you that really makes you think. Should consent be assumed for organ harvesting as it is in Europe? Are the American laws wrong, and did the doctor deserve what happened to her?

I checked the donor box on my DL. I have told loved ones I want to be a organ donor in the event of my death. If someone does not have that box checked, the doctors need to ask family members for permission. If it were my child I'd consent. But that is the issue "consent". Until that child is old enough to make their own decisions, it is up to the parents. No doctor or anyone else has that right. Maybe the parents of the forms she forged would have consented, but she took that choice away from them. She didn't give them a chance to say goodbye before taking their organs without their consent. Lives were saved and that is a good thing, but it it the parents decision.

How is it possible that not one person involved in the production of this episode was aware that for every organ donor as many as four lives (minimum) could be saved.

Throughout this episode the storyline consistently equates one donor to one life saved, completely ignoring the fact that one heart, one liver, two lungs and two kidneys can all be transplanted, along with corneas to save sight, therefore 31 donors could easily equate to saving well over 100 children's lives!!!

Although there is no such address at 8745 Ulster Heights road, there IS definitely Ulster Heights AND Briggs Highway in Ellenville, my Home Town!

Somebody on that writing staff absolutely knows our little town, at least the mention it in the episode several times - almost made me miss what was home.

In the entire WORLD, there is ONLY ONE town names Ellenville - it's so unique for so many reasons and although I don't recall there ever being dog breeding operations, we did have plenty of CHICKEN farms - and we were once a huge hub of hotels and bungalows for the "borscht belt" summer crowd.

Our family bakery, Cohen's is till in business even though there isn't a single COHEN there anymore - the back where all the "magic" happens is still the same as it was when my father Ruby owned the place.

Thank you LOSVU for this quick trip down memory lane!