Am slowly working my way through writing reviews for all the episodes of 'Law and Order, 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent' with a long way to go. Some may know already how much admiration there is from me for anything that tackles difficult and controversial themes and issues. AIDS and attitudes towards it (especially denial) is definitely up there with the toughest and most controversial, as far as Season 10 goes this and "Transitions" have the most difficult subjects.
"Retro" could have done a lot better with it however. The actual denial element of the story is done well and the episode is made better by its guest performances. Guest performances that were even better than the regulars and were deserving of a better episode. "Retro" against all that also has one of the worst scenes of the season and of the show up to this point, the case could have been better. Greylek also in in one of her worst appearances and it is one of the episodes that shows why she is one of my least favourite characters of the entire franchise. Am not joking sadly when saying that.
Is "Retro" all bad? No. The production values are slick, gritty and professional. The music is haunting while not spelling out the emotions too much. The direction has moments where it is at ease with the material and in control of it.
Most of the regulars are very good, in fact all the SVU squad are finely characterised. As said though, some of the supporting/guest cast make a stronger impression, while Viola Davis and Donna Murphy are excellent, as is Paula Malcolmson when she is not made to go overwrought, it's the genuinely frightening Martin Mull that makes the biggest impression and dominates. The AIDS denial portrayal is effectively scary and even more so is the delusion that comes with it.
However, a lot lets "Retro" down. Mostly the story is very dull and thin on the ground, some of it is uneventful-feeling and there is a general lack of tension and surprises. The writers try to hide this with throwing in an overload of forced melodrama. The cringe-worthy examination scene (one of the worst in 'Special Victims Unit', and the franchise's history) being a prime example. There is also too much emphasis on shoe-horned and too convient using of technology and science to solve the case and make a solid argument, technology and science that has not aged well but oddly interesting.
Furthermore, the script is dumbed down, heavy handed and overwrought, especially Greylek's when in the courtroom. There is some truly sloppy and unprofessional police work, including yet another confidentiality breach from Olivia. Greylek was always one of my least favourite 'Special Victims Unit' regular cast characters in her thankfully short time on the show, this is one of her worst appearances. Her pomposity and aloofness are taken to wild extremes and we can now add bullying and unprofessionalism to the list. Micaela McManus was always stiff and robotic in the role and she is here while also over-acting in the cross examination scene. Other than Davis, Murphy and Mull, the support doesn't stand out that much.
Overall, didn't do much for me. 5/10.
