My feelings on "Clock" on first watch were pretty conflicted and remember being disappointed after being very impressed by the previous episode "Informed". Did appreciate "Clock" for what it tried to do and its portrayal of such a rare condition was an eye opener and brave. On first watch though, the story didn't grab me entirely and Stabler's family subplot was too over-powering. There are episodes of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' not cared for on first watch that grew on me over-time, Season 5's "Poison" being one.
With "Clock" though, while appreciating its efforts in doing something different to usual and in raising awareness of Turner Syndrome it is an episode that has not improved that much over-time. Other episodes are a lot more investable and balance cases and personal life subplots a lot better. Can understand what has been said about the portrayal of Turner Syndrome, this is a condition that is pretty unfamiliar to me but can understand why those that are familiar with it and/or have it would find its portrayal problematic (as some of what is said about it did sound over-generalised and not as tactful as 'Special Victims Unit' can be when exploring medical conditions). And also can understand anybody arguing that there is more than one variant of the condition, the case with a lot of medical conditions that can be generalised too much and misconcepted in visual media (especially the rare ones). Speaking as someone with four conditions that have more than one variant but have a number of misconceptions surrounding them, except they are more common.
Onto talking about "Clock" as an episode. There are a number of plus points. Photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has some nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way. There are some thoughtful moments in the script, like Huang's perceptions and the more legal oriented scenes.
There is enough to the story to make one interested in learning more about Turner Syndrome and sparking a debate about it and the issues addressed in the episode. Really did appreciate that "Clock" tried to do something different from the usual crimes featured, thematically and structurally. What is said about Turners Syndrome was admirable and was an eye opener definitely. Christopher Meloni gives a typically great and suitably intense performance. Really liked Huang's sympathetic and perceptive role and Cragen's authority and professionalism are also great. Plus we have more Fin and he's great. Betsy Hogg is affecting as Janey.
Less great is the family subplot with Stabler, that really overpowers the case and features too heavily. Didn't find the subplot particularly interesting or well written, more overwrought melodrama if anything and it felt out of place within the episode. Other episodes have a lot more tension and emotion, suspense is quite light here, it's a bit thin case-wise and at times silly.
Didn't care for the detectives' attitudes towards Janey, they are usually a lot more sympathetic with people they consider victims. Here it was like she was being judged by them and like she was being treated as the perpetrator when goaded rather than guided. Stabler sums how she would be perceived to be by others up in a line that actually came over as quite crass and a pretty gross insinuation that shouldn't be in anyone's way of thinking. Dani Beck's first appearance was slightly intriguing but felt on the shoehorned in side, especially with it appearing so out of the blue.
In summary, appreciated it but didn't quite come together. 6/10.
