Season 5 was a very solid season with the only less than good episode of the previous episodes being "Manic" and a lot of brilliance such as "Loss", "Ritual" and "Lowdown" for example. Of the Season 5s for the original 'Law and Order', 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent', to me that of 'Special Victims Unit' was the most consistent. One always expects a lot from a season finale, many fantastic ones on the show and on others but also some disappointments.
Was sadly certainly expecting a much better season finale than "Head". Whereas my opinions on the previous episodes were a lot more definite, this was the one episode of Season 5 that left me perplexed. Somehow "Head" didn't feel like a season finale or even perhaps an episode of 'Special Victims Unit'. Everybody will have a different opinion on what the worst episode of the season is, as is inevitable, and my vote has to go to the real oddity that is this one.
"Head" does have good things. It is well made, nothing too fancy or cinematic (not that it needed to be, 'Special Victims Unit' is not that kind of show) but it doesn't look static or stagy. The music doesn't overbear and is not overused.
Did think that "Head" starts off very well and intriguingly with a feel of unsettlement. The acting from all the regulars is great with no exception. The support acting isn't as good, but they do more than competently what they are given. Stacy Edwards and Diana Scarwid extract as much as they can out of the material.
Once the truth is revealed however, "Head" becomes rather strange. Usually the writing is more intelligent, more thought-provoking and tighter than what is seen here. Here it is quite over-heated with some real howlers in the second half. The story on paper is quite an ordinary one and it was a kind of theme explored than once since. It is a shame that an episode that started off very promisingly took too much of a strange turn too early when the perpetrator is revealed. Found it from on the whole too overwrought and nastily sleazy, with parts straining credibility. Am not saying that this is an issue that has never been done before or since, not the case, it just doesn't ring true here.
Especially not buyable was the reason given for why the perpetrator did something so awful, it felt almost like a clumsy and not particularly tasteful attempt at making one feel sympathy towards them when regardless of the circumstances realistically their actions would be indefensible. Being someone who has a neurological illness myself. If that was the case, it didn't wash with me as there is nothing in "Head" or the character to make one feel anything for them other than disgust (so not a good job on that front). Just my stance and in no way is this intending to be a nit-pick and making too much of a deal of it, sorry if it comes over that way. For me the ending was too anti-climactic and for a season finale this lacked excitement and suspense. It also felt like it could have been an episode of pretty much anything with the SVU as prominent guest stars.
This is not likely going to be a popular review and fair enough, but this episode doesn't do much for me and not a great way to finish a solid season. 5/10
