Parts

This particular episode starts out with the SVU squad investigating a suspected necrophiliac as a women's body parts are found. This one turns into a hunt for human body parts chop shop. Involved in it is Marlee Matlin making a return appearance as Amy Solway who when last in an SVU story was doing assisted suicides.

Now Matlin is helping Dr. John Ottavino find and harvest stolen bodies for their organs. She's in need of a kidney transplant.

Richard Belzer is front and center in this story and his conflict with Christopher Meloni and ADA Diane Neal is what drives this plot.

The issue isn't dealt with well because it's impossible to deal with at all. Believe me there are no perpetrators here, just victims.

Meaning actually, if anyone is confused, that "Parts" in my view is an episode with some good things but also some bad. "Parts" had me intrigued from the get go. It had an interesting idea for a story. It saw the return of the character of Amy Solway, who made such a powerful impression in the outstanding Season 5 episode "Painless". It had more John Munch, a character generally not used enough in a mightily impressive and often brilliant Season 6.

"Parts" sadly disappointed and is, and this is not going to be a popular opinion, my least favourite episode of Season 6. It is also one of the very few Season 6 episodes to not do much for me. Munch and Amy are on top form, as is Novak. It's the story execution that has major faults. The potential was so big and good, so expecting a great episode was justifiable, but "Parts" doesn't fullfill its potential enough and instead left me conflicted which was not expected.

The production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. The direction has enough taut urgency when needed while giving the case breathing space. Richard Belzer does not disappoint, Munch once again showing his more sympathetic more determined side which Belzer acts beautifully. Proving that there is more to him than his dry humour.

Supporting him beautifully are Christopher Meloni and Diane Neal, and their conflict drives the episode very well and is where it is at its most compelling. Marlee Matlin is as powerful as she was in "Painless" and Amy is as interesting and as complex as before. There are emotional moments, not just between Munch and Amy but also when Novak is more sympathetic.

Count me in however as another person that found the story at times too complicated and not always easy to swallow. The premise was great but the execution confused and scratched the head. The first third is also rather dull and Matlin is the only supporting actor that stands out, the rest were competent but not particularly memorable.

While the emotion of the story is here, the tension isn't as much as there is too little conflict in the case itself. The script could have been tauter and other 'Special Victims Unit' episodes with even heavier subjects and themes had more nuance and tact. Other episodes before and since did better at exploring issues from all sides, for my tastes it was too clear on which side of the argument the episode was on.

In summary, another episode to not be terrible but be disappointing by Season 6 standards. 5/10

Another illustration of how Marlee Matlin is a great actress. The subtlety of her delivery on the line "If Kyle McGovern dies..." was heart-wrenching. The episode made us think hard about the dilemmas facing health services world-wide (in countries of all political persuasions) when they need to allocate scarce resources. And we had a further insight into the emotional makeup of John Munch. A great episode.