Was very impressed overall by the standard of the previous episodes, the best being as good as the best of Season 1 (which is a big compliment, being somebody who thinks highly overall of that season). The exception though was the previous episode "Asunder", which was decent and had its moments but for me it was somewhat bland and run of the mill and doesn't do enough with a type of case that doesn't interest me as much as others.
"Taken" however was a big improvement. Not quite as good as "Closure Part 2", "Legacy" and "Baby Killer", all three among the best of Season 2 and outstanding episodes though admittedly harder watches, but it is still great with pretty much everything done brilliantly. It has the tension that was missing in "Asunder", has one of the more interesting victims and has a story full of surprises. It also has a fair share of emotion and fans of Munch will be in heaven.
Is it quite one of the all-time great 'Special Victims Unit' episodes? Not quite. There is actually not really anything wrong with it as such. If to be nit-picky, the beginning is not quite as taut as the rest of the episode.
Other than that, "Taken" is classic 'Special Victims Unit' and what the show is all about. The story always absorbs and is full of twists and turns, all surprising. The ending left me floored on first viewing, still does and fills me with sadness and anger. One doesn't expect it at all. It is one of the classic examples of 'Special Victims Unit' to make one feel sorry for the accuser and by the end really hating that the victim is not what she seems and is quite amoral. The closest that the previous episodes came to having that effect was Season 1's "Disrobed", that also shocked me except we found out quite a bit later here.
Furthermore, there is emotional impact in "Taken". Really did feel sorry for Olivia, what a horrible situation she had to endure, yet still persevered which makes one admire her but feel concerned at the same time. The very end is tragic and makes one feel angry too. It is great to see more of Munch and when he has more screen time he often makes the episode even better, that's the case here as he stops the episode from being too over-serious without dominating too much. The chemistry is spot on.
Production values are slick and more refined than in the previous season and the music avoids being over-dramatic. The script is taut and is neither too simple or muddled and the story absorbs throughout. All the acting is very good, with Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer and Jenna Lamia standing out.
Concluding, great episode. 9/10
