'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit's' Season 6 was for me the best and most consistent Season 6 of the three main shows in the 'Law and Order' franchise (the others being the original 'Law and Order' and 'Criminal Intent'). When the four equally great to outstanding episodes in a row between this and "Charisma" run in particular ended and also up to "Charisma", there had not a single episode that was below very good (even the previous five seasons didn't quite manage that), even my least favourite of the seven "Obscene" was very good.
One of the best episodes of this period is "Scavenger" and even after Season 6 ended it was to me still a standout of the season. This is a fine example of a 'Special Victims Unit' that stayed with me for a long time afterwards on first watch and still has that effect, especially when the whole of Season 6 airs. The killer, the suspense and the ending have always struck me as particularly great as well as the team's roles being more balanced than the previous three episodes of the season.
Everything in "Scavenger" works wonderfully and comes together as an overall package just as wonderfully. The 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.
All the regular cast are superb with no exceptions, especially in the latter stages when things get genuinely intense. Doug Hutchinson is one truly sinister creep and Elizabeth Franz shines too in a pivotal role. The dialogue is taut, full of personality and as with most early season 'Special Victims Unit' episodes made me think long and hard after. There are plenty of great twists (without being too much) and genuinely frightening suspense. All the taunts, puzzles and clues make "Scavenger" a truly unsettling and suitably puzzling watch. The killer is among the show's most sinister.
The ending is pure genius and brilliantly written and played, the tension fever-pitch. It was really good to see all the SVU play prominent roles, rather than two having most of the screen time and the others having relative bit parts.
Wonderful episode all in all. 10/10
