Fashionable Crimes

The fashion industry is such a great backdrop for anything related to crime and has often been used effectively in crime/mystery shows (i.e. 'Murder She Wrote', 'Monk', the 'Law and Order' franchise, most Scooby Doo incarnations). My main reason for rewatching Season 17's twentieth episode "Fashionable Crimes" was John Munch returning, loved him as a character when he was a regular and hated how increasingly underused he became.

It was great to see him again, though the episode itself could have been a lot better. There are a lot of good things with it, and that is including Munch, but there have been much better stories, writing and character interactions on 'Special Victims Unit' episodes before and even since. Liked the idea of the story, which did have the makings for an at least interesting episode, but the execution generally felt on the bland side. A middling Season 17 episode.

Munch is a delight, some amusing lines and great authority and Richard Belzer embodies all that. Really loved his cute final scene, and the episode's closing scene is very sweet without being sickly. The writing was rather wanting here, but there were moments. With Barba's recovery from the bonnet line being hilarious.

Barba was always one of the best things about the latter seasons and his authority and sass shine here. Raul Esparza does a great job. The production values are still fully professional, the slickness and subtly gritty style still remaining. The music is sparingly used and is haunting and thankfully non-overwrought.

However, there are an equal number of shortcomings. Most of the team seemed tired and disconnected, have seen far more nuanced and involving performances from Mariska Hargitay since and especially before. The story is rather bland and suffers from a lack of any surprises or suspense, what should have surprised was obvious.

Carisi does some uncharacteristic conclusion jumping, immediately believing that the screams were genuine. There have been plenty of rootable victims on 'Special Victims Unit', but somehow the victim is rather unsympathetic with some of their behaviour frustrating where one is not sure whether to trust. The dialogue is fairly mundane and doesn't always flow.

In conclusion, another mixed feelings sort of episode. 5/10.

Mariska Hargitay and Fisher Stevens reunited on an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. This reunion happened 23 years after working together on the short-lived show show on FOX called Key West.

Stevens played Seamus O'Neill, a Hemmingway wannabe who won the lottery and moved to Key West for writing inspiration. In one of the episodes - Less Moonlight (S01E04) - Hargitay played Laurel, a woman who surprises Seamus and seduces him in the middle of the night.

Fast forward 23 years later, and Hargitay and Stevens are reunited on an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. This time, Stevens played Alvin Gilbert, a fashion photographer accused of raping a model, while Hargitay played Lt. Olivia Benson, working harder to prove the guilt of Gilbert.

Their chemistry was still present, and their scenes together were intense and electric. The reunion was a testament to the enduring relationships that can be formed in Hollywood and the power of television to leave a lasting impression on people's lives.

This episode turns from a rape investigation to a homicide for the SVU squad. Fisher Stevens a fashion photographer enjoys his job because he has access to some really beautiful women who are modeling for his designer brother Griffin Dunne. This was not the first time Stevens got accused of some kind of improper behavior. In this case the accuser is Virginia Gardner.

Gardner has a boyfriend manager in Tom Pelphrey who has a Svengali like influence over her and a nasty temper. So who does SVU look at when Stevens winds up dead?

Stevens is the kind of guy that will always have a host of people looking to do him harm. All the people around have reasons to see him on a slab.

This episode features a return of Richard Belzer as former Sergeant John Munch does babysitting for baby Noah as Mariska Hargitay works the case. Could this be a new career for him?

Nicely done, but the case not so nicely resolved.

This episode has great talent Griffin Dunne is always brilliant as us Fisher Stevens and he was also in SVU in season 13 Theatre Tricks (surprised not in the trivia). But the best part is always when Richard Belzer as Munch makes a return. I so miss him. That's enough of a reason to check out the episode but it's also another great and riveting story!