Know It All

Finally an episode worth paying attention to. No personal drama, poor benson, or sign of her normal sanctimonious behavior. We get to see her tough side without her moral agenda. She still gives a death stare of disgust with someone who does not agree with her but that's it. Don't disagree with the almighty.

It's heavy handed in pushing how the internet steals all your information in the form of a hacker, but it was 2017. The investigation moves fast. Too fast really and the murder never really gets covered. It's pushed to the side to show us bensons determination to get the bad guy. They are both back and forth. He antagonizes her with blackmail and threats behind the keyboard and she just outright says it to his face.

A couple of people get taken out with some good old fashioned blackmail. Of course nothing comes out about benson. They can't let that be in the script. Barba's mess could have been a little darker, but it was still damaging. We never get to know the rope guys secret.

A couple of things kept this from being a great episode. Everything moved too fast and jumped all over the place. A lot was left out, not even for our imagination to decide. The end was just too easy. All that back and forth between SVU and the bad guy amounted to nothing. Poof he gets arrested.

Each little subplot could have amounted to a full episode or two plots connected in one. It was really nice to have a back to basics story. With a lot less of the sanctimonious benson.

To be honest, the premise for "Know it All" didn't really appeal to me much, actually one of Season 18's least appealing. It just on paper sounds rather sensationalist and potentially exploitative, which does induce rather angry emotions within me and too reminiscent of what is felt when reading clickbait newspaper headlines. Having said that, there have been films and such seen recently that have unappealing premises but actually manage to be better than expected.

"Know it All" is one such example. It is not quite one of the best episodes of Season 18 ("Real Fake News", "Net Worth" and "Motherly Love" being the best), but it is a long way from being one of the worst (the likes of "Heightened Emotions" and "Conversion") and a lot less sensationalist and more tactful than what the synopsis and episode title indicates. Perfect "Know it All" isn't, but the good things are many and the best of them even great.

Am going to begin with mentioning what isn't so good. The initial crime, which had a lot of potential, was too abruptly discarded and never resolved. Made me question why it was even there in the first place. Not many surprises here either.

Barba's secret was nowhere near as shocking or as big as it was made out, found it pretty anaemic and added very little to his character.

Much is good, great at best, on the other hand. 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 is tight enough while allowing some breathing space when necessary.

The script is lean and thought provoking, not being heavy handed while not trivialising. Nothing comes over as sordid either. The story is full of intrigue and suspense with no signs of dullness, and did appreciate hugely that it was all about the case with little signs of personal life drama (the latter of which being done pretty badly this season). Really liked how the team worked and nobody dominates too much, again better than most Season 18 episodes. The acting all round is very good with no exceptions.

Not a great episode but a good one overall. 7/10.

We are watching the best episode of the 18th season.

Barba and Svu are trapped. Unfortunately, the devil is a handsome man who does this. The guest actors' performances are very good.

It offers great snapshots of how technology surrounds us. It opens up for discussion.

I think hacking is a form of rape.

Unforgettable Words: "Women should be paranoid. It's survival skill." "Not everything done in the dark is shameful."

Unforgettable scenes:

Barba and Olivia... The scene outside, in front of the justice building, is like a rehearsal for what's to come.

Same meeting, same overcoat on Barba, same sadness in both of them, same separation... and different case...

The only difference is there is a happy ending.

P.s. Bennett, a specialist in Svu, is an interesting and mischievous character. It's nice that he has a special role and a story here too.