The story, when it comes to the concept, sounds very been there done that initially, or at least that is the case with the first quarter. There are a good deal of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' episodes, and episodes even in the 'Law and Order' franchise, that have stories and themes done before, but they do something a lot less simple and more complex than it seems with them. They are though themes that are worth addressing and need to be.
"Complicated" could and should have been a lot better than it turned out. Of a very mixed to unimpressive season, to me this is one of the weaker episodes. It did have good things, but also has all of the flaws present in a vast majority of the season and one of the worst cases of this while also having a major plot point executed in a way that brings the episode down a lot. Very few of Season 19's episodes are bad and it takes a lot for me to call any episode of 'Special Victims Unit' bad, but "Complicated" to me very nearly was that.
Does it have good things? Yes it does, have said more than once about no 'Special Victims Unit' episode being irredeemable and "Complicated" is no exception. 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. Some of the direction is suitably accomodating.
Really liked the teaming of Carisi and Rollins, a teaming that has proven to work very well in the past and the episode proves it even more. It was great to see Barba so supportive and while the acting is all fine only Raul Esparza stands out particularly well. He was always one of the main reasons as to why the show was still stuck with when it declined and he has still lost none of his spark.
However, "Complicated" could have been so much better. The case is predictable, over stretched and lacks suspense and have already really tired of how sanctimonious and stubborn Olivia has become since she was promoted, compared to how she was in the earlier seasons it is like seeing a different Olivia and a far less appealing one. Did appreciate that the Olivia personal life subplot was advanced but it added very little to the overall story. The biggest reason as to why the story is as predictable as it is is that it is derivative of Season 10's "Strangers". Which is a much better episode despite not being perfect itself, which robbed it of any kind of suspense.
Furthermore, there is a lot of truly sloppy teamwork, especially regarding the forensics and the "reunion". Isiah Thomas' cameo was beyond awkward and had no reason to be there, like it was lifted from somewhere else entirely. Everything regarding the manslaughter charge was unrealistic, considering how long the victim had been missing there wouldn't realistically be a case because the the statue of limitations cut off point for manslaughter doesn't allow that. The dialogue is on the most part rather trite and needed to be much tighter.
Overall, underwhelming. 4/10.
