Chasing Demons

Expectations were fairly mixed for "Chasing Demons". The story did sound interesting and Season 19 had picked up quite a bit at this point, but Cassidy did go down in my estimations as a character in the latter seasons (liked him in the early seasons, but later on he became annoying). As did Olivia, loved her in the earlier seasons, but have often been frustrated by her since her promotion. To me, it was a surprisingly good episode on first watch and definitely much better than it sounded.

On rewatch, when rewatching the whole show over time on and off, "Chasing Demons" still holds that distinction of being surprisingly good and being much better than expected. With the character writing of both Cassidy and Olivia and their chemistry being significantly improved. It is far from perfect, for instance Stone has a long way to go until he can be considered interesting (something that to me he never reached). But the good things outweigh the not so good and the best of the good things are excellent.

First and foremost, Dean Winters gives what is a strong contender for his best performance of the show. Especially in Cassidy's anger, where the intensity does burn. Mariska Hargitay's acting was less consistent to me in the seasons post-Olivia's promotion, but here she is every bit on Winters' level and it is a return to the mid seasons Olivia and not the one that frustrated me for most of this season, with her steel and sympathetic quality done so well. For the first time since forever their chemistry is very believable and at its best scintillates.

As said, Olivia was a very frustrating character this season and every bit as much since, but this is one of the few Season 19 episodes where she was not an issue at all and actually one of the reasons as to why "Chasing Demons" worked as surprisingly well as it did. Really liked how Olivia dealt with Cassidy, with it being obvious that she really wants to help him within reason. Rollins telling it like it is was also well done and didn't come over as preachy but more tough love. The script is thought probing and tight most of the time and the story absorbs and isn't too simple or too complicated.

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 nice and at its best (such as towards and at the end) thrilling tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way.

However, Phillip Winchester is still very bland and his acting range seems limited. Always did find Stone a flat character from his first appearance, which the show never rectified. Sometimes characters take time to settle, but the franchise did prove quite a lot that a character can make an instant positive impression as soon as they are introduced (i.e. Briscoe, Barba, Goren).

Did feel too that some of the dialogue was on the melodramatic side and that some of Cassidy's behaviour bordered on the ridiculous and extreme.

In conclusion, was very surprised at how well this episode worked. 7/10.

The episode was turned into some silly witch hunt. Where a child molester became the victim (metaphorically and then, literally) because he was... black. I guess being black is a display to everything. Even child abuse... When Cassidy was accused of murdering him, because of his outburst during his arrest, and then, the trial. Outbursts that were twisted into some racist freak out, by both the accused's lawyer and one of the case's detective. I knew I'd hate this episode. Need I say more?...

Few series ever run long enough to have the luxury of exploring relationships over a 20-year evolution in real time, and that alone makes Chasing Demons an intriguing SVU chapter. Dean Winters, who dates back to Day One with the OG crew, (and even further back with Meloni on Oz), returns as Brian Cassidy, who we now learn has been concealing a childhood trauma that continues to upend his personal relationships and professional responsibilities.

In this ep Cassidy (still easy on the eyes) is again working as a special investigator with the DA's office and is testifying in what seems like a slam-dunk case against a pedophile doctor who'd been arrested by SVU after painstaking work.

Mid-testimony Cassidy inadvertently torches the case -- a screw-up that sends him on a bender. When Liv is summoned by the bartender to come down and get him in a cab, Cassidy erupts, forcing a row between the two that seems to be about years of unaired torment.

Later that night when he rolls up -- desperate and bloodied -- it's clear Liv is still as important to him as ever. But is he still important to her?

Cassidy yearned for and idolized Benson from the earliest moments of SVU, but initially never got further than a one-night stand.

13 years later the two started an actual relationship. Bensidy seemed fun for a while, but flailed as he realized he would never be the great love of her life. Not succeeding with her -- letting her down, then and now, even as colleagues, remains deep among his fears.

Chasing Demons is fleshed out with new turmoil in the squad room and victims absorbing a shock twist in their quest for justice.

As usual Olivia balances it all, while this time forced to confront a lifetime of romantic choices and regrets.

The coda to 'Chasing Demons' is season 20's 'Facing Demons' in which Winters has some of the best screen moments of his career, and Bensidy seems pretty well capped.

Gotta give SVU and L&O franchise credit for playing the long game with so many of these characters, just as they're

doing with return of Stabler now.

This episode is like a Band-Aid after Barba. It is full of cinematic flavor and fast. It is an exciting, gripping, effective episode.

Cassidy and the victims become prime suspects in the murder of the pedophile predator.

There are many chasing demons under the shadow of murder. The victims of the pedophile predator, their traumas, the victims' parents, the victims' siblings, the victims' circles, the judicial and legal processes they faced, the past, the secrets of the past... Everything turns into tragedies in the shadow of the devil.

The story focuses on the fact that murder cannot be justified. But emphasizes the reality of doubt and trauma in the psychology of victims when decisions are made in difficult cases.

The summary of the difficult and dark gray parts of the season is reminded to the audience through Cassidy and Olivia.

A triangle rises in performances. Olivia, Cassidy and of course Rollins... They are awesome.

I miss Olivia and Cassidy.

Rollins makes a great companion in this episode. She is very good partner. She is shining.

It is one of the special episodes in which the traumas of the victims and "these are their stories" are blended together.

This SVU story begins where some normally end with the trial of the perpetrator. Dean Winters is now working for the DA's office and the defense lawyer presses the right buttons and Brian Cassidy blows right up on the stand making it clear what he'd like to do personally to the defendant. It results in a mistrial and later on the perpetrator is found slain in his home.

Not like there isn't a shortage of people wanting to kill this man who was a doctor and abused several child patients. But Winters really put himself out there with his behavior.

Of course the history he has with Mariska Hargitay makes her go the extra 10 miles to prove he's innocent. She really has her job and reputation on the line here.

It's interesting to see how the Brian Cassidy character has matured over the years from the wide eyed innocent who left SVU and then paths crossed over a decade later while he was in narcotics. That assignment sure made him lose his innocence as we saw him return.

Is Olivia Benson's faith justified? Watch and find out.