Christopher Meloni

Mariska Hargitay

Richard Belzer

Martin Weiss

Dawn DeNoon

Lisa Marie Petersen

After the remains of a woman who was murdered three years earlier are found in a backyard, a composite sketch leads detectives to her identical twin sister.

David Platt

Parasites

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Really wanted to like &quot;Parasites&quot; when first watching it. On re-watches, my thoughts are pretty much the same. Though actually on second thought it is marginally better than on first watch, when first getting into &apos;Law and Order: Special Victims Unit&apos; some years ago. On first watch, it didn&apos;t really stand out. On re-watch there were actually three things in particular that elevated it, though it is an episode that needs more than one viewing in order to fully understand it.

Almost all the previous episodes were good to outstanding, the only slight disappointment being &quot;Asunder&quot;. The second half of Season 2 was especially excellent, to me these are the episodes from &quot;Abuse&quot; to the last episode &quot;Scourge&quot; (&quot;Countdown&quot; being a major standout). After a string of tense and emotional episodes, &quot;Parasites&quot; felt in comparison on the bland and ordinary side somewhat but lifted by the great last fifteen-twenty minutes.

&quot;Parasites&quot; does have a lot of good things, despite how all of the above sounds. Have made it sound like it is a bad episode, but it really isn&apos;t. It is a slick-looking episode as always for the show and most of the &apos;Law and Order&apos; franchise. The scoring is haunting and not too overwhelming or empthatic, the theme tune even over twenty years on has yet to grate. There are some thoughtful moments in the script and enough intrigues. The case is also intriguing and suitably intricate, though people may need to suspend disbelief on first watch with the premise not being the easiest one to swallow.

The acting is all great from all the regulars, regardless of how much screen time they get. Three things elevate &quot;Parasites&quot; to a greater level. Mili Avital&apos;s deeply felt performance is one, though Michele Pawk also evokes chills. There is a very emotional, tear-jerking scene in the interrogation room. What really lifted the episode especially was the big twist, which left me completely floored (although it is an example of why the episode needs to be watched more than once).

For all those strengths, &quot;Parasites&quot; also felt a bit lacking. Considering that the premise sounded initially quite hard-hitting, it could have done with more tension and emotion. Which it had in one scene in particular but overall they were too far and between. Would have liked more little character moments within the team. They solve the case cleverly and professionally and the relationships all make sense, but other episodes (including the rest of the episodes filling the second half of Season 2) did them with more spark. After such great development for Munch and Fin in &quot;Manhunt&quot;, the episode underuses both. Stabler and Olivia carry the case really well and have always loved their chemistry.

Would also have liked a tighter pace as the first portions are on the dull side and it&apos;s not always easy to follow later on. Did appreciate highly the storytelling&apos;s intricacy though, despite all that sounded.

Concluding, decent but Season 2 did better. 6/10

Really wanted to like "Parasites" when first watching it. On re-watches, my thoughts are pretty much the same. Though actually on second thought it is marginally better than on first watch, when first getting into 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' some years ago. On first watch, it didn't really stand out. On re-watch there were actually three things in particular that elevated it, though it is an episode that needs more than one viewing in order to fully understand it.

Almost all the previous episodes were good to outstanding, the only slight disappointment being "Asunder". The second half of Season 2 was especially excellent, to me these are the episodes from "Abuse" to the last episode "Scourge" ("Countdown" being a major standout). After a string of tense and emotional episodes, "Parasites" felt in comparison on the bland and ordinary side somewhat but lifted by the great last fifteen-twenty minutes.

"Parasites" does have a lot of good things, despite how all of the above sounds. Have made it sound like it is a bad episode, but it really isn't. It is a slick-looking episode as always for the show and most of the 'Law and Order' franchise. The scoring is haunting and not too overwhelming or empthatic, the theme tune even over twenty years on has yet to grate. There are some thoughtful moments in the script and enough intrigues. The case is also intriguing and suitably intricate, though people may need to suspend disbelief on first watch with the premise not being the easiest one to swallow.

The acting is all great from all the regulars, regardless of how much screen time they get. Three things elevate "Parasites" to a greater level. Mili Avital's deeply felt performance is one, though Michele Pawk also evokes chills. There is a very emotional, tear-jerking scene in the interrogation room. What really lifted the episode especially was the big twist, which left me completely floored (although it is an example of why the episode needs to be watched more than once).

For all those strengths, "Parasites" also felt a bit lacking. Considering that the premise sounded initially quite hard-hitting, it could have done with more tension and emotion. Which it had in one scene in particular but overall they were too far and between. Would have liked more little character moments within the team. They solve the case cleverly and professionally and the relationships all make sense, but other episodes (including the rest of the episodes filling the second half of Season 2) did them with more spark. After such great development for Munch and Fin in "Manhunt", the episode underuses both. Stabler and Olivia carry the case really well and have always loved their chemistry.

Would also have liked a tighter pace as the first portions are on the dull side and it's not always easy to follow later on. Did appreciate highly the storytelling's intricacy though, despite all that sounded.

Concluding, decent but Season 2 did better. 6/10

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