Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) Disappearing Acts (2002) User Reviews

Highlights what I dislike most about Stabler and Benson

[tadaia · 7/10 · 3 May 2009]

From the very beginning Stabler and Benson take a contentious attitude towards the Feds even though Grier's character seemed to go out of her way to be reasonable and cooperate with their investigation. Both cases were important, but the Feds investigation was obviously more so and far reaching. Stabler's insistence and disrespectful approach in getting the Feds to hand over the suspect in question was based on nothing more than speculation. Turns out he was wrong and put much at risk just to satisfy his own ego. Stabler seems to think that when he waves his tin badge and issues a commands ALL should comply. It was almost a pleasure to see him behind bars getting subjected to someone else's boot on his neck for a change. As well Alex called him out nicely for his arrogance.

I do on the whole like SVU but I have to say that I'll always prefer the original and even CI better. This show should be more "Law & Order" and perhaps less Elliot and Olivia. It's developed an irritatingly puerile and cliquish feel to it lately (Stabler and Benson are cool and HOT... everyone else is not). Whatever... I'm a bit worn out on his brooding arrogance and condescension and her idiotic proclamations on homosexuality... as if they're universally accepted and scientifically proved facts.

Turf War

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 18 November 2015]

This SVU episode starts with a rape in a high rise executive office of a company and the female victim it's CEO. But lo and behold when Benson and Stabler come into question the victim they find her being led away in handcuffs by the Feds and US Attorney Pam Grier jealously guarding her turf over her money laundering and racketeering case.

Some other rapes occur that are similar to this one and it leads back to a witness in Federal Protection John Heard and his son Thomas Guiry. Heard married into the Russian mob and these people are known for not leaving loose ends. It results in one of the bloodiest episodes ever done for SVU and Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni in jeopardy of their jobs.

It all comes back to Thomas Guiry, a kid who hates the program he was forced to live under and has a horrific gambling problem.

It's all quite sad as no real justice is meted out to the people at the bottom of this massacre.

Not a good episode for Stable & Benson

[labenji-12163 · 6/10 · 19 November 2020]

I disagree with the reviewer who thought the Fed Agent was a witch, actually it was SUV that should have stood down, and the Captain should have pulled Stable & Benson off the case. The Feds case trumped theirs, and their egos couldn't or wouldn't allow them to backdown. This was not SVUs finest hour.

Underwhelming act

[TheLittleSongbird · 5/10 · 10 September 2020]

All the previous episodes of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' ranged from above average to amazing. Each of the previous three seasons did have one or two episodes that weren't up to par with the overall standard of their respective seasons, but they still managed to have a lot of good to great things. Really liked to loved all the previous four episodes of Season 4 with the season premiere "Chameleon" being especially outstanding and "Vulnerable" hit me hard.

With "Disappearing Acts" however came for me 'Special Victims Unit's' first big disappointment and the first one to underwhelm drastically. Not a terrible episode as such but has always left me very conflicted on what my thoughts are. Didn't care for it on first viewing with too many things that frustrated, and on a few re-watches it's the first episode of the show to leave me rather cold and unsure. Am usually definite on my overall opinions of each episode of the show and of other shows, but there are times where a not easy to review episode comes my way and "Disappearing Acts" is one of them.

"Disappearing Acts" does have good things. The production values are still slick and suitably gritty (without being too heavy in it). The music is not too melodramatic and is not used too much, even not being too manipulative in revelations. The episode is well acted, not just the regulars but Pam Grier also makes a strong impression.

It also starts off very well, where it actually feels like 'Special Victims Unit' and the set up for the case was neat. Some of the dialogue is taut and thought-provoking. There is a very tragic and not easy to watch event that is really quite shocking.

Unfortunately, "Disappearing Acts" goes downhill not long after that event. Most of the SVU are underused, which is a real shame because Munch and Fin do have some fun dialogue. Meanwhile there is too much of the whole conflict between Stabler, Olivia and the Feds, which initially had tension but then that got tired, and too many sackable offense-worthy actions that really unbalance the case and distracts one from it. Actually ended not caring enough for finding out who was responsible for the crimes and the ending was too abrupt.

There is not enough of most of the SVU and too much of Stabler and Olivia, regardless of the good performances of Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay and their strong chemistry. Sadly, neither of them are likeable here and show no regret for their actions, especially Stabler. Cabot's anger and frustration at them is very rootable in this episode. While Grier is strong in her performance, Claudia is not an easy character to like either and dominates too much (also getting away with too much).

Concluding, underwhelming which is probably not going to be a popular opinion. 5/10

Egos Clash

[shelbythuylinh · 5/10 · 11 December 2021]

NYPD vs US Attorney Pam Grier in trying to protect a father-son that are in the witness protection as the latter dislikes it and has a gambling problem.

Really all egos got in the way. Elliott and Olivia should had stood down and let the feds take the rape case as the mafia more bigger there.

But Grier's character had her own big ego. Despite doing her job and being very beyond cooperative and beyond as she seemed to want to claim credit and wanting to help her own career.

Really it was the fault on all sides. Grier's ego was that of a glory hog and that over in Elliott and Olivia should had stood down but no Liberal Hollywood made the feds look like the "villains"

Still it was the fault on all sides with egos. But the fed case was bigger.

Not my favorite episode at all! Pam Grier was a witch!

[ShelbyTMItchell · 1/10 · 17 February 2007]

This happens to be one of my very LEAST favorite episode of all and made the feds out to be the bad guys. But worse, for someone that usually likes Pam Grier, she got on my nerves as well as acted more like the bad guy. When the SVU team was trying to apprehend the feds, the feds accused them of interfering in an investigation. When it should had been the other way around. Yes there is distrust with the local and federal law enforcement. But I wished that either Stabler or Benson would have hauled off and hit Grier's character. She did nothing to interferred, bothered the detectives, malicious prosecution, and also tampered with evidence. While trying to claim credit for the work the detectives really did. Captain Cragen should had made them arrest her but they failed to do so.