When seeing "Venom" for the first time some years ago it struck me then as a very good episode indeed. Character development to Fin is always welcome (and whenever he is centered upon, which isn't done enough, a great job is done with him), and what stood out about "Venom" to me on first viewing was the tension in the dialogue and exchanges and a truly fantastic guest turn that is often classed among fans as one of the show's best.
Re-watching it several times since, "Venom" still is a very good episode. Season 7 was very hit and miss in my view and the start of when 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' became inconsistent', and "Venom" is definitely in the better end. The things that struck me as particularly good on first watch are still evident and think even more highly of them. Will say though that to me that it isn't quite as good as before, as there is a problem that wasn't a problem on earlier viewings that does bother me now.
Shall start with the many great things that "Venom" has. The production values are still slick and suitably gritty (without being too heavy in it), the location work intimate but not overly so. The music is not too melodramatic and is not used too much, even not being too manipulative in revelations. The direction is accomodating yet with momentum.
The writing pulls no punches in a suitably venomous way and sears at its best. Fin and Teresa have powerful exchanges together, that are relatable to anybody in a dysfunctional relationship struck in a difficult situation. The tensions within the team was also well written, such as the love/hate relationship between Stabler and Fin (though Fin did not have to get to the level of insulting Stabler's daughter). The storytelling is not the complex, unpredictable twists and turns-heavy sort of plot, but the suspense that it has is intense and more so than most episodes of Season 7.
"Venom's" family tension doesn't get too soap-operatic and a case of where one can see both sides and where it is easy to see that Fin really wants to help his son while not trying to compromise his job. Could really understand the pressure he was under and how difficult it must have been difficult for him to not be hostile. Fin's character writing was great here and while some might find his anger over-the-top, to me in this situation he was right to be apart from that one line. Ice-T and especially Ludacris (deserving of the love he gets from fans for this episode and the Season 8 finale "Screwed") give powerhouse performances. Ludacris' anger and resentment in the climactic moments is very chilling and it is amazing that he was capable of giving a performance like this.
It's not a perfect episode. Did feel that the ending is too abrupt, although it is setting one up for the events that happen in "Screwed".
Also, and this is something that was picked up on on later re-watches, Stabler's attitude did put me off. Didn't like how he jumped to conclusions and was such a colossal jerk to Ken on the basis of hardly any evidence and then doing the same to Fin, despite that in "Ripped" he put his job on the line helping out the son of a friend and wouldn't listen to dissenting opinions.
Overall, very good and nearly great, if not quite. A very, very strong 8/10.
Re-watching it several times since, "Venom" still is a very good episode. Season 7 was very hit and miss in my view and the start of when 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' became inconsistent', and "Venom" is definitely in the better end. The things that struck me as particularly good on first watch are still evident and think even more highly of them. Will say though that to me that it isn't quite as good as before, as there is a problem that wasn't a problem on earlier viewings that does bother me now.
Shall start with the many great things that "Venom" has. The production values are still slick and suitably gritty (without being too heavy in it), the location work intimate but not overly so. The music is not too melodramatic and is not used too much, even not being too manipulative in revelations. The direction is accomodating yet with momentum.
The writing pulls no punches in a suitably venomous way and sears at its best. Fin and Teresa have powerful exchanges together, that are relatable to anybody in a dysfunctional relationship struck in a difficult situation. The tensions within the team was also well written, such as the love/hate relationship between Stabler and Fin (though Fin did not have to get to the level of insulting Stabler's daughter). The storytelling is not the complex, unpredictable twists and turns-heavy sort of plot, but the suspense that it has is intense and more so than most episodes of Season 7.
"Venom's" family tension doesn't get too soap-operatic and a case of where one can see both sides and where it is easy to see that Fin really wants to help his son while not trying to compromise his job. Could really understand the pressure he was under and how difficult it must have been difficult for him to not be hostile. Fin's character writing was great here and while some might find his anger over-the-top, to me in this situation he was right to be apart from that one line. Ice-T and especially Ludacris (deserving of the love he gets from fans for this episode and the Season 8 finale "Screwed") give powerhouse performances. Ludacris' anger and resentment in the climactic moments is very chilling and it is amazing that he was capable of giving a performance like this.
It's not a perfect episode. Did feel that the ending is too abrupt, although it is setting one up for the events that happen in "Screwed".
Also, and this is something that was picked up on on later re-watches, Stabler's attitude did put me off. Didn't like how he jumped to conclusions and was such a colossal jerk to Ken on the basis of hardly any evidence and then doing the same to Fin, despite that in "Ripped" he put his job on the line helping out the son of a friend and wouldn't listen to dissenting opinions.
Overall, very good and nearly great, if not quite. A very, very strong 8/10.
