Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) Ballerina (2009) User Reviews

Fantastic Guest Performances

[meowbark_9899 · 9/10 · 29 March 2009]

I've never done one of these before, but I felt the need to say something about this episode after seeing the fantastic performances given by both Carol Burnett and Matthew Lillard. The interrogation scene with Matthew's character was incredible--I don't remember seeing him shine like that in a role for a very long time and it was great to see him doing this kind of character. The breakdown he has after Olivia makes him believe Birdie is giving him up is incredible and very realistic for someone in his situation--I was very, very impressed with his overall performance. And it was great to see Carol Burnett in the Black Widow role--she was so subtle and menacing in her behavior and she also did a fantastic job making her character believable, but then, I'm generally impressed with everything she does.

Overall, the episode was very good, with fantastic performances by both guest stars.

Amazing acting

[Wesklepp · 9/10 · 23 May 2021]

Good episode with amazing amazing acting from guest stars.

Dancing circles

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 5 January 2022]

My main reason for seeing "Ballerina" has always been for the guest stars. Have always loved Carol Burnett, ever since her timeless Miss Hannigan in 'Annie' (am one of not many who still loves that film), and there is good reason as to why her performance here is considered one of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit's' best guest star turns. It was interesting too to see Matthew Lillard in a different role, a role completely different to the comedic goofball characters he plays (notably his voice work for Shaggy in the Scooby Doo franchise).

"Ballerina" has always been a great episode to me, definitely in the top five best episodes of the season (perhaps second best). Almost everything works brilliantly here, with my only issue being a relative nit-pick, namely the acting and one of my favourite interrogation scenes of the show. Season 10 was at its best when the case and the characters it concerns are succinctly focused on and "Ballerina" is one of those episodes and one of the best examples.

Only the annoying and out of place character of Stuckey, who would sadly get worse with each episode he appeared in, doesn't work here, but he is not enough to drag the episode down badly.

Everything else though is brilliant. The best thing about "Ballerina" is Burnett, whose guest performance is one of the show's finest and my favourite guest turn of the season. Her character is not a complex one on paper but that cannot be said for Burnett's menacing and nuanced performance. Lillard shows that he can do roles other than his comedic goofball type of characters equally as well when given a chance, he does unsettling brilliantly here. This is Lillard like you have never seen him before in an unsettlingly great way.

His truly powerful (in writing and delivery) interrogation scene is the best of the show in a long time, perhaps since "Rage" way back in Season 6, and one of the best individual scenes of the season. The regulars are excellent too, but this is one of those episodes where the guest stars are even better.

Case-wise, "Ballerina" is quite lightweight, with there being far twistier episodes before and since and with it being more character driven. This doesn't matter, as the story does absorb in tension and emotional impact and Burnett and Lillard's characters are so psychologically fascinating (especially Burnett's). It also helps that Burnett and Lillard are so good. The script is taut and thought-provoking, especially in the interrogation scene and the hard hitting ending.

It looks good, with the usual slickness and subtle grit. Really liked too that the photography was simple and close up but doing so without being claustrophobic. The music has presence when used, and luckily it isn't constant, and when it is used it doesn't feel over-scored. The direction is controlled but also tight.

Overall, wonderful and to be seen for Burnett especially. 9/10.

Carol Burnett stole the show

[wrenleung · 10/10 · 23 January 2020]

When you have the legendary Carol Burnett guest starring on your show, you put her in every scene. She shines in comedies and she shines in dramas. She deserved her Emmy nomination. She could have won but another SVU guest star, Ellen Burstyn, was also phenominal and ended up getting it.

The best episode

[ColonelPuntridge · 10/10 · 29 December 2018]

This has to be the best L&O:SVU episode. Carol Burnett and Matthew Lillard together are ten times greater than the sum or their individual greatnesses which are already gigantic.

My favorite Law and Order episode

[orangemen1503 · 10/10 · 4 July 2018]

This is my favorite episode ever. Performances are flawless and it has the best interrogation scene you will ever see.

Birdie's Circus Tent

[yazguloner · 10/10 · 25 June 2021]

Birdie (Carol Burnett) . Delightful.

Burnett , chet , marv again 50's vibe and stone acting.

I applaud.

Menacing widow

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 2 July 2015]

It's been a long time since Carol Burnett one of the great comediennes of all time did a dramatic role, possibly not since she co-starred with Walter Matthau in Pete And Tillie. Still Burnett who plays a ditzy five time widow is wonderful in the part as we only gradually learn how menacing she and her 'nephew' Matthew Lillard are to people who are unfortunate enough to marry her.

A triple homicide, a pair of lovers in one apartment and a pure schnook that's shot and killed by a bullet that goes through the wall brings the SVU squad in. The woman was a dancer at an after hours club and a particular favorite of the owner Vincent Curatola.

I won't explain how he did the triple deed, but Curatola is identified by a unique method given the squad by Mike Doyle, the SVU senior technician who appears in so many SVU shows. He's breaking in a new trainee Noel Fisher who is making the first of a series of appearances in the 10th season. He has a nasty habit of getting under Christopher Meloni's skin. Mariska Hargitay is a bit more tolerant of him.

But that's far from over as the eccentric Burnett turns out to have a menacing streak of her own, aided and abetted by Lillard. Quite a revealing performance. Burnett should have rated an Emmy.

Fairly lightweight and performance-driven

[alexandrajade · 7/10 · 27 July 2009]

This episode is clearly a vehicle for Carol Burnett's guest appearance. And that's not so surprising, Burnett is a television legend. But what it does mean is a fairly out-of-the-ordinary SVU episode.

There's really not much in the way of twists and turns in the story, which are hallmarks of the Law & Order franchise. Even though we don't know who the killer is until the end of the episode, we meet him or her (no spoilers) very early on in the episode and stay with him or her for almost all of the episode.

Probably 95 out of every 100 episodes of any show from the Law & Order franchise are story-driven rather than performance-driven. It's what the fans of the show come to expect, and any divergence from it constitutes taking a definite chance. I wouldn't say this episode is bad, because it isn't, but it's not the strong, overwhelming hit that a divergence from the norm ' 'can' ' be when it's flawlessly executed.

The story of the episode didn't necessarily need an hour to tell, and unlike other episodes such as "Rage" that have that characteristic, I was literally saying "That's it?" when the end credits came up.

So, a fair episode, but despite the guest appearance of a TV legend, not one that's likely to endure in my memory.