"American Dreams" and "Sanctuary" make up the two part Season 18 finale. Both were a year or so ago very lowly rated and are divisive episodes on other sites too, so if one is feeling apprehensive about watching them that is understandable. On first watch, both were to me solidly executed episodes and among the better first viewings of all the Season 18 episodes. The season did have good and more episodes but was generally rather unsatisfying.
My rewatches of "American Dreams" and "Sanctuary" were actually every bit as good as on first watch. Appreciate both even more now with more knowledge of the topic(s) covered. It is one of the season's boldest and most relevant topics explored in "Sanctuary", while the story is far from executed perfectly and there are better and more consistent season finales for 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit', "Sanctuary" does a lot right and is a gutsy, brave episode that is nowhere near as bad as indicated here. As far as Season 18 goes, there are far worse episodes than both those two parts (one of the few lowly rated episodes that are nowhere near close to being as bad), many.
"Sanctuary" succeeds more than it fails. It doesn't look drab or gaudy, and the editing is far from slapdash. The music avoids getting too melodramatic in the more dramatic moments while not being too low key, it has always been a good move that it is used relatively sparingly. The direction especially shines in the character interaction in the second half. The script on the whole is beautifully balanced, there is a lot of talk but taut enough to avoid it from waffling.
The story is uncompromising, moving and hard hitting once again, a tough topic that was very relevant then and not too irrelevant now handled very well, movingly and disturbingly, on the whole. It's not too simple or convoluted, with a lot happening but not feeling too much. The acting all round is excellent, Mariska Hargitay and Raul Esparza taking centre stage and giving intense performances.
Will agree that it is, like "American Dreams", heavy handed (the biggest criticism commonly directed at it) when it comes to the politics, considering the subject that was inevitable in a way.
Did think too that Barba's ethics were anything but ethical, don't remember him seeming willing to jeopardise his career. As well as feeling that the ending was too much of a running out of gas cop out that didn't have anywhere near the amount of tension it should have had.
Overall though, much better than given credit for. 7/10.
My rewatches of "American Dreams" and "Sanctuary" were actually every bit as good as on first watch. Appreciate both even more now with more knowledge of the topic(s) covered. It is one of the season's boldest and most relevant topics explored in "Sanctuary", while the story is far from executed perfectly and there are better and more consistent season finales for 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit', "Sanctuary" does a lot right and is a gutsy, brave episode that is nowhere near as bad as indicated here. As far as Season 18 goes, there are far worse episodes than both those two parts (one of the few lowly rated episodes that are nowhere near close to being as bad), many.
"Sanctuary" succeeds more than it fails. It doesn't look drab or gaudy, and the editing is far from slapdash. The music avoids getting too melodramatic in the more dramatic moments while not being too low key, it has always been a good move that it is used relatively sparingly. The direction especially shines in the character interaction in the second half. The script on the whole is beautifully balanced, there is a lot of talk but taut enough to avoid it from waffling.
The story is uncompromising, moving and hard hitting once again, a tough topic that was very relevant then and not too irrelevant now handled very well, movingly and disturbingly, on the whole. It's not too simple or convoluted, with a lot happening but not feeling too much. The acting all round is excellent, Mariska Hargitay and Raul Esparza taking centre stage and giving intense performances.
Will agree that it is, like "American Dreams", heavy handed (the biggest criticism commonly directed at it) when it comes to the politics, considering the subject that was inevitable in a way.
Did think too that Barba's ethics were anything but ethical, don't remember him seeming willing to jeopardise his career. As well as feeling that the ending was too much of a running out of gas cop out that didn't have anywhere near the amount of tension it should have had.
Overall though, much better than given credit for. 7/10.