'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' have done many character-driven episodes, with there being at least one in each season. In terms of quality, they have varied. Some are illuminating and powerful, where one gets insight into how and why the character focused on came to be the way they are. Others are very soapy, can be too heavily focused on and get in the way of the case solving. Those centered around Olivia have fallen into both those extremes for example.
"Ripped" centres around Stabler and on the most part it's in the former category. It is not on the same level of brilliance of the previous episode "911" (widely considered one of the best 'Special Victims Unit' episodes), but it is still very good in its own way and nearly great. It is very revealing in the development of Stabler and doesn't feel like covering the same ground or going round in circles with him. Maybe there could have been a little more of an equal balance between the psychiatry and the case perhaps, but "Ripped" is mostly very successful in its execution.
On a visual level, the episode is solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden, while having enough momentum to make the drama sing in its atmosphere. The performances are all top notch, with Christopher Meloni indeed dominating. Although Meloni gave many outstanding performances as Stabler his performance here is towards the top of the best, his more vulnerable side brought out is incredibly moving.
The script on the most part is thoughtful and intelligently crafted, the pulling no punches approach not coming over as overly grim. The story mostly is absorbing, with a difficult issue dealt with with intensity but with enough tact to avoid heavy-handedness which is not easy to do with a subject matter as dark as this. The character chemistry is very strong throughout, the big one being Stabler and Hendricks and that was both firey and sympathetic. "Ripped" is most notable for Stabler's character development, we knew about his wife and children and how he was finding the stress of the job and the increasingly difficult family situation difficult. This however is the first time we delve into his past and it is here where one finally has an understanding for why he behaves the way he does and why such a hard hitting case like the one here hit home with him, with a past like he has and suppressing it for so long it is no wonder he acts this way.
By all means "Ripped" isn't quite perfect. Did think that it was too talky in spots, especially in the scenes with Stabler and Hendricks. A lot of the talk was thankfully very revealing, other parts a little rambling.
It takes a little too long to get to the point, we could have found out everything needed to know with 5-10 minutes trimming quite easily. Would have liked a little less of the Stabler/Hendricks subplot and more of the case that caused Stabler to go over the edge.
Summing up, very good on the whole. 8/10.
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