Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) Dearly Beloved (2019) User Reviews

Dearly Beloved

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 4 May 2019]

Well, that was certainly an entertaining, soapy opening scene to set up the episode.

Things went off the rails quickly, in true SVU fashion, but at least this felt a little fresh and creative.

This is why it was a great episode

[chris-j-chuba · 10/10 · 22 August 2019]

Olivia (Mariska Hargitay) had to investigate the absolutely most ambiguous case of sexual assault ever. Every time a new fact emerged it created more turmoil and ambiguity. I liked the episode because Olivia was very professional, there was no soapbox, jumping to conclusions, just a relentless pursuit of the truth. Was the story a bit contrived? Sure but the whole point was to stir the pot.

A tremendous episode

[todengle · 10/10 · 5 April 2019]

A really inventively directed and filmed and acted episode featuring one of Mariska Hargitay's best performances and that is saying a lot !

Edge of your seat drama!

[mbrew-94341 · 10/10 · 10 May 2019]

Truly enjoyable episode from the very first church scene to the final reveal. Excellent work from Mariska, Liu, and cast!

Like the plot; the characterizations, not so much

[littlelizzyann · 6/10 · 26 April 2023]

This isn't a great episode, but it is nicely twisty. The ending is satisfying to me because I tend to like the eps with unambiguous bad guys.

I can't say I love the way Olivia is portrayed in a lot of the later eps, but my biggest issue here is her pushing the woman not to get an abortion. I kind of wish this writer had watched the early season ep in which Olivia said she would absolutely abort a child conceived through rape. Yes, people change, but Olivia applying subtle pressure to a deeply distraught woman to "really think about what she's doing" before she gets an abortion is a change I really dislike.

Not so dear love

[TheLittleSongbird · 4/10 · 6 July 2023]

One of the biggest appeals of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' has been the topics it addresses and issues that come with the topics addressed. Also with how they are explored, the execution more often than not was hardly sugar coated or trivialised and was often pull no punches in quality. "Dearly Beloved" was definitely one of those kinds of episodes of having difficult subjects, though memories of first watch were not good, with the story execution and writing severely wanting on many levels for this viewer.

Some episodes that weren't too great on first watch fared better on rewatch, but others that didn't work first time still didn't on rewatch and either about the same or worse. One of those episodes is "Dearly Beloved". Season 20 was showing some improvement (not significant but sizeable enough), but with "Dearly Beloved" it goes back to disappointment and nearly on par with the worst Season 20 episodes. It's not quite that, with it being better than something like "Part 33" (which is how to not do a change of pace), but it is in the lesser end.

"Dearly Beloved" does have good things. It is slickly photographed throughout, a perfect match for the gritty tone, and the location work looks both striking and atmosphere-filled. The music is only used when necessary and when it is used it does stick in the mind and not done so ham-handedly. Both the main theme and opening voice over are memorable.

The acting from the regulars and supporting cast is all fine.

Less fine are the writing and even more so the storytelling. The dialogue is awkward and could have been a lot tighter and more subtle. The story is very thin and predictable, with the evidence being far too flimsy to be prosecutable, which contributed to some very dull pacing throughout. Atmosphere-wise, "Dearly Beloved" is bland. Like a stale sandwich with too little filling. Very little tension or suspense due to over obviousness.

Furthermore, the ending is ridiculous. What Kitty does should have been treated far more seriously and not treated like she had not committed a crime. Olivia actually does not come over as professional, trying to influence somebody to keep a baby is not just unprofessional but also unethical. While the acting is fine, the chemistry is rather disconnected.

In conclusion, rather lacklustre. 4/10.

I'm so confused

[bkoganbing · 2/10 · 9 October 2020]

This was an SVU episode that will leave the most ardent fan discouraged and confused. It surely left me that way.

Shiri Appleby comes to the squad saying she was raped by her therapist But when T.H. Thyne the therapist is questioned he denies it all. Then it seems Appleby starts her own investigation which results in some very proveable charges of harassment.

It goes back and forth that way and the viewer doesn't know what to make of it. I'd have sent them both home and fired thewriter.s .

Honestly I don't know why I keep watching

[mmmtastysandwhich · 3/10 · 12 June 2023]

Seriously what is going on with this show? Paper thin storylines and inconsistent directing choices.

In this particular episode, like quite a few this season, the supposed perp is completely believable and the accuser isn't. They then shift suddenly to the baddie being a hand rubbing villain all while the SVU detectives completely step all over whatever character consistency they've had or supposed professional experience to suddenly act all conflicted or distraught. Multiple times in an episode they'll be completely sure about something unsupportable by what we see on screen, and completely oblivious to what is obvious to the audience.

It's like all conflict has to be forced into these paper thin premises because the writers can't come up with interesting storylines or the producers are imposing bad "we need ACTING moments!" Emmy bait for cynical reasons.

Characters I've loved for multiple seasons are increasingly unlikeable and frustrating.

Every once and a while there is a great, fun episode so it's not all bad. It's getting hard to believe this is just a rough patch, though.

Terrible episode!

[fcooper01 · 2/10 · 31 July 2023]

What the hell was this episode?? The storyline was so weak, numerous plot holes and writing inconsistencies. NO WOMEN in their position would follow through with how they portrayed this story. They made the women look gullible, easily victimized, and not empowered by the end of the episode.

Ok, well it's required that have more characters so SPOILER ALERT! No women would continue to see their attacker! No person would! And yet that's what was written and played out.

And then Olivia and Amanda were 2 gossip girls around the water cooler at some point which is just SO not them. Very disappointing episode all around.

Dearly Beloved

[audaciousness · 4/10 · 18 July 2019]

It just wasn't a very memorable episode and it didn't have very good writing either... certainly a low-light in an otherwise fantastic season.

Wasted storyline.

[jordonleblanc · 3/10 · 7 April 2019]

It seemed like SVU was taking this in a unique direction but it kind of just ended up being a boring, paint-by-numbers affair. Too bad. It might have been interesting to see it play out a bit differently.

Terrible writing

[marshallboak-79601 · 1/10 · 8 April 2019]

This is just another step in the long slow slide of SVU into worse and worse writing. The plot is so thin that it's obvious that despite the ending, it wouldn't be prosecutable. Plus, as with all episodes now, we had to endure the open mouth breathing, crying, overacting, and non-stop preaching from Olivia Benson. The show now is simply a platform for her character to preach and be upset. Can anyone find an episode in the last year or two without her frowny, chin wiggling, self righteous, overacting? They could easily revitalize the show if they eliminated Olivia Benson from the show. It's not like she ever does anything different in any episode nowadays. Honestly, she's ruined the show. It's just unwatchable now.

Oh, BROTHER!!!

[docjoque · 2/10 · 10 April 2019]

The death rattle just keeps getting louder and louder. The ridiculous story lines are increasingly pathetic. These plot lines would never even get anyone arrested, let alone arraigned, and certainly not convicted. Please just put a stake to the heart of this once beloved show.