One of my most vivid memories of when starting to watch 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' over a decade ago was watching "Signature", and how it haunted me and left me in complete horror for a while afterwards. Of all the Season 9 episodes on first watch of the season, it was one of the episodes that stood out when it came to the atmosphere and the emotional impact. At least to me it did, and do know a lot of fellow fans that feel the same.
"Signature" still has staying power atmosphere-wise and emotionally. Other episodes are more consistent in overall quality and have held up better and this is one of the "not as good now" episodes of 'Special Victims Unit'. Due to a couple of things that hurt it that weren't massive problems on first watch, the biggest being a very uneven performance that was distractingly bad in its worst parts. "Signature" is still a very, very good episode and its best aspects (Mariska Hargitay, the emotions felt watching it and the case) are so great.
Erika Christensen's performance has wildly divided the fandom. To me, her performance was uneven and a case of her being much better in the second half than in the first. In the first half, she came over as very stilted and wooden and, even for the case that clearly unnerved all the characters, there was a real feeling that the case was a lot more personal for Cooper than most of the others.
The identity of who was responsible for the initial crime was not a shock, there was just something about them early on that made me think they are involved in some way or know more than they're letting on.
However, there is a lot to recommend here. The production values are 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. What still lives in the memory is the amazing performance of Mariska Hargitay, steely and moving in particularly the second half. Christensen's acting improves vastly later on, she is very moving at the end which shocked and moved me. The chemistry between the two of them is great and one of "Signature's" driving forces.
For most of his stint, Lake didn't do much for me but this is one of his better appearances. Due to that he actually seemed to genuinely feel something about the case and because Adam Beach seems more relaxed than before. Season 9 varied when it came to its stories and not every case was executed very well. That for "Signature" is one of the season's best, it is still truly disturbing with what the victims endure and the torture chamber being the stuff of nightmares. Plus the serial killer is one of the most sadistic and despicable in 'Special Victims Unit' history, the nature of his crimes and what he did will shock even those not easily unsettled. The case is also very sad, especially in the closing moments.
Concluding, very good and nearly great. 8/10.
"Signature" still has staying power atmosphere-wise and emotionally. Other episodes are more consistent in overall quality and have held up better and this is one of the "not as good now" episodes of 'Special Victims Unit'. Due to a couple of things that hurt it that weren't massive problems on first watch, the biggest being a very uneven performance that was distractingly bad in its worst parts. "Signature" is still a very, very good episode and its best aspects (Mariska Hargitay, the emotions felt watching it and the case) are so great.
Erika Christensen's performance has wildly divided the fandom. To me, her performance was uneven and a case of her being much better in the second half than in the first. In the first half, she came over as very stilted and wooden and, even for the case that clearly unnerved all the characters, there was a real feeling that the case was a lot more personal for Cooper than most of the others.
The identity of who was responsible for the initial crime was not a shock, there was just something about them early on that made me think they are involved in some way or know more than they're letting on.
However, there is a lot to recommend here. The production values are 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. What still lives in the memory is the amazing performance of Mariska Hargitay, steely and moving in particularly the second half. Christensen's acting improves vastly later on, she is very moving at the end which shocked and moved me. The chemistry between the two of them is great and one of "Signature's" driving forces.
For most of his stint, Lake didn't do much for me but this is one of his better appearances. Due to that he actually seemed to genuinely feel something about the case and because Adam Beach seems more relaxed than before. Season 9 varied when it came to its stories and not every case was executed very well. That for "Signature" is one of the season's best, it is still truly disturbing with what the victims endure and the torture chamber being the stuff of nightmares. Plus the serial killer is one of the most sadistic and despicable in 'Special Victims Unit' history, the nature of his crimes and what he did will shock even those not easily unsettled. The case is also very sad, especially in the closing moments.
Concluding, very good and nearly great. 8/10.