"Undercover" left a massive impression on me on first watch, and was a fairly unique episode for 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' up to that point of the show's run and still does stand out. One scene especially chilled me to the bone (and still does) and it was very interesting to see once again Olivia go undercover and see her on the other side of the law. Something that was shown brilliantly in Season 8's "Infiltrated", so anybody who loved that in that episode will of course be intrigued here.
The undercover plot is handled every bit as brilliantly in "Undercover", and perhaps even better. As an episode of 'Special Victims Unit', "Undercover" is brilliant and among the best episodes from the middle period in my view. As an episode for anything, it is also brilliant. As far as Season 9, "Undercover" is easily one of the standout (in a good way) episodes and one of the few high rated ones to be as good as touted (was disappointed by a few of them personally).
Everything is executed wonderfully individually and comes together just as much. Photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has some nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way.
Writing is taut and thought-provoking. The story is always compelling and tightly paced, with a great tense atmosphere and very foreboding and unforgiving use of the prison setting. The scene that all fans talk about when discussing "Undercover" (the one in the basement) is truly terrifying, a scene where one is truly scared for Olivia and not sure what will happen. Easily one of the standout scenes of Season 9, from the show's middle period (Seasons 8-12) and in quite a while and to this day it is still one of its finest.
Mariska Hargitay delivers another fantastic performance, one of her best of Season 9 and of the show overall. Olivia's chemistry with Ashley is touching and it is very easy to root for a good outcome and there is genuinely creepy tension.
In summary, brilliant. 10/10.
The undercover plot is handled every bit as brilliantly in "Undercover", and perhaps even better. As an episode of 'Special Victims Unit', "Undercover" is brilliant and among the best episodes from the middle period in my view. As an episode for anything, it is also brilliant. As far as Season 9, "Undercover" is easily one of the standout (in a good way) episodes and one of the few high rated ones to be as good as touted (was disappointed by a few of them personally).
Everything is executed wonderfully individually and comes together just as much. Photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has some nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way.
Writing is taut and thought-provoking. The story is always compelling and tightly paced, with a great tense atmosphere and very foreboding and unforgiving use of the prison setting. The scene that all fans talk about when discussing "Undercover" (the one in the basement) is truly terrifying, a scene where one is truly scared for Olivia and not sure what will happen. Easily one of the standout scenes of Season 9, from the show's middle period (Seasons 8-12) and in quite a while and to this day it is still one of its finest.
Mariska Hargitay delivers another fantastic performance, one of her best of Season 9 and of the show overall. Olivia's chemistry with Ashley is touching and it is very easy to root for a good outcome and there is genuinely creepy tension.
In summary, brilliant. 10/10.