Scavenger
- Episode aired Oct 19, 2004
- TV-14
- 41m
The entire SVU squad races against the clock to solve the puzzles and uncover clues scattered throughout NYC by a serial killer who is taunting them to find him and the next victims on his l... Read allThe entire SVU squad races against the clock to solve the puzzles and uncover clues scattered throughout NYC by a serial killer who is taunting them to find him and the next victims on his list.The entire SVU squad races against the clock to solve the puzzles and uncover clues scattered throughout NYC by a serial killer who is taunting them to find him and the next victims on his list.
Photos
- Special Agent Dr. George Huang, M.D.
- (as B.D. Wong)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDiane Neal's line " I just set a world record getting these search warrants, not to mention risking my life to interrupt Judge Terhune's poker game... again!" refers to an event in Bound (2004).
- GoofsWhen speaking about how RDK takes care of his books Olivia comments "he's got a humidifier." Olivia must of meant to say "dehumidifier" as a humidifier adds moisture to the air, which would be bad for books and paper, whereas a dehumidifier removes moisture from the air.
- Quotes
ADA Casey Novak: I just set a world record getting these search warrants, not to mention risking my life to interrupt Judge Terhune's poker game... again!
Detective John Munch: Oh poor baby, I haven't slept in 40 hours.
- ConnectionsFeatured in MsMojo: Top 10 BEST Law & Order: SVU Episodes (2020)
One of the best episodes of this period is "Scavenger" and even after Season 6 ended it was to me still a standout of the season. This is a fine example of a 'Special Victims Unit' that stayed with me for a long time afterwards on first watch and still has that effect, especially when the whole of Season 6 airs. The killer, the suspense and the ending have always struck me as particularly great as well as the team's roles being more balanced than the previous three episodes of the season.
Everything in "Scavenger" works wonderfully and comes together as an overall package just as wonderfully. The 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.
All the regular cast are superb with no exceptions, especially in the latter stages when things get genuinely intense. Doug Hutchinson is one truly sinister creep and Elizabeth Franz shines too in a pivotal role. The dialogue is taut, full of personality and as with most early season 'Special Victims Unit' episodes made me think long and hard after. There are plenty of great twists (without being too much) and genuinely frightening suspense. All the taunts, puzzles and clues make "Scavenger" a truly unsettling and suitably puzzling watch. The killer is among the show's most sinister.
The ending is pure genius and brilliantly written and played, the tension fever-pitch. It was really good to see all the SVU play prominent roles, rather than two having most of the screen time and the others having relative bit parts.
Wonderful episode all in all. 10/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jan 27, 2021