User Reviews

Anybody who has read any of my other reviews for for example individual episodes of the 'Law and Order' shows, am slowly working my way through writing reviews for all the episodes of 'Law and Order, 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent' with a long way to go, will know already how much admiration there is from me for anything that tackles difficult and controversial themes and issues. "Waste" is no exception, perhaps one of Season 4's most controversial.

While it may not be one of the season's best, most tense or most emotional episodes, "Waste" was actually one of the most interesting subject matter-wise and that it explored such a tough and complicated subject that was relevant then and is hardly out of date now at all is to be admired. That it managed to handle it very well is something to give it extra props for. "Waste" sounds very strange and convoluted when reading the plot synopsis, but in execution it somehow it managed to be neither.

My only real complaint in an episode that has so little wrong with it is that to me the ending seemed a bit too hastily wrapped up and the episode could have gone into more depth with the why the perpetrator wanted to keep the baby for the quite strange reason given.

The episode otherwise does a great job with this subject. It was quite illuminating in what it had to say on the issue and with each watch (my recent watch was the fifth) what is said made more sense with each viewing. Do agree that it is all very ghoulish, without going over the top on that, but it is handled sensitively and with intelligence too. The script is thought-provoking and doesn't take itself too seriously that it becomes dreary.

Love the team interaction and all the regulars shine in their own way (i.e. Stabler's steely intensity, Munch's dry humour). The supporting characters are interesting too, with Mandell being a slimeball. The acting is great from all the regulars and Bruce Davison is suitably unsettling. The story intrigues and is engaging, even when not as edge of the seat as some other episodes of the season and show.

It's a good looking episode as usual and when it is used the music is not intrusive thankfully. The direction is both alert and accomodating.

Great episode overall if a little rushed and underdeveloped at the end. 8.5/10

What a vile "ripped from the headlines" story! Who knew? The writing is spot on. This story line is so cringey and uncomfortable and that is what makes it so brilliant! The development of the core cast just gets better, which is so nice to season after a 3rd season. So often by season 4 the writers start reaching i.e. Grey's Anatomy S4. These early episodes are just the best of police drama. SVU really sets the bar for the next generation of episodic cop shows.

Dr. Miranda Bailey in scrubs before she was Dr. Miranda Bailey and I'm not mad that we got to watch the origin story of Dwight! Let's form an alliance!