Typically great written and shocking episode. But the Vigilante guy from the previous episode that everyone, including myself, was suspicious of - turns out to be more than that, he is actually a guilty predator! Lots of steps in between the beginning to that revelation makes this brilliant as usual. Only loses points for the fact that Benson especially doesn't realise his guilt earlier.
6 Reviews
Hits the bullseye in quality
TheLittleSongbird30 May 2022
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. The case with "Bullseye" in a classic 'Special Victims Unit' scenario.
While not quite as brilliant as the previous episode, the Season 12 opener "Locum", "Bullseye" is one of the best episodes easily of the season and the second winner in a row. Part of a four great and more episodes in a row streak, before the streak was broken with "Wet" which began the season's general inconsistency. "Bullseye" is not quite perfect, but there is very little to fault and the many good things are done greatly and brilliantly even in most.
The Noonan Syndrome reference, if to be picky, in my view was best left out, what is said is not accurate and in a way that is not tasteful. The frame up also seemed on the neat side.
"Bullseye" succeeds extremely well everywhere else though. The slick, subtly gritty and intimate production values are still present, while not going too far on the intimacy that it becomes too drab and closed up. The music lets the writing do all the talking without over-emphasising the emotions, while the direction is subtle without being bland or leaden.
Furthermore, the script is tightly structured and intelligent, conveying a wide range of emotions, especially in the latter stages. The story is another one that hits hard, and while the approach to the difficult subject matter is uncompromising and the complete opposite of sugar coated it is done tactfully too at the same time. It doesn't feel simplistic or convoluted and for a long time the twist was completely unexpected, still remember the mouth agape reaction felt on first viewing.
Acting is also great, especially Marsiska Hargitay and Henry Ian Cusick. Love their chemistry too. It was great to see more of the too often underused (or at least in the late Stabler period episodes) Munch and Fin.
Overall, excellent. 9/10.
While not quite as brilliant as the previous episode, the Season 12 opener "Locum", "Bullseye" is one of the best episodes easily of the season and the second winner in a row. Part of a four great and more episodes in a row streak, before the streak was broken with "Wet" which began the season's general inconsistency. "Bullseye" is not quite perfect, but there is very little to fault and the many good things are done greatly and brilliantly even in most.
The Noonan Syndrome reference, if to be picky, in my view was best left out, what is said is not accurate and in a way that is not tasteful. The frame up also seemed on the neat side.
"Bullseye" succeeds extremely well everywhere else though. The slick, subtly gritty and intimate production values are still present, while not going too far on the intimacy that it becomes too drab and closed up. The music lets the writing do all the talking without over-emphasising the emotions, while the direction is subtle without being bland or leaden.
Furthermore, the script is tightly structured and intelligent, conveying a wide range of emotions, especially in the latter stages. The story is another one that hits hard, and while the approach to the difficult subject matter is uncompromising and the complete opposite of sugar coated it is done tactfully too at the same time. It doesn't feel simplistic or convoluted and for a long time the twist was completely unexpected, still remember the mouth agape reaction felt on first viewing.
Acting is also great, especially Marsiska Hargitay and Henry Ian Cusick. Love their chemistry too. It was great to see more of the too often underused (or at least in the late Stabler period episodes) Munch and Fin.
Overall, excellent. 9/10.
What a collection
bkoganbing20 November 2015
Henry Ian Cusick makes a second appearance as computer whiz and leader of a vigilante group against pedophiles in this SVU episode. During the course of the story he tries to date Olivia Benson to no avail.
A young girl is raped in the Kip's Bay area of Manhattan after which she's found in a garbage pile not having eaten. It takes awhile and Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay go through a series of false leads before the right perpetrator is found.
I say it that way because this show is an indictment of the sex offender registry. A lot of people are on it for various reasons as we find out, but the published existence of such a list is an invitation to vigilante behavior.
Stephen Tobolowsky looks good for it for a bit. But he gets rather neatly framed and it has tragic results.
I have to single out Daniel Stewart Sherman and Melissa Rain Anderson as the parents of the victim Ruby Jerins. There's a reason she's out in that dumpster, both of these people are something else with some considerable problems. B.D. Wong diagnoses one really strange syndrome for mom.
You'll think about sex offender lists real hard after seeing this story.
A young girl is raped in the Kip's Bay area of Manhattan after which she's found in a garbage pile not having eaten. It takes awhile and Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay go through a series of false leads before the right perpetrator is found.
I say it that way because this show is an indictment of the sex offender registry. A lot of people are on it for various reasons as we find out, but the published existence of such a list is an invitation to vigilante behavior.
Stephen Tobolowsky looks good for it for a bit. But he gets rather neatly framed and it has tragic results.
I have to single out Daniel Stewart Sherman and Melissa Rain Anderson as the parents of the victim Ruby Jerins. There's a reason she's out in that dumpster, both of these people are something else with some considerable problems. B.D. Wong diagnoses one really strange syndrome for mom.
You'll think about sex offender lists real hard after seeing this story.
The second-half of the 12th season premiere has its "moments"
garrard22 September 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Henry Ian Cusick returns as Erik Weber, a man falsely suspected of being a pedophile who assists the detectives in the pursuit of a serial rapist of little girls.
There are a few "surprises" in the hunt to find the actual perpetrator as well as "hint" that Cusick's character would like to become more involved with Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay).
However, that is short-lived as the ending reveals that all is not as it appears to me...and the last few minutes of the show end with a "shock" that isn't that big of a revelation.
Broadway actress Anita Gillette makes a return as a presiding judge.
There are a few "surprises" in the hunt to find the actual perpetrator as well as "hint" that Cusick's character would like to become more involved with Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay).
However, that is short-lived as the ending reveals that all is not as it appears to me...and the last few minutes of the show end with a "shock" that isn't that big of a revelation.
Broadway actress Anita Gillette makes a return as a presiding judge.
"What Happened Olivia..?"
carmenjulianna8 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Why oh why again..!!! Has Olivia no that regards instincts as a seasoned SVU detective....???
This storyline is absolutely ridiculous!! Shame on those reviewers that gave a high review..:( This is a follow-up to the previous episode "Locum"regarding the runaway girl Mackenzie..played by actress-Bailee Madison, also guest starring 'Peter Strauss' (Love his work:)) and 'Joan Cusack' a great actress! The British actor playing Erik Weber was not even investigated during the episode "Locum" which was a complete shock and surprise! What were they thinking about? It was obvious he was a paedophile..¿ It was also a surprise when he popped up again in this episode "Bullseye"..Wow, what a coincidence one presumes, here we go, as it's a tell-tale sign when you suddenly see his face appear as a children taikwondo instructor..?
What happens next is unbelievable.. Olivia again falls for a face, when this Erik Weber has hacked child pornography on his own personal computer, and Olivia calls him a genius. Am I missing something here... Is he not a civilian possessing illegal images in the guise of (his investigations) Why was he Never a suspect? Why was he Not looked into, especially being a foreigner.. In the previous episode, it was obvious he was no-good..If you, as an SVU female detective have no instincts, what the h--l are you doing in a job like that? In all the seasons of SVU, Olivia doesn't seem to learn anything about a persons character or demeanour.. I can honestly say Erik Weber would have definitely been a person of interest from day one in my book.. Especially when in the previous episode"Locum" he was sat drinking juice (having purchased the drink himself) with the runaway girl Mackenzie in the train station, without alerting the police or the security guards in the station. Mckenzie was only eight years old or thereabout... Isn't that suspicious in itself that would warrant at least a house search and background check..He was allowed to leave without any investigation or any checks what-so-ever..Why, because he was a supposedly good looking man and, not only did he come-on to Olivia Benson, but, she was in-two-minds (once again) to reciprocate.. I really love SVU, but on many an occasion, the writers get it completely wrong, especially with regards to 'Mariska Hagertys' character..(Her character needs to develop alot more instincts) On these crossover episodes, the writers certainly did miss an opportunity for Olivia to get it right the first time for a change.. That is why on this occasion my rating score is a 3.. Better Luck Next Time...:(
This storyline is absolutely ridiculous!! Shame on those reviewers that gave a high review..:( This is a follow-up to the previous episode "Locum"regarding the runaway girl Mackenzie..played by actress-Bailee Madison, also guest starring 'Peter Strauss' (Love his work:)) and 'Joan Cusack' a great actress! The British actor playing Erik Weber was not even investigated during the episode "Locum" which was a complete shock and surprise! What were they thinking about? It was obvious he was a paedophile..¿ It was also a surprise when he popped up again in this episode "Bullseye"..Wow, what a coincidence one presumes, here we go, as it's a tell-tale sign when you suddenly see his face appear as a children taikwondo instructor..?
What happens next is unbelievable.. Olivia again falls for a face, when this Erik Weber has hacked child pornography on his own personal computer, and Olivia calls him a genius. Am I missing something here... Is he not a civilian possessing illegal images in the guise of (his investigations) Why was he Never a suspect? Why was he Not looked into, especially being a foreigner.. In the previous episode, it was obvious he was no-good..If you, as an SVU female detective have no instincts, what the h--l are you doing in a job like that? In all the seasons of SVU, Olivia doesn't seem to learn anything about a persons character or demeanour.. I can honestly say Erik Weber would have definitely been a person of interest from day one in my book.. Especially when in the previous episode"Locum" he was sat drinking juice (having purchased the drink himself) with the runaway girl Mackenzie in the train station, without alerting the police or the security guards in the station. Mckenzie was only eight years old or thereabout... Isn't that suspicious in itself that would warrant at least a house search and background check..He was allowed to leave without any investigation or any checks what-so-ever..Why, because he was a supposedly good looking man and, not only did he come-on to Olivia Benson, but, she was in-two-minds (once again) to reciprocate.. I really love SVU, but on many an occasion, the writers get it completely wrong, especially with regards to 'Mariska Hagertys' character..(Her character needs to develop alot more instincts) On these crossover episodes, the writers certainly did miss an opportunity for Olivia to get it right the first time for a change.. That is why on this occasion my rating score is a 3.. Better Luck Next Time...:(
Okay episode but don't write about a disorder you clearly haven't done any research on though
reviewer59914 August 2023
The episode was good overall but it could've linked better to the episode before since the same guy was in it. Why wasn't he investigated more since he kept acting really suspicious? And why didn't we see anything happen to Rose's "parents"? There was clearly something very wrong there and so much child neglect!
Also, did the writers just find some random unknown syndrome online and give it some random characteristics because that's not what Noonan syndrome is at all. One of the main characteristics is short stature and the guy looks very tall (turns out he's 5ft 6 but that's not really short - the average height for people with Noonans is around 5ft to 5ft 3). Another one is heart defects, not diminished psychological capacity as it's not a chromosomal abnormality, it's a genetic disorder.
If you're going to give a character a diagnosis then do some actual research on what is it.
Also, did the writers just find some random unknown syndrome online and give it some random characteristics because that's not what Noonan syndrome is at all. One of the main characteristics is short stature and the guy looks very tall (turns out he's 5ft 6 but that's not really short - the average height for people with Noonans is around 5ft to 5ft 3). Another one is heart defects, not diminished psychological capacity as it's not a chromosomal abnormality, it's a genetic disorder.
If you're going to give a character a diagnosis then do some actual research on what is it.
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