User Reviews

"Trophy" didn't do an awful lot for me on first watch. A very strong case of loving the guest turn but finding the writing and story nowhere near close to being as good. Which happened with other episodes before and since as well, such as Dean Cain in "Starved" and John Stamos in "Bang" for examples. 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' has also varied when it comes to having a good deal of focus on the personal lives of a main character.

Some episodes did this aspect very well and managed to do it in a way that either tied in with the case, gave an in depth look in how the character focused on came to be the way they are or became or both. Others focused upon this aspect too much and the worst cases were the ones that dragged out a recurring issue that varied in whether it interested in the first. It is unfortunately the latter with "Trophy". Not terrible or one of the worst Season 12 episodes, but could have been better.

Of course there are good things, the best of which has already been singled out. R Lee Ermey is absolutely brilliant and truly spine chilling, especially the delivery of the line "I want a lawyer". Joe Sikora poignantly shows genuine terror at how he is treated. The regulars are all fine too, especially steely but also emotionally unflinching Mariska Hargitay.

It is great once again to see Huang in character and closer to early seasons Huang and not Season 11 one and Stabler here is noticeably calmer than he was in all of Season 11. There is some nice tension with the case, namely down to Ermey. The production values are still slick and suitably gritty (without being too heavy in it). The music is not too melodramatic and is not used too much, even not being too manipulative in revelations.

However, "Trophy" as an overall episode is too melodramatic for my tastes. Especially the Olivia personal life subplot, which there is too much of to the extent that it overshadows the case. It is also melodrama that pretty much brings up what we already know with very little progression, so it was like beating a dead horse. Everything with Maria bello was very shoe horned in and contrived, a shame seeing as Bello is actually great in the role.

Dialogue could have been tauter and is too soapy, while there are too many sackable offense worthy unprofessionalism and basic errors (i.e. Illegal search) and out of character moments, while Hardwicke doesn't live up to the promise shown in "Branded" with her competence being lacking this time.

Concluding, watchable thanks to primarily Ermey but could have been better. 5/10.