On first watch, which was when it first aired pretty much, "Strange Beauty" definitely stood out. Sadly not for the right reasons and not in a good way. It was one of only two episodes from Season 13 to do nothing for me on first watch, the other being "Learning Curve". Both coming over as having some good things but with such flawed storytelling and with too much of a tried too hard feel. Have said about being surprised by Season 13 on the whole, but it did have its disappointments.
"Strange Beauty" still a few rewatches later, having watched the whole show more than once over time through regular airings, is one of those disappointments. If there was a contender for the worst episode of Season 13, this would be a worthy winner (though it was a tough call between this and "Learning Curve", this gets the slight edge because at least that episode wasn't as uncomfortably weird). And it definitely replaces "Street Revenge" as the weirdest episode of the season and one of the weirdest in 'Special Victims Unit' history.
There are good things. 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.
Acting from the regulars is dependably good and that Rollins is more interesting and more developed here than in her previous episodes and that Kelli Giddish is starting to relax were appreciated. The start intrigued.
However, a lot doesn't work. And not just doesn't quite, we're talking at all. The story is a big disorganised, borderline incoherent mess, due to trying to do too much in the second half and not doing enough of any of its elements. Elements that had some potential on paper but botched and excessively strange in execution. Calling the second half especially strange is an understatement with too much of an already weird turn in the plot in a jarring gear change being confusingly done. Everything with the body parts just perplexed me.
While the subject matter is disturbing and had the makings for a disturbing episode, the episode does overdo the squeamish factor to the point of gratuity. Too much of the dialogue is too forced and soapy and the pace is as erratic as the story, dull in the first half and choppy in the second. The supporting cast don't register that well in sketchily written roles, so they don't come over as memorable. It did feel to me too much like a 'Criminal Intent' episode except without the delving of the perpetrator's mind, which there isn't enough of due to too much emphasis on the shock value.
Summing up, really, really weird. 4/10.
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