User Reviews

As of now, "Gridiron Soldier" is the lowest rated episode of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit's' Season 15. Personally found it a very good and brave outing on first watch, with a lot of great things. It was not one of the standout best viewings, but also a long way from being one of the worst. It takes a lot of guts to tackle a subject like this on any form of visual media and it is one that could be executed either way of powerful or preachy.

"Gridiron Soldier" to me was in the former category and absolutely do not agree with it being as lowly rated as it is. In fact, of all my recent re-watches, it was among the better ones and is leagues better than the previous episode (an episode that did nothing for me initially and was even worse rewatching). "Gridiron Soldier" may not be a season or show high point, but in no way is it the worst season 15 episode as indicated when seeing all the seasons individual episode ratings. The subject is one of the bravest and most relevant and an admirable job is done with it. Am really not sure as to whether it's the subject that put others off or if something was objectionable to them.

It is by all means not a perfect episode. More could have been done with the ending, which was a little too much like an afterthought in my view

There is for my tastes too much of Rollins' gambling dilemma which feels like set up

Olivia's gay joke is not near as bad as some have made out. It was inappropriate within the context of the job, but it is nowhere near as offensive as any of the rape jokes in the previous episode.

However, the regular acting all round is very good and Greg Finney unsettles and moves as a very interesting character. He particularly shines in the intense and poignant confrontation between him, Mariska Hargitay and Danny Pino (both on fine form). The episode is hard hitting and affecting, tackling a tough subject (one of the toughest of those explored in Season 15) with force and tact.

Furthermore, on a visual level the episode is solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden, while having enough momentum to make the drama sing in its atmosphere. The script is tight and made me think long and hard after, nothing soapy or preachy here.

Summing up, very good and much better than given credit for. 8/10.

This was a great episode! Strong story, great acting. There are ridiculous number of *ratings* that are the lowest possible. The rating system has been compromised somehow.: it flies in the face of common sense to think otherwise.

I have to admire SVU for being right on top of issues. At a time when California has banned the gay panic defense in criminal cases and I'm involved in efforts to get New York to do the same thing, the gay panic defense gets examined here from a few different angles. There's also an examination of the cult of macho in team sports and what one coach's warped ideas about it.

Young Winston Duke who's from the same section of Georgia that Kelli Giddish is from comes to get a look at Law And Order's mythical Hudson University and its football program run by Coach Glenn Morshower. He tells them in advance he's committed to Georgia Tech, but they still give him the grand tour. The tour also includes a few party favors with a grand climax, some wonderful oral sex in which Duke is blindfolded and when the blindfold comes as does he, the doer is male cheerleader Jimmy Choi.

After that Duke gets a cab which takes him to a gay bar instead of a sports bar. This was the one part of the episode I had trouble with. Realizing he was from the sticks, I find it hard to believe he didn't think twice about all these men being super friendly. When one wants to get better acquainted he punches him out.

As Bush 41 said, this young man is in some deep do-do. A possibility of a hate crime is definitely there. Kelli Giddish wants to pursue this though and she's even joined by Danny Pino whom she hasn't been getting on with in previous episodes. Sergeant Mariska Hargitay relents and they go for it.

Danny Pino's own background in football helps a lot in this one. It all leads back to Moshower who has some of the most homophobic and hateful ideas I've ever seen portrayed on the small screen. His program is truly a rotten one. A little jail time should toughen him up as he wants to toughen his players. He'll get a lovely introduction to male on male sex he never bargained for.

Honors go to young Greg Finley who was one of the jocks in on the joke as they saw it. He makes a life affirming decision at the end of the episode which was quite revealing. You think he's a dumb jock kid at first, but far from it as Finley reveals.

Duke also is quite touching as this country kid who gets into a bad jackpot. He has challenges to face as well as this story concludes.

It is a strong chapter on masculinity and hardness in Sports. Like the problems of masculinity in the military, these situations are difficult and tragic. The damage is too much.

The locality of Cedric Jones (Winston Duke), who came to New York from his hometown for his talent, is presented in parallel with Amanda.

Both are from the same town. This strong bond between them will be important in solving the case.

The interrogation scene where Eddie Thorpe (Greg Finley)'s secret is revealed, Olivia's power of inquiry must be said in one word: it's amazing.

Amanda, on the other hand, has a culture shock after making a quick exit from town in NY. She uses it to solve borrowed money problems with the same problem, she. He gambles so she can pay off her debt.

This vicious circle is just like paying off credit card debt by borrowing from a credit card.

Amanda retaliates with a little vengeance for what the crushing urbanites (Nate Davis) have done to her. Cedric, on the other hand, responds by punishing himself for what has been done to him.

Amanda's problems are an intimate story that fits the "these are their stories" rhetoric. Like Stabler's family and kids, like Nick's divorce...

Amanda and Cedric are in New York looking for the big victory that will fix everything.

Ps. For a while, I thought Olivia would leave Svu too, after watching episodes in the Amanda and Nick center. Just like Cragen and Munch... I thought it was a flag change. Then I woke up from this nightmare covered in blood and sweat. I love Nick and Amanda too. But, we all know that Olivia belongs to Svu and Svu belongs to Olivia.