‘Law & Order: SVU’ season 16, episode 12: How was Mariska Hargitay’s latest directorial effort?
“Law & Order: SVU” is probably going to get your attention regardless of who is directing a particular episode; but, when Mariska Hargitay is in the chair, it is inevitable that an installment is going to get more attention.
“Padre Sandunguero” was ultimately an episode that did deserve the attention, and it placed Nick Amaro front and center for a case all about his family starting to become torn apart. Was his father a bad man, and did he assault a woman the night of a rehearsal dinner? In order to try to get justice, it took him digging up difficult memories of his own childhood. Not only that, but it dug up some other difficult memories of the end of last season with his own history of rage.
The moment we were in court, it was clear that Amaro was being used as a pawn in order for the defense to get what they wanted … which was a case with no real happy ending. That is precisely what we had.
In the end, this was an emotional episode that was well-directed by Hargitay, who brought the most out of her actors in a story that was fantastic to begin with. Bonus points to Pino, who completely killed it in just about every scene that he was in. The truth is that Amaro has many demons, and it will take a long time for him to wrestle these out while handling his family at the same time.
For now, let us applaud the show for a job well done on a thought-provoking episode. Grade: B+.
(Photo: NBC.)
rosa hardin
January 23, 2015 @ 1:56 am
I loved this episode i like that we are getting to the man and the woman behind the badge and as far as the show goes I will watch it as long as mariska is on it even if it sucks and when she leaves if they don’t have a topnoch cast with excellent stories the show will fall off because honestly most fans are invested in the actors of a show more than the show it self they go hand and hand in my opinion the show is fantastic and I still enjoy watching every wensday
Michael Goldman
January 22, 2015 @ 4:27 am
The episode seemed well directed, but having Armand Assante there helps make it easy. You’re talking about someone who was an A list movie actor and is a very good Broadway actor. His attorney wasn’t anything special, but he really didn’t have to be. Danny Pino was great, but he can do mad with his eyes closed. The important thing is that the script and the show kept you interested all the way through. if the way to keep Mariska on the show will a minimal raise is to let her direct 2-3 episodes a year, I’m all for that.
Ana Maria Câncio Brandao
January 22, 2015 @ 10:18 pm
With me it’s different. I just like to watch SVU, if Mariska is. The episode was fantastic and very well directed by Mariska. Despite the fall in the 18-49 demo, SVU remained stable in the number of spectators. And even won a few more.