User Reviews

The SVU squad celebrates the return of Dann Florek by getting a case involving a prostitution ring. An automobile accident involving a cab driven by rapper Doug E. Doug where he's sideswiped while traveling salesman Richard Kind is getting his knob polished by a pretty young Hispanic teen, possibly illegal any way you look at it. She's got a supermarket brand on her neck. Later another young girl with the same tattoo washes up on the Bronx shore.

They are joined in this investigation by Kathryn Erbe formerly of Major Case now on a terrorism task force. There's a tie-in, strange and strained though it is.

Running this sex slave ring are a father and son pair of bottom feeding scuzzballs, two of the lowest specimens ever on a Law And Order franchise show. Alon Aboutboul and Joey Oglesby keep a stable of young women at their Queens home and Oglesby particularly feeds on their helplessness and vulnerability. A few cab drivers like Doug E. Doug scout for customers. Lovely racket.

But there is a terrorism angle to this and it's not just how Oglesby terrorizes the women. You'll have to check this SVU episode to find out.

What truly makes this a very special episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, is the appearance of Kathryn Erbe as Alex Eames, from Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Now assigned to Homeland Security, Eames crosses paths with the SVU detectives and ends up questioning a suspect in a manner reminiscent of her old partner, Robert Goren. There are some very pleasant surprises and even some funny moments in the program and it is certainly a must for those who followed the exploits of Eames and Goren on Criminal Intent. Kathryn Erbe was superb in that series and shined even when too often overshadowed by the theatrics of her costar. Of special interest and worthy of your attention is the closing scene where Eames goes out for a drink after work with Mariska Hargitay and the two discuss their former partners. It is a powerful, touching, and funny scene and one Criminal Intent viewers will cherish.

The scene where Eames got down in the face of the person being interviewed I thought was a great touch. They covered it at the end if it was too subtle.

Was very excited in seeing the character of Alexandra Eames again. Loved her on 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' (a great show for half of its run and then hit and miss for the rest) and her pairing with one of the franchise's most interestingly developed leading characters Robert Goren. So there was the excitement of seeing her again and also the intrigue as to how she would work within a story like this, which is a very different one in approach to 'Criminal Intent'.

"Acceptable Loss" was a more than acceptable episode with lots of good things. As well as a few things that didn't quite work. Not one of the best episodes of Season 14 and a disappointment after three very good to great previous episodes to the season, but a long way from being one of the worst. The episode does a great job with Eames and made the most of her appearance, but the SVU's attitudes here rubbed me up the wrong way somewhat.

The negatives are going to be listed first. The beginning did feel like filler, due to focusing on a character that merely sets up the plot but is done nothing with very soon after.

Really didn't like how the team behaved here, they come over as too self-righteous and seeming like they think they can do no wrong. A prime example being Olivia's undeserved initial treatment of Eames.

However, a lot is good. Eames here in "Acceptable Loss" is a delight. Loved her subtlety, authority and sass, as well as her Goren nod with the head tilt (and exactly how he does it). Kathryn Erbe embodies all of this and her interpretation is as fresh as it was when the last season of that show aired in 2011, almost like she never left. The regulars and support are also very good indeed.

It is a visually slick episode, typical for 'Special Victims Unit' and the 'Law and Order' franchise, and one with the right amount of muted grit, the photography doesn't try to do anything too fancy or gimmicky while not being claustrophobic and keeping things simple. Actually thought it was one of the best looking episodes of Season 14. The music doesn't overbear past the early stages with the theme tune still memorable and the direction is accommodating yet tight enough.

Moreover, the script is thoughtful and intriguing, never feeling too talky or like it was trying to be too clever. The story, despite starting routinely, is very engaging and has a dark tension and plenty to keep one guessing. The second half is very tense and suspenseful.

Overall, pretty good but not great. 7/10.