Customer Reviews

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - The Fifth Year

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

At the beginning I was questioning Universal's strategy to release season 5 before seasons 2,3,and 4. They said it was to help promote season 6. Plus I didn't really watch any episodes from season 5, the only one that I did watch fully was "Painless" on USA network. I must say I was very pleased with what I bought. I had never seen the episode "Loss" until I bought the DVD set. That episode is probably the best SVU I have EVER seen. After that episode I was sad to see Stephanie March go. However to be honest with you, I think her character got replaced with another one just as good. A lot of reviews that I've read say more bad things than good things about Diane Neal and her character. I will admit in her first few episodes her character didn't make some good decisions and had a lack of self-confidence. However towards the middle of the season and at the end I think that Diane Neal played her character very well.
The only thing that I don't like about this DVD set is the double sided discs, but that disadvantage is completely overlooked by everything else.
Here are my top five favorite shows on this DVD set:
1. Loss
2. Mean
3. Escape
4. Tragedy
5. Ritual

This is a definite box set to have if you like the show. Like many, I am also wondering why they chose to release the fifth year ahead of the others. Don't get me wrong, the last season was amazing, but those who have really only followed the show starting in the 2003-2004 season and bought the first season box set are missing all the stuff that had happened, but again amazing box set! The only downfall to this is that rather then the 6 or 7 disc set, they have reduced it down to four double sided discs and the way that they are packaged you're bound to put fingerprints or scratches on the discs. The extra features on the fourth disc are really good as well. I am waiting for the other box sets to make their way out onto shelves. Superb show!

Of the few crime dramas I watch ("Cold Case", the original "CSI", "Without a Trace", and "Law & Order: SVU"), "Law & Order:SVU" is by far my personal favorite show. I watch this show religiously on both NBC and USA network. Out of the five seasons, I strongly believe that season five is the strongest season in the series because the storywriting has been so compelling. That is just my personal opinion. I was originally unhappy when Stephanie March left the series after the first 3 or 4 episodes in season five and was wary of Diane Neal as the new assistant D.A. Thank heavens I was proven wrong. Diane Neal has proved to be a worthy assistant D.A to me. Casey Novak is just as defiant and strong-willed as Alexandra Cabot was, especially when she butt heads with Detectives Stabler and Benson like in her first episode "Serendipity". Kinda funny how Diane made her first appearance on the show a couple of seasons back as a co-defendant, and now she is back as the new A.D.A. Sure the plot twists can be confusing but that makes watching this show so enjoyable to be. A lot of my favorite episodes comes from season five. One of my personal favorite episodes is "Ritual" where a young African boy is found murdered. His death appeared to be a ritual death but appearances can be deceiving. Ice-T really shines in this particular episode as 'Fin'. His involvement in the case really shines through and is definitely one of Ice-T's best performances. I really think Ice-T compliments Richard Belzer's snarky, conspiracy loving character. The dynamics between the detectives are certainly worth writing home about. Another really strong episode was the last episode with Stephanie March as Alexandra Cabot in "Loss" which involves a murdered undercover agent. I was moved by the ending and how Stephanie left the show. Although I predicted how her character would be written off, I still thought it was well written. I especially like the partnership of Detectives Stabler and Benson. Although I wonder why seasons 2, 3, and 4 weren't released prior to season 5, I still think that releasing season 5 was a great idea. It is my personal favorite season of the show, can't wait for season 4 now (which comes in second behind season 5).

This season of SVU is very good! Some of the episodes are pretty intense and the introduction of the new ADA is in season 5 as well. Some of the best episodes are Mean, Slaves, Mother, Loss, Serendipity, Choice, and Careless.

As far as the DVDs themselves, I was a little disappointed that they went the cheaper route and used 2 sided DVDs. In my experience, these get messed up a little easier due to the fact that there isn't a side that can take a little injury, and no matter how careful you are with your DVDs, you are going to encounter fingerprints and/or scratches.

There weren't many extras but I rarely watch those anyway. The "police sketches" of Ice-T, BD Wong, and Dann Florek were interesting, though. I was disappointed in the SVU alumni montage because I think it missed some good stars that have appeared.
All in all this DVD set is great.

Let me just start by saying that this is easily one of the best shows on TV. The acting is fantastic, and the story lines are great. Unfortuntely, this season saw the departure of Stephanie March's character, Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot. However, her departure created what's arguably the best episode of the series, "Loss." While it may be a little overdone, it's definitely an edge-of-your-seat episode.

ADA Casey Novak (Diane Neal) is her replacement, and she doesn't quite fill Cabot's shoes. Her character is less interesting and a little more whiny and she is constantly crusading for different causes. Also, she's not nearly as good a lawyer. But she's not all horrible, and she gets the job done I suppose.

One complaint I've always had about the show is that Det. Stabler's character sometimes overshadows the other detectives, who are more entertaining. His "bad cop" routine and constant squinting get on my nerves after a while. Det. Munch (Richard Belzer) is horribly overlooked, and it's a shame because he is the funniest and most interesting of the four detectives. Also, even though she's one of the two main detectives, Det. Benson doesn't have enough of a role on the show. When she is leading an investigation, she often ends up making mistakes, even though she is much more level-headed than her partner, which isn't quite fair to her character.

I didn't quite mean to ramble so much, but these flaws seem to become magnified come season 5. Despite this, it has some of show's best episodes, including "Loss," "Lowdown," and "Mean." I can't wait until they release seasons 2-4.

[...] The SVU series is a remarkably stunning crime drama. Dick Wolf is an amazing producer and the writters have a done a fabulous job as well. Suberb acting is also what creates such a thrilling experience when i watch SVU. Twists, turns, covictions, arrests, suprise shootings, confusing cases, SVU has all this and more, making it the best "cop show" i have ever watched. Dick Wolf, NBC, great job.

Law And Order: Special Victims Unit, is one of the best shows on television. I love it. I find it to be full of action, drama, suspence...and the best part is, there is something new each episode.

A highly entertaining shows, very good DVD set...

For years I've been a dedicated follower of Law & Order. I hadn't gotten into SVU or CI for a while, but then I started watching them instead of repeats of the original series, and now I'm totally hooked on SVU. It's surpassed the original series, in my opinion, and every episode has me in a trance. This is easily one of the best series on TV, and season 5, like the rest, is spectacular.

Christopher Meloni (Det. Stabler) gives nothing but brilliant performances in every episode. Though I'm not as big a fan of Mariska Hargitay (Det. Benson), she is a fabulous actor and a great asset to the series. Comedian Richard Belzer and rapper Ice-T also add something special to this awesome show. Watching them all work together is a beautiful thing, and once you start, it's hard to stop. Dick Wolf continues to deliver some of the best drama on TV today.

This is a great set to pick up. I promise that once you start watching, you'll be hooked. Season 1 is also available on DVD, and is just as good as season 5. The first and most recent are the only ones for sale at this point, but as time goes on, the rest should also come out. This set is well worth the money, so check it out today!

I have always been addicted to the regular "Law & Order". When I started watching this it took me a little while to get invested in the characters, but now I love this show more than the original. Chris Meloni is great as the tortured cop. The whole cast is great and the shows are awesome and really make you think. My only question is when are seasons 2-4 coming out! :)

I'm so glad that Universal is skipping ahead to Season 5 on DVD. This was the best season so far. But don't worry. Universal will be releasing Seasons 2, 3 and 4. The most recent L&O seasons are coming first, though, because a few weeks after they hit stores, the next seasons will begin broadcasting on NBC.