Customer Reviews

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - The Second Year

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's about bloody time that this season came onto DVD! Why they released season 5 before the others is quite beyond me, but as long as the other seasons get released quickly, and allow me to complete my collection, I won't complain. One of the things that really gets me about this series isn't just the hard-hitting cases that this show tackles, but also the characters and the acting.
The season opened with Stabler's daughter witnessing a gory crime scene, and some great father/daughter scenes resulted from this episode, depicting Stabler as a caring family man, sometimes made too paranoid by his job. Another episode that I found touching was 'Legacy', where a case of Shaken Baby Syndrome hits really close to home for Munch, played by Richard Belzer, who was originally on the series "Homicide: Life on the Street." Personally, I wish that the series focused more on Munch than it currently does. We learned a good deal about him in "Homicide", but since then, character development on this amazingly unique character has ground to a virtual halt, except for learning that his father killed himself, and young Munch considered himself responsible (see Season 5).
Season 2 also introduced the characters of Detective Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola, played by Ice-T, and Assistant District Attorney Alex Cabot, played by Stephanie March. Although not a series regular, Dr. George Huang also appeared several times in the second season, brilliantly acted by B.D. Wong. This DVD set is well worth owning!
At any rate, Law & Order SVU has been, and continues to be one of the best TV series on the air in this age of cheezy, trashy reality shows which are in no way realistic. Who wants to see a bunch of idiots dress up like Gilligan and go through with a set of ridiculous stunts? If this is where the entertainment world is headed, I'll buy the DVD sets instead and watch those. On the upside of that? No commercials! :-)

The Law & Order franchise is second only to the Simpsons to be the longest running television show. Through its success, the police drama has spawned three similar productions that crossover into different realms of the criminal world and guardians of the law. One of the descendants from the original series is Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, also known as SVU, which deals sensitive crimes of sexual nature. Each episode follows the complete circle of the crime. From the crime to the legal consequence portrayed through the eyes of the prosecutors. However, the focus of the series seems to rest on the investigators in the SVU and their investigative work, which reveals gruesome crimes such as rape and incest.

The opening of the second season brings an episode, Wrong is Right, that possess all the intrigues necessary to continue to fascinate the audience, as it did during its initial season. It simply continues where season one left off, as the repercussions of a psychological evaluation where two of the main characters shared their thoughts and actions. Detective Stabler's (Christopher Meloni) work begins to drastically affect his personal life, as his daughter witnesses a gruesome crime. Meanwhile, Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Detective Munch (Richard Belzer) continue to work with dreadful crimes while Captain Cragen (Dann Florek) helps his squad whenever needed. During this initial and difficult episode of SVU, Detective Tutuola (Ice-T) arrives after having been transferred from the narcotics department.

The first episode helps set up the rest of the season, which ends with the season finale where a serial killer is on the loose. Every episode in between also contains grisly themes such as stalkers, child molesters, and prostitution among many other crimes that fall under the SVU jurisdiction. All episodes present some level of discomfort, as the audience gets to experience how the main characters reacted to the crimes and how they confront these crimes. The SVU is the most controversial of Law & Order's off-shoot, which with its dreadful themes attracts attention to why people commit such ghastly crimes. It also provides an interesting perspective on the human psyche, as it affects the characters in the series. Ultimately, the second season of SVU presents a very good experience that provides suspense and drama.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - The Second Year is a terrific television series that offers some light on a segment of the police profession that most people desire not to hear about. Nonetheless, NBC has been brave enough to create a TV series that discusses the dreadfulness of sex crimes in a clever and lawful manner. Those initiated to SVU should know that this show is definitely worth a viewing, as each episode will provide something new and ghastly. Yet, awareness could maybe help these crimes from surfacing and prevention could maybe be a little easier, as understanding for the victims is augmented through this excellent television show.

I love the show, and was very pleased to finally be able to see Season 2. Unfortunately, the second disc in the set was defective (same thing for the replacement Amazon sent me). Hopefully Universal will release a set with each disc in proper working order. (No dust or scratches on disc 2 - it just wouldn't play, no matter what DVD player it was in.)

This series begins where the first left off. While I wasn't thrilled with the way they ended the first season, I went into the second season expecting what would happen. The shows continue with the same intensity and - at times - heart-breaking stories. I admire the producers for having the courage to take on such difficult subject manner, and I have to admit that I believe it's the best show on television. The actors handle their rolls with great skills - it's almost as though they are real officers. Well done!

If, of course, you enjoy the Law & Order SVU series, Amazon is a great place to pick it up. It was at least $10 cheaper than even Wal-Mart, which, with shipping, is STILL cheaper. I enjoy the series myself, though it was a gift for my younger sister.

While the first season of Law & Order SVU had its moments, it pales in comparison to the rest of the series' run. I too don't understand why Universal released Season 5 after Season 1, but when I discovered that Season 2 was finally out, I scooped it right up because that's the point where the show went from good to great.

What really made the show better was the addition of three actors: Stephanie March as ADA Alexandra Cabot, Ice-T as Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola, and B.D. Wong as psychiatrist Dr. George Huang (even though he wasn't too likable initially). I knocked a star off my rating because I didn't care for the episodes "Asunder" or "Abuse", but overall, everything is impressive. This show is so successful that it even surpassed the original Law & Order in popularity. What does that tell you? While you're waiting for your copy of this to come in the mail, catch new episodes of SVU on NBC or reruns on USA.

Anthony Rupert

Mariska Hargitay earned with fairness, the Golden Globe in this year due her penetrating and realistic portrait as part of this hard team, who undertake with accuracy and proffesionalism, every one of these well made and better written scripts.

Specially disturbing and astonishing are the second and third DVD with the team dealing and facing the most heinous cases around the untiring investigations.

Make yourself a deserved gift and acquire this series. You wil be awarded by far with these intense and brutal investigation cases.

Don't miss it.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - The Second Year really took off when it came to plotlines and casting. I love this show, I continue to watch this and I'm still shocked by all the stuff this show gets away with. My favorite episodes from season 2 include: Closure Pt. 2, Baby Killer, Abuse, Folly, and Scourge. I highly recommend purchasing season two, definitely one of the best seasons (season 4 is my fave). Enjoy watching these intriguing episodes!

One of tv's best crime dramas, the SVU tackles its second season with the expected excellence it so marvelously used in its premiere season. The regulars--Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Stephanie March, Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, B.D. Wong, Ice T and Michelle Hurd---continue to be among the best ensembles out there, and this season they get crackerjack guest performances from such stars as Eric Roberts as a neighborhood crime watcher; Richard Thomas as a crazed killer; Chad Lowe is brilliant as a rapist/killer; and Margot Kidder in a smallish role is outstanding as Lowe's sick mother.
The characters continue to grow and the acting couldn't be better. A very good show!

I am a big fan of Law and Order SVU. I have seasons 1,2 & 5. I would like to know where Seasons 3 and 4 are.