How this episode has such a low rating is beyond me. However you feel about immigration, the things Maria and Gabriella went through in this episode have happened to thousands of families. "Zero Tolerance" tells the story of just one family -- one that was lucky enough to be championed by the indomitable Olivia Benson.
The characters discuss some balanced viewpoints on immigration itself. The conversations do feel a little forced, but they're necessary in order to avoid the episode feeling too preachy. One thing I find incredible is how the SVU detectives so often have opposing viewpoints on hot-button topics, and yet they can discuss them and respect each other's opinions without getting angry. Other Americans would do well to model that behavior.
The acting and directing in "Zero Tolerance" is superb. Scarlett Lopez (Gabriella Sosa) delivers a riveting and believable performance. Every parent sees their own child in her; we've seen her anguish in tearful goodbyes at school or daycare, but this -- this is so much worse. We know her pain and her mother's pain, and yet none of it is overwrought; no one is chewing the scenery in this episode. They don't need to. If I don't see Lopez win an Oscar someday, I will be sorely disappointed.
Mariska Hargitay (Olivia Benson) is also exceptionally strong in this episode. Her frustration at doing battle with a broken yet powerful institution is painfully raw. She makes an impulsive, emotionally-driven attempt to help Gabriella and Maria the 'right' way: through the court of law, following procedure, praying the system works. Unsurprisingly, her actions accomplish nothing.
But, SVU episodes just can't end unresolved. Who DOES eventually accomplish something? ADA Oliver Stone and the Chicago Good Ol' Boys Club, slipping through the cracks to give one family an advantage over the thousands of others waiting for their cases to be heard. Stone gives an old crony an eye-rolling story about his grandpa in the vein of "it made a difference to that one," except with baby sea turtles, not starfish. The crony buys it and leverages his personal connections to circumvent the legal process. Is it fair? Absolutely not. Is it just? Yes. Is it satisfying? Yes. Is it realistic? Yeah, probably.
In the final scene, we see Olivia overcome by powerlessness as she realizes there are just too many baby sea turtles for her to save. There is nothing she can do. Nothing. So she does what she has to do, what we all have to do, which is turn our backs and go on with our lives. Help the ones we can, even if those few are a proverbial drop in the bucket of human suffering. It's absolutely gutting.
I considered giving this episode 9 stars on account of some flimsy attempts at a balanced viewpoint and the cheesy, ever-unlikeable ADA Stone (eyebrows aren't a personality, bro), but I'm giving it 10 solely on the merits of Scarlett Lopez.
The characters discuss some balanced viewpoints on immigration itself. The conversations do feel a little forced, but they're necessary in order to avoid the episode feeling too preachy. One thing I find incredible is how the SVU detectives so often have opposing viewpoints on hot-button topics, and yet they can discuss them and respect each other's opinions without getting angry. Other Americans would do well to model that behavior.
The acting and directing in "Zero Tolerance" is superb. Scarlett Lopez (Gabriella Sosa) delivers a riveting and believable performance. Every parent sees their own child in her; we've seen her anguish in tearful goodbyes at school or daycare, but this -- this is so much worse. We know her pain and her mother's pain, and yet none of it is overwrought; no one is chewing the scenery in this episode. They don't need to. If I don't see Lopez win an Oscar someday, I will be sorely disappointed.
Mariska Hargitay (Olivia Benson) is also exceptionally strong in this episode. Her frustration at doing battle with a broken yet powerful institution is painfully raw. She makes an impulsive, emotionally-driven attempt to help Gabriella and Maria the 'right' way: through the court of law, following procedure, praying the system works. Unsurprisingly, her actions accomplish nothing.
But, SVU episodes just can't end unresolved. Who DOES eventually accomplish something? ADA Oliver Stone and the Chicago Good Ol' Boys Club, slipping through the cracks to give one family an advantage over the thousands of others waiting for their cases to be heard. Stone gives an old crony an eye-rolling story about his grandpa in the vein of "it made a difference to that one," except with baby sea turtles, not starfish. The crony buys it and leverages his personal connections to circumvent the legal process. Is it fair? Absolutely not. Is it just? Yes. Is it satisfying? Yes. Is it realistic? Yeah, probably.
In the final scene, we see Olivia overcome by powerlessness as she realizes there are just too many baby sea turtles for her to save. There is nothing she can do. Nothing. So she does what she has to do, what we all have to do, which is turn our backs and go on with our lives. Help the ones we can, even if those few are a proverbial drop in the bucket of human suffering. It's absolutely gutting.
I considered giving this episode 9 stars on account of some flimsy attempts at a balanced viewpoint and the cheesy, ever-unlikeable ADA Stone (eyebrows aren't a personality, bro), but I'm giving it 10 solely on the merits of Scarlett Lopez.