On first watch, "Streetwise" was a very good episode. If not a great one. Always did like the story concept, which indeed was like a story with hints of 'Oliver Twist' with a slight twist on it. Season 9 had always left me mixed up to this point, even when first getting into 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' (which actually was around the Seasons 7-10 period, saw the far superior earlier seasons a little later), and that feeling continued with the rest of the season.
"Streetwise" has held up very well on rewatches, in a season that was a mix of episodes that were always great, episodes that got better on rewatch, episodes that went down in my estimations and episodes that never did much for me. There were also episodes where the guest performance was a lot better than the episode itself. "Streetwise" has always been very good, but is an example of an episode that fits in the category of "got better on rewatch".
My feelings on Lake were pretty much indifferent most of the time, apart from some nice interactions with Fin. He is still a bland character and Adam Beach is rather stiff.
Also have always felt that more could have been done with the ending. It is a complete surprise that one does not see coming, but for such a shocking truth the ending dramatically was on the lightweight side. Needed more intensity and emotional punch.
However, there are a lot of truly fine things about "Streetwise". The photography while very close up doesn't come over as too static or filmed play-like, while the production values are typically solid and have subtle atmosphere while not being drab and keeping things simple. When the music is used it is haunting and has a melancholic edge that is not overdone. The episode is sympathetically yet uncompromisingly directed. The performances are all very strong from the regulars and Thom Bishops creepily portrays a character that one roots for a conviction against them. Mae Whitman is affecting but also unsettling.
Furthermore, "Streetwise" is tautly and intelligently scripted with a difficult subject being handled in a pull no punches but not too heavy manner. The food scene was also welcome levity and wasn't out of place at all, it actually avoided the episode becoming over-serious. After a lot of familiar territory stories during this period of 'Special Victims Unit', it was great to see something different and to see one of the earlier seasons' most unnerving family dynamics. The story is absorbing, twisty without being convoluted and has some nice tension.
On the whole, very good. 8/10.
"Streetwise" has held up very well on rewatches, in a season that was a mix of episodes that were always great, episodes that got better on rewatch, episodes that went down in my estimations and episodes that never did much for me. There were also episodes where the guest performance was a lot better than the episode itself. "Streetwise" has always been very good, but is an example of an episode that fits in the category of "got better on rewatch".
My feelings on Lake were pretty much indifferent most of the time, apart from some nice interactions with Fin. He is still a bland character and Adam Beach is rather stiff.
Also have always felt that more could have been done with the ending. It is a complete surprise that one does not see coming, but for such a shocking truth the ending dramatically was on the lightweight side. Needed more intensity and emotional punch.
However, there are a lot of truly fine things about "Streetwise". The photography while very close up doesn't come over as too static or filmed play-like, while the production values are typically solid and have subtle atmosphere while not being drab and keeping things simple. When the music is used it is haunting and has a melancholic edge that is not overdone. The episode is sympathetically yet uncompromisingly directed. The performances are all very strong from the regulars and Thom Bishops creepily portrays a character that one roots for a conviction against them. Mae Whitman is affecting but also unsettling.
Furthermore, "Streetwise" is tautly and intelligently scripted with a difficult subject being handled in a pull no punches but not too heavy manner. The food scene was also welcome levity and wasn't out of place at all, it actually avoided the episode becoming over-serious. After a lot of familiar territory stories during this period of 'Special Victims Unit', it was great to see something different and to see one of the earlier seasons' most unnerving family dynamics. The story is absorbing, twisty without being convoluted and has some nice tension.
On the whole, very good. 8/10.
