Personal Fouls
- Episode aired Sep 28, 2011
- TV-14
- 43m
SVU investigates an accusation that a revered high school basketball coach sexually abused his players, but they ultimately may need the cooperation of a reluctant pro superstar to make the ... Read allSVU investigates an accusation that a revered high school basketball coach sexually abused his players, but they ultimately may need the cooperation of a reluctant pro superstar to make the case.SVU investigates an accusation that a revered high school basketball coach sexually abused his players, but they ultimately may need the cooperation of a reluctant pro superstar to make the case.
- Sergeant John Munch
- (credit only)
- Detective Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola
- (as Ice T)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsWhen Benson and Amaro are speaking with Stevie, Benson takes off her sunglasses and holds them in her hand. The sunglasses then appear on top of her head, then back in her hand. She wouldn't have had time to move them as much as they did.
- Quotes
Nick Amaro: [to Fin] Can I ask you something? What was the deal with Benson's partner? I heard some things.
Odafin Tutuola: Stabler? He was a good cop. Him and Benson were together for 12 years. That's a decade longer than my marriage.
- ConnectionsReferences Serpico (1973)
"Personal Fouls" to me was a very good episode and even better than the still solid and promising "Scorched Earth". When it comes to the character introductions seen in these episodes, Amaro's fared quite a bit better than Rollins (Rollins was one of the weaker aspects of that episode whereas Amaro showed a lot of promise) and Amaro as a character settled much quicker. "Personal Fouls" may not be one of the very best episodes of the season, but is one of the better episodes of the first half of it.
So much is good. On a visual level, the episode is solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden, while having enough momentum to make the drama sing in its atmosphere.
Already, the writing is much tighter, more focused, more natural sounding and less soapy than the dialogues in a lot of Seasons 10-12. Also significantly improved is the storytelling, which had an early-'Special Victims Unit' vibe (a good thing, seeing as Seasons 1-6 were where the show was at its best). Due to having an uncompromising yet sensitive approach to a difficult topic, making for a tense and emotional episode, with it being all about the case and the people involved with little of the team's personal lives. The legal scenes are a big improvement over the ones in Seasons 10-12 and Cabot is a big plus.
Like has been said, Amaro is a worthy and promising addition with an already well established strong personality. Danny Pino looks comfortable and has a stronger connection and chemistry with the rest of the team than Kelli Giddish did in "Scorched Earth", the tough edge and sympathy believable. There is great chemistry between regulars, even without Stabler (who surprisingly is not missed) the interaction is more connected and cohesive than with Seasons 10-12 which suffered from too much emphasis on personal drama and character underuse and closer to when the show was in its prime. Have no issues with the regulars, while tough and vulnerable Michael Brooks and creepy Dan Lauria being even better.
"Personal Fouls" occasionally is a little slow, especially in the first third.
Did think too that Amaro's smooth talking was on the cringey side but both issues are nit-picky.
Very good episode all in all. 8/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jun 19, 2022