Search - Law & Order Special Victims Unit - The Third Season on DVD

Jr N. from TAMARAC, FL
Reviewed on 6/20/2013...

.. as good if not better than seasons one and two'

1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - season 3 (and it's about

The Writer | of the Great U.S.A.! | 12/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The third season of SVU brought about further great stories of dark human drama which continually draws in a large audience. The role of Dr. Huang, introduced near the end of season 2, became a recurring character. This meant we'd see a lot less of L&O staples Dr. Olivet and Dr. Skoda, which is the only negative about Huang's intro, IMHO.

Season 3 had some of the best episodes. I especially like the episode "Stolen", in which Munch and Cragen continue an investigation originally started by the late Max Greevey from season 1 of the original Law & Order. Shows some nice continuity between the shows. But at the same time, this was a hard one for me to watch, involving the custody case and the boy being torn between his bio-father and the parents who raised him.

"Wrath" was another good episode, in which three seemingly unconnected murders point to a man who Benson once wrongfully busted, and now wants revenge!

One episode that surprised me though, was "Sacrifice", starring "Saved by the Bell" & "NYPD Blue" alumnus Mark-Paul Gossellar as a supposedly gay porn star who is discovered beaten half to death, and is very uncooperative with the detectives, to protect a secret which left me rather sad at the end. But it was good writing!

Another episode, "Ridicule" proved somewhat prophetic as Diane Neal, the future Casey Novak who took Alex Cabot's place in season 5, played one of three women accused of raping a male stripper. The defense lawyer in this episode was played by the great CCH Pounder.

The episode "Monogamy" features a guest appearance by the late John Ritter whose pregnant wife was viciously attacked in a parking garage, and the baby stolen. Can the detectives find the baby before it's too late?

But one of my personal favorites from this season was "Protection", guest-starring "Predator" femme fatale Elpidia Carillo as a single mother who's younger son was shot by her drug-dealing ex-boyfriend who is now gunning for her and her surviving son, while the Feds pressure her for testimony against him.

I'm not going to offer a review of all season 3 episodes, but these few samples should prove my point. Any L&O enthusiast who doesn't buy this set is missing a few screws from their heads. But I, like many, wish that Universal would take the hint and release the seasons of the various L&O's more quickly! I'm going to grab the first copy of this set I see! Are you?



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Some improvements for Season 3

J. Westgate | Sirkl Country | 04/06/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I love this show. My review is not about the show, however. It is about the DVD itself.

1. The box art is identical to season 2 with Benson & Stabler reversed. Was it that hard to find other pictures of the cast?

2. FINALLY, no more double sided discs! Thank God! This set is 5 single sided discs packaged in 3 slim-cases. A huge improvement.

3. Still no widescreen aspect ratio and 2.0 sound. That's disappointing. If this was in 5.1 surround sound and anamorphic widescreen, the set would be much better. Those with Widescreen HDTV's and Home Theatres know what I'm talking about.

All in all, however, the show itself is great, so it's worth picking up if you're and L&O fan. I just wish Universal would make a more quality DVD package. Look at CSI, Lost, The Office, etc. DVD seasons. They are much better!"

ABSORBING SEASON FOR GREAT SHOW

Michael Butts | Martinsburg, WV USA | 02/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Special Victims Unit of the L&O franchise is brilliantly conceived and executed, featuring standout performances from its gifted regular cast and marvelous turns from its guest stars. The third season is no exception.
Tackling controversial subjects such as priests abusing young boys to the issue of fetal deaths, this series often doesn't come out the way you expect. This season's stellar season includes strong turns from Mary Steenburgen, Estelle Parsons, John Ritter, Henry Winkler, Eric Stoltz and Emmy-nominated Martha Plimpton.
Creator Dick Wolf keeps things moving at their usual pace and the stories grab you and hold your interest. Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, Stephanie March, Ice-T and Dann Florek continue their impressive performances making SVU a marvelously entertaining series."