Intimidation Game
- Episode aired Feb 11, 2015
- TV-14
- 42m
IMDb RATING
4.5/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
A female video game developer is harassed and threatened by a group of misogynistic cyber terrorists.A female video game developer is harassed and threatened by a group of misogynistic cyber terrorists.A female video game developer is harassed and threatened by a group of misogynistic cyber terrorists.
Danny Pino
- Detective Nick Amaro
- (credit only)
Ice-T
- Detective Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola
- (as Ice T)
Raúl Esparza
- ADA Rafael Barba
- (credit only)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode holds the record for the lowest rated episode for the whole series.
- GoofsBenson incorrectly explains the effects of New York's "Son of Sam" law to Leslie, stating that he could lose the profits from his "Glasgowman" video game as proceeds of a criminal act. New York's law applies only to the perpetrators of the crime. However, it is likely that Benson was deliberately lying to elicit Leslie's cooperation with the investigation.
- Quotes
Odafin Tutuola: I read on Kotaku that it's better than Civ 5 with the Brave New World expansion pack.
- ConnectionsReferenced in SVU Crosses the Line with Controversial Episode (2024)
Featured review
Game over
Even on first watch, "Intimidation Game" struck me as one of the worst episodes of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit'. The premise wasn't immediately appealing in the first place, and if the episode was trying to make the subject as inaccessible and distasteful as possible it succeeded. Or at least that was the thought that appeared in my head on first watch, some will say that that was not the case in actuality but that is how it felt when first watching it.
Have rewatched "Intimidation Game" twice, same with all episodes of 'Special Victims Unit', both times it went even lower in my estimations with each watch. The show did have its fair share of very underwhelming episodes prior to "Intimidation Game", but up to this point of the show's run this is easily for me the worst episode. And this was an opinion that was formed well before finding out that it is the lowest rated episode. All the bad things are executed pretty terribly and almost all the usual strengths manage to be cons this time.
It is not irredeemably awful or unwatchable (close though). The acting from the regulars is good, especially from Ice-T who does tough and sympathetic very well. Fin's backstory gripped and gives Fin the most interesting material he's had in seasons. Really great to see some development to him after being so underused and one dimensional for too long.
There is a beautifully written and acted scene between him and Olivia, that sees an otherwise juvenile feeling episode at its most mature.
Unfortunately for "Intimidation Game" that is pretty much it with the redeeming merits. What immediately stands out in a bad way is the over-simplified and over-genralised (true in real life but not as extreme as presented here) depiction of gamers and the gamergate community. True a lot of fans are very passionate and can act extremely, but this is like every negative stereotype given to gamers reinforced and exaggerated distastefully. Maybe the episode was trying to show that not everyone gamer resorts to violent and extreme acts, but that is not how it came over in the execution which indicated the opposite. Such as the misogyny being taken too far. Actually know people who are passionate gamers and are not like this.
Moreover, there is absolutely no tension or suspense whatsoever in the story, which was very difficult to get into with its leaden pace, slight and pretty simplistic plotting and with no surprises. It also has a really contrived and over dramatised climax, too much of a cartoonish tone (which is present in the entire episode, but especially bad here) and the perpetrators are overacted. The police came over like idiots and seem to be going through the motions, and the episode is one of the show's worst written. Heavy handed, condescending (where even the police are talked down to), with too much repetitive and increasingly obnoxious slang that will confuse anybody unfamiliar with what is being explored and juvenile dumbed down dialogue for the perpetrators.
What usually come over as good things fail here. Nearly all the previous episodes were well made visually, but here there is some uncharacteristically sloppy camerawork that made me feel nauseous on all three watches. The music is far too melodramatic, the direction is leaden and while the regulars are good the supporting cast shamelessly overact (especially the ringleader). Oh and the first scene was pointless and felt shoehorned in.
Pretty poor episode, thank goodness for Fin though. 3/10.
Have rewatched "Intimidation Game" twice, same with all episodes of 'Special Victims Unit', both times it went even lower in my estimations with each watch. The show did have its fair share of very underwhelming episodes prior to "Intimidation Game", but up to this point of the show's run this is easily for me the worst episode. And this was an opinion that was formed well before finding out that it is the lowest rated episode. All the bad things are executed pretty terribly and almost all the usual strengths manage to be cons this time.
It is not irredeemably awful or unwatchable (close though). The acting from the regulars is good, especially from Ice-T who does tough and sympathetic very well. Fin's backstory gripped and gives Fin the most interesting material he's had in seasons. Really great to see some development to him after being so underused and one dimensional for too long.
There is a beautifully written and acted scene between him and Olivia, that sees an otherwise juvenile feeling episode at its most mature.
Unfortunately for "Intimidation Game" that is pretty much it with the redeeming merits. What immediately stands out in a bad way is the over-simplified and over-genralised (true in real life but not as extreme as presented here) depiction of gamers and the gamergate community. True a lot of fans are very passionate and can act extremely, but this is like every negative stereotype given to gamers reinforced and exaggerated distastefully. Maybe the episode was trying to show that not everyone gamer resorts to violent and extreme acts, but that is not how it came over in the execution which indicated the opposite. Such as the misogyny being taken too far. Actually know people who are passionate gamers and are not like this.
Moreover, there is absolutely no tension or suspense whatsoever in the story, which was very difficult to get into with its leaden pace, slight and pretty simplistic plotting and with no surprises. It also has a really contrived and over dramatised climax, too much of a cartoonish tone (which is present in the entire episode, but especially bad here) and the perpetrators are overacted. The police came over like idiots and seem to be going through the motions, and the episode is one of the show's worst written. Heavy handed, condescending (where even the police are talked down to), with too much repetitive and increasingly obnoxious slang that will confuse anybody unfamiliar with what is being explored and juvenile dumbed down dialogue for the perpetrators.
What usually come over as good things fail here. Nearly all the previous episodes were well made visually, but here there is some uncharacteristically sloppy camerawork that made me feel nauseous on all three watches. The music is far too melodramatic, the direction is leaden and while the regulars are good the supporting cast shamelessly overact (especially the ringleader). Oh and the first scene was pointless and felt shoehorned in.
Pretty poor episode, thank goodness for Fin though. 3/10.
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 24, 2022
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