It does pain me to provide a seemingly contrarian opinion (well here it seems, actually know fellow fans that dislike the episode) on "Paternity". There are plenty of highly rated episodes of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' that are that good, but there are also some that are not all that. The most memorable part of "Paternity" has always been the big dramatic event that dominates the final quarter, the part that is the most talked about amongst the fandom (though strongly divided).
"Paternity" for me is one of the highly rated episodes that sadly isn't that good and closer to being in the category of lesser outings than the best ones of Season 9. Really wanted to be one of those people that loved it, and while there are a lot of good things there are some big debits as well. "Paternity" is an episode that has always left me mixed, the final quarter is definitely very powerful but one main subplot and the character writing of one character brings things down considerably.
There are definitely a good deal of strengths here. 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 direction is suitably uncompromising in the second half and the beginning likewise.
Speaking of the beginning, it is certainly attention grabbing. The final quarter, despite the annoying medical inconsistencies often picked up upon, is very powerful and does not shy away when it comes to the tension and the emotion. The acting from the regulars is great, especially Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay. Their chemistry is cute and the chemistry between Olivia and Kathy is poignant, it is very clear who much Olivia cares about Kathy's welfare.
One aspect is uneven. The script does have some thoughtful moments but it also has some forced corn.
As much as it saddens me to say so however, "Paternity's" case goes downhill quickly after a promising start. The story generally is very predictable and is neither complex or suspenseful. What really brings the episode is the paternity conflict, which is a ridiculous, over-heated soap-opera mess. Ruined further by the senseless way the characters behave and the near-irredeemable unlikeability of Leah, a character that one despises once the truth comes out and hates even more the bigger the hole she digs for herself by what she says gets.
Really did not like the scene in the hallway either, that couldn't have been a more worse way of finding a secret out and Stabler should have been more tactful, it is also another case of him getting away with far more than he should have done. The support acting generally is unexceptional, with the character of Leah being over-acted. Isabel Gillies' hard hitting acting in the final quarter fares best in this respect.
Concluding, quite a lot of very good things here but didn't come completely together for me. 6/10.
