One of the biggest selling points of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit', and the 'Law and Order' franchise overall, is its tackling of controversial and sensitive topics and in its prime or at least in the earlier seasons the show's approach to them was far from sugar coated while not preaching. The latter seasons were less successful on this front, where episodes did become one sided and heavy handed (particularly the ripped from the headlines type of story).
"Downloaded Child" has one of Season 15's toughest topics that is as topical now as it was back then and actually perhaps even more so. This was one of the episodes that did have a good deal of potential and came over as pretty good but not mind blowing on first watch. My feelings now are pretty much the same, its handling of the topic was not done too badly at all and while the case was rather wanting there are a lot of good things about "Downloaded Child".
Those good things are going to be mentioned first. Meghann Fahy's performance is very moving, despite Jenny making some bad decisions that would frustrate many, her clear vulnerability hit hard. The regulars are very good. The photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed.
Furthermore, the direction has a lot of nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way. The writing is intelligent and although, like the show in general, there is a lot of talk it doesn't feel long-winded. Did not think that the topic was done heavy-handedly or simplistically, while not being particularly insightful, and on the whole the story did grip and is a heart-breaker that also made me feel angry.
However, "Downloaded Child" has its issues. The story execution isn't perfect, it did feel rushed and too easy at points (especially how quickly it got to court and how quickly any decision was made) and other parts were a stretch, personally found the Amaro and Fin interrogation rather odd and silly with one of the show's stupidest husband characters.
The Olivia and Cassidy stuff is shoe horned, dull filler that ends vaguely. The SVU do behave too much like social workers here, in fact the whole episode felt like a social workers case and not SVU.
Concluding, pretty good but not enough to blow the mind. 7/10.