(S07E21) Yes once again, ladies and gentlemen, it is time for another SVU episode that involves children. It is the type of episode that makes you want to lock your children in a safe room until they are 30-years-old and a 12th-level black belt. Now that I have four children of my own I always get that creeping feeling up my spine when I see these episodes. Oh well, let's move along, shall we?
All in all it was a solid but dull episode with the main focal point on Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and his sexual abuse investigation of a 8-year-old boy. And, with the limited appearance of Detective Olivia Benson (the very pregnant Mariska Hargitay), who has moved into the Computer Crimes division, some of the secondary characters had meatier roles than normal. Namely, Detective Tutola (Ice-T), Dr. Huang (B.D. Wong) and Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU, the tech geeks) Morales (Joel De la Fuente), who actually beat up a perp in this episode. See? Don't mess around with us pencil-neck geeks: we're super-humanly strong.
I think I'm having a bit of an issue with this episode because we've seen some form of this before: a child is abused but the culprit is not who you think, which leads to an even bigger cover-up and the arrest of someone else. It's good, it's compelling, but the pattern is getting predictable.
There were good moments in this episode. Tech Morales became someone we could relate to as he explained his reasons why he did not shutdown a kiddie porn site after Captain Cragen (Dann Florek) specifically told him to do just that. The 8-year-old's older brother Teddy, who was raped by his father at a younger age, portrayed a teen-age boy who thought that other pedophiles were his friends. We even got to see a bit of Star Trek: Voyager's Captain Janeway, Kate Mulgrew, as Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Geysen, who wanted Terry's head on a silver platter. The best part of the show was when Benson makes the decision to come back to the SVU division and partner with Stabler again. Sniff, sniff.
Other than that, the episode was a bit flat. Without people like Richard Belzer's Detective John Munch on the show to add a little flavor it was just a bit dull. That, and I think that some of us in the viewing world are getting a bit tired of watching Detectives Stabler and Benson in solo episodes; they have had a lot of face time this season. Hopefully the whole SVU team will come together in the season finale next week.
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-10-2006 @ 10:00AM
Scott said...
One of the scenes was filmed on my porch. Some photos from the day.
Scott
Reply
5-10-2006 @ 10:29AM
Nicole said...
The best line of last night was from Ice-T's character when they were in Mickey D's about to nab the perp. He said something like, "Four coolers and a box of condoms....gonna party with the hamburgler?" I laughed so hard. They don't give Ice-T or Munch enough to do. I was really hoping they'd incorporate those two more into the show while Mariska was out on maternity leave. They are too funny and need to be utilized more.
Reply
5-10-2006 @ 10:37AM
Janie said...
Is it just me, or is there something besides friendship simmering between Stabler & Benson?
Reply
5-10-2006 @ 10:46AM
Rich Keller said...
Janie, I think the producers are implying that something else is going on. However, I think it's just the deep friendship they've had over the years as partners. Stabler has been with Benson longer than his wife. I think that the producers would 'Jump the Shark' big time if they decided to make Elliot and Olivia more than just partners.
Reply
5-10-2006 @ 11:17AM
kelly said...
of course someone had to say something about romance between elliot and benson.why can't people just be friends without someone reading more into it. besides it is fiction.
Reply
5-10-2006 @ 12:59PM
Tamia said...
I agree it would totally ruin the show if stabler and benson went on a different path than good friends.
That hamburgler joke was pretty funny! :0)
Reply
5-10-2006 @ 1:29PM
shovan said...
In refrence to number 5. Its just like being at work and hanging around someone the majority of the time. people want to assume that you two are together. If you happen to be hanging with someone of the same sex then they speculate that something is going on there too. People just need something to do
Reply
5-10-2006 @ 1:38PM
Kaenan James said...
I read an interview with Christopher Meloni and he said that Benson and Stabler are in no way going to be romantically involved. He , too feels that would ruin the show. And I most assuredly agree that Ice-T and Richard Belzer need to be utilized far more than they have been.
Kaenan
Reply
5-10-2006 @ 2:09PM
Monica said...
I don't think it would be a good idea for them to hook up but I do think the producers have to come up with something to make the show interesting. Don't get me wrong it's one of my favorites but I'm ready to see something unexpected and shocking!
Reply
5-10-2006 @ 9:54PM
Joy said...
I never buy that shows jump the shark by putting the two leads together. It's the writers who don't know how to move from one place to another smoothly. I think as long as it's not the main focus, then it should be fine. As for the comment about why does there always have to be something between them? It may just be me, but from the last three episodes I think it's clear that something else is going on, although it's very subtle, which is smart. I think it's a good thing. It makes them more human. You don't get *that* emotional losing a coworker, I don't care how close you work together, unless deeper feelings are involved.
Reply
5-16-2006 @ 12:26AM
Charlotte said...
You can't help but want to "jump the shark" - at least us girls, I guess. How many of us wanted Stacy and Jim to get together in T.J. Hooker; Hunter and McCall in Hunter; Mulder and Scully in the X-Files, and now, a less than six month SVU novice (and really only the older episodes), I can totally see Stabler and Benson getting together......... But, I do agree that it would ruin the show if Stabler and Benson got together. One of the things that makes it work is the chemistry between them. In related topics, I agree with #7 above and that Tutuola and Munch should be used more. They're hilarious.
Reply
7-03-2006 @ 9:17PM
Sue said...
I think they should put Olivia & the Defense Attorney (played by Mariska's real life husband) together. Maybe have something happen to Benson where she's in the hospital, unconcious & somebody is keeping vigil by her bed but they don't show who it is. You just know it isn't any of the obvious--Stabler, the captain, Munch. Then she wakes up and see's him. Turns out they've been seeing each other on the sly for awhile.
Reply