TVSquad

Something was amiss during the last three seasons of Law & Order: SVU. With Mariska Hargitay's pregnancy leave, changes in Christopher Meloni's character, the introduction and departure of some cast members, and the demotion of Detective Munch to a desk, the show seemed to have lost its way. It was tough to watch as more melodrama seeped into the show and pushed away the criminal procedurals that have made this Law & Order franchise so popular.

However, change may be on the horizon. With the first two episodes of the tenth season now under their belt, there's a feeling of normalcy that has returned to the show. A sense that the producers may be done tinkering with the program for the time being, despite the introduction of Michaela McManus as new A.D.A Kim Greylek. Some melodrama is still there - they are human beings after all - but the cases are first and foremost for the show.

SPOILERS AHEAD!!! DO NOT READ ANY FARTHER IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW SEASON OF SVU!!!!

The big news about the season premiere of NBC's Law & Order: SVU is not that it is the show's 9th season, or the fact that Cynthia Nixon guest-stars in a pretty chilling role. The big news is that Mariska Hargitay cut her hair! How could she? Frankly, I loved her long locks.

But, I guess that she didn't, and they seem to be back to pre-season 7 length (don't ask me how I know this). Plus, even after the events of last season's finale, her character Olivia Benson still seems to be partnered with Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni). From the promo you'll see after the jump, they'll need to work very closely together.

My first Festivus wish list for the upcoming year. Well, I did type up a Festivus wish list last year, but the only people who heard it were my wife and kids, who had no idea what I was talking about. In fact, I could swear my wife mumbled something like 'You need professional help' under her breath while I was expressing my wish that Barney the dinosaur be run over by a semi-truck. I ignored the statement, of course. I mean, I've been going to therapy for years. Five days a week. Twice a day. Plus, there are the drugs that curb my rage everytime I see that Mac-PC commercial. Sure, the drugs make me see visions of Rush Limbaugh in a thong, but they even my emotions out. For some reason, Rush in a thong seems to sooth me. It's either that or the sleeping pills, not too sure.

Anyway, I'm overwhelmed with emotion, yet highly medicated, as I type this up. So, if you see tear marks on this post please forgive me. Then again, if you see tear marks on this post you may want to talk to my therapist.

(S07E22) Well, here we are at the end of the seventh season of SVU and we delve into familiar territory; teenage sexual activity. We also focus one more time on Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) who has a good portion of screen time this episode (although A.D.A. Casey Novak (Diane Neal) has some decent screen time as well).

Sigh.

Folks, I'm sorry. I been hitting the wall with this show for the past few episodes, and actually the entire season. I've just felt that most of the focus has been on Benson and Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) this season in order to flesh out their characters a bit. As I've mentioned previously there hasn't been nearly as much of Detectives Munch (Richard Belzer) and Tutuola (Ice-T) this season. Heck, even Captain Cragen (Dann Florek) had some focus episodes in the past. No, this season has been about Stabler and Benson, whether together or solo, and I'm kind of burnt out. That may be the reason that I wasn't too impressed with the episode.

(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.

(S07E19) Anthony Anderson has been playing a lot of heavy characters these past two years, and I'm not talking about his wait weight. Ba-Da-Dum! Thank you, I'll be here all week. Try the veal.

Seriously, Anderson is known for his comedic roles in television shows such as All About the Andersons and movies like Scary Movie 3 (and 4) and Harold & Kumar go to White Castle (hilarious scene). I mean, he was in Kangaroo Jack for crying out loud. However, we have seen Anderson's serious side over the past two years. Last year and this, he portrayed villain Antwon Mitchell on the FX show The Shield. On this episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit he portrays Lucius Blaine, Elliot Stabler's (Chris Meloni) replacement partner.

Wait, where's Stabler's original partner, Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay)? Well, jump on through and we'll catch you up.