Teleplay by Paul Grellong, directed by Helen Shaver
Additional Cast:
Mae Whitman (Cassidy Cornell), Thom Bishops (Cole Roderick), Patricia Charboneau (Paige), Bill Winkler (Mr. Braidwell), Jeremy Jordan (Doug Walshen), Emily Meade (Anna), Fiona Hutchison (Lydia Crawford), Latham Gaines (Mr. Crawford), Johnny Hopkins (Tony Ramirez), Kathleen Garrett (Mrs. Braidwell), Natalie Hall (Shelby Crawford), Madeline Taylor (Josie)
Reviewing the Case:
A street “family” of runaways is revealed when Benson and Stabler investigate the robbery and beating death of a debutante. The sociopathic “father” of the clan, Cole, temporarily eludes capture. But after one of the “children” turns up dead, “Mom” Cassidy’s testimony and a child’s stories of her life in the family put him away for multiple murders. But then “Mom” turns out to have a very different past than the one she’s been peddling on the street, and detectives wonder how much blame sits on her shoulders for the teen’s death.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
The concept of a street “family” with its own sense of justice is intriguing and worth exploring further; hopefully the show will find other areas about this to mine down the road. Director Helen Shaver is a veteran actress best known in her home country of Canada.
Relevant Testimony:
“(Street families) exist all over the country, often with that kind of hierarchical structure. I based the episode on a murder case in the Pacific Northwest.”—Paul Grellong
Episode 195: Signature
Original air date
:
January 8, 2008
Teleplay by Judith McCreary, directed by Arthur W. Forney
Additional Cast:
Erika Christensen (FBI Special Agent Lauren Cooper), Jane Cronin (Helen Moore), Rosemary De Angelis (Mrs. Tillman), Cindy Katz (Valerie Barrow), Patricia Kalember (Judge Taten), Jill Marie Lawrence (Cleo Conrad), Priscilla Lopez (EADA Lydia Ramos), Frankie Faison (FBI Agent Tom Nickerson), Roscoe Orman (Bryant Davis), Macon Blair (Conner Robb), Bill Phillips (Charles Barrow), Vaneik Echeverria (Aaron Winters), Amanda Leigh Cobb (Amy Doe)
Reviewing the Case:
FBI Agent Cooper is called in by M.E. Warner, who recognizes a particular serial killer’s (“the Woodsman”) signature in at least one body found in Central Park. Cooper has worked to find the Woodsman for years, and lost her mentor in the process when he shot himself over the stress. But as the detectives dig through the profile and its discrepancies, they soon learn that Cooper is more deeply entrenched than anyone would have believed. At episode’s end, there’s still one final victim of the Woodsman left.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
Forney has framed the episode’s opening and closing scenes with an elegant series of slow dissolves as the caretakers of crime scenes arrive; but by the time Benson and Cooper have walked through the killer’s
Saw
-like holding cell and taken pictures of the not-yet-dead Amy Doe’s horrific mutilations, it all begins to feel like torture porn.
Relevant Testimony:
“You have to get graphic but not too graphic. When the bodies are found in the woods, there are leaves to cover them up. We wanted the torture chamber to look authentic, not like some Gothic horror house. . . . The sex crimes on
SVU
are hard to digest, especially for single women out there. The trick is to make the characters warm enough. That’s important if you’re not going to throw up on the floor.”—Arthur Forney
Episode 196: Unorthodox
Original air date
:
January 15, 2008
Teleplay by Josh Singer, directed by David Platt
Additional Cast:
Rhea Perlman (Roxana Fox), Bob Dishy (Rabbi Iscowitz), Mike McGlone (George Trembley), Cara Buono (Rachel Zelinsky), Alexander Gould (Jack Trembley), Braeden Lemasters (David Zelinsky), Adam Stein (Avi Zelinsky), Linda Emond (Dr. Emily Sopher), Noel Joseph Allain (Jacob Ribowsky), Jake Goldberg (Adam Trembley)
Reviewing the Case:
When an Orthodox Jewish community closes ranks around a young boy who has been repeatedly raped, at first detectives think they’re going to have to deal with Talmudic law. But quickly—and more shockingly—the perpetrator turns out to be one of the boy’s fellow schoolmates, who has been over-influenced by what he’s been watching on television. Worse: The kid isn’t violent; he just didn’t think he was doing anything wrong. The story’s well told, but it’s a hard episode to watch.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
Cheers
star Rhea Perlman has an all-too-brief role as a legal aid lawyer. Director David Platt on how
SVU
directors coax performances from youngsters in episodes with very grim material:
Relevant Testimony:
“Whether the kids fully comprehend the script is another matter, but these children were so self-possessed. My philosophy is: I’ve got two things to do, tell the story and get a great performance. Sometimes it’s not about camera moves, it’s about telling the story. If I make a comfortable environment for actors, within that comfort zone they’ll go further.”—David Platt
Episode 197: Inconceivable
Original air date
:
January 22, 2008
Teleplay by Dawn DeNoon, directed by Chris Zalla
Additional Cast:
Janine Turner (Victoria Grall), Gabrielle Anwar (Eva Sintzel), Mark Moses (James Grall), Austin Lysy (Russell Hunter), Meredith Eaton (Jocelyn Miller), John Schuck (Chief of Detectives), James Waterston (Mr. Harvey), Danielle Skraastad (Paige Harvey), Kevin Kane (Scott Ryland), Richard Masur (Dr. Berletch), Meredith Zinner (Maya Jorgensen), Darrin Baker (Stan Jorgensen), Emilio Delgado (Enrique Diaz), Rightor Doyle (Chad Ogilvy)
Reviewing the Case:
Activists steal a vat full of frozen embryos to prove a point, which leads detectives to the doorsteps of a number of aspiring parents in desperate situations, including a cancer patient with whom Benson bonds. When the return of the embryos goes wrong the activists are arrested, but before trial can begin one grieving parent takes justice into his own hands, and further tragedy ensues.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
Elliot, Jr. is called “Eli.” Benson reveals that she wants children, but was turned down by an adoption agency. Munch says he was dumped as Tutuola’s partner once Det. Lake came along—and only seems to be half-joking. James Waterston (Sam’s son) has a small role in the episode; Janine Turner should be recognizable to fans of
Northern Exposure
.
Episode 198: Undercover
Original Air Date: April 15, 2008
Teleplay by Mark Goffman, directed by David Platt
Additional Cast:
Johnny Messner (Lowell Harris), Shareeka Epps (Ashley Tyler), Todd Stashwick (Matthew Parker), LaChanze (Amber), Hassan Johnson (Rick Tyler), Austin Lysy (Russell Hunter), Dinah Lenney (Prison Warden), Melanie Nicholls-King (Jill Botas), Eric L. Abrams (Henry Botas), Tawney Cypress (Shauna)
Reviewing the Case:
Last time Benson changed her identity to venture deep into the criminal world it was for an investigation of ultimately harmless environmental activists (“Infiltrated,” season eight). Now she really enters the belly of the beast as a make-believe drug addict incarcerated at a prison where female convicts are being raped by guards. It all begins with the New York City assault of a teenager whose mother is behind bars at the hellhole of a prison.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
Stabler gets into the act posing as a defense attorney and Fin shows up incognito with a surprise hair-style, as well.
Relevant Testimony:
“I was getting tired of just wearing (my hair) pinned back all the time, and it was hot. So I went to Ted (Kotcheff): ‘I want to cut my hair off,’ and he’s like, ‘Ice, I don’t wanna have to do a reshoot (and) stick a ponytail on your head.’ Then, when the writers’ strike hit, they said, ‘If you still want to cut your hair, you can cut your hair.’ . . . So I went and whacked it off. I was like, ‘I’ll be the same, don’t worry about it.’”—Ice-T
Episode 199: Closet
Original Air Date
:
April 22, 2008
Teleplay by Ken Storer, directed by Peter Leto
Additional Cast:
Bill Pullman (Kurt Moss), Bailey Chase (Lincoln Haven), Beverly D’Angelo (Rebecca Balthus), Richard Lewis (voice of Sportsman Larry), Rick Hoffman (Gary Lesley), Robert John Burke (IAB Sgt. Ed Tucker), Peter Gerety (Judge Harrison), Ian Alda (Sam Edelstein), Chloe Cmarada (Natasha), David Del Rio (Freddie Ramirez), Cortez Nance, Jr. (Elias San Oro), Darren Kelly (William Breckenridge), Deep Katdare (Dr. Parnell)
Reviewing the Case:
A popular athlete is implicated in the murder of a businessman, seemingly during a gay S&M encounter. The chief suspect, a football player hesitant about going public with his sexual preference, becomes more of a victim than a perp. His agent apparently is shocked. His narcissistic girlfriend-of-convenience seemingly blabs to the press—specifically, a tabloid where the editor has been dating Benson.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
Benson is once again questioned—and suspended without pay—by IAB Sgt. Ed Tucker, who’s surely growing weary of these SVU troublemakers. Her affable gentleman caller, Kurt Moss (Bill Pullman), asks: “Why is it you won’t move in with me?”
Relevant Testimony:
“That was challenging with Bill Pullman for just one scene because it had to cover months of backstory about his relationship with Benson.”—Peter Leto
Episode 200: Authority
Original air date
:
April 29, 2008
Teleplay by Neal Baer and Amanda Green, directed by David Platt
Additional Cast:
Robin Williams (Merritt Rook), Didi Conn (Nurse), Monica Raymund (Trini Martinez), Ka-Ling Cheung (Dr. Cheng), Audrie Neenan (Judge Lois Preston), Joe Scarborough (Himself), Scott Adsit (Dwight Lomax), Mo Rocca (Protest Leader), Matthew Stadelmann (Joel)
Reviewing the Case:
A charismatic but damaged widower named Merritt Rook takes everyone from a fast food restaurant manager to Benson and Stabler for a ride while trying to convince them not to be “sheep” and follow authority blindly. Unfortunately, this means he gets the manager to strip search an employee—and then disproves the adage about going
pro se
at your trial. But he meets his match in the very un-sheep-like Stabler, who has to undergo his own psychological experiment to free Benson once Rook draws her into his lair.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
The milestone 200th episode takes a journey through recent real-life pop culture events: In late 2007 a young woman received $6.1 million after suing McDonalds when her manager got a call from a so-called policeman, and strip-searched her; for several years, urban prankster groups like Improv Everywhere have been staging random acts of weirdness like the pillow fight and “Frozen Grand Central” that are aped in the episode—the real-life version occurred in January 2008. Stabler has been a detective for sixteen years.
Relevant Testimony:
“Robin’s synapses work at a rate that is absolutely ungodly. At any given moment, he can spin off into astrology, astronomy, philosophy, history. At the same time, he’s an incredible professional and very talented actor. He took notes.”—David Platt
Episode 201: Trade
Original Air Date: May 6, 2008
Teleplay by Jonathan Greene, directed by Peter Leto
Additional Cast:
Stephen Collins (Pierson Bartlett), Matthew Davis (P.J. Barlett), Clea Lewis (Heaven Moscowitz), P.J. Benjamin (Eddie Rincado), Michalle Barth (Avery Hemmings), Jennifer Simard (Debra Jackson), Darlesia Cearcy (Viola), Brandi Burkhardt (Jenna Ludlow)
Reviewing the Case:
Some studies contend coffee is bad for people; others indicate it’s good. On
SVU
, a cuppa joe is downright deadly when it comes to a family business thriving on the java commodities exchange. A prosperous father and son are alternately suspected in the killing of a beautiful temptress in this caffeinated melodrama with a stunning rooftop denouement.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
Fin and Munch question Heaven Moscowitz, a wonderfully flaky “angel-healing” practitioner who ought to be a recurring character on the show.
Relevant Testimony:
“That rooftop scene took a lot of careful planning. It was the fourth time I’d shot a sequence like that. I was the first person on location at 6:30 A.M. A helicopter was hovering overhead. I think it was Homeland Security. They took a good look at me and I made the traditional ‘I’m-shooting-a-movie’ signal.”—Peter Leto
Episode 202: Cold