Monkeybball

I liked Alex especially in the earlier seasons in eps like Manhunt but I think Casey Novak was my favorite. I liked that she was a little more rough around the edges, and I personally think Diane Neal is very beautiful haha. Barba was the SHIT through season 14 and 15 but the character went to hell in a hand basket cause of Benson. Ugh.

Man after watching some of the older SVU episodes this weekend during a USA marathon, what they’ve turned Olivia into is even more painful.

They’ve always liked to use this as an example of Benson being sexually assaulted, as a way for her to relate to the victims. It certainly was an assault with heavy sexual overtones, but a full-on rape it was not. Similarly to how they treated her incident in Undercover (although that did meet the criteria for sexual assault, it’s not typically what people would think of when they hear the term). I personally have always been uncomfortable with how they’ve treated her character as a result of these incidents. Olivia’s big thing was that she was the product of a rape - she didn’t need to be assaulted twice in order to understand the victims.

I think this episode would have worked better if they so clearly hadn’t given us what was Right To Think. If they had truly considered what Rollins and Stone were saying, instead of writing it off like “pssssh.” Making it a real, true debate like they used to do in the older days (Doubt, for example). They were just hitting us over the head here that Benson and Carisi were in the right. i also don’t think it was perfectly in character for Rollins and carisi to take the positions that they did, but some of you have made good points about that. you tell the truth and let the jury decide. Not the cops.

She taunted him at one point saying “what’s wrong wth you? Are you afraid of me?” Because he hadn’t raped her yet. He raped the lawyer’s mom and made her watch, but I don’t believe he ever did her. He would have if the housekeeper didn’t knock of the door, MAYBE, but ultimately didn’t. And then when he escaped she told him to rape her but she wouldn’t fight back so he wasn’t into it. That’s when he came up with the Russian roulette.

Okay here’s what was most annoying to me even on top of all the other annoying stuff. When Olivia was testifying at the end and Annabeth looked at her all betrayed - Bitch what?! She’s a cop - you didn’t expect her to lie for you did you? And if you did, You could have said something else in the interrogation. Stop trying to guilt us into feeling some type of way, SVU. Manipulative af.

Guys, I was literally SCREAMING at the tv during this episode. I could not wait to get on here and complain to you all, AND THEN THE FORUMS WERE DOWN! 😩 UGH! this was literally the WORST episode of SVU i have ever seen.

The EAR/ONS case is so effing fascinating, I don't know how they managed to make it into a snoozer. The guy's trajectory from a teenage B&E-er to a serial rapist to a rapist & murderer, and all over the state of California. There could have been SO MUCH MORE focus on this guy. I almost have been feeling like the episodes aren't long enough lately, which is weird, because they do seem to drag, but there is a lot of unnecessary scenes it seems. And I don't care if Benson and Stone get together, whatever, just don't draw it out with a will they or won't they. It's been done too much. They wouldn't have been able to bring the guy in for the voice idea without first identifying him through the "poisonous" means.

I really liked this episode lol. I'm in the minority it seems.

I haven't posted in forever but I logged in specifically to say this: Hey SVU Writers! It's PROBABLY important to note that antifa HATE cops, chant things like "Cops and Klan go hand in hand!" and spray paint "ACAB" everywhere (All Cops Are Bastards). Maybe think of that next time you write a POLICE PROCEDURAL sympathetic to them. Will collect my thoughts and make a better post later. EYEROLL!

It's true. However, the person who signed the NDA can also be prosecuted for accepting money in exchange for not reporting the crime. Although I'm sure a D.A. would cut a deal to have that person testify. You'll also stop receiving the benefit you received from the contract and can't sue to enforce it, as it was based on illegal activity (assuming the payment wasn't in a lump sum or something). I'm sure people add certain protections in these types of contracts to incentivize abiding by the NDA.

I've railed on this multiple times in other episode threads, but the YOU HAVE TO TESTIFY thing drives me nuts. Just getting that out there from the jump. HOWEVER - I like the answer that she didn't want to let him take her dignity. That resonated. As someone who is a survivor of sexual assault, I'm going to say something that's going to be pretty surprising I'm sure, but I feel it needs to be said: We need to stop acting like being raped is the worst thing in the world that could happen to a person. It is horrible, it is violative, and it is demoralizing, but it is OVERCOMABLE. I hate the visual of the first victim being all alone in her super fancy apartment being like "....oh well, at least I'm rich." I'd wager that she's not sitting in that apartment every day, reliving the rape over and over again. If you're going to make that choice, I'm sure you've already justified it in your mind of "oh well, it's not like I was dragged down into an alley and held at gunpoint and beaten half to death. At least it was a billionaire in his giant apartment. Sure, his entitlement is shitty, but at least he had to pay for it SOME way." Like someone said above, why do we barely ever get to hear what the consequences might be to the person who does ruin her career or reputation by going public and testifying? You think the victim from this week is going to have an easy time of it getting hired in the future? You think any of her next jobs are going to pay her $5mil for 4 years? Obviously it's better to know that you earned your money the honest way, but it's a fair question to ask yourself. And I'm sorry, with the Army Ranger girl - no one even mentioned the fact that being a sexual assault victim, publically, could be used against her in combat. That was the argument (as bullshit as it was) about gays in the military. These are real world, real life things that have to be considered. And yes, you talked about it publically and MAYBE the guy goes to jail (maybe). Does that erase what happened to you? Nope. What about those of us who have been sexually assaulted who never got the chance to even have the CHOICE whether to testify? It's ridiculous. Are we not able to heal because we didn't get to face the guy in court? According to Benson, it kinda seems like that's how it would be! It reminds me of the Ray Rice episode with Meagan Goode. Where she says "I'm NOT a victim, and you're trying to make me one." The way Benson (and the show on a larger scale) treat victims of sexual assault makes it seem like the trauma SHOULD BE UNBEARABLE. And yes it IS for some, but it doesn't have to be, and you need to let people know that it is something you can move on from, regardless of what happens afterword. /End rant.

I liked the episode because it felt like old school SVU for the first half. Although immediately upon the realization that Jennifer MIGHT have been killed by someone other than the serial, I knew exactly how it was gonna be i.e. boyfriend hacked NYPD computers, saw the pattern, recreated it, he actually did it. Shouldn't be THAT obvious. But it was cool to see the Barba reveal. Although I don't believe what he did is big enough to warrant any sort of suspension or firing, all that he could feasibly get in trouble for is paying money to a witness. And in that instance it may be dicey even. Anyone else wanna know what the rope guy was hiding?! UGH! Let's speculate! I kinda wish the episode was longer cause I would have liked to see his defense, but oh well. ETA: Not to be super morbid, but I also think it was really anticlimactic how he ended up killing her. It really was an accident the way they showed it. That kinda softens the blow (no pun intended) of him killing her, where I think this would have been a good opportunity to show how obsession and stalking is not too far from eventual elevated behaviors. When they said 34 B I immediately thought: "Hey, that's Rollins' bra size!"

I thought this was an interesting case/episode and I like that they added a little more legal drama into it (i.e. the preliminary hearing regarding the privilege issue surrounding the "confession"). What I didn't like, and haven't been liking for awhile now, is this sort of "ADA's Assistant" role that Olivia is taking on with Barba. "So what if WE lose the motion?" Shut up Olivia. No cops are that involved on the legal level. It's ANNOYING. She. Can't. Do. EVERYTHING. I liked the issue being about the genes thing, because it really is such a cop out that it almost drove a completely innocent kid to kill himself. I kinda wish we had one more scene with the bartender victim from the beginning. It IS interesting that that guy rapist, I think his name was Nick, did have both a father AND a brother who have been in jail for rape. I'm really over Olivia being so angsty about Noah. And BTW, didn't Huang and her sort of go over the reason WHY her father turned into a rapist so late in life? Like he was on medication for depression that caused sexual dysfunction, etc etc. Obviously it doesn't excuse anything but it makes him slightly different than your run of the mill "rape gene" type rapist. Also, Noah's dad was a pimp....also a little different than a "regular" rapist (although he did rape). Btw his mother was a drug-addict hooker too, where's that worry Olivia? I missed Finn. Also, I know there's a new show runner this season, but did they get new writers as well? I've been really noticing how clunky and awkward a lot of the dialogue has been in the last few episodes. Rollins and Benson in her office talking about her father; Carisi and Barba yelling at each other with no real context/background and then it not being addressed much at all after. The best dialogue IMO was in the car shop with the guy they originally suspected, cause he was funny as hell.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - Olivia's whole "you HAVE to testify thing!!!!!" drives me absolutely up the fucking wall. Oh, so I was just raped, my sovereignty violated, and now you wanna strip me of my power again by telling me what I HAVE to do? Go home Olivia. You have a baby waiting.

I haven't read any of the comments yet, so bear with me, but I have to say - THIS WAS THE WORST EPISODE EVER!!!!

UGH! As soon as the breakup happened, I screamed: "WILL BENSON EVER BE HAPPY?!" When the episode was over, I booed at the TV. You CAN'T give me sexy Ed Tucker and then take him away like that! Robert John Burke is the DEFINITION of a silver fox! Okay, so I called the nanny the minute she got off the elevator the next morning. I told myself to stop it cause it wouldn't make sense, but I immediately knew it was her. And I don't know why. I actually thought she was the boy's mom in the opening part of the episode. That was sad. I think we were right when we spoke earlier on this forum that this season is mostly going to be about "gray" situations. I mean how many of us actually had sympathy for the nanny? I know I did. And I'm like stop it, she's a kidnapper. But man if she didn't seem like the person that boy should have been with. And the first mom, Nadine, became more likable towards the middle and end. And the doctor mom was great too. Much more cloudy than I'd usually expect to be in episodes like this. ETA: I LOVE that Carisi's idea of a good time is watching super trashy reality tv. He's perfect. ETA 2: I thought it was CRAZY the scene where Rollins was in the office with Benson and said something along the lines of: "I can't imagine what they're going through.....their kid, out, just missing like that, and they have no idea?" I was like REALLY GIRL aren't you an SVU detective?!?!?!?!!! They've done that a couple of times this season and a few times last season with Carisi and Rollins and it's like, I think supposed to be indicative of some character trait (for Rollins it's the fact that SHE HAS A KID NOW....we get it) but I'm sorry, it's so out of place on this show. And THEN: "Hey, what about Tucker, you too good?" Like, I know I just brought up how mindbogglingly horrible this situation is that there's a kid out there missing, but let me check in on your love life real quick. UGH. NO WAY JOSE.

Could not believe how painfully obvious it was that the cop who was "protecting" her was the doer. The creepily close relationship was a dead giveaway. I agree with whoever said earlier that it would have been an interesting sort of "PSA" for the stalker to be the rapist, showing how stalking is a really serious crime, but it would have been lacking in the drama I GUESS. I actually loved Amanda and Finn sussing out the cop. I usually feel like when they do it they make it super obvious, but this time it didn't feel that way. Reminded me of when Carisi and Amaro did it with the dentist/uncle/rapist in S16. This is a comment that is going to get me so much hate, but I have to say it - the dialogue in SVU episodes is SO. FREAKING. AWKWARD. when it comes to describing the looks of women. They described this Quinn girl as being SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO beautiful (and she was a pretty girl) but not necessarily the kind of girl I'd expect that reaction from guys about. I was watching Design from S5 and Bobby Flay describes the girl who's a con-artist like so: "With a body like that, worth every penny!" Again, that girl was gorgeous, but pretty normal looking. It's so creepy when they do this in episodes. It's also odd because in the real world, the ultra-beautiful aren't by and large the victims of these kinds of crimes. This kind of stuff can happen to ANYBODY.

Wow. You bring up a really interesting point. I did think it was interesting just how damn "passable" Eva was. I wasn't even sure if she was trans at all. And you're right, that's not the norm. Even IF you happen to have the model good looks, you might still have the physical attributes of male (I.e. Height, build....a la Laverne Cox). I have to say, one thing I found especially ....rude I guess? was when Eva'a boyfriend made the remark of "I guess he likes her just the way she is." That did not sit right with me. Because he said it almost as if he was surprised - dude, you're dating her too pre-op, wtf? I thought that was a yucky comment for him to make - especially because he seemed to be the one who wanted her to get the surgery. Who knows what she wanted because, like you said, she had one line.

good, i'm glad they did that. it made me think of Fallacy in season 4, where the actress was just a really pretty girl with a deeper voice and then tied little scarves around her neck to make her seem like she was hiding an adam's apple. of course that was in 2003, boy how times have changed!

Does anybody know if the actress who played Eva is actually transgender? She was absolutely gorgeous. If not, I wonder why they didn't use a transgender actress. I know the part was relatively minor in terms of actual screen presence, but with the presence of several fairly famous transgender women in the entertainment industry (models, actresses, etc) I'm sure they could have found someone. ETA: My comment earlier about the thing Rollins said was not to imply that transgender people don't get attacked in bathrooms (or in high volumes in general). I just thought it was weird that the dialogue basically went like this: Benson: A crowded mall in the middle of the day? Helluva place to attack someone. Rollins: OR....the perfect place. She's transgender. Soooo, the fact that she's transgender still makes A CROWDED MALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY the *perfect* place to attack someone? I think regardless of who you're attacking, a crowded mall in the middle of the day is less than ideal.

I really liked this episode, but from the first 5 minutes I said to myself: "Oof, bad writing." I didn't understand Rollins' comment about how a crowded mall in broad daylight was the perfect place to attack Eva because she was transgendered? That didn't make sense to me. Was she saying it's perfect because it's "okay" to attack transgender people or what? I think the bad writing thought came later but I see some clunkiness in the last few episodes that I haven't noticed in awhile. Otherwise, I really liked the episode. And the outcome. I'm glad we got to see a case through to verdict (without a plea or a confession). And I'm glad we got an ending that wasn't satisfying i.e. the "perp" didn't get hit with the result that the squad wanted. I saw it coming I gotta say. When Hype said "a coma?" And the guy who opened the door was super big. Oh! That was some clunky language....what the mom of the little girl who was a witness said. Something like "What do those people think is going to happen when they go into whatever bathroom they want" or whatever they said. Awkward writing. It seemed like trying too hard to represent the bathroom issue. Why interject that into this episode for like 2.5 seconds and do almost nothing with it? Cluuuuuunk----kyyyyy.

Interesting. I understand your point, but for me I found his presence to be more of a distraction. Because they kept bringing up what he did for her in the past, which honestly had nothing to do with the crime in this episode (maybe it would have worked better if Olivia was the original witness of Ellis and the girl?) and just kept cropping its evil head up. I found it to be distracting and quite frankly, unnecessary. Having the father be a cop and knowing Liv was one thing, but this whole idea of "I helped you out, now you owe me one" seemed to disjoint the episode. I thought it also would've been interesting to see more of the fake witness before they called him on it. If almost wanna see if the jury believed him over the other witness. What story is a jury more inclined to believe? Of course then they'd have to figure out a way to get the confession in.

I think someone was right earlier when they pointed out that the Anthony Edwards factor was a real problem with this episode. Too many things going on. When dealing with the gray issue at the core of this episode, adding in the dad's questionable techniques both past and present really did nothing to bring the issue home, other than help elicit the kid'/ ultimate confession. Otherwise, I think they just introduced another sub issue into an episode that really didn't need one.

That's interesting....I could actually kind of see that based on the lead up. I'm sure that would not have been a popular premise though and would have cause an uproar among most of the audience.