Konigsberg

I've been a pretty ridiculously invested fan when it comes to this show. I've watched every season, every episode, et cetera, et cetera. I feel like I know the characters pretty well, is my point, and this felt like someone took Benson's character and flipped it all around. Is Olivia a character that clearly expresses her emotions, disbelief, and the like often? Of course, but this was just wrong. This is a professional woman who was dealing with something she has twenty years of experience with: Abuse and how it's handled by the authorities. She knows what a bruise in the shape of a hand looks like. She knows that if a teacher is one of the good guys, they'll definitely report it to someone. She should know this is all reasonable! If my child went to school with a bruise like that on his arm, I'd want someone to say something! The Olivia Benson I've seen in the past 18 seasons would feel the same way, surely. I expected her frustration and exasperation, but I sure as hell didn't expect her to act like a fool about the whole thing. Honestly, this characterization is practically demeaning to her - more so than the usual dramatic frustration and so on. I don't know why the hell the writers and Mariska went with this. I definitely second what was said by @Xeliou66 in this post and the more extensive review of the show: I appreciate the messages that SVU has presented. Part of the appeal to me is that the cases are supposed to feel real because they reflect real life events or interests, but over the years it has become too much. I'm all for a show with meaning and message, but with something like this the messages need to be varied to be truly meaningful. Not to mention that when it becomes preachy, there's a problem. Right now, SVU seems to be hitting the same note over and over rather than showing the greater picture and reflecting the emotions, needs, and desires of the members of the society they're supposed to be reflecting. I think Mariska plays a big part in that, or so it seems. There are so many great stories that need to be told, stories that go beyond Benson: I want to know how Amanda and Kim are doing, more about Sonny, how Fin and his family are, and I want to learn more about Barba and his background. SVU presents us with these really interesting characters, and yet it seems like they're actually using them less and less in these stories. To truly reflect the issues of today, I'd love to hear more about Barba and Fin and their experiences with racial tension. I'd love to hear how Kim is handling her mental illness, and how Amanda is handling single motherhood not just Liv. I want to see Sonny and Fin interacting - honestly either of them interacting with anyone would be great! All around, this should have been a good episode! US-Cuba relations, a chance to see Barba against an interesting lawyer, Fin actually playing a big role... And yet everything was consumed by Benson, and the plot of it didn't even make sense, as many before me have said! I'm frustrated with the writers and Mariska in particular.