S19.E05: Complicated

[RedheadZombie]

2 hours ago, illdoc said:

I also like the fact that, despite the fact he was a baby when adopted and is about 5 now, the adoption took place (in Barba's words) 3 years ago!

I think Barba said adoptions can't be vacated after three years.  That doesn't mean Noah was only adopted three years ago.

[illdoc]

Actually, what he said was "it can't be vacated. Not after 3 years". You interpret to mean "it could be vacated before the 3 years is up". I interpreted to mean "it's been 3 years. It wouldn't be vacated so long after the adoption". Not sure which of us is right. I know that (relinquishing) parent usually has only a few months to rescind the adoption. 

[Xeliou66]

6 hours ago, CheetaraThunder said:

 

Honestly, the only good things were the little Barba we got, and seeing Fin/Rollins/Carisi work together.

Carisi/Rollins are becoming my new favorite partnership as of lately.

Yeah Barba will be on next week. Hopefully they will actually use him instead of having him make brief cameos. I am enjoying how Fin/Carisi/Rollins are handling most of the stuff in the field and I am really enjoying Carisi, he has great chemistry with all of the others. I'm really glad we don't have an angry cop anymore, I don't miss Stabler or Amaro at all. 

This season has fallen off after a strong first 2 episodes. The writing isn't creative or original and MH is still hurting the show and pushing her agenda. She is very out of touch with reality and when she says she can't see differences between her and Olivia, well that's weird. 

[Gigglepuff]

9 minutes ago, illdoc said:

I know that (relinquishing) parent usually has only a few months to rescind the adoption. 

Yes, and then that's only with a private adoption, not an adoption from the foster system. 

[vast wasteland]

On 10/25/2017 at 7:47 PM, candall said:

I laughed at Carisi.  "Don't touch me.  Don't touch me!  DON'T TOUCH ME!!!"   So Carisi closes in to touch her.

Honestly, couldn't agree more.  A seasoned SUV detective, an obviously distraught girl with unknown history who clearly and forcefully says more than once, "Don't touch me!" 

And this seasoned detective continues to advance with his  hand out in spite of her strong and clearly stated objections.  

How could they script this character be so arrogant and ignorant, both as a human being and as a "trained" sexual assault team detective?   

Her objections were so clear, and he ignored them.  And continued the unwanted approach.

Have to admit, that scene did disturb me.

[vavavoom]

11 hours ago, marceline said:

Dear SVU,

I don't give a fuck about Noah.

Regards,
Marceline

I fast forward every Benoah scene. I'm not the least bit interested in this storyline.

[Gigglepuff]

Apparently, "Complicated," was not intended to be a retread of "Stranger," but was inspired by a documentary about Frédéric Pierre Bourdin called, "The Imposter." If that's true, I don't know how they missed the similarities between "Complicated" and "Stranger." 

 

Edited October 27, 2017 by Gigglepuff

[vavavoom]

4 minutes ago, Gigglepuff said:

Apparently, "Complicated," was not intended to be a retread of "Stranger," but was inspired by a documentary about Frédéric Pierre Bourdin called, "The Imposter." If that's true, I don't know how they missed the similarities between "Complicated" and "Stranger." 

 

I knew this story sounded familiar! The Dollop podcast did an episode about it. 

[ForeverAlone]

Have any of these current writers actually seen any of the earlier seasons of SVU, because longtime fans of this show immediately picked up on the similarities to "Stranger?" I mean, it was practically the same freaking episode, with the same freaking story beats (with some Benoah side action just for the hell of it). And to make things worse, it was a much weaker episode than "Stranger." That one kept me guessing for a while, and this one was practically telegraphed from the get go. Looking back, I also think it is highly likely "Stranger" was inspired by "The Imposter" case on its own, because a long article detailing the case was published in The New Yorker a few months before that episode aired. There are so many similarities to the case that I don't see it as mere coincidence. 

 

I am also so freaking sick of the Mariska ass kissing from everyone involved in the show, especially since many of those same longtime fans have issues with how Olivia has been written the past several years. 

Edited October 27, 2017 by ForeverAlone

[Gigglepuff]

Just now, ForeverAlone said:

Have any of these current writers actually seen any of the earlier seasons of SVU, because longtime fans of this show immediately picked up on the similarities to "Stranger?" I mean, it was practically the same freaking episode, with the same freaking story beats (with some Benoah side action just for the hell of it). 

 

I am also so freaking sick of the Mariska ass kissing from everyone involved in the show, especially since many of those same longtime fans have issues with how Olivia has been written the past several years. 

Exactly.  And how the hell would Mariska not have known about "Stranger"? So now she sees a documentary and that is what inspires the episode? C'mon already. 

[Shaynaa]

"Stranger" isn't ringing a bell but I may have seen it years ago and forgotten.  I guessed as soon as the girl ran to the cop that it was based on the Imposter case.  I highly recommend the documentary on Netflix.  The real life story is even crazier.  Frédéric Bourdin shows up in Spain and claims to be a missing child from Texas.  He has a French accent, the wrong hair and eye color and tells a wild story about being kidnapped by human traffickers.  He fools Spanish officials, the FBI for a time and even Nicholas Barclay's family.  The docu interviewed them and you really get the feeling that they had ulterior motives for wanting to believe this was true.  In that case no one in the family has admitted to anything.  Craziest part?  They didn't do a DNA test there either before "reuniting" the family.

https://www.netflix.com/title/70228012

[Xeliou66]

The writers just aren't putting any effort into making good storylines, they are too focused on kissing Mariska's ass and letting her chew up scenes to actually come up with good ideas. That's why last nights episode was simply a redo of Stranger, the episode before that was more of a PSA from Mariska than an SVU episode and the episode before that one didn't make any sense. The first 2 episodes were good, now this season has just gone off the rails. 

[Shaynaa]

The writers should keep track of stories but the show has been on for 18 years so some stuff is going to be repeated.  I just don't the problem with Mariska seeing a documentary and thinking it would make an interesting episode.   Being inspired by actual events is a L&O staple.   I don't think the writing is as good as it used to be and isn't subtle but I don't understand the vicious level of bashing Mariska gets here.  Honestly, if I hated an actor and show as much as y'all do, I'd quit watching.

[ForeverAlone]

Yeah, but this episode was more like "Stranger" than "The Imposter." Sure, in all of these stories you had a person pretending to be a kidnapping victim. But "The Imposter" seemed to have more sinister motives for his impersonation, whereas both "Stranger" and "Complicated" had more sympathetic female victims, with "Stranger" having the most sympathetic victim and backstory, since she actually had been held prisoner for years. Hell, it wouldn't shock me if this same case was the inspiration for "Stranger" in the first place (though there are some key differences between that episode and "The Imposter.") And since the incident in "The Imposter" occurred in 1997, it's not surprising that the police didn't insist on DNA or fingerprint identification at the time of reunification, because it never occurred to them that anybody would impersonate a missing child (though eventually demand for such is what brought this impersonation to a halt). But in 2017? That should be standard procedure for SVU to verify identity before reunification, and to have the story hinge on such unprofessional behavior, with zero repercussions for the department, just stretched my suspension of disbelief too much. If this episode explored different aspects of this type of story, I wouldn't be giving it as much criticism. But since it is a near repeat, I am more down on it, because it doesn't bring anything new and it isn't written as well as its predecessor, in my opinion. Especially since you would think Mariska would have some sort of memory of doing a story like this some years earlier. It actually would have been interesting if the "victim" really did have more sinister motives and was out to really con and hurt the family. Of course it would also be interesting if the family was completely unaware and weren't covering up the missing girl's murder, so they were genuinely shocked at the con (rather than just the poor, clueless mom). Or like I said, there was an exploration for the fallout for SVU's failure, because you know there would be media questions and 1PP would be pissed as all get out at this. And if you combined that with the family genuinely believing the returned girl is their family member, it would be even more gut wrenching to discover that you had been lied to, and the police didn't do their job properly. We're talking threats of lawsuits and stuff like that and political fallout for LT Benson to deal with (which would be something interesting to see Olivia grapple with, since she is painted as the all knowing saint on this show). Like I said, I understand the show going back to the well when it comes to stories, because there is only so many ways that these type of stories could be told. But I just wish that there would be some different twists, rather than just a reboot. 

I personally don't hate SVU, but I have grown extremely tired of the dominance of Olivia Benson in the sense of doing basically everything on the show, almost singlehandedly making these cases from both a law and order perspective, and then to pile on tiresome personal drama to boot. I love the secondary characters of SVU, and wish the show would spend more time on them and less time on Olivia. And since Mariska is an executive producer, she is going to get a fair amount of the blame for the development of Olivia, because she probably had a hand in the direction the show has taken in recent years. 

Edited October 27, 2017 by ForeverAlone

[sockii]

7 hours ago, ForeverAlone said:

Have any of these current writers actually seen any of the earlier seasons of SVU, because longtime fans of this show immediately picked up on the similarities to "Stranger?"

I seem to recall one interview with Chernuchin, right before the start of this season, where he said he watched some/select episodes of SVU before starting in, but not all of the series. But certainly Julie Martin has been around the show long enough she should be familiar with this previous episodes.

[QueenMab]

Has anyone here actually watched "Chicago P.D."? One of the "spin offs" of Warren Leight? I did. The lead character, Voight, is Elliot Stabler on steroids. Every week they nab someone for a crime, bring him in, and this Voight proceeds to beat the crap out of the suspect until he gives in. Police procedure, suspects rights, out the window. With no repercussions or accountability. My point is, except for the original L&O, none of these L&O based shows have any thing to do with law or order. Not even a nod to the reality of police work. So I wonder is this the demand of viewers? They like shows based on cops or lawyers but don't want the stories to have any resemblance to actual police or lawyer work? This seems to be a disturbing trend. Base shows on people who work in a field but the show has no resemblance to the actual work or procedures people in those professions actually do. Law and Order is like a "backdrop" to whatever immoral, unethical, unprofessional behavior they can think up for the characters. We keep looking and asking for better stories with a bit more of the realistic challenges of being a police detective or ADA but we're not going to get them. All these shows premises are just an excuse to have lots of people interact with as much sex, violence, and unethical personal crap from the main characters as possible. This is, apparently, what television considers "drama" nowadays. I'm not one of the viewers that likes to watch that crap. But, I could be all alone in that. Seems like it.

[Poohbear617]

I'm so glad I was not the only one ticked off about a duplicate episode that had the same plot as a previrus season. It got worse on the next show CHICAGO PD.  They had the plot of parents giving away their difficult adopted children that are then traffic into porn and sex trade.  SVU did that only about 2 seasons ago. Both had the father being gone out of town  for days/weeks at time and return home only to discover their child missing and it turns out the wife gave the kids away.  The past few years that there is a large lotto ball tumbler filled with Dick Wolf  ideas and the law and order group and the Chicago groups are just spinning it didn't what they can to reshape a tired idea.  They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but on tv dramas it's the.quickest way to losing viewers and cancelation.

[dttruman]

17 hours ago, Shaynaa said:

The writers should keep track of stories but the show has been on for 18 years so some stuff is going to be repeated.  I just don't the problem with Mariska seeing a documentary and thinking it would make an interesting episode.   Being inspired by actual events is a L&O staple.   I don't

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think the writing is as good as it used to be and isn't subtle but I don't understand the vicious level of bashing Mariska gets here.  Honestly, if I hated an actor and show as much as y'all do, I'd quit watching.

Mariska probably ordered the writers to make an episode with this in mind as long as she (or her character) gets most of the attention. You don't think the writing is as good as it used to be, neither do most of us. The reason is this new format, where writers have to revolve almost everything around Olivia Benson. Do you think it was a good idea to drop the ME (Tunie) or the FBI profiler (Wong) along with many other cutbacks? We're fine with her being a part of the show, we just wish they would go back to the old style.

[Xeliou66]

That's why it's completely fair how much blame Mariska gets for the show's writing quality. She demands everything be written around her characters and the stories written to push the agenda of her foundation. People are sick of the show having to revolve entirely around her while the other characters get screwed. We barely have any recurring characters anymore, we never see the lab people, medical examiners or TARU anymore and we only have a handful of recurring characters on the legal side. Hell, we don't even get Fin and Barba in every episode and they are main characters. And the reason why is obviously because of Mariska's huge ego and demands that everything be centered around her. 

[RafaelBarba35]

Sooooo.... We just got a deleted scene of Sonny confronting a reporter and saying he might be in hot water with his lieutenant. So the plots weren't switched. They just deleted Sonny's and gave Benson more screen time. I'm seriously hating this. Sonny gets an interesting storyline and it gets cut for more Benoah drama. And next week we get more Benoah drama since Liv still has to get over her doubts about Shelia. If you're gonna cut the plot don't put it in the press release!!!!???

[MarylandGirl]

13 hours ago, dttruman said:

Mariska probably ordered the writers to make an episode with this in mind as long as she (or her character) gets most of the attention. You don't think the writing is as good as it used to be, neither do most of us. The reason is this new format, where writers have to revolve almost everything around Olivia Benson. Do you think it was a good idea to drop the ME (Tunie) or the FBI profiler (Wong) along with many other cutbacks? We're fine with her being a part of the show, we just wish they would go back to the old style.

This is an episode that would have really benefited from having Wong still on the show. He could have interviewed the supposed kidnapping victim to assess her mental status. And also maybe from Tunie confirming that the cause of death of the body they found matched the brother/father's account (if they could tell after that much time).

[Gigi43]

I don't expect Mariska to remember each and every episode  and after 19 seasons stories are going to repeat.  IMO when making the general plot someone should look up some kind of archive at least so it's not so similar, like this and Stranger are. It's a bit ridiculous anyway especially with Liv and Finn, to act like so many situations are brand new experiences with what they've seen over the years. Maybe Mariska thought it would be a good episode because some where in her mind she knew it was one. The topic has been done elsewhere too. White Collar had one only it was a son who was a runaway and the imposter that returned held him hostage for information since the father was very rich and now not in good health. I'm sure other shows have done versions. Last week Rollins did get to mention a past episode, but a general "it's happened before " at any point would have gone a long way.  It's starting to remind me of soap operas in a way, either there's a "Look! History!" moment of detailed reference or the writers clearly haven't bothered to realize what they're doing isn't new for the show because they only care about what they are doing and don't care about past regimes except for the rare occasions.  

Edited October 28, 2017 by Gigi43

[MorbidPet]

I've seen The Imposter but this was Stranger all over again but with less thrill (since we'd seen it already). I don't watch Blue Bloods but I've seen comments on other social media that brought the similarities up. You can't really control what other shows air just a week ahead of you but the creative team surely should be able to do a better job with old material. The brother being involved was as plain as day and not cause of JonBenét but because the actor wasn't subtle at all (could be the directing that should be blamed tho). That the dad was involved I didn't suspect. It still wasn't enough to make the episode worth while tho.
And as many of you have pointed out there were so many breaches of procedure and just so so weird they released her from the hospital that quick and then let her go home with her family. Argh.
Fin/Ice was underused, Barba/Raul also. Rollins/Kelli did good with what she was given.
That they scrap Carisi's subplot is shite though. And if that plot was just one scene then why the heck even mention it!? A deleted scene. That's how they treat the rest of the cast these days. Deleted scenes, wasted moments left on the floor of the cutting room. Sad. So so very sad.

 

On 10/26/2017 at 6:46 AM, QueenMab said:

Oh God! The whispering scene! Stop it. Is she trying to seduce? Sound "sexy"? WTF?

I call it the victim whisper voice (and yes I cringe each time I hear it) but now it seems to have spread. Same voice as she uses towards Noah and now also when she's trying to act all emotional. Fail.

On 10/26/2017 at 11:55 PM, RafaelBarba35 said:

Yeah he is but I don't know how much screen time he's gonna get sick this seems like a Rollins episode. Key word 'seems'.

He's not in any of the preview photos :( I hope they use him for more than Bensons' shoulder to cry on in the upcoming episode tho. Such a waste. I doubt it will be a Rollins episode but I sure hope they keep Rollins going undercover at the treatment center. I love when they go UC. I hope she's doing something like in Undercover Blue. She killed it as Cassidy's "lady". She can do trashy rather well lol

On 10/27/2017 at 8:44 AM, Shaynaa said:

I don't think the writing is as good as it used to be and isn't subtle but I don't understand the vicious level of bashing Mariska gets here.  Honestly, if I hated an actor and show as much as y'all do, I'd quit watching.

It's not just on here. Fans are getting tired of the constant focus on her. It's concerned fans that has aired this for several seasons now but the writers/Fox/Julie/Leight has only catered to the so-called diehards that are also up too far MH's ass to see that they are killing the show. I have wanted to quit this show for several seasons now but I've been a fan since S1, since basically frame one, so the show means a lot to me, the cases/victims/survivors has touched me and to some extent the show has helped me so it's not that easy to quit it. Also MH/Benson was my favorite for so long and I'm gutted that she is now the one spoiling this show. I'm not as outspoken these days about my criticism, it's just not worth the time to try and reach through but hopefully the creative team see the massive outpour of bashing the Benoah drama now gets on FB & Twitter. Most of us wants to see the show succeed, we know it has the stuff to do so but it will not as long as MH has this strong grip on the show and it's creative team.

[CheetaraThunder]

6 hours ago, RafaelBarba35 said:

Sooooo.... We just got a deleted scene of Sonny confronting a reporter and saying he might be in hot water with his lieutenant. So the plots weren't switched. They just deleted Sonny's and gave Benson more screen time. I'm seriously hating this. Sonny gets an interesting storyline and it gets cut for more Benoah drama. And next week we get more Benoah drama since Liv still has to get over her doubts about Shelia. If you're gonna cut the plot don't put it in the press release!!!!???

I was pissed too, they were so much they could have done:

- The consequences of this act.

- Did Carisi break up with the reporter, since it was imply in the description that they were dating.

- The reaction from the crew about Carisi secret girlfriend, especially Rollins/Fin.

 

the list goes on as on...If the personal drama doesn’t revolve around Benoah, then to the cutting room it goes.

[auchic]

7 hours ago, RafaelBarba35 said:

Sooooo.... We just got a deleted scene of Sonny confronting a reporter and saying he might be in hot water with his lieutenant. So the plots weren't switched. They just deleted Sonny's and gave Benson more screen time. I'm seriously hating this. Sonny gets an interesting storyline and it gets cut for more Benoah drama. And next week we get more Benoah drama since Liv still has to get over her doubts about Shelia. If you're gonna cut the plot don't put it in the press release!!!!???

I'm pissed that it was cut not just because it was a dropped plot line that we knew was coming, but apparently the reporter is Sonny's girlfriend?! What a great way to introduce that little tidbit.

I mean, for crying out loud, none of the plots of any recent episode has been particularly engaging and I love me some good character development, so why is everything meaty being consigned to deleted scenes? 

Edited October 28, 2017 by auchic

[wknt3]

On 10/26/2017 at 9:27 AM, milner said:

Thank you so much Gussie K it was Blue Bloods!  I knew it was a recent show with the same plot but just couldn’t get my old brain in gear and it was driving me crazy. Thanks again ?

It is pretty easy to confuse the two shows these days. Pro Tip: If you are watching a poorly written police procedural wasting the best efforts of enormously talented actors, dragged down by its star's ego insisting on presenting their character as a saint whose only flaw is caring too much and constantly advancing a liberal agenda instead of presenting nuanced and believable drama you are watching SVU. If you are watching a poorly written police procedural wasting the best efforts of enormously talented actors, dragged down by its star's ego insisting on presenting their character as a saint whose only flaw is caring too much and constantly advancing a right wing agenda instead of presenting nuanced and believable drama you are watching Blue Bloods.

[milner]

Ha. Love it and it is sadly too true. Thanks. You made me smile ? 

[SuzieQ]

4 hours ago, wknt3 said:

It is pretty easy to confuse the two shows these days. Pro Tip: If you are watching a poorly written police procedural wasting the best efforts of enormously talented actors, dragged down by its star's ego insisting on presenting their character as a saint whose only flaw is caring too much and constantly advancing a liberal agenda instead of presenting nuanced and believable drama you are watching SVU. If you are watching a poorly written police procedural wasting the best efforts of enormously talented actors, dragged down by its star's ego insisting on presenting their character as a saint whose only flaw is caring too much and constantly advancing a right wing agenda instead of presenting nuanced and believable drama you are watching Blue Bloods.

This made me laugh so hard!

[wonderwoman]

7 hours ago, wknt3 said:

On October 26, 2017 at 9:27 AM, milner said:

 

It is pretty easy to confuse the two shows these days. Pro Tip: If you are watching a poorly written police procedural wasting the best efforts of enormously talented actors, dragged down by its star's ego insisting on presenting their character as a saint whose only flaw is caring too much and constantly advancing a liberal agenda instead of presenting nuanced and believable drama you are watching SVU. If you are watching a poorly written police procedural wasting the best efforts of enormously talented actors, dragged down by its star's ego insisting on presenting their character as a saint whose only flaw is caring too much and constantly advancing a right wing agenda instead of presenting nuanced and believable drama you are watching Blue Bloods.

Certainly in agreement that both Olivia and Frank are presented as saintly. And that Mariska's and Tom's egos are the root. And, Lord knows, Blue Bloods advances "a right wing agenda." However, I'm not seeing a political agenda, left or right on SVU. Rather, it's all about Saint Olivia. 

[RafaelBarba35]

OK we got another deleted scene with Sonny telling Rollins about the reporter. Rollins was not that surprised but I loved her last line; "better you than me for a change". So true. If it was in the actual episode!!!!!!???? no I'm not getting over that.  

 

Now all we need is a scene where he tells Benson. They better have that.

 

And I recently forced myself to watch the episode and when Sonny was approaching the girl when she was telling him to stop, I just was like WTF Sonny would not do that! Why are they making him do that?!!

[CleoCaesar]

What a garbage episode. Is there anyone who thought the girl was really Emma? Or that the shady brother wasn't involved?

Oh God, Mariska, cut it out with the dramatic whispering.

And oh look, 5 episodes and in all 5 the perp is a white male. I know it's trendy to blame white men for everything nowadays, but this has gotten ridiculous. Beyond ridiculous.

[QueenMab]

You know, this show is set not in NYC but Manhattan. Rich, white, trendy, famous, expensive first class, are in Manhattan. An excuse for Benson and gang to eat at chic bistos ( no cop diners for Benson, linen tablecloths and crystal stemware only) interact with the rich famous powerful to show what a "star" Benson is, and investigate crimes in 5star hotels and $20 million penthouses on CPW. Looks good on camera. Its rich white asshole ville. So that's what we get. Week after week. Because its rich white Manhattan.

[QueenMab]

BTW...Forlani's is a real place on Baxter St. just down from Hogan Place which is just down from NYC Police Dept.(1 PP) and across the street from the Manhattan Men's Detention Center. Been there. Its nice but NYC has hundreds just like it. Places where that expensive, pretentiously obscure wine Benson guzzles down at Barba's expense costs $20 a goblet.

Grew up in Bronx, Highbridge area just across Jerome Ave. from the South Bronx. My connection to Barba and the show FYI. :)

[ForeverAlone]

I saw the deleted scene with Carisi and wonder where the show was going with this. I mean, was this the only deleted scene that dealt with this issue, or was there some follow up? If not, I can't see how this was enough to warrant a sentence in the press release. And if this was supposed to be some interesting B story for Carisi, why delete it? I guess they needed to make room for the Benoah scenes. So far, the trend this season seems to be put the Benoah scenes in the aired episode and more interesting scenes deleted and posted later. Needless to say, I wish this trend was reversed. 

[CelticBlackCat]

Are we the viewers supposed to watch additional scenes to put the stories and plot lines in the aired episodes together?

[Xeliou66]

I'm so sick of scenes with Carisi, Fin and Barba getting cut so we can have Benson shoved down our throats more. MH's ego is out of control and it's ruining the show. Barba's appearances have basically been nothing more than brief cameos the past 2 episodes, I'm so sick of the terrible treatment they give Barba, no excuse for it. Total waste of a great ADA and of the very talented Raul Esparza by limiting him to brief cameos and making him Benson's bitch frequently. And having Peter Stone come in in the second half of the year is a slap in Barba's face and nothing more than Churnuchin desperately trying to hold on to his failed disaster Chicago Justice. I hope Stone's appearance means more Barba but I have a feeling they will just trash Barba in order to make Stone look good. I'm so sick of the shitty writing and no respect shown to Barba. I'm also fed up with Carisi getting his scenes cut in favor of more Benson/Noah/Brooke Shields drama, its a stupid storyline and one that I hope will die down soon. 

[QueenMab]

Xeliou....I too have uneasy feelings about this new Stone ADA. Because...every time they go into a characters life it's always a trainwreck. And I fear that's what they are going to do with Barba. Take a popular character we would like to know more good stuff about and show us he's really an unethical, immoral scumbag who should have been disbarred years ago but he was able to keep it all on the DL...until Stone. Guaranteed they will F with him not show us  a better Barba. I hate what I'm hearing about this season. And the MH ego Benoah crap? Its just that. WE DONT CARE!

[spunky]

On 10/25/2017 at 9:49 PM, Gigglepuff said:

Why was Liv assisting in the reunion between Emma and her parents? Wouldn't a social worker or psychologist be more appropriate?

Who needs a Social Worker, when we have super Liv? ?

[spunky]

On 10/25/2017 at 11:34 PM, milner said:

I am sure I just saw this same plot on another show.  I knew immediately that the girl was a fake and that the brother was involved.  Anyone remember a show recently with the same story?   And on another topic I hate how Mariska does that weird whisper thing to show emotion, distress etc.  

That show was blue bloods. The SVU plot was 100 times better, but then again their writers are better.

[ForeverAlone]

I saw the second Dominic deleted scene where he angrily confronts his girlfriend about the story (and interestingly she says that he was not the source for the story, but someone else close to the investigation. If true, I wonder who), and another scene that shows Dominic's emotional fallout from this fight. This just shows how it could have been an interesting storyline to pursue SVU's failure to do its job with regard to victim identification, and the blowback for all involved (it wouldn't just be Dominic on the hook, but Olivia as well) when that failure was made public. I assume there is a fourth scene floating about where Dominic talks to Olivia about all of this, but who knows? But this means that the show made a concerted and deliberate effort to cut this particular subplot in favor of more Benoah drama. And what a way to introduce Dominic's supposed girlfriend. Again, this just shows that the secondary characters are being shoved literally off the screen and consigned to deleted scenes, and Benoah drama is carrying the day. I suppose I should be happy these scenes are being filmed at all, and at least we can still see them as deleted scenes, but still.  Does the show really think that is what the bulk of fans want to see? Do they really think that none of the secondary characters have ardent fanbases who want to know about them, and instead only want more and stupider Olivia drama? If the choices made this season on what to cut and what to air is any indication- I guess so. 

Edited October 30, 2017 by ForeverAlone

[wonderwoman]

ForeverAlone --

Any chance there are links to the deleted scenes?

[Xeliou66]

3 hours ago, QueenMab said:

Xeliou....I too have uneasy feelings about this new Stone ADA. Because...every time they go into a characters life it's always a trainwreck. And I fear that's what they are going to do with Barba. Take a popular character we would like to know more good stuff about and show us he's really an unethical, immoral scumbag who should have been disbarred years ago but he was able to keep it all on the DL...until Stone. Guaranteed they will F with him not show us  a better Barba. I hate what I'm hearing about this season. And the MH ego Benoah crap? Its just that. WE DONT CARE!

I'm very worried as well. I have a feeling they will shit on Barba and assassinate his character just to make Stone look like a saint. The only purpose for bringing Stone on is Churnuchin trying to convince himself that Chicago Justice wasn't an EPIC FAILURE and he's desperately trying to keep his failed show alive. The only reason people like me even watched justice was because of the L&O tie in and when you have to rely on making a show's main character the son of a popular character from 20 years ago, well that is a gimmick and the show was doomed. The writers give Barba no respect anyway and barely even use him while Stone is Churnuchin's pet so I guarantee they will smear Barba in order to make Stone look good. 

2 hours ago, ForeverAlone said:

I saw the second Dominic deleted scene where he angrily confronts his girlfriend about the story (and interestingly she says that he was not the source for the story, but someone else close to the investigation. If true, I wonder who), and another scene that shows Dominic's emotional fallout from this fight. This just shows how it could have been an interesting storyline to pursue SVU's failure to do its job with regard to victim identification, and the blowback for all involved (it wouldn't just be Dominic on the hook, but Olivia as well) when that failure was made public. I assume there is a fourth scene floating about where Dominic talks to Olivia about all of this, but who knows? But this means that the show made a concerted and deliberate effort to cut this particular subplot in favor of more Benoah drama. And what a way to introduce Dominic's supposed girlfriend. Again, this just shows that the secondary characters are being shoved literally off the screen and consigned to deleted scenes, and Benoah drama is carrying the day. I suppose I should be happy these scenes are being filmed at all, and at least we can still see them as deleted scenes, but still.  Does the show really think that is what the bulk of fans want to see? Do they really think that none of the secondary characters have ardent fanbases who want to know about them, and instead only want more and stupider Olivia drama? If the choices made this season on what to cut and what to air is any indication- I guess so. 

I'm sick of Carisi having all of his scenes deleted as well. It just shows the show is all about Mariska and the writers are just kissing her ass and they only care about what she wants and not what anyone else wants, they would have to be stupid not to know the fans want less Benson/Noah and more on the other characters, they just don't care, they only care about Mariska. And Mariska wants a ton of super mommy Benson, a ton of personal drama and heavy handed preachy episodes, so that's what they write while the other characters get squat. Mariska and the writers bowing to her have ruined the show, it should be renamed the Mariska Hargitay Hour. 

45 minutes ago, wonderwoman said:

ForeverAlone --

Any chance there are links to the deleted scenes?

Go to the All Things Law and Order blog, you will find it there along with a bunch of other cool stuff. The scenes are also on YouTube. 

[CheetaraThunder]

There is another deleted scene released on the SVU Facebook page. Basically shows Carisi and the reporter breaking up and Rollins inviting him over for dinner with Jesse, so he can forget about grown up problems. It was a nice scene that should have never been deleted like all of carisi’s scenes this episode.

[ForeverAlone]

Yeah, I find all the SVU deleted scenes either on SVU's official Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages. 

[devious455]

I watched all those deleted scenes to see what you all complaining about. Carisi´s love life redux in one minute is what really interest you? The whole thing was a waste of time and it didn't fit to the tone of the episode at all. They gave him an extremely idiotic scene where he carried that dead girl and then cut, he is dealing with his relationship problems? I get that, you guys are angry that there is a Benoah drama in every episode and I'm too. Other characters also deserve a time to shine. But watching Carisi yelling at his girlfriend on a street without giving her a chance to explain herself, then inevitably being dumped while looking completely unaffected by it.. like they didn't date for 1/2 year or something. That's not what this show desperately needs. 

If they want to tie up some loose ends from previous seasons I would recommend looking at Barba's death threats. Far more interesting story than Carisi showing how immature he is. 

[CelticBlackCat]

Thank you to the posters who have provided the info on how to watch deleted scenes.  This is not against you, it's against the show.  Show:  I don't feel compelled to run after you and watch on three different channels or venues on the Internet "The Rest Of The Story."  If you want to keep your viewers happy, why don't you give them what they want On The Show.  It's one thing to air a bloopers special or something, but to put out the edited scenes that wound up on the cutting room floor for us to piece together the rest of the story is just obnoxious.

[MorbidPet]

37 minutes ago, devious455 said:

I watched all those deleted scenes to see what you all complaining about. Carisi´s love life redux in one minute is what really interest you? The whole thing was a waste of time and it didn't fit to the tone of the episode at all. They gave him an extremely idiotic scene where he carried that dead girl and then cut, he is dealing with his relationship problems? I get that, you guys are angry that there is a Benoah drama in every episode and I'm too. Other characters also deserve a time to shine. But watching Carisi yelling at his girlfriend on a street without giving her a chance to explain herself, then inevitably being dumped while looking completely unaffected by it.. like they didn't date for 1/2 year or something. That's not what this show desperately needs. 

If they want to tie up some loose ends from previous seasons I would recommend looking at Barba's death threats. Far more interesting story than Carisi showing how immature he is. 

Obviously I can only speak for myself but the fact is they put his/that storyline in the episode information weeks ago. I was really looking forward to getting something else than Benoah crap. I'm actually not really a fan of Carisi, I find him too cartoonish most of the time, but I am that desperate for something else than what we are constantly getting about Benson/Benoah.
I also get that maybe what they shot didn't really fit in with the episode but what if there is also a scene where Carisi confess to Liv? Now that would give the two of them some in-squadroom-character development which is by far better than anything going on at Benson's home. The only positive thing I can say about Benoah is that that plotline has given us some in the squad room character development between Benson and Rollins. Now I rather have them at each other's throat (and I also miss messed up Rollins cause I prefer flawed characters) but I get that it gets tiresome in the long run and the characters needs to evolve. We've seen zero character development with Carisi and Fin tho - I can't remember if Carisi passing the bar actually made the episode but Fin becoming Serge didn't, that was also scrapped from an actual episode. Just like the entire Rollaro affair basically ended up on the cutting room floor. And for me the cut scenes doesn't happen "for real". For me they are just like fanfics. Alas way better than what SVU is currently airing.

[QueenMab]

In one episode (last week?) Rollins and I think Car is I were walking down a hallway in a TV studio and there was a big poster behind them advertising the networks Spanish language morning show. It had pics of the pretty girl co host and of the male host saying "Buena's Dias New York". It was Alex Munos I swear. Barbas old pal that lost the Mayors race because of his junk shots to teenage girls. Got sent to Federal prison for a while....or maybe not? He ended up hating Barba for it and thought it was personal because Barba had obviously banged his wife Yelena. I always wondered why they didn't follow up on that because when Barba got death threats and nobody knew from who, I thought " maybe that thug pal of Barbas that lost it all took exception". Munos from South Bronx BX9 turf. I think that would have been a good followup/resolution to "October Surprise" and a juicy reason/reasons for the death threats. If Munis is on TV now with a public forum, he could get rowdy verbally with Barba and cause some stink. He's known Barba all his life and knows ALL Barbas secrets. I think that would be much juicier than the Benoah crap.

[devious455]

8 hours ago, MorbidPet said:

8 hours ago, MorbidPet said:

Obviously I can only speak for myself but the fact is they put his/that storyline in the episode information weeks ago. I was really looking forward to getting something else than Benoah crap. I'm actually not really a fan of Carisi, I find him too cartoonish most of the time, but I am that desperate for something else than what we are constantly getting about Benson/Benoah.

 

Yes they shouldn't have mention this in the episode information and then cut it. But it wasn't the wrong choice that it was deleted in my opinion. It didn't move his character by an inch in terms of development. He was reckless but as always he didn't face any consequences at all. Once again, nothing lasting happened to him. I'm tired and annoyed by him. They give him too many scenes where he has the brilliant idea that saves the case, where he put extra effort into looking for clues. When was the last time Fin was given an opportunity to show that he is the most experienced detective and save the case? 

I will never like Carisi because I can't take him seriously. He talks like a cartoon character and he brings nothing to the show because we already have a flawless individual in Benson and we see how boring she is. With him we have two tiresome characters with most of the screentime. No wonder people are not excited by the show anymore. And no, male lead doesn't have to be angry catholic with family issues to be interesting. He just has to be multi-faceted character with flaws and depth. 

8 hours ago, MorbidPet said:

I also get that maybe what they shot didn't really fit in with the episode but what if there is also a scene where Carisi confess to Liv? Now that would give the two of them some in-squadroom-character development which is by far better than anything going on at Benson's home. 

That would actually make the whole thing worthwhile. Because he could be affected professionally. But personally, from what we saw he showed more emotion when spaghetti were mentioned than that his most likely serious relationship has probably ended. 

Edited October 31, 2017 by devious455

[devious455]

3 hours ago, QueenMab said:

I always wondered why they didn't follow up on that because when Barba got death threats and nobody knew from who, I thought " maybe that thug pal of Barbas that lost it all took exception". Munos from South Bronx BX9 turf. I think that would have been a good followup/resolution to "October Surprise" and a juicy reason/reasons for the death threats. If Munis is on TV now with a public forum, he could get rowdy verbally with Barba and cause some stink. He's known Barba all his life and knows ALL Barbas secrets. I think that would be much juicier than the Benoah crap.

It's interesting therefore it will never happen. It was two showrunners ago so it's forgotten but I was thinking that Munoz could be behind those death threats too. Too bad that we most likely won't find out who was originally behind this.