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Relevant Testimony:
“I played it that (Benson) was in SVU (when the initial crime in this episode occurred), so that in season three she had been a sex crimes detective for seven years. If other writers aren’t paying attention (to the canonical history I established), then it says more about them than it does me. I’m sure some of the audience pays attention to those details in a very anal way, but we’re more interested in the undercurrents and personalities clashing in the workplace.”—Judith McCreary
Episode 46: Stolen“I played it that (Benson) was in SVU (when the initial crime in this episode occurred), so that in season three she had been a sex crimes detective for seven years. If other writers aren’t paying attention (to the canonical history I established), then it says more about them than it does me. I’m sure some of the audience pays attention to those details in a very anal way, but we’re more interested in the undercurrents and personalities clashing in the workplace.”—Judith McCreary
Original air date: October 12, 2001
Teleplay by Jonathan Greene and Robert F. Campbell, directed by James Quinn
Additional Cast:
Celia Weston (Margaret Talmadge), Bruce Altman (Mark Sanford), Ted King (Tony Derichek), Rob Bartlett (Milton Schoenfeld), John Seitz (Herbert Talmadge), Josh Pais (Attorney Robert Sorenson), Linda Cook (Susan Young), Charlotte Colavin (Judge Serani), Jen Albano (Alicia Brown), Elizabeth Hanly Rice (Linda Cook), Ian Cronin (Tyler Blake/Stephen Talmadge), Ellen Parker (Erin Blake), John Sloman (Adam Blake), David Aaron Baker (Robert Cook), Devid DeBeck (Attorney Stern), Adrienne Dreiss (Rebecca Reiter), Kerri Green (Michelle)
Celia Weston (Margaret Talmadge), Bruce Altman (Mark Sanford), Ted King (Tony Derichek), Rob Bartlett (Milton Schoenfeld), John Seitz (Herbert Talmadge), Josh Pais (Attorney Robert Sorenson), Linda Cook (Susan Young), Charlotte Colavin (Judge Serani), Jen Albano (Alicia Brown), Elizabeth Hanly Rice (Linda Cook), Ian Cronin (Tyler Blake/Stephen Talmadge), Ellen Parker (Erin Blake), John Sloman (Adam Blake), David Aaron Baker (Robert Cook), Devid DeBeck (Attorney Stern), Adrienne Dreiss (Rebecca Reiter), Kerri Green (Michelle)
Reviewing the Case:
The grocery store kidnapping of a baby leads detectives first to the tot, then to the unscrupulous attorney who bought her from a crack addict. But the self-serving lawyer seems legit—until his files reveal an old child kidnapping case Cragen had worked on once. With Munch’s help, Cragen tracks down Stephen Talmadge, who is now twelve years old and living with unsuspecting adoptive parents, then Stephen’s biological father, who never knew his son existed. Cabot tries to help make sure the custody issues fall the right way. But who killed baby Stephen’s mother . . . and why?
The grocery store kidnapping of a baby leads detectives first to the tot, then to the unscrupulous attorney who bought her from a crack addict. But the self-serving lawyer seems legit—until his files reveal an old child kidnapping case Cragen had worked on once. With Munch’s help, Cragen tracks down Stephen Talmadge, who is now twelve years old and living with unsuspecting adoptive parents, then Stephen’s biological father, who never knew his son existed. Cabot tries to help make sure the custody issues fall the right way. But who killed baby Stephen’s mother . . . and why?
Noteworthy Discoveries:
It’s always a pleasure to re-visit the 27
th
Precinct (home of the Mother Ship’s squad room), even if just through Cragen’s eyes: The cold case he pursues had originally been Sgt. Max Greevey’s, from a 1989
L&O
.
Episode 47: RooftopIt’s always a pleasure to re-visit the 27
th
Precinct (home of the Mother Ship’s squad room), even if just through Cragen’s eyes: The cold case he pursues had originally been Sgt. Max Greevey’s, from a 1989
L&O
.
Original air date: October 19, 2001
Teleplay by Robert F. Campbell and Jonathan Greene, story by Neal Baer, Robert F. Campbell, and Jonathan Green, directed by Steve Shill
Notable Additional Cast and Guest Stars:
Audrie Neenan (Judge Marilyn Haynes), Jill Marie Lawrence (Cleo Conrad), Asio Highsmith (Malik Harris), Todd Williams (Rodney Thompson), Mylika Davis (Shareen White), Brenda Thomas Denmark (Judge Elmore), Adriane Lenox (Alva Tate), Dorian Missick (Leon Tate), Malachi Weir (Tommy Epps), John Ottavino (Burt Ferris), Jack Landron (Darnell French), Trish McCall (Angela Dupree), Jamilla M. Perry (Mashika Morris), Kahshanna Evans (Vanessa Hill)
Audrie Neenan (Judge Marilyn Haynes), Jill Marie Lawrence (Cleo Conrad), Asio Highsmith (Malik Harris), Todd Williams (Rodney Thompson), Mylika Davis (Shareen White), Brenda Thomas Denmark (Judge Elmore), Adriane Lenox (Alva Tate), Dorian Missick (Leon Tate), Malachi Weir (Tommy Epps), John Ottavino (Burt Ferris), Jack Landron (Darnell French), Trish McCall (Angela Dupree), Jamilla M. Perry (Mashika Morris), Kahshanna Evans (Vanessa Hill)
Reviewing the Case:
Underage black girls are being assaulted and killed in a series of rapes occurring on rooftops near where Det. Tutuola grew up. Ice-T is particularly effective as Fin straddles being from the ’hood and being The Man at the same time. Initially, Stabler’s sure their perp is a recently paroled sex offender, but then he turns up dead and the rapes intensify. An attempt to defuse a mob gets Tutuola in trouble with Cragen, but getting the DNA on their suspect admitted in court is a whole other story.
Underage black girls are being assaulted and killed in a series of rapes occurring on rooftops near where Det. Tutuola grew up. Ice-T is particularly effective as Fin straddles being from the ’hood and being The Man at the same time. Initially, Stabler’s sure their perp is a recently paroled sex offender, but then he turns up dead and the rapes intensify. An attempt to defuse a mob gets Tutuola in trouble with Cragen, but getting the DNA on their suspect admitted in court is a whole other story.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
Tutuola says he didn’t grow up Brooklyn, but in the neighborhood where the rapes are taking place—the Bronx, presumably—and that he was six during the 1968 riots following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Episode 48: TangledTutuola says he didn’t grow up Brooklyn, but in the neighborhood where the rapes are taking place—the Bronx, presumably—and that he was six during the 1968 riots following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Original air date: October 26, 2001
Teleplay by Lisa Marie Petersen and Dawn DeNoon, directed by Jean de Segonzac
Additional Cast:
Jordan Gelber (Fritz Kestler), Lisa Eichhorn (Peyton Kleberg), Tuck Milligan (Phillip Karr), Geoffrey Wigdor (Jesse Kleberg), Justin Hagen (Vincent “Vinnie” Boyd), Liza Weil (Lara Todd), Tracy Sallows (Judy Trahill), Jennifer Dorr White (Sharon Filmore), Paul Geier (Warner Mason), Steve Pickering (P.J. Voltz), Elisabeth Noone (Marilyn Dunlap), John-Luke Montias (Martin Welker), Matt Stinton (Steve Callahan)
Jordan Gelber (Fritz Kestler), Lisa Eichhorn (Peyton Kleberg), Tuck Milligan (Phillip Karr), Geoffrey Wigdor (Jesse Kleberg), Justin Hagen (Vincent “Vinnie” Boyd), Liza Weil (Lara Todd), Tracy Sallows (Judy Trahill), Jennifer Dorr White (Sharon Filmore), Paul Geier (Warner Mason), Steve Pickering (P.J. Voltz), Elisabeth Noone (Marilyn Dunlap), John-Luke Montias (Martin Welker), Matt Stinton (Steve Callahan)
Reviewing the Case:
The Klebergs, a married couple, are beaten to death (the husband) and raped (the wife), which prompts SVU detectives to look at the array of love interests Max had at the hospital where he worked. One, a secretary named Lara, points to her downstairs criminal neighbor Vincent—but before the cops can tie the guy to anything, Lara shoots him—in self-defense, she says. There’s something Lara is hiding, and it takes a convenient videotape to unravel the full extent of the crime. Unfortunately, this late-in-the-game red herring used to tie up the loose ends undercuts the drama.
The Klebergs, a married couple, are beaten to death (the husband) and raped (the wife), which prompts SVU detectives to look at the array of love interests Max had at the hospital where he worked. One, a secretary named Lara, points to her downstairs criminal neighbor Vincent—but before the cops can tie the guy to anything, Lara shoots him—in self-defense, she says. There’s something Lara is hiding, and it takes a convenient videotape to unravel the full extent of the crime. Unfortunately, this late-in-the-game red herring used to tie up the loose ends undercuts the drama.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
Stabler has been married seventeen years.
Episode 49: RedemptionStabler has been married seventeen years.
Original air date: November 2, 2001
Teleplay by Jeff Eckerle, directed by Ted Kotcheff
Additional Cast:
David Keith (Det. John “Hawk” Hawkins), Michael Knight (David Stedman), Anne Pitoniak (Ethel Berry), Kevin Chamberlin (Roger Berry), Ken Marks (Arthur “Artie” Blessard), Elizabeth Hobgood (Beverly Parsons), Joe Costa (Warren Johnston), DeAnn Mears (Phyllis Johnston), Maggie Lacey (Jane Merrill), Sarah Knapp (Darcy Chaney)
David Keith (Det. John “Hawk” Hawkins), Michael Knight (David Stedman), Anne Pitoniak (Ethel Berry), Kevin Chamberlin (Roger Berry), Ken Marks (Arthur “Artie” Blessard), Elizabeth Hobgood (Beverly Parsons), Joe Costa (Warren Johnston), DeAnn Mears (Phyllis Johnston), Maggie Lacey (Jane Merrill), Sarah Knapp (Darcy Chaney)
Christopher Meloni and David Keith (Det. John Hawk) arrest a perp in season three’s “Redemption.”
Reviewing the Case:
The convenient cure for Stabler’s sudden existential job crisis is his old academy teacher John “Hawk” Hawkins, who has an M.O. match for two rape/murder/mutilation cases that have the SVU detectives chasing their tails. Eighteen years ago, Hawk put a man named Roger Berry away using coercive interrogation techniques for crimes just like this, but as they investigate Berry, it becomes clear that he is innocent this time—and was innocent before. It takes the unearthing of an eighteen-year-old corpse to help Benson and Stabler nab the real killer.
The convenient cure for Stabler’s sudden existential job crisis is his old academy teacher John “Hawk” Hawkins, who has an M.O. match for two rape/murder/mutilation cases that have the SVU detectives chasing their tails. Eighteen years ago, Hawk put a man named Roger Berry away using coercive interrogation techniques for crimes just like this, but as they investigate Berry, it becomes clear that he is innocent this time—and was innocent before. It takes the unearthing of an eighteen-year-old corpse to help Benson and Stabler nab the real killer.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
The characters of Hawk and Stabler, plus a hot pursuit across New York rooftops, give this episode a retro cop-show feel.
The characters of Hawk and Stabler, plus a hot pursuit across New York rooftops, give this episode a retro cop-show feel.
Relevant Testimony:
“There was some talk about spinning the Hawk character off into another series, but nothing ever came of it. The genesis of this episode was news that authorities may have caught the wrong Boston Strangler. I thought, ‘Jeez, imagine a cop who thinks he nailed a case but maybe ruined a man’s life and even contributed to the deaths of others.’”—Jeff Eckerle
Episode 50: Sacrifice“There was some talk about spinning the Hawk character off into another series, but nothing ever came of it. The genesis of this episode was news that authorities may have caught the wrong Boston Strangler. I thought, ‘Jeez, imagine a cop who thinks he nailed a case but maybe ruined a man’s life and even contributed to the deaths of others.’”—Jeff Eckerle
Original air date: November 9, 2001
Teleplay by Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Samantha Howard Corbin, story by Javier Grillo-Marxuach, directed by Lesli Linka Glatter
Additional Cast:
Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Wesley Jansen), Elizabeth Banks (Jaina Jansen), Tom Gilroy (Cal Oman), Mia Dillon (Georgia Jansen), Rob Bartlett (Milton Schoenfeld), Joseph Murphy (Ray Borland), Kevin Geer (Phil Casner), Dylan Chalfy (William Mueller), Joseph Latimore (Det. Steve Nathan), Jon Korkes (Terrence Moore), Luke Reilly (Chester Jansen), Lucy Martin (Arraignment Judge Wende Kremer), Juliette Dudnik (Delia Sarton), Audrey Twitchell (Mara Jansen)
Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Wesley Jansen), Elizabeth Banks (Jaina Jansen), Tom Gilroy (Cal Oman), Mia Dillon (Georgia Jansen), Rob Bartlett (Milton Schoenfeld), Joseph Murphy (Ray Borland), Kevin Geer (Phil Casner), Dylan Chalfy (William Mueller), Joseph Latimore (Det. Steve Nathan), Jon Korkes (Terrence Moore), Luke Reilly (Chester Jansen), Lucy Martin (Arraignment Judge Wende Kremer), Juliette Dudnik (Delia Sarton), Audrey Twitchell (Mara Jansen)
Reviewing the Case:
Although the husband is estranged from his family, the Jansens have been struggling to pay for their daughter’s cystic fibrosis care. Unfortunately, they’ve been paying for it by doing porn, and when husband Wesley is shot their lives come crashing down. Detectives put pressure on this crock-pot of a situation, which means something else is bound to blow. It’s a tightly wound, intriguing premise (with a nice change of pace in the gender of one of the true baddies)—despite a blank performance from Gosselaar.
Although the husband is estranged from his family, the Jansens have been struggling to pay for their daughter’s cystic fibrosis care. Unfortunately, they’ve been paying for it by doing porn, and when husband Wesley is shot their lives come crashing down. Detectives put pressure on this crock-pot of a situation, which means something else is bound to blow. It’s a tightly wound, intriguing premise (with a nice change of pace in the gender of one of the true baddies)—despite a blank performance from Gosselaar.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
Tutuola’s narcotics background rears up appropriately again as he takes a personal interest in a junkie witness.
Episode 51: InheritanceTutuola’s narcotics background rears up appropriately again as he takes a personal interest in a junkie witness.
Original air date: November 16, 2001
Teleplay by Kathy Ebel, Michele Fazekas, and Tara Butters, story by Kathy Ebel, directed by Juan J. Campanella
Additional Cast:
Marcus Chong (Darrell Guan), Diane Baker (Margot Nelson), Nelson Lee (Johnny Chen), Billy Chang (Det. Matt Tsu), Wai Ching Ho (Susan Guan), Sharrieff Pugh (Michael Tatum), Lance Reddick (Dr. Taylor), Harvey Atkin (Judge Alan Ridenour), Kevin Louie (Dao Tran), Danny Maseng (Dr. Randall Coffey), Ron Nakahra (Sammy Sing), Miou (Jiang Li), LaDonna Mabry (Martha Shelby), Arthur French (Harold Starnes), Mona Chiang (Sonja Yung), Lynn Chen (Helen Chen), Eliot Chang (Larry Tang), Denise Burse (Pamela Tatum)
Marcus Chong (Darrell Guan), Diane Baker (Margot Nelson), Nelson Lee (Johnny Chen), Billy Chang (Det. Matt Tsu), Wai Ching Ho (Susan Guan), Sharrieff Pugh (Michael Tatum), Lance Reddick (Dr. Taylor), Harvey Atkin (Judge Alan Ridenour), Kevin Louie (Dao Tran), Danny Maseng (Dr. Randall Coffey), Ron Nakahra (Sammy Sing), Miou (Jiang Li), LaDonna Mabry (Martha Shelby), Arthur French (Harold Starnes), Mona Chiang (Sonja Yung), Lynn Chen (Helen Chen), Eliot Chang (Larry Tang), Denise Burse (Pamela Tatum)
Reviewing the Case:
Though inevitable that old cases from the first series seem to get a retread here (in this instance, the issues nature vs. nurture and “evil genes” got an initial airing in 1993 on
Law & Order
’s “Born Bad”), it’s not a good sign when
SVU
appears to be rerunning a story it just told. Once again, there are ethnic-specific rapes going on—in episode 47, “Rooftop,” it was black girls; here it’s Asian women—and a racially mixed man is fingered for the crimes, as his defense attorney pleads he has a defective, violent gene.
Though inevitable that old cases from the first series seem to get a retread here (in this instance, the issues nature vs. nurture and “evil genes” got an initial airing in 1993 on
Law & Order
’s “Born Bad”), it’s not a good sign when
SVU
appears to be rerunning a story it just told. Once again, there are ethnic-specific rapes going on—in episode 47, “Rooftop,” it was black girls; here it’s Asian women—and a racially mixed man is fingered for the crimes, as his defense attorney pleads he has a defective, violent gene.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
This is a strong episode for B.D. Wong’s Dr. Huang, who explores a dark side of Asian subculture. But it’s even more so for Benson, whose buttons are pushed during the investigation; and Mariska Hargitay underplays her reactions beautifully.
Episode 52: CareThis is a strong episode for B.D. Wong’s Dr. Huang, who explores a dark side of Asian subculture. But it’s even more so for Benson, whose buttons are pushed during the investigation; and Mariska Hargitay underplays her reactions beautifully.
Original air date: November 23, 2001
Teleplay by Dawn DeNoon and Lisa Marie Petersen, directed by Gloria Muzio
Additional Cast:
Piper Laurie (Dorothy Rudd), Colin Fickes (Glenn Rudd), Jamie Goodwin (Danny Marston), Keith Davis (Duke Henry), Erika LaVonn (Tashandra Adams), Robin Moseley (Adoption Agency Caseworker), Parris Nicole (Tanya Adams), Kathleen Wilhoite (Jane Rudd)
Piper Laurie (Dorothy Rudd), Colin Fickes (Glenn Rudd), Jamie Goodwin (Danny Marston), Keith Davis (Duke Henry), Erika LaVonn (Tashandra Adams), Robin Moseley (Adoption Agency Caseworker), Parris Nicole (Tanya Adams), Kathleen Wilhoite (Jane Rudd)
Reviewing the Case:
A young girl is murdered and left at a construction site while in the care of a seemingly model foster-parenting situation, and at first her computer-game-loving, mildly retarded foster brother appears to be hiding something. But when the foster girl’s birth mother reclaims her other daughter from the home and points to the foster family of Jane and Dorothy Rudd as abusive, detectives have to consider that the system has failed again. This is a clever episode with any number of twists, but features a real misstep in the unreality of the courtroom scene, which focuses on just three people: Cabot, the defendant, and her accuser.
A young girl is murdered and left at a construction site while in the care of a seemingly model foster-parenting situation, and at first her computer-game-loving, mildly retarded foster brother appears to be hiding something. But when the foster girl’s birth mother reclaims her other daughter from the home and points to the foster family of Jane and Dorothy Rudd as abusive, detectives have to consider that the system has failed again. This is a clever episode with any number of twists, but features a real misstep in the unreality of the courtroom scene, which focuses on just three people: Cabot, the defendant, and her accuser.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
The appearance of three-time Oscar nominee Laurie is a clever bit of casting; some of her best-known roles feature the actress as an apparent innocent hiding a beast inside.
Episode 53: RidiculeThe appearance of three-time Oscar nominee Laurie is a clever bit of casting; some of her best-known roles feature the actress as an apparent innocent hiding a beast inside.
Original air date: December 14, 2001
Teleplay by Judith McCreary, directed by Constantine Makris
Additional Cast:
Diane Neal (Amelia Chase), Paige Turco (Pam Adler), CCH Pounder (Carolyn Maddox), Dianne Wiest (DA Nora Lewin), Leslie Ayvazian (Arraignment Judge Valdera), Pete Starrett (Peter Smith), Andrew Heckler (Andrew Green), David Adkins (Attorney Barry Fordes), Patrick Quinn (Milo Walther), Crista Moore (Mandy Guevere)
Diane Neal (Amelia Chase), Paige Turco (Pam Adler), CCH Pounder (Carolyn Maddox), Dianne Wiest (DA Nora Lewin), Leslie Ayvazian (Arraignment Judge Valdera), Pete Starrett (Peter Smith), Andrew Heckler (Andrew Green), David Adkins (Attorney Barry Fordes), Patrick Quinn (Milo Walther), Crista Moore (Mandy Guevere)
Reviewing the Case:
One of the strengths of the L&O franchise has always been to take a controversial theory, then walk it through the narrative paces; here, that makes for compelling viewing. An apparent accidental auto-erotic asphyxiation propels the investigation toward the assault on a male stripper, who cries rape following a bachelorette party. But while male detectives—including Stabler—scoff at the very idea, Cabot and Benson want to see the law applied equally and take the case to trial. Just as it seems everything is lost, new forensic evidence has detectives thinking they may have a murder case on their hands after all.
One of the strengths of the L&O franchise has always been to take a controversial theory, then walk it through the narrative paces; here, that makes for compelling viewing. An apparent accidental auto-erotic asphyxiation propels the investigation toward the assault on a male stripper, who cries rape following a bachelorette party. But while male detectives—including Stabler—scoff at the very idea, Cabot and Benson want to see the law applied equally and take the case to trial. Just as it seems everything is lost, new forensic evidence has detectives thinking they may have a murder case on their hands after all.
Noteworthy Discoveries:
Diane Neal, who will go on to play ADA Casey Novak two years later following the departure of Stephanie March as Cabot, has a meaty role as an accused rapist with a sangfroid temperament. As this episode was written, New York’s law on rape had recently changed its wording from “woman” to “person.”
Diane Neal, who will go on to play ADA Casey Novak two years later following the departure of Stephanie March as Cabot, has a meaty role as an accused rapist with a sangfroid temperament. As this episode was written, New York’s law on rape had recently changed its wording from “woman” to “person.”
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