Episode Synopsis:
The rape of a federal informant forces Olivia into a barely legal investigation. She is eventually forced into going under cover, where the operation takes an unexpected turn when the informant turns on Olivia. After the informant is killed, the under cover operation continues, and Olivia is offered a temporary assignment to continue the under cover operation, which she eventually accepts.
The episode opens with a scene set in a crowed emergency room. A woman asks for assistance from the desk, and she removes her hood to reveal a shaved and bloody head.
The victim refuses to be examined by any of the doctors and wants only the morning after pill, which clues in the social worker that has arrived at the hospital that the girl is a victim of rape. The social worker calls SVU, and Olivia shows up at the hospital. The girl stalks by Olivia and hails a taxi, insisting that she doesn’t want to press charges.
The victim’s particular way of refusing to press charges or be examined clues us into her predicament. With the info released prior to the episode by NBC, it is obvious that the girl is involved with some kind of activity that prohibits her from reporting her rape and consenting to a rape kit. This is a classic case of too much information being released by NBC syndrome; I would have been much happier not knowing the details of the case before they were revealed through the show. I knew that the victim was a federal informant before Olivia did. She’s the one that is supposed to be the detective and investigate!
We finally learn that the victim’s name is Haley when Olivia follows—yes, basically stalks—the girl back to her apartment. First clue that once again, our detectives will be involved in some heavy duty no-no’s tonight. When Haley refuses yet again to answer any questions, she locks herself in the bathroom. For anyone else that would be a hint to leave, but Olivia takes it as a signal to have a look-see around the girl’s apartment, as any fine detective would. While we are seeing extensive bruises on the victim’s body while she’s washing away the evidence, Olivia is snooping through her room and “collecting evidence”. AKA, she steals the girl’s underwear. And people wonder where they got the name “Panty Police”.
First file!ornament sighting of the new season! Mariska Hargitay would have been starting her ninth month of pregnancy, since this episode was probably shot in June. The file!ornament just barely covered the baby bump, but it at least wasn’t as idiotic as all of the ornaments of last year’s misplaced Christmas tree collection.
And now it’s time with “Weird Facts” with Melinda Warner. Did you know? The French Resistance shaved the heads of some of its female collaborators. *The More You Know*
…
Why the writers chose to include this, I have no idea. It makes sense for a second when Olivia researches, but makes none later.
At this point they interrogate a particularly obnoxious book store owner, who babbles on and on about how cops and the government are violating people’s rights and conspiracies and theories and—hey! Friend for Munch! If we could only find him…
Notice that Olivia mentions, when she is talking to Cragen, that she is working on a case, but neglects to mention any details at all. Shouldn’t this tip off Cragen, just a little bit? Since he is the captain, he should know when his detectives have a case, and what they’re working on. Maybe a bit about a lack of a complaining witness, or fraudulent evidence collection. But that is just a suggestion.
And hey… where is everybody! During that scene, with Olivia’s baby bump hidden very nicely by a desk!ornament might I add, the squad room is completely empty! Go team!...
And now to the main action of the story and the obligatory empty/trashed apartment scene. When Olivia goes back to question the super, being the persistent detective that she is, she finds out that Haley has given all her dogs away. So, Olivia goes right in through the open door, gun drawn, and finds a bunch of pictures on the ground that look a lot like tortured animals.
So the fun begins! Star Morrison/Dana Lewis on scene at 10:16, gun drawn and conveniently pointed at Olivia’s head. The fed and the detective realize something is up when they realize that they’re… standing there and Star/Dana’s gun is pointed at Olivia’s head. Silly question, but why does Olivia call her “Star” (her undercover name) then ask why the FBI is present? If star was undercover, then her cover was just blown. And obviously, Olivia knows her real name, so what’s with the inconsistency?
It’s now time for “Weird Facts” with Star Morrison/Dana Lewis! Did you know? Eco-terrorists are the number one most sought after terrorists? *The More You Know*
The second session of our new squad trivia show is accompanied by a media presentation! *Claps* Fortunately, this one is actually related to the case, since the eco-terrorist group known as EDG plays a major role in the rest of the story. It’s also a very mildly set transition scene, because from here on out, Star takes the control in the investigation.
Next scene is one of the rare times we actually get to witness the detectives consume an actual meal. A squad urban legend says that they are machines and never actually eat or sleep, but this seems to have finally proven that myth wrong. (And no, if you’re wondering, squad coffee does
not count as nourishment.) Star obviously has an insane love for tobacco sauce and ketchup, because she absolutely smothers her food in them. The scenes actual significance, however, is to establish that Star is very much attached to her informant, and is very distressed that she has been hurt. This will come into play later in the story.
Casey Novak sighting at 10:23! My ADA is alive and well, and even more blonde than before. Unfortunately, Casey is not there on pleasant terms, since she only appears after an angry Melinda Warner. Remember those illegally obtained panties? Well turns out that illegally obtained panties result in illegally obtained DNA, which leads to illegal DNA testing, which leads to illegal DNA testing results. Melinda is pretty mad that Olivia declined to share the “illegal” part of her collection method.
Casey, it turns out, advised Melinda to not share the results of a report, because they received a call from Haley (who is still missing to Olivia and Star, but for some reason the phone call raises no reaction on that front from Star or Olivia) complaining that Olivia was harassing her and stole her panties. She threatened legal action, and he orders Olivia to stay off the case.
Star, through some brilliance in maneuvering, makes sure the suspect that was brought in very awkwardly by Olivia and a semi-undercover Star, thinks she is an SVU detective, and Star continues on the case.
She resurfaces sometime later, and since Elliot (being the ever concerned and level-headed detective that he is) has sent Olivia home, he accompanies Star to serve a warrant on a suspect’s home.
They search the house and find some suspicious materials, namely some tofu patties and a stick of dynamite in a freezer.
“What kind of idiot puts dynamite in a freezer?” –Star
Erm… the kind that wants you to take it out and blow up his house? Or maybe it’s just the kind that failed high school chemistry. Those are my guesses.
Star is an agent that knows what she is doing. She hits Persephone at home with her tomato plants, and gets some valuable information. With none other than Olivia Benson by her side, who is miraculously back on the case.
The epitome of brilliance and wit: Star grabs a sign and jumps right into the protest. Ad-libs some lines that happen to coincide perfectly with the picketers’ beliefs, and then Olivia goes in for the kill, with the aid of a few federal agents. Possibly the funniest scene of the entire series.
Another file!ornament sighting!
There was definitely a *squee* moment when Casey asked Cragen about the DNA report. He of course replies with the diplomatic “well you told me not to look at the report, so I didn’t” but we all know they are dying to read that report and see if they are on the right track.
Olivia and Star have the same idea, and they’re finally fed up enough to go back to the squad room, only to discover that Casey and Cragen had left earlier. That’s what we like to see, the SVU and the FBI working together as one corrupted unit. It turns out that they have the wrong man anyway, because the rapist turns up on Melinda Warner’s morgue slab.
Time check: 10:41. When is Olivia going undercover? For five minutes at the end of the show?
Loving the scene at the FBI offices, especially the mocking of the lack of communication within the government. Because that doesn’t happen anywhere else, ever.
Right in the middle of said scene, Star gets a phone call from Haley, and rushes to meet her. By this time, they’ve figured out the Star killed her rapist and had refused to be processed because she wanted revenge. Rape case is forgotten, and Haley is arrested for murder. Star’s affection for her shows in this scene. Viewers can tell that she is visibly shaken up by having to arrest her young informant.
I know I snark about the file!ornaments, but I snark because I care, really. At this point, the writers just try Olivia out with no Christmas ornaments at all, and it’s painfully obvious that Mariska is pregnant. Give me my ornaments back, please.
In a whirlwind of haze and confusion, Star promises Casey that Haley will be well looked after… then she apparently volunteers Olivia to do the looking, since the next scene opens with Olivia and Haley making their way to the EDG target.
(Also, at this point, the writers aren’t even attempting to hide the baby bulge anymore, not even with black clothing. Yay for laziness.)
Who didn’t see this coming? Haley and Olivia infiltrate the target, they get up to the room where the bomb is going to be made, and Olivia draws her gun. Then, Haley proceeds to ambush Olivia by hitting her over the head, and all is doomed. Or so it seems, until Olivia Benson makes a spectacular recovery and promptly gets up and enters the room. With a bomb being assembled in it. Without a gun. *Obligatory fan ::headdesk::*
The standoff between the three (Olivia and Haley being joined by Star) could have lasted forever, but Star saves everyone the misery and messy clean-up of a bomb explosion by shooting and killing Haley. Olivia is mortified, yelling that they could have helped Haley, but Star monotonously replies that you always shoot to kill. She’s visibly shaken by Haley’s death, and from her moment of disbelief that she has on camera, regret can be seen for just a second in her eyes. Keeping with the fast pace of the case, however, she quickly turns around and reminds Olivia that there is more to be done.
Olivia is “detained” and put in the back of a police truck and taken to the station, where she is ‘questioned’ by Star. We find out that Olivia has successfully infiltrated the group, and Star makes a sudden proposition: stay undercover and work within the EDG group.
Olivia refuses at first, insisting that she already has a job, but Star pulls the still fresh ‘Haley’ card, and we’re transported back to the squad room and a very empty desk opposite Elliot’s.
It is the second time the writers have pulled the empty desk trick on us. How many times are we going to channel Jefferies and Alex? It’s not like Olivia died, her desk is just unusually clean.
Overall:The premier was very strong case wise, but it strayed too much from the SVU theme. The writers need to get back to the SVU cases. We can related to the terrorist and government ties SVU has addressed recently, dues to world events that have made them relevant. But, we don’t necessarily want relevance and relation. A little is ok within any given episode, but the far-fetched, strange, and even gruesome cases are what we came for, and what we want to see. A true SVU case, centered around the victim and their tragedy.
Also, unit… unity is still an issue. The point is to be a Special Victims Unit, not a Special Victims person. Each detective, and an ADA, a captain, and a medical examiner, have their strengths- play to them! Munch has been a detective for so many years since “Homicide”. Fin would be great for an episode centered around “the hood”, so why not use it? Get back to the season one unity and cases.
Casey had a very petty appearance. Her character lately has been reduced to a shadow of her former self, and she seems more like an Arthur Branch talking doll than the fiery ADA we know and I love. Her purpose the last few episodes has been to tell the detectives that they are overstepping their legal boundaries. Basically, she was telling the detectives that they couldn’t do what they were doing. I want to see her as an ADA prosecuting.
On the other hand, why
is SVU suddenly so bent on breaking the rules? These problems wouldn’t come up if they played by the book. I’d like to see at least one case in the near future that doesn’t involve the detectives breaking any laws to solve it.
Fin’s appearance: Busy work again, as is the norm. Olivia pretty much ordering him to find an available interview room was not a pretty sight. I did, however, like the quick improvisation between him and Star. Quick and smart on both their parts.
Tonight the humor was excellent. I almost thought I was in a season one episode for a minute.
For the case that was presented, the episode was very strong. Viewers were left unsure. Unsure where Haley stood, or even where Star stood. Lines between supposed good and evil, protest and destruction were blurred, and those concepts are great ones to explore.
There were some great Elliot and Star moments, along with some Olivia and Star moments. Since they work so well with others, it brings up the question whether the partner dynamic should be shaken up a little bit. We know, by Cragen’s remark, that at least Elliot is going to get to try something new.
Excellent performance by Marcia Gay Harden! She took the story and just ran with it all the way, so kudos and congratulations to her.
Notable quotes from the episode:Cragen: Nice outfit.
Olivia: Thanks.
Cragen: You were wearing it yesterday.
(After Star yells at him to recycle)
Elliot: I recycle…sometimes.
(While searching the suspect’s house)
Elliot: (pulls something out of freezer) Oh no!
Star: What?
Elliot: Tofu patties!
Star: What kind of idiot puts dynamite in a freezer?
Elliot: (to Star) You’re a jinx.
Olivia: Elliot told me to tell you that you are nuts.
Star: It’s the concussion, honey.
Olivia: You guys don’t talk to each other?
(Regarding Haley’s shaved head)
Haley: This was for a protest.
Star: Against hair?
Preview for next week:Finally, back to the cases! Looks Elliot-centric, but a lot of potential for group work. It’s going to address a major social issue within the case: Where is the line between the ages for love… or is it possible to draw a line?
Secrets and surprises are promised, and I think they’ll deliver! Pass the remote, please.
9/10
I really wanted NBC's new drama Heroes (premieres Monday on NBC) to be extraordinary like the characters it profiles, but it fell short. The pacing kept this show from moving along and I found myself watching the clock at times, and not because I was trying to break the time/space continuum like one of the featured characters. Now, this was the pilot, and there was a lot of set-up involved, so it's very possible that subsequent episodes are much stronger. The premise, ordinary people discover that they have extraordinary abilities, is strong, if not unoriginal (X-Men, The 4400). And the show is loaded with potential, but the pilot doesn't live up to it. I was expecting the series to be The 4400 with a bigger budget, and although the overarching themes are the same, the show does manage to sketch out its own niche. Like most series, it has its cliched characters -- the overzealous, cutthroat politician (Adrian Pasdar), the pretty single mom who takes her clothes off for money in order to support her son (Ali Larter) among others, but there are a host of interesting ones to balance it out. In fact, one of the show's biggest strengths is its ensemble format. It constantly moves between the various characters and their newly discovered abilities. The most fascinating character is a teenager from Texas who doesn't get injured (Hayden Panettierre). She jumps off water towers, runs into a burning building and tries other tactics to injure herself, but all of these stunts come up short as the teen's body heals itself every time. With a premise full of potential, let's hope this show heals itself and lives up to that potential in future episodes.
