Here is the discussion topic for Law & Order SVU “Tunnel Blind” which aired on Thursday, January 18, 2024. Please feel free to add any feedback you have about this episode in the comments!
This was an okay episode. Too much of a coincidence that Benson saw the victim. Too contrived. And then she agonizes too much over it. I've been tiring of too much focus on the personal stuff on this show.
Also too much is the "testosterone" in the SVU squad. Three male detectives, a male ADA, only Benson on the staff to represent females. As most sexual assaults happen to females, they need more female detectives. I'd rather see Rollins come back rather than hire another female detective. Get her out of her "professor" role, which is laughable to me.
It was an okay start to the 25th season. I am glad that the storyline will continue into the next episode (it seems like).
I also was hoping for this episode to set up Rollins' return to the show. At first, I did not care about her as much, but after an entire season with a disastrous character as her replacement (Muncy), I liked her more than before.
Side note: It's fascinating (but disappointing) how the previous (24), and current (25), season of SVU looks like has more multi-episode storylines than Organized Crime. When I say this, I mean SVU has become more like a multi-episode arc crime show, while Organized Crime has become more of a single-episode storyline crime show. I find this disappointing because the two reasons I began watching OC were to see Stabler's return and to watch the multi-episode arcs, which broke barriers regarding storylines in the franchise.
Okay, it was a coincidence that Olivia saw a girl that appeared to be distressed. But it seems more paranoia than a sixth sense. If she was so sure she recognized that girl, why didn't she tell her team right away it was an energy drink van? She remembers every little detail about the victim, but nothing about the vehicle until much later? Seems like it would have been easy to spot on traffic cameras.
Telling Olivia not to do something makes her do it anyway. Don't tell the family you saw anything, but say "there was a witness?" She's a 25+ year veteran AND a captain. She should know better. That's not instincts, that's a huge error in judgment.
5 million people in Manhattan, but only 3 SVU detectives? Don't other Manhattan or NYC precincts have SVU? You'd think with a police force as big as NYC's that more people other than Fin, Velasco and Bruno could investigate sex crimes. Benson is Captain - she's supposed to delegate, not take over. Their department has a huge office, who is sitting at the other desks?
As gross as it may be, it's not illegal to distribute, own, or even use a sex doll. Doesn't matter if it looks "underage". It's not human. It's a doll. Unless they were stolen, or being used in a public place, I don't understand how the distributor and owners have broken any law, yet Benson was quick to have them all arrested. At least say they are being questioned in connection with a crime, but to just send them to jail? Sounds like a lawsuit.
After 25 or so seasons, I guess I'm just bored with the show taking too many obvious liberties with the law in the name of always making Benson the hero. Too many detectives (and captains) go rogue and ignore instructions, illegally stalk people they believe to be suspects, or make bad rookie mistakes and get outsmarted by criminals and defense attorneys.
This was an okay episode. Too much of a coincidence that Benson saw the victim. Too contrived. And then she agonizes too much over it. I've been tiring of too much focus on the personal stuff on this show.
ReplyDeleteAlso too much is the "testosterone" in the SVU squad. Three male detectives, a male ADA, only Benson on the staff to represent females. As most sexual assaults happen to females, they need more female detectives. I'd rather see Rollins come back rather than hire another female detective. Get her out of her "professor" role, which is laughable to me.
It was an okay start to the 25th season. I am glad that the storyline will continue into the next episode (it seems like).
ReplyDeleteI also was hoping for this episode to set up Rollins' return to the show. At first, I did not care about her as much, but after an entire season with a disastrous character as her replacement (Muncy), I liked her more than before.
Side note: It's fascinating (but disappointing) how the previous (24), and current (25), season of SVU looks like has more multi-episode storylines than Organized Crime. When I say this, I mean SVU has become more like a multi-episode arc crime show, while Organized Crime has become more of a single-episode storyline crime show. I find this disappointing because the two reasons I began watching OC were to see Stabler's return and to watch the multi-episode arcs, which broke barriers regarding storylines in the franchise.
Where to begin...
ReplyDeleteOkay, it was a coincidence that Olivia saw a girl that appeared to be distressed. But it seems more paranoia than a sixth sense. If she was so sure she recognized that girl, why didn't she tell her team right away it was an energy drink van? She remembers every little detail about the victim, but nothing about the vehicle until much later? Seems like it would have been easy to spot on traffic cameras.
Telling Olivia not to do something makes her do it anyway. Don't tell the family you saw anything, but say "there was a witness?" She's a 25+ year veteran AND a captain. She should know better. That's not instincts, that's a huge error in judgment.
5 million people in Manhattan, but only 3 SVU detectives? Don't other Manhattan or NYC precincts have SVU? You'd think with a police force as big as NYC's that more people other than Fin, Velasco and Bruno could investigate sex crimes. Benson is Captain - she's supposed to delegate, not take over. Their department has a huge office, who is sitting at the other desks?
As gross as it may be, it's not illegal to distribute, own, or even use a sex doll. Doesn't matter if it looks "underage". It's not human. It's a doll. Unless they were stolen, or being used in a public place, I don't understand how the distributor and owners have broken any law, yet Benson was quick to have them all arrested. At least say they are being questioned in connection with a crime, but to just send them to jail? Sounds like a lawsuit.
After 25 or so seasons, I guess I'm just bored with the show taking too many obvious liberties with the law in the name of always making Benson the hero. Too many detectives (and captains) go rogue and ignore instructions, illegally stalk people they believe to be suspects, or make bad rookie mistakes and get outsmarted by criminals and defense attorneys.
@LaurieF, @SH, @Jim Pericotti - all great observations!
ReplyDelete