The title of Law & Order SVU “Legitimate Rape” was drawn from real life headlines. In August 2012, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Missouri, Republican Todd Akin, stated that victims of rape rarely become pregnant, saying “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut the whole thing down.” His ridiculous comment released a storm of outrage and criticism, and (thankfully) it helped him to lose his bid for re-election. I admit I was concerned that the writers could build a decent story over that one quote and was preparing for the worst. I was pleasantly surprised that I actually enjoyed this episode.
This episode focused less on the main cast and more on the guest stars, and luckily their acting skills were up to the challenge. Lauren Cohan’s character, Avery Jordan, started out a little flat, but as the stress of the trial(s) took their toll, she had more opportunity to show her range. David Marciano was perfect as the creepy and controlling stalker-rapist. Raúl Esparza continues to add spark to the legal aspect of Law & Order SVU and I am thrilled he had plenty of screen time in this episode.
The episode did have its predictable spots. When it was mentioned that Purcell had a law degree, it was obvious he was going to take charge of his own case(s). It was also no surprise that Avery took off with the baby. Of course, Benson’s own experience of being a child of rape would clearly be an issue for her. I was glad that we weren't hit over the head with that story, which is well known to SVU fans (and also tiresome for some). It was kept under the surface, and viewers could detect that it was on Benson’s mind at times. Thankfully, when it seems she is going to make the big reveal to Amaro, we were saved by the “fade to black.”
The episode satisfied my need for legal drama, and at times it felt more like a Law & Order episode (I am not complaining).
I wondered if Cragen will be forced to issue an Amber alert; technically this is now a case of a missing baby. If Benson were to tip off what she knows to the wrong person, she could be considered an accomplice. Even though Benson said Avery left against her attorney’s and Benson’s advice, the fact the Benson seems to have an idea of where they are hiding could implicate her as being a part of the plan for Avery to leave with the baby. I hope Amaro can keep secret what Benson confided in him.
Here is the recap:
Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Detective Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Richard Belzer – Sergeant John Munch
Dann Florek – Captain Don Cragen
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Guest stars:
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Jenna Stern – Judge Elana Barth
Lauren Cohan – Avery Jordan
Robert Bogue – Jason Hollis
Elizabeth Marvel – Attorney Calhoun
Ned Eisenberg – Roger Kressler
Jayne Houdyshell – Judge Linden
David Marciano – Rick Purcell
Reathel Bean - Congressman Fritz Showalter
Eliud Kauffman – Ken Bunuel
Hunter Emery - Andy Copeland
Mark Gessner – Mikey
Ramesh Ganeshram – Man in scrubs
Kent Kassella – Jury Foreman
Lauren Smith _ Barba’s Assistant
Reporter Avery Jordan covers a baseball story in Chicago, and while on camera she is subjected to harassing behavior by the team. The news story is cut short, with the coverage coming back to the news anchor in New York, Jason Hollis. The cameraman in Chicago, Rick Purcell, appears dismayed.
At a later date, Detective Olivia Benson meets Avery in a small restaurant and wants to talk about a situation where Avery says she was sexually assaulted while she was traveling for work. She did not report it at the time. When some fans interrupt Avery’s conversation with Benson, Avery cuts the discussion short, and Benson gives Avery her business card and encourages Avery to call her.
Later, Avery comes home to her apartment to see a large manila envelope at the door marked that photos are enclosed and to handle with care. Inside, she opens the envelope to see compromising photos, with one marked “WATCHING YOU.”
Sometime later, Avery comes in to SVU wearing a hat and sunglasses to obscure her identity. Benson and Amaro speak with her in the interview room. She explains that her cameraman Rick Purcell has been stalking her, and explains the note left at her apartment. She explains she can’t go to her employer about this as she is a professional but she needs an out of work hours restraining order, When Amaro says it doesn’t work that way, she cuts him off and asks that they just call him and tell him to quit stalking her. When Benson asks if Avery told him that, Avery says she is trying to be polite and he is a good cameraman. Benson thinks Purcell may be imagining there is a relationship as he crossed a line and Avery pretended that nothing happened. Benson adds that if Avery wants them to help her, she has to tell them every single thing that happened. Avery explains that he got into her apartment after they came back from a road trip and he dropped her off and then carried up her bags. She thanked him and said she was tired and he headed toward the door so she thought he left. She went and took a shower and when she came out he was just standing there. He tried to kiss her and she said that she was tired and he needed to go, but he pushed her onto the bed and raped her. She did not scream or say no, she just froze. When Benson asks Avery to confirm that she told no one about this, Avery gets up and thinks there is no point. Amaro stops her and says they can still make a case, asking if he used a condom. Avery replies no, that is why she went to the doctor the next day and got tested for STDs. Benson thinks the doctors exam would be helpful, and Amaro asks if she still has the sheets and bedspread. She replies yes.
Later, in Cragen’s office, Fin is looking at a photo of Avery and asks if she is the one that wears the tight white jeans on the sidelines. Rollins tells him that is someone else and it is beside the point. Amaro walks in and hands Cragen the file, as he says this will be high profile and he needs to be kept in the loop. Benson explains it was not a jock who did this it was a cameraman and it happened in her condo after the 4th of July weekend, which Cragen comments was six weeks ago. Amaro explains Avery did see her doctor and they are checking the bedding for DNA. Rollins reminds them if they find anything, that does not preclude consent. Benson reminds them Avery came forward reluctantly and there is nothing in it for her. Cragen tells them to corroborate that, instructing them to clone her cell phone, check for recent texts and voice mailed calls. Fin asks about the cameraman, and Amaro explains that Richard Purcell is single and been at the company 10 years, and with the exception of speeding tickets, he’s clean. He also has a law degree at Fordham but did not take the bar exam. Cragen instructs them to go after him hard but this will be an uphill case especially if Purcell knows the law and tells Fin and Rollins to keep that in mind when they talk to him.
At Sports and Events Network, Fin and Rollins speak with Purcell who is surprised at the allegation. He thinks there was an unspoken attraction but Rollins says that is not how Avery tells it. Purcell says they have been working and travelling together since they hooked up and thinks because she is just bringing this up now, that “he” must have found out. When Fin asks who is “he”, Purcell says it is above his pay grade and he could get in a lot of trouble with his producers. Rollins says he is in trouble with the NYPD. Purcell says OK but they did not get this from him – Avery is also having an affair with one of the network anchors. He looks at the screen where Jason Hollis is on screen, then says he said too much.
