I was little worried about this episode before it aired; NBC virtually ignored promoting it, and the network finally released a few preview clips the day the episode aired. That is usually the sign that the episode is a dog. It was not as bad as I expected; it was, however, very predictable.
The story was well written and the premise of the crime interesting. This season of SVU has provided far better cases and far better writing than in recent years. I also really enjoy how they are using all members of the cast (with the exception of Richard Belzer, who is missing from this episode) which gives the feel of a real working team of detectives. While I am still not sure if it is Amanda Rollins or if it is Kelli Giddish that doesn’t quite fit, it was less of a problem for me in this episode. The bonding attempts between Rollins and Benson seem forced, however.
Gilbert Gottfried’s TARU character simply does not work for me. His presence is jarring. The role is also a stereotype of tech people, implying that they all descend into geek speak even in situations where it is not appropriate. It is times like this where I miss Mike Doyle as Forensics Tech Ryan O'Halloran.
Once the judge explained that the encounter was arranged via email, someone should have asked him if he knew for certain that the emails came from Meghan. It also amazes me that any adult with any sense of brains would participate in any sexual encounter such as this without making sure that there was proper – meaning IN PERSON – consent. I suppose that people that engage in this kind of behavior are not always thinking with their brains.
At the end of the episode, Rollins tells Benson that she did not see it coming. She may have been the only one as I suspect the audience likely did.
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
Stephanie March - ADA Alex Cabot
Fisher Stevens – Ted Scott
Kevin Pollak – Judge Gerald Crane
Gilbert Gottfried - TARU Tech Leo Gerber
Jenn Proske – Meghan
Grant Shaud _ theatre critic
Gayle Rankin - Holly
Adam Driver – Jason Roberts
Angela Pietropinto _ Estelle Roberts
Jacqueline Hendy – Crane’s attorney
Coco Nicole Austin – Venus
Larisa Bond – Woman #4
Gabra Zaxhman _ Counselor Debra Wagner
Molly Montgomery - Eve
Micah Stock – Goat Mask Actor
Mark David Watson = Paolo
An interactive theatre production is in progress. People begin to put on masks. The director Ted Scott brings in a bouquet of red roses in to one of the female actors, Meghan, for her first opening. She wants to take a photo for her scrapbook and says this is her first show and it seems like a dream. He tells her most of the critics are coming tonight and her life will never be the same. He moves to kiss her but she turns her head and he kisses her on the cheek and tells her to break a leg.
In the theatre. as a woman convinces another guy to put on a hawk mask, a voice announces that no one here knows them or will judge them. As they enter a doorway which is marked “Abandon all hope” they are told to strip off their inhibitions. Women begin to remove their clothes and everyone is encouraged to join in to touch the world of the forbidden.. A woman playing "Lust" enters and begins to kiss another woman. People begin eating food that is spread out over a woman’s unclothed body. The voice continues to encourage participation. The interactive play continues as the female character Francesca tells Paolo – who is not masked - that they are alone and he tells her to kiss him. But a man – who seems to be portraying the husband Giovanni – announces he is back, and "Francesca" and "Paolo" look shocked. Francesca tells Paolo to go and he runs off. The masked man who entered as Giovanni begins to attack Francesca and as another person holds her down, he says that she betrayed Giovanni and he saw the whole thing. She screams for help but the audience simply stands around and does nothing.
Later, after the audience is leaving, Meghan is still laying on the bed on the “stage” and Ted comes in and asks her what happened and she missed the finale. He asks if she is OK but Meghan stares blankly off and does not answer.
