They said it couldn’t be done – mixing the ripped from the headlines stories of George Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin, Paula Deen, and stop and frisk. (I would say they could have thrown in the kitchen sink but we did get a lavatory sink which is close enough.) The writers mashed up these headlines with mixed results. Yes, it could be done, but in the case of “American Tragedy”, I have to ask if it SHOULD have been done. The real life stories were not special victims cases and this episode seemed like a desperate attempt to capitalize on hot-button real life issues while they were fresh in the public’s mind. The downside of this is that the fictional story seemed too familiar and I felt no sense of suspense or drama, nor was I left with any urge to debate whether what Jolene did was murder or self defense.
When I heard that Cybill Shepherd would be playing the “Paula Deen”-type role, I thought it was a great call. I quickly changed my mind as her performance was stiff and more like a caricature, not acting. Her southern accent seemed to come and go and was not consistent. It felt more like parody than a dramatic performance.
Also too familiar was the continued segments with Benson and Dr. Lindstrom, which reminded me all too much of Bobby Goren’s sessions with a doctor in the final season of Law & Order Criminal Intent. I feel like we are not seeing anything new here. And no offense to Bill Irwin, but I he has creeped me out since his infamous role on CSI and I cringe every time he is on the screen as Benson’s doctor. In fact, his CSI role is a testament to his fine acting skills, but it also put an image in my mind that will not go away and I have a hard time getting past him in the role of a supportive doctor.
It was interesting that Benson reacted quickly and defended herself against a man who was coming on to her and getting in her space while she walked alone on a darkened street. The only difference between her fear reaction and Jolene’s was that Benson did not use her gun. That is, assuming that Jolene shot out of true fear. Amaro appears to have noticed that Benson is either still wound a little too tight, or, that she has simply decided she isn’t going to take any crap from anyone. (She could be turning into Stabler!)
The timeline of the episode appeared to move much quicker than it would in reality. If my notes are correct, the first date listed was August 7 when Barba met with Jolene. It was as if the shooting had only happened a day or two before, and right after this scene, Mehcad dies in the hospital. Jolene is arrested on August 8 and the trial starts August 12. Can the system really work that fast, even if the DA wanted to expedite it to help stop the protests? I would think that the defense would want more than a few days to prepare for such a serious case. By the way, it’s a little sad that in the last several years, we’ve had a nameless, faceless, Manhattan DA. If this was an election year, why couldn’t they just either use McCoy’s name or make up another name. Even if we weren’t going to SEE a district attorney, as a Law & Order fan I would like to know if Jack McCoy is still running the show or if someone has taken his place. (Correction - I've been reminded that Mike Cutter mentioned there was a new DA in the season 13 SVU episode "Scorched Earth" - but no name for the new DA.)
The high points – Raúl Esparza and Jeffrey Tambor were both very believable in their roles and both provided very passionate performances. The writers also have created an interesting personality for Barba that is helping to make him someone that I look forward to seeing.
I’m a little confused about the name of the serial rapist. Amaro first refers to him as Willie Smith, and then later he is referred to as Willie Taylor. Did I miss something?
The people working the set – or the cameras – should be mindful when using a long shot showing the entire elevator, from top to bottom. In the scene where Barba, Benson, and Fin exit the elevator, that’s clearly a solid floor instead of an opening in the floor at the base of the elevator. Seriously now, how much can it cost to put a strip of black tape there to make it look like a real elevator?
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
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Guest stars
Tamara Tunie – Dr. Melinda Warner
Bill Irwin – Dr. Lindstrom
Jeffrey Tambor – Counselor Lester X. Cohen
Cybill Shepherd - Jolene Castille
Leslie Odom, Jr - Reverend Curtis Scott
Pablo Schreiber – William Lewis
Kevin Carroll - Cory Carter
Sonja Sohn - Lisa Carter
Cindy Katz – Chloe
Allison Mackie – Bethenny
Alice Barrett Mitchell – Aubrey Trisler
Francis Jue - Judge Ong
Joshua Boone – Willie
Albert M. Chan – Lloyd Chang
Gregory Konow – Craig
Patrick Byas – Shawn
Joshua Rivera – Darryl
De’On Ragin – Tyrone
Kal Parekh - Doctor
Moise Morancy – Mehcad Carter
Andrew Rein – Reporter #1
Sope Aluko - Reporter #2
Bill Kocis – Reporter # 3
Rhonda Ayers – Jury Foreperson
At SVU, Benson and Rollins interview separately two victims who have been raped. The victims describe similar circumstances and the attacker – a black man, about 6’, in a hoodie who tells the victims that he knows they want it. After the interviews, Benson and Rollins explain to Munch that both victims describe their attacker with the same characteristics. Rollins believes they have a serial rapist on their hands and wants to get in a sketch artist, but Munch disagrees as they’ve already spent too much on overtime and he wants them both to get some rest.
Afterwards, walking down the street alone, Benson is stopped by a man who calls out “hello gorgeous” and as he reaches for her, he asks her what is the matter, doesn’t she have a smile for him? Benson quickly uses self defense techniques on him and gets the man to the ground, and is readying to punch him but she holds back. The man is stunned, but Benson also seems stunned at her own reaction. She starts to walk away, whispering to herself. She briefly turns and looks back and then quickly walks away.
At a later time in Dr. Lindstrom’s office, Benson says that guys say stuff like that to her all the time, and she went off on him; she’s a NYC cop and can’t go around beating people up. Lindstrom asks if she remembers what they talked about last session, and she recalls that she said she was upset that Lewis got the drop on her and how she should have reached for her gun. But Benson thinks this is different – this wasn’t Lewis. Lindstrom says he hears her first beating herself up for under reacting to Lewis and now overreacting to this guy. Benson feels she can’t get anything right, she’s all over the place. Lindstrom says if a victim said that to Detective Olivia Benson less than three months after an assault, what would Benson say to her? Benson replies she’d say that survivors can experience a wide range of reactions from stress to fear to numbness…Lindstrom adds depression, anger, flashbacks. Benson adds “all of the above.” Lindstrom asks if she has even known someone to take a self defense course or obtain a gun and resolve never to be a victim again. Benson replies of course. Lindstrom says she might see this kind of overreaction to people to be emotionally triggered and Benson might tell her that over time she’ll recognize those triggers and temper her responses. Benson nods and pauses - having flashbacks of her experience with William Lewis = then goes on to ask – then what if she doesn’t believe me? Lindstrom suggest Benson may ask her to forgive herself a little bit, and remember she is going through a process and that healing takes time.
Back at SVU, Rollins pins up the sketch on the board and Fin describes it as useless. Rollins reminds him it is a start and that they are also checking traffic cams. Munch asks for the forensics and Amaro says there is no DNA on the guy as he used a condom and he sounds like a pro. Munch asks if there are any recently released sex offenders, and Rollins explains there are none that match the sketch but they got a hit on the condom lubricant which Fin adds is sold in every bodega in the city. Benson enters and apologizes for being late and when Munch says she is allowed, she tells him please don’t say that. Benson looks at the sketch and also describes it as useless. When Fin tells her that is what he said, Munch comments that you never know, suggesting they give it a shot, alert the media and the neighborhood and catch a break. Rollins gets a phone call and says it is too late.
At St. Michaels’s Hospital, Rollins and Fin question another victim, who describes her attacker as African American in a hoodie who attacked her at her front door, putting a gun against her back, saying “I know you want it.” He got a condom and raped her. She begged him to stop but he just started beating her.
Back at SVU, Benson advises the detectives and officers that they are looking for a serial on the upper west side, all three rapes occurred within a half mile of each other between the hours of 10 and 1. Amaro adds that the suspect is a 6’ black male who wears a hoodie and a cap and follows the women home and pushes his way in. Benson explains the attacker is escalating and is getting more violent. As she and Amaro explain where and how they want coverage, we see officers putting up posters and questioning people in the area. Benson reminds them to do 250s and stop and frisk.
As the detectives are out questioning and frisking various people in the area, a formally dressed woman walks down the street alone and a person in a hoodie seems to follow her. She turns around and asks what he wants, and he does not answer so she turns back and walks away faster. He continues to follow. Soon, Fin and Rollins hear a nearby gunshot and race to the scene. Benson and Amaro drive up in their car and see the woman standing over a body and they order her to drop the gun. She drops it as she states the person was attacking her. Amaro orders her to step back and Benson checks the man laying on the ground and he has a pulse. She calls for a bus as Fin and Rollins arrive at the scene. The woman insists to Amaro that the man was following her and was going to rape her.
Munch arrives at the hospital and Rollins informs him the suspect is Mehcad Carter, 16, and he was shot once in the chest by the victim and is still in surgery and his parents are on the way. Munch asks if he had a gun, and Fin says no, they recovered a cell phone from his pocket. Rollins explains the victim is Jolene Castille, a celebrity chef who explained she shot in self defense. Fin adds Carter showed similar MO to the other vics. Munch sees the parents arrive and says he knows they are worried about their son but to find out what he was doing in that neighborhood. Fin and Rollins speak to the Carters who say Mehcad is a good kid, and they don’t understand why he was shot.
