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[add_duck]

Gah. I haven't been able to watch any of the episodes without passing out (due to the flu). What episode does that occur in, because I need a laugh right now.

That's actually from "Hysteria," easily my favorite first-season episode. But it's not on today.

The scene in "Care" where Alex is preping the boy for trial is a great "awww" moment. And she looks ridiculously hot, as always.

Still back on "Ridicule," Fin too made some wisecrack about how "Three girls at once is everyone's dream" or something like that. That whole scene made me think of UltraViolet's annoyance at "Saint Olivia," because they set it up so she's the only one arguing for Peter's side. (Well her and Cragen, what with "We have a complaining witness, so we investigate." Sure thing, Cap'n. Unless the complainant is drunk. Or it's season 5. Or both.)

I slept through the first airing of "Wrath," but it's on later this afternoon, right? Because as much as Olivia annoys me in it, it's a quintesential drinking game episode. The premise alone gets a Drink! or two...stalking, Taking!It!Personally, etc.

[spacedog]

I left work early today but still only managed to see the last 15 minutes of "Stolen". I'm not complaining, because I loved what I saw. What some excellent Cabot/Cragen platonic bonding. I thought Munch playing chess with the boy was a nice touch, too.

I think, as a whole, season 3 is my favorite season. Everything seemed to come together that year. Also, I just can't get over how unbelievably hot Alex was during season 3. Yeah, she was gorgeous every season, but there's just something about season 3 Alex that pushes all my buttons.

Thoughts on "Execution":

I'll be watching this one again at 11. It's become one of my favorite episodes. I love the main character interaction and all of the supporting players were well written and acted. I really liked the scene with the perp's former cellmate and the father of the boy the cellmate killed.

I,of course, was all about the Stabler/Cabot storyline. It made me realize how well Meloni and March play off each other. We have more than abundant proof that they have contentious chemistry, this ep gave them a chance to portray a different side of their characters' relationship.

The scenes between Alex and Elliot in Cabot's office were almost identical in mood as the scenes between Alex and Olivia in "Abuse".

We got Cabot's sort of personal history disclosure. The suggestion of a relationship with Alan the Jersey EADA was tantilizingly vague...just the way I like it. That way I get to speculate. The "we slept together" vibe was definite. It also seems pretty evident that it started from a co-worker status. I mean, when else do Our Heroes have time to meet anyone? Anyway, the snarks that Alex and Alan swapped were awesome.

I liked Huang in this episode he was bossy but at least IMO he wasn't the Master of the Obvious. Hmmm. I wonder if that bump he took on the noggin turned him into the Master of the Obvious.

"Prodigy" is a solid episode. Yay for Petrovsky/Cabot interaction. I so enjoyed Alex's smirk when Petrovsky said, "I'll let a jury decide" regarding whether the perp's smutfic was obscenity or not.

Whoohoo! "Protection" was HoYay-tastic! Love that Benson/Cabot arguement. Benson talked Cabot out of charging Maria...could it be anymore obvious that Alex is a sucker for Olivia? I don't think so.

From "Surveillance":

Olivia to Alex: "What if we found cameras in your bathroom?"

Me: "Well I guess the voyuer would be getting a regular eye-full of you, detective." Hee. Hi, my name is spacedog and I'm addicted to HoYay.

Damn, I'm missing the freaky middle school students in "Popular".

This post has been edited by spacedog: Dec 31, 2003 @ 11:36 pm.

[Cut]

Just some thoughts on the episodes I've actually been able to stay awake for. Also includes a few OZ sightings.

Prodigy: Olivia and her "I can screw you harder," routine with the perp. Elliot and Olivia's squeamishness in the M.E.'s clinic when Olivia is the one who has to hold the thumb because (and I laughed at this), Elliot saying he was "too manly."

And then there are the OZ sightings. M.E.-Adam Guenzel. and Officer Murphy playing "Vinny".

Hee. Are coolers the only places potential killers/perps keep their stuff? Lacking originality much? I also hate the fact that the dectectives liked the teen for the murder, if only because he knew way too much about crime an anatomy (albeit because of his "tests" with animals), but still.

Protection: This raised a few eyebrows in my house. First of all, in what strange world does Munch qualify as speaking 10 year old? I love Alex, and I love the law, but going after the mother? "It's not always about justice." Preaching to the choir, baby.

OZ sightings: Guerra plays the shooter. And Morales (and this was also laughable) plays a member of the narc. police.

Surveillance: Whore across the chest. Bad sign all around. Why didn't they suspect Amy from the get-go? Loved Olivia and Elliot's take (no pun intended) on Prescott's tapes of his encounters.

Olivia: "He seems to favor that one position."
Elliot: "At least he's consistent."

Our Heroes all nice and dressed up. Yay Elliot in a suit and 'Liv in a her fine black dress. But poor Munch and Fin. They always get to canvas the worst areas. Now that's messed up.

[/end first take on episodes that I've never seen]

Popular: CM and MH have great chemistry. I always love the way they talk about how kids forge signatures all the time, and CM gives her this look and Olivia's all, "Except for your kids because you're real scary, and he uses his hand to prop up his head and kind of squints his eyes and answers, "Yeah, I really am." Only to the perps 'El, only to the perps, and maybe the suspects too.

This post has been edited by Cut: Jan 1, 2004 @ 4:54 am.

[add_duck]

Heh, "Prodigy" is an inapropriate laugh-fest thus far. ME office antics, (Where the hell is Warner? Her thumbs aren't manly, and I doubt she'd have been as squeamish as Liv) "I can screw you harder," and finding out that Olivia can Mirandize in 6(!) languages. I imagine there's a little cheat sheet on this somewhere in the sqaudroom. Now if only the Mothership cops were this industrious...then we woulnd't have had to endure hearing Serena's oh-so-enlightened views on immigrants. Shut up, Serena.

Hahaha, skulls in a cooler! It's a cooler twist! DRINK!!!

Okay, I hope none of you are sex offenders, otherwise we could all be in trouble for diseminating the Smutfic. Unless we got a jury of SVU fans who thought it was funny...

Hmmm, "Execution"...seeing it back-to-back with "Wrath," leads to some interesting questions. Is it good continuity, that Huang recognized That Brodus was about to attack him? Or bad continuity that he didn't anticipate the shift-change problem early enough to prevent it? Either way, I loved the fact that we got to see his bug-eyed slammed against the wall routine twice...somebody on the writing staff loves us! Also, someday the characters have to learn that challenging a violent man's masculinity is a Bad Idea.

Brodus snarking on Huang was hilarious. "Nobody likes you...how does that make you feel?" Character says something that sounds like it came from this thread...drink!

Alex's taste in men seems better than Olivia's, but only marginally. Both Trevor and Jersey ADA are relatively handsome, but seem like schmucks. Alex, step away from the lawyers. Try dating, I don't know, a detective for a change.

What to say about "Wrath"? (Besides Shut Up Olivia, I mean). I think that my biggest problem with this episode is that. right from the get-go, Olivia was testy, snapish and Taking!It!Personally, before they'd even established that she was the only connection between all the victims. I was watching my West Wing DVDs, and in the commentary to one of the episodes Aaron Sorkin says that a common actor mistake is "Playing the ending of the scene at the begining." I think this was the problem here. Was there any reason for Olivia to be sooo pissy at Elliot for not calling her to the body farm? If she'd started out the episode her usual charming self, and then slowly become more bitchy/unprofessional as it was uncovered what was going on, I might have bought it. But the fact that it's All About Her from the first second she was on screen just set my teeth on edge.

I still don't see why she would get to supervise the visits between the kid and his dad, let alone why she would have the time. And at the end, the guy supposedly didn't load his gun. But didn't he fire a shot before Olivia went in the room? (Which is why she called for backup...drink!) And with her shaky hands, was it really a good idea to shoot while he was still holding onto his hostage? For that matter, if his gun had been loaded, couldn't it have gone off when he got shot? Just not the greatest handling of that situation, methinks.

Okay, back on "Ridicule," there was some definate Legal Weirdness going on there. When they were arguing about the constitutionality of charging a woman with rape, Alex (or was it the judge?) said that the old statute was biased, and thus not allowable under the First Amendment. The hell? As far as I remember, the first ammendment covers freedom of speech, religion and assembly. Where does it say anything about gender equality? Also, the defense attorney argued the the legislature clearly didn't think that the statute was biased, because it took them a couple of decades to change it. Again I ask, the hell? What kind of argument is that? It took years to overturn segregation, bans on interracial marriage, etc. Just because it takes a long time to change a law doesn't mean it wasn't a bad law.

Protection: We have another instance of a cop knowing instantly that an address is a phony ("That's in the middle of the East River Park!") Who needs Yahoo! maps when you have an L&O detective on the case! They've all memorized a map of the five bouroughs! Drink!

They promise Maria they can protect her. She gets shot. Drink!

This post has been edited by add_duck: Jan 1, 2004 @ 2:49 am.

[Cut]

I really think Harry (from "Prodigy") and Ramone should be used more in SVU. Because really, have the suspect know more about the criminal than our guys? That was weak and drink! worthy.

[add_duck]

Wow, I hate Our Guys in "Popular." Like, a lot. Like, Season 5 levels here. Elliot is on some kind of quest to make up for the fact that he's "a paycheck not a parent," and everyone else is enabling him.

Olivia: Sure, let me go to the hospital and put my ass on the line for you while you hang out in the squadroom and eat donuts!
Cragen: Don't go behind my back ever again. Because if you do, I'll do absolutely nothing, like the ineffectual Muppet that I am.
StepfordKathy (Now with 100% more Mousy Brown #63!): You played me like a cheap violin, but I can't get mad because I'm hopped up on Prozac.
Carol the Nurse: You almost got me fired. Please allow me to divulge more confidential information I have no business sharing with you.
Shut up, all of you. Please.

And of course, they none of them seem to appreciate the irony when they tell the various kids "Whatever you tell me stays in this room." At least the victim called them on it when they questioned her in the nurse's office. Jesus Murphy, I feel bad for her. She's getting it from all sides, so she makes up a story, then Cragen gets in her face because "As soon as she came forward blahblahblahfalsereportcakes." You mean, as soon as your detectives badgered her into coming forward, right? New promo: "They want justice for every victim. Even the ones who, frankly, would rather just be left alone."

I also don't think they should have let Cynthia's parents watch the interview with her boyfriend. Aren't they supposed to keep details of an open investigation confidential? Oh, haha, I forgot what show I'm watching. "Confidential" means as much to these guys as "Continuance" means to Casey. And is the hospital really allowed to tell the girl's parents that she has an STD? That sucks.

I also feel really bad for the actress playing the victim, because everyone in this episode kept talking about how ugly she was. She really wasn't, although how did she end up with curly hair when both her parents had straight hair?

They re-cast Kathleen Stabler. Bummer. Because the original actress really looked quite a lot like both Kathy and Maureen.

I'm convinced that the theme for this marathon is "Takin' it Personally." Which is one of the few themes you could use for a 12-episode marathon.

I like how at the end of "Execution," Elliot says "Stop, it's what he wants!" Not "Stop, it's wrong to beat the crap out of a man once he's been subdued." They want justice for every victim...except those who also happen to commit crimes. (See also: Nocturne, Control)

And what's up with Jesrsey ADA? For someone who "can't stomach the reality" of the death penalty and "doesn't have to like it," he was sure egar to see the guy die. He fought hard not to stay the execution, was upset when he found out that it couldn't happen, etc. Dude, the guy's in a coma. That's not enough for you?

I love Alex, and I love the law, but going after the mother? "It's not always about justice." Preaching to the choir, baby.

I was sad that Alex caved on that one. On the one hand, yeah it was nice to see that Olivia totally has her wrapped around her little finger. :) But on the other hand, I was hoping that someone would stand up for the law after they all basically said "Laws? Rules? Procedure? Screw that!" in "Popular." (And I'd probably find the mom guilty, according to the law) I really liked it when EarlyAlex didn't give into pressure from the squad to make a deal in "Runaway." I sometimes feel the detectives are like whiny childern, and it's good for them when someone says "Sorry, can't have it your way this time. Suck it up."

Happy New Year, y'all! May your life in 2004 be as easy as Casey after a softball victory. (tm Learned Hand)

This post has been edited by add_duck: Jan 1, 2004 @ 2:06 pm.

[ambsace]

Re 'Popular':
Did anyone else notice that Olivia finagled her way into getting the hospital's recently admitted list was by asking if one of Munch's ex-wives had been checked in?
I mean, who is that question sympathetic towards— the ex-husband or the ex-wife...?
Re 'Prodigy':
God help me, but I laughed my bum off when Alex's lawyer-friend looked up at her and said, 'Oh,cat flambè boy' as though she saw three of them a week. Also loved Cragen interrupting Fin with an 'I don't want your imagination' look when he started speculating on cannibalism technique.

By the way, fellow Fin fanatic, who's the third among us?

Why, George the janitor, of course!

Growf.

Signed,
George The Janitor. xoxo

[bella1013]

Can anyone help me out with a line in Ridicule? During the arraignment, where they are discussing whether or not men can get turned on by blowjobs or something, Alex says this line and gets her ass kicked by the judge. In dutch translation it came out as "They do, or would you like me to set an example"? But i never really quite heard what the hell the original line was. It's been bugging me for ages.

Both Trevor and Jersey ADA are relatively handsome

Oh yeah? in what universe? I could go with Trevor being somewhat nicelooking, but Jersey? uggh, what the hell was she thinking?

This post has been edited by bella1013: Jan 1, 2004 @ 8:25 am.

[GypsyBee]

Happy New Year all! Thanks for the nice comments on the smut! (Now, that's an odd sentence to be typing New Year's morning..) Speaking of which, what's with "Execution" and its challenge to our fundamental smut belief system?

Tasteless Jersey EADA (to Alex): You were good, not spectacular.

Heresy!

What to say about "Wrath"? (Besides Shut Up Olivia, I mean). I think that my biggest problem with this episode is that. right from the get-go, Olivia was testy, snapish and Taking!It!Personally, before they'd even established that she was the only connection between all the victims. I was watching my West Wing DVDs, and in the commentary to one of the episodes Aaron Sorkin says that a common actor mistake is "Playing the ending of the scene at the begining." I think this was the problem here. Was there any reason for Olivia to be sooo pissy at Elliot for not calling her to the body farm? If she'd started out the episode her usual charming self, and then slowly become more bitchy/unprofessional as it was uncovered what was going on, I might have bought it. But the fact that it's All About Her from the first second she was on screen just set my teeth on edge.

As a big Benson fan, I liked "Wrath", although it was disturbing. The premise of "Wrath" is exactly that the crime is All About Her, and more particularly about her professional failures. This is a far creepier scenario than "Stalked", from the POV of a character who Takes!It!Personally. It is understandable to me that Olivia was wound up from the get go. Our initial glimpse of her in the episode is after she's found out that (1) three of her Personal!Service!victims have been killed and (2) that her partner knew all about it, had been investigating it, and had not contacted her about it. Consequently she's on edge -- first with Elliot, then during the meeting, and then finally when Cragen verbally states that her connection to the victims may be the motivation for the crime. IMO, MH did a great job throughout this episode portraying Benson as someone desperately trying to maintain professional demeanor and control under ever-increasing pressure.

My biggest issue with the episode is hypothetical, as I haven't seen most of Season 3 -- I'll be upset if no episode exists that wraps up the plot with regards to restoration of the Benson/Stabler partnership.

[DEM]

As a big Benson fan, I liked "Wrath", although it was disturbing.

Phew! Me too.

I've decided I seriously hate Huang. First: the hair. The hell?? Second, I could have sworn that he was first introduced as a psychologist, but in at least some of yesterday's eps he seemed to be a psychiatrist. Which is it? Third, like ME Warner, he seems to be an expert (read: Psych 101 Textbook) on all things even remotely related to his discipline. Unlike ME Warner, however, he's neither cool nor hot. In fact, he's smug and dweebish. Blergh.

This post has been edited by DEM: Jan 1, 2004 @ 4:55 pm.

[Eliot]

Olivia annoyed me in "Wrath" because her stubborness put other people in jeopardy. I guess I can understand her not being rational because she was Taking!It!Personally! but Cap'n should have stepped in and forbidden her to work the case. Even if she is "one of his best detectives" it was impossible for her to be objective and he should have known that.

And of course, I still have those questions about where he spent his hot night in the city.

I think we should all just agree that he was shacked up in a sleazy motel, plotting the murder of Chemistryless Kathy, with a recently paroled blond ex-lawyer who was still mourning the untimely death of the hot!prison!lover! who turned out to be Elliot's long-lost psychotic twin.

Yep. Works for me.

This post has been edited by Eliot: Jan 1, 2004 @ 2:20 pm.

[add_duck]

In dutch translation it came out as "They do, or would you like me to set an example"? But i never really quite heard what the hell the original line was.

Th li that gets her ass kicked is "What do you propose, a tumescence exam?" Weird translation, if that's the one you mean.

Personal!Service!victims

That sounds pretty dirty and smutfic inspiring...:)

I'll be upset if no episode exists that wraps up the plot with regards to restoration of the Benson/Stabler partnership.

Wow, you're hoping for continuity/character consistency on this show? I wouldn't hold my breath. The episode immediately after "Wrath" is "Stolen," which we also saw yesterday. Not too much Benson/Stabler in that one, but everything seemed hunky-dory between them, so I think we have to assume it got resolved off-screen

Second, I could have sworn that he was first introduced as a psychologist, but in at least some of yesterday's eps he seemed to be a psychiatrist. Which is it?

He's gotta be a psychiatrist, otherwise no way can he be shooting PsychoDad up with Haldol. ("You became my patient the second I hit that!") As for how he was introduced, I have no idea, as I wasn't paying attention to the dialogue but to his freaky-ass self, complete with glazed eyes and facial hair. *shudder*

[anomalys]

Tasteless Jersey EADA (to Alex): You were good, not spectacular.

Heresy!

Heh. I believe Olivia would beg to differ. (And if we're talking smutfic, then so would Cragen, Huang, Elliot, Munch, Fin, Donnelly, Petrovsky, and Warner.)

I'll be upset if no episode exists that wraps up the plot with regards to restoration of the Benson/Stabler partnership.

Wow, you're hoping for continuity/character consistency on this show? I wouldn't hold my breath. The episode immediately after "Wrath" is "Stolen," which we also saw yesterday. Not too much Benson/Stabler in that one, but everything seemed hunky-dory between them, so I think we have to assume it got resolved off-screen.

As add_duck wrote.....don't hold your breath. Olivia and Elliot's partnership resumed its natural rhythm after 'Wrath'. I don't mind stuff like that being resolved off-screen. Just like I guess Elliot's mid-life crisis with chemistrylessKathy during 'Monogamy' doesn't get addressed any further (unless I missed it.).

Heck, I'm actually surprised by the occasional continuity....like when they reference a previous case or bring up a line from a previous episode. As in the end of 'Protection' when Alex brings back up Cragen's line from 'Secrets' about the law not always being about justice.

ETA: I was just thinking about 'Execution'. And why we never got an episode where Alex goes off with Olivia on some field trip? That's just wrong. Of course, I really do know why.....something like that would have combusted all our screens.....and there's no way DW would have shined a light there.

This post has been edited by anomalys: Jan 1, 2004 @ 4:44 pm.

[bella1013]

Th li that gets her ass kicked is "What do you propose, a tumescence exam?" Weird translation, if that's the one you mean.

Yes it is thank you. I was laughing too hard at the translation to get the line, but anyhow.

Oh, yeah, Shirley Knight sort of killed her son on ER tonight, does that warrant a drink? Or does it only count on SVU?

And because i can not contain my happiness, Belgium reached third place in World Idol, yaaaaay!!!!!!! I am so proud now.

[spacedog]

Alex's taste in men seems better than Olivia's, but only marginally. Both Trevor and Jersey ADA are relatively handsome, but seem like schmucks.

I seems like when Alex and Olivia get the itch, they just bang whoever is handy. Olivia sleeps with cops; Alex sleeps with lawyers. Oops, I almost forgot about Reporter McPervy and Invisible"Michael". Ladies, the perfect remedy for bad taste in men is to lose them. Hee.

Repeat Offender Moment: The actor who played Cynthia's dad in "Popular" played the abusive dad that Stabler threatens in "Mercy". Also, I saw the guy in a nicotine patch commercial last night during the marathon. It's a small world.

This post has been edited by spacedog: Jan 1, 2004 @ 7:27 pm.