12762 replies to this topic

[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".

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.

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!

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)

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Edited by spacedog, Jan 1, 2004 @ 7:27 PM.

[idledandy]

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

What about on the early Mothership episode where she kills her husband and Lenny Briscoe defends her?

Repeat offender appearances are fun, but all the more when it's a future regular, like when S. Epatha's baby was killed in the drive-by or Casey was the man-raping, asphyxiating, turtleneck-wearing ice princess.

[Learned Hand]

TWoP just ate the rest of my post. Sigh. For now:

I'd never seen "Monogamy" before today. Maureen-mocker that I am, I have to admit that my cold, cold heart did kvell a little to see How She's Grown! She looks even more like ChemistrylessKathy now. I'm so confused about the plot point though. When I filled out my college apps, I sent the application fee with the application itself. Why would Elliot send the check in separately? I guess they just needed a reason for Maureen to make Elliot feel more like a paycheck than a parent (see, I even fanwank continuity!), but still, it was weird. Also, they never went anywhere with the midlife crisis bit? Odd. I mean, not surprising.

And Olivia, Olivia, you know I love you and I'll defend you to the best of my ability, but you're not making it easy for me. I laughed inappropriately at Olivia's confrontation of Elliot. She started out so sweet, but just couldn't keep it up. Honey, it's not very nice to ask/order him to open up and trust you, then basically snap that it's all his fault and stalk off. It did crack me up, though. The beginning of their interaction was really touching, but it sort of wandered off after that point. I think that's part of Olivia's charm, though? Even while viewers worldwide were tossing back Drinks! for the sheer hypocrisy, she really saw nothing strange about her ordering Elliot to speak up about Taking!It!Personally. Hey, Olivia? It's kettle. You're black.

What I said before, in brief:
Ridicule -- I had trouble buying Elliot's "If he was aroused, he consented" line. We know he doesn't believe it about women, we know he Takes!It!Personally in cases that deal w/masculinity, but I still didn't buy it. Character assassination -- drink! And Casey: Sit. Up. Straight. I wanted to poke her in the back in her office scene, where she was also sporting a semi-sheer blouse with darts. Did Wardrobe hate her even then? I think her poor posture is even more obvious next to MH, who has really amazing carriage.
Also, the courtroom scene was Casey-riffic, between Alex objecting right after Dr. Greene did and then Pam Adler objecting during a bench conference. I'm guessing DN was taking notes during her guest spot, and has been studying them for her role as Casey-failed-the-bar.
Protection -- Gorgeous Season 3 Alex and Liv and tight two-shots is all I need in my marathon. The ending shot? Excellent. Loved the hers-'n'-hers Scarves of Uselessness in complementary shades.
Wrath -- TK.

Edited by Learned Hand, Jan 1, 2004 @ 8:17 PM.

[runnerbird]

Happy New Year, fellow Shallow Viewers!

I think every New Year's Eve should be a feast of SVU episodes. I spent most of the afternoon and evening hours in front of my television. I also recruited a few of my family members over for midnight champagne into the Shallow Viewers fold (my brother's girlfriend adored Alex's glasses. My brother constantly snarked on Olivia's clothing... good times!). We barely tore ourselves away from an episode to watch the ball drop.

My biggest disappointment was not catching Ridicule (stupid, pointless job!), if only to marvel at the Alex and Not!Alex scenes, but on the bright side a few of the episode were new to me, yay!

Wrath (aka Stalked II: Electric Boogaloo)
- I agree with the poster who said Wrath so much more creepier than Stalked. The moment where Olivia realizes the company is her named spelled backwards ... awww... the chilling, creepy music helped.

- My biggest problem with this episode was how pissed Olivia got with Elliot. Okay, going behind your back and ordering a protective detail when you didn't want one does strike me as a bit like Elliot treating Liv like a child who doesn't know any better, but really what is with her attitude at the end. Also, was this rift in their partnership ever addressed in a subsquent episode or did it go back to being fine and dandy the very next week?

- The scene between Alex and Olivia ... hoYay-tastic! Alex's concerned looks. Olivia getting pissy. They should have just cleared off Alex's desk and went at it.

- No matter how many times I see this episode, Olivia's gun shaking during the final stand-off just throws off that whole scene. However, once she fires and the look on her face when the officer tells her the gun wasn't loaded.... stunning!

- Although I do really like this episode, I get annoyed at several points because it is TOO much like David Finch's film Seven. I just felt like the writers of this ep saw this film and were like "wouldn't it be cool if Benson were stalked by a crazy Kevin Spacey-esque dude!"

Surveillance (aka Benson in Evening Wear, Stabler in Tux!)
- The concept of a stalker monitoring his obssession every move creeped me out. I was even more creeped out by the obssessed land lady. This was just a creepy episode.

- Was I the only one who "eeeekkkk" - ed during the scene when Alex and Olivia, in her backless black dress, were standing next to each other, their hands almost touching.

Execution (aka Donny Pfaster on Death Row)
- Alex and Olivia's taste in men is about even... they both suck!

- Alex and Elliot's office chat was great and really reminded me how much Alex was connected to all the squad detectives... she had individual moments with each of them that were unique and special, but so organic.

Ridicule (aka Girls Gone Wild!)
- Okay, so I didn't see it, but I had to comment how much I loved to hate Paige Turco's character. And I loved her scenes with Alex. Let's draw back those claws, ladies.

- Why does Diane Neal look so much hotter in this episode?

Stolen (aka the Cragen and Cabot show!)
- I LOVED Cragen/Cabot bonding.

-Alex's sweet gesture of representing Tyler in Family Court. Alex admitting how much she hates Family Court.

- This is one of SVU's most heart wrenching cases simply because, like Alex said, there are no bad guys. I felt for everyone!

Prodigy
- Not much to say about this episode except it had my favorite exchange of the marathon:

Alex: We need to reschedule that lunch
Juve ADA: From last year? What do you want Alex!

I don't know why, but this had me laughing for a good, long while.

I knew I watched too much SVU and by default way too much Stephanie yesterday when I woke up this morning and realized I had a dream ... where Bobby Flay was a nice guy and my boss. Ahhhhh.... I think this show has wore a whole in my frontal lobe.

[idledandy]

I definitely watched too much SUV yesterday. I had dreams about Chris Meloni. Not that there's ANYTHING wrong with that.

It was quite the Stephathon, too. It made me that much more upset she's gone, and it made me wish Diane Neal at least looked as pretty now as she did when she was the asphyxibitch.

OK, now I'm making up words.

Edited by idledandy, Jan 2, 2004 @ 1:09 AM.

[Learned Hand]

Wrath -- I don't know if it's an overdose of the Drinking Game or what, but I had trouble taking this episode seriously.

As others have said, Olivia's anger from the very beginning of the episode was a little bit troubling. I also wasn't thrilled with her for going out to Queens to yell at Elliot, who she knows gets very little time at home. I can't decide how I feel about the protective detail. But once again I feel like Season 1 did it better with the exchange in "Stalked" -- sure, the situation is more serious here. But Olivia managed to tell Elliot she didn't need him baby-sitting her without being quite as rude to him as she was in this episode. I like how in "Stalked" it was "I'm not a civilian" and here it's "I'm not a victim."

On the whole, though, I think Elliot did Ultraviolet proud -- he was supportive throughout and took a great deal of flack. At the end, the gentle way he disarmed Olivia was really touching. And as I quoted a couple pages back, I absolutely loved the way he manhandled the suspect who threatened Olivia. And I too laughed inappropriately when Olivia took umbrage at being called "sweetheart." Pot. Kettle. Olivia. I love it. Elliot was in a tough spot here.

Again, it's been said many times, but the violently shaking gun freaked me out. I don't know whether that was supposed to be Benson shaking with fear/aggression/tension or whether it's just hard for amateurs to balance a pistol for a long scene. I've never shot a small gun, but I can testify that it's hard to keep a big'un steady without plenty of practice. Still, it was distressing. I have no idea how she managed to shoot him right through the heart with the gun rattling like that. Maybe she was aiming at his head?

I also agree with some of the above sentiments that the plot itself seemed ripped off from a "cheaper" show -- even the dialogue, the hamminess about the perp leaving the body "wrapped up like a damned gift." Blech. Also, the Slightly Deep Viewer in me (she rarely comes out) was annoyed to see Olivia saunter down to the stoop in her jimjams to check out the suspicious noise outside. Y'know, while she's being stalked and is in major danger. Has she never seen a cop show before? Please! Also, after all she's seen, you'd think she'd move to a doorman building. Don't tell me she can't afford it -- just look at her coat budget! Then again, the Shallow Viewer in me had very little problem with the extended Tight Tank Top scene.

I think what really pushed it over the edge for me was the final scene. MH has a very expressive face. She was posed in a very expressive way too. Did we really need the (fake-looking) rain outside the window to set the audience-meter at Moody? It reminds me of Belzer-on-the-roof from a couple weeks back: it just felt like once again DW didn't trust me to figure out what was going on. Oh, and it also caused a round of inappropriate laughter, since it just reminded me of the Chandler & Joey montage from "Friends" where it looks like Joey is staring tearfully out the window at the rain, and then the camera pulls back and he's actually staring at his little aquarium. The only thing funnier would have been if it were only raining directly on Olivia.

ETA:

Was I the only one who "eeeekkkk" - ed during the scene when Alex and Olivia, in her backless black dress, were standing next to each other, their hands almost touching.

TWoP Motto: You're! Not! Alone! I so had this in my other post, the one that got eaten. There are two moments in that scene when Olivia's hand comes thisclose to touching Alex's. And did she really need to shift around so much, or was she hoping for Hand Sex? Only her hairdresser knows for sure.

Also: Anyone else notice that Alex and Maddox at the end of "Ridicule" had way more chemistry than Alex has ever had with Trevor? It was so cute when they walked off together into the sunset. I was half-expecting Alex to say "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

Edited by Learned Hand, Jan 1, 2004 @ 10:18 PM.

[add_duck]

As others have said, Olivia's anger from the very beginning of the episode was a little bit troubling.

Bwah! You agree with me! As always! Even though you're Liv's staunchest defender! Drink!

On the whole, though, I think Elliot did Ultraviolet proud -- he was supportive throughout and took a great deal of flack.

Yup. Word. One of the few episodes where I was rooting for Elliot and against Olivia. Of course, he had to go and ruin it with "Popular." But actually, in most of the other episodes in this marathon, Elliot didn't annoy me...even though he was Taking!It!Personally, I felt for him in "Execution." I was smart and took a laundry break during "Redemption," because I didn't think I could handle that cowboy "Elliot in 10 years if you're not carefull" detective.

Also, the courtroom scene was Casey-riffic, between Alex objecting right after Dr. Greene did and then Pam Adler objecting during a bench conference. I'm guessing DN was taking notes during her guest spot, and has been studying them for her role as Casey-failed-the-bar.

I'd forgotten about the objection at the bench conference. God, Pam Adler sucked. How did she ever win a case against Alex? That's akin to learning that Casey beat Alex in moot court back in law school...inconcievable!

I'd never seen "Monogamy" before today. Maureen-mocker that I am, I have to admit that my cold, cold heart did kvell a little to see How She's Grown!

That's why it pissed me off that they recast Kathleen...it would've been cute to see how she's grown, too. (The twins I don't care about so much...one pair of cute little kids is a good as any other.) And it was the same actress playing KemistrylessKathy in "Popular" right? My mom swore she was different, and I missed the opening credits so I couldn't check the actress' name. Shallow Viewers, come to my rescue!

Anyone else notice that Alex and Maddox at the end of "Ridicule" had way more chemistry than Alex has ever had with Trevor?

Was Maddox the defense attorney? (CCH Pounder) Despite the fact that her character was on the wrong side of every argument (Arousal implies consent? Shut up!) I liked her and her patronizing of Alex...she was sort of the defense attorney version of Petrovsky. I'm thinking platonic chemistry, but in a smutfic world anything's possible...

Anybody know which episode is on tonight? Tomorrow is "Noncompliance" - woo! Best. Schizophrenia Episode. Ever!

Edited by add_duck, Jan 1, 2004 @ 10:29 PM.

[Learned Hand]

I was smart and took a laundry break during "Redemption," because I didn't think I could handle that cowboy "Elliot in 10 years if you're not carefull" detective.

Ooh, good call. Okay, so we have Hawk as Elliot's Watch-Out-Or-You'll-Be-Me. We have Liz Donnelly as Alex's. Does Liv have one?

Bwah! You agree with me! As always! Even though you're Liv's staunchest defender! Drink!

Hee! And I was afraid the four time zones would break the borg-like mental connection. Woohoo!

And it was the same actress playing KemistrylessKathy in "Popular" right? My mom swore she was different, and I missed the opening credits so I couldn't check the actress' name. Shallow Viewers, come to my rescue!

Just to triple check, I IMDB'd it and it was indeed the same Kathy (who was also apparently on a Mothership episode in '98. Drink!). I almost didn't recognize her, so I totally understand -- the dark hair makes her look quite different, and her lips weren't as puffy for some reason. But I really knew it was the one and only ChemistrylessKathy when Elliot grounded Kathleen, she looked at her mother, and CK made that stupid-looking, her-kids-will-be-in-therapy-for-years Shrug/Grin -- the same face she makes whenever Elliot makes important discipline decisions without consulting her. Which is, y'know, whenever he's home. But I remembered that face from "Sophomore Jinx." It basically says: "What do you want me to do? He's hot! I'm just lucky he's not sleeping with that equally hot partner of his. Their chemistry is elllllectric!"

ETA:

I'm thinking platonic chemistry, but in a smutfic world anything's possible...

Yeah, CCH Pounder's character. I did mean platonic chemistry -- like Our Heroes. Maybe CCH can go to Hawaii and try another case against Alex and other Powerpuff ADAs...

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

Heresy!

One word: BWAH!

Also: add_duck, the legal weirdness in "Ridicule" confused me too. At first I was thinking (hoping?) the judge had said Fifth Amendment, not First, and was just mumbling, but I watched it again and it does seem to be First. I have no idea what's going on there. Softball, anyone?

Edited by Learned Hand, Jan 1, 2004 @ 10:42 PM.

[add_duck]

Does Liv have one?

I think for Liv it's the rapist/child of rape from "Inheritence." It's not exactly analagous to Donnelly or Hawk, but he is the guy she's most afraid of turning into.

and CK made that stupid-looking, her-kids-will-be-in-therapy-for-years Shrug/Grin -- the same face she makes whenever Elliot makes important discipline decisions without consulting her. Which is, y'know, whenever he's home.

Ouch, it's so true. CK is such a complete doormat. It's gotta be very hard for her to be a parent when she lives with the risk that any descision she makes can be overturned on a whim by her husband. What kind of message does that send to the kids? One of the few times I agreed with Maureen was in the first season when she had her anorexia scare (Was that "Sophomore Jinx"?) and she basically said he didn't have a right to bug her about her eating habits when he knew so little about her life. I mean, sure he has a right to be concerned, but he should be concerned all the time, not just once in a blue moon, and find out what's going on before swooping in and layin' down the law.

But back to CK, she needs to grow a spine. I was clapping my hands gleefully when she came into the sqaudroom in "Popular" (which I'd never seen before) because I was totally thinking "Somebody's sleeping on the couch tonight!" But then she comes out with her "I'm not mad at you...that's what scares me," line. WTF? Get help, CK! Get help now!

Edited by add_duck, Jan 1, 2004 @ 10:44 PM.

[Learned Hand]

One of the few times I agreed with Maureen was in the first season when she had her anorexia scare (Was that "Wanderlust"?) and she basically said he didn't have a right to bug her about her eating habits when he knew so little about her life.

It was "Or Just Look Like One," the one about Lilith's modeling agency. Since the Stabler kids all have convenient issues that match whatever the episode's about, a "Wanderlust" Maureen issue would have to involve her sleeping with an older writer. Blech. I can't think about Maureen's anorexia scare without laughing hysterically, thinking about the brilliant recap of the Maureen scenes, which culminates in the recapper declaring that she is going to take Elizabeth Olivet's advice and refuse to indulge Maureen by recapping her "whiny snotfests."

Add ChemistrylessKathy to the growing list of Ineffectual People on SVU. "I just hope you can live with the consequences," she tells Elliot in a Serious Voice. I'm sorry, what consequences? Loss of consortium? Does that really count as a consequence when we're talking about CK?

Also on the list: Olivia ("Time to get a new partner. And by 'get a new partner,' I mean we'll act like everything's fine in the next episode'"), Huang (always!) and Cragen. Seriously, what is up with Cragen? He is making a major authority mistake: inconsistency! Bad Muppet! A typical scene:

Cragen: Elliot, what is the matter with you? I find out you've been breaching confidentiality based on illegal evidence and you don't even know if a crime has been committed? Are you insane? Do I have to fire you?
Elliot: But Captain-
Cragen: No, this is serious, Elliot. We're all facing lawsuits.
Elliot: But Captain, it's important.
Cragen: Well, okay, then! I'll call Alex and we'll arrange for warrants. But next time, Elliot, next time I'm going to be really mad.

The hell? No wonder your detectives are the biggest brats on the block! He reminds me of the fairy in Little Bunny Foo-Foo ("I'm going to give you threeeeeeeeee more chances!")

ETA: Why does "Pixies/Little Women" have two titles? I mean, did someone decide that "Little Women" was kind of tasteless and switch to "Pixies?" But if so, why keep "Little Women" on the USA/Crack Monkey site? So confusing. Hey, at least it's not the most tasteless title ever; there's still the "...And a Nice Chianti" episode of "7th Heaven" about a liver transplant.

Edited by Learned Hand, Jan 1, 2004 @ 10:54 PM.

[LEBWC98]

Happy New Year's, peeps! Props to my mom for not complaining about the fact that I took over her living-room TV and VCR for the marathon.

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.

I had never seen "Protection" or "Surveillance" before the marathon. Dear TPTB, thanks for all the HoYay! and for writing my paper for me. Love, me. I had wondered which ep included the screencap from the SVU page at Passion and Perfection, and now I know. Woohoo!

Was I the only one who "eeeekkkk" - ed during the scene when Alex and Olivia, in her backless black dress, were standing next to each other, their hands almost touching.

TWoP Motto: You're! Not! Alone! I so had this in my other post, the one that got eaten. There are two moments in that scene when Olivia's hand comes thisclose to touching Alex's. And did she really need to shift around so much, or was she hoping for Hand Sex? Only her hairdresser knows for sure.

I was squealing and shrieking and gesturing frantically at the TV (I didn't watch the tape until tonight...I went to a friend's house for champagne at 10:30 last night, with the VCR faithfully chugging away). Damn, but that scene was hot...I mean, damn. Was it obvious in the concert-hall scenes that the dress was backless? I was like, "wow, look..." during the concert-hall shots of Olivia, and then disintegrated into Hysterical Teenagerdom in the squadroom scene, when I realized the dress was backless. My sisters were with me when I saw that scene for the first time about an hour ago, and they were like, "What the hell is wrong with you?!?" Thinking fast, I responded, "Do you see how Olivia and Alex are in the same position against the window? That's filmically significant." They bought it. Phew.

[Learned Hand]

Olivia's even-tighter-than-usual tan turtleneck is just this side of censored. This is the second time I've seen it. I love the implication that since it's got a high neck, it has to be okay for a professional setting...

I like her hair tonight, too.

Oh, and Happy 2004, everybody! May all of your new years be more fun than snarking on Casey, more satisfying than a good ensemble episode, and, of course, easier than talking Olivia out of quitting (tm add_duck). Here's to many more drinkathons in 2004!

Edited by Learned Hand, Jan 1, 2004 @ 11:16 PM.

[add_duck]

He reminds me of the fairy in Little Bunny Foo-Foo ("I'm going to give you threeeeeeeeee more chances!")

This made me laugh and laugh, because I worked at a pre-school over the summer and my kids loooooved that song. But they would always make me give little bunny foo-foo ten chances at least. So Cap'n Cragen is exactly like that. "I'm going to give you three...no make that five....okay, ten more chances! But that's really it! I mean it!"

I'm sorry, what consequences? Loss of consortium?

Do you really think that's what she meant? I mean, given her lack of anger (or any emotion whatsoever) when she told him that he's "lost something far more important," I assumed she was taking away his TV privleges or something. Have I mentioned that I hated this episode? And that everybody was totally enabling Elliot on his quest to stalk, harass, badger and violate the rights of this poor girl? I have? Drink!

But if so, why keep "Little Women" on the USA/Crack Monkey site?

I think you answered your own question there. You know, with the Crack Monkey remark.

Thinking fast, I responded, "Do you see how Olivia and Alex are in the same position against the window? That's filmically significant." They bought it. Phew.

Hee! I have to do similar stuff when watching with familly members. I'm much less creative, however. My mom wanted to know why I squealed excitedly about Liv's backless dress, and I was like "I think one of my friends has the same one." Lame, I know, but I think she bought it. My mom was also like "Isn't that kind of unprofessional for her to be wearing that at work?" Just wait till season 5, mom.

Edited by add_duck, Jan 1, 2004 @ 11:21 PM.

[anomalys]

Was I the only one who "eeeekkkk" - ed during the scene when Alex and Olivia, in her backless black dress, were standing next to each other, their hands almost touching.

TWoP Motto: You're! Not! Alone! I so had this in my other post, the one that got eaten. There are two moments in that scene when Olivia's hand comes thisclose to touching Alex's. And did she really need to shift around so much, or was she hoping for Hand Sex? Only her hairdresser knows for sure.

I think that was my favorite A/O moment of the entire marathon (and there were some great ones to choose from). I was grinning and exclaiming quite loudly......which caused my roommate to come over and comment on how Alex and Olivia were mirroring each other's stance. Which made me grin even more that I'm not the only one who notices stuff like that.

And all that almost grazing of fingers. Just tantalizing. Did anyone notice that the very next scene is Olivia walking into the squad room the next morning....with a turtleneck on that almost touched her ears. Saying that she just got off the phone with Cabot. Yeah, right. You can guess where my mind went between the finger grazing foreplay and that turtleneck .

Edited by anomalys, Jan 1, 2004 @ 11:36 PM.

[Brandon]

Cragen: Elliot, what is the matter with you? I find out you've been breaching confidentiality based on illegal evidence and you don't even know if a crime has been committed? Are you insane? Do I have to fire you?
Elliot: But Captain-
Cragen: No, this is serious, Elliot. We're all facing lawsuits.
Elliot: But Captain, it's important.
Cragen: Well, okay, then! I'll call Alex and we'll arrange for warrants. But next time, Elliot, next time I'm going to be really mad.

Seriously does Cragen ever put his foot down?

Cragen: Dammit Stabler you can't steal drugs from the evidence locker and sell them back on the street.
Stabler: But Captain think of the victims.
Cragen: Oh, all right, just don't it again okay?
Stabler: Sure captain, sucker

If Cragen ever leaves, his replacement is going to have to whip the squad into shape, and I mean whip. Figuratively of course.

[Learned Hand]

Lame, I know, but I think she bought it. My mom was also like "Isn't that kind of unprofessional for her to be wearing that at work?" Just wait till season 5, mom.

Hee! This cracked me up, because I kept picturing Liv in the backless dress on the job, holster and all. Did she buy that dress just for undercover assignments -- or am I imagining things? Was it the same one she wore in the Bar Flirting scene from that episode about a month or so ago?

Yeah, watching SVU with people who don't know about Shallow Viewing can be tricky. I find myself having to squeal and shriek DRINK! less often, and also there's the drooling problem...

You can guess where my mind went between the finger grazing foreplay and that turtleneck .

You got it one, anomalys. We all know what the turtleneck means, and hopefully it'll make it into the SVU Dictionary, along with "one drink" and "Casey-failed-the-bar."

The Maureen-Columbia scene in "Pixies" gets my vote for the most awkward Maureen Illustrates the Issue of the Episode. Since when has Maureen been a super-motivated student? Grrr.

Edited by Learned Hand, Jan 1, 2004 @ 11:33 PM.