Jeers: A Not-So-Special SVU

Christopher Meloni in Law & Order: SVU by Eric Liebowitz/NBC Photo

Jeers to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for cheating Christopher Meloni — and viewers — out of a potentially powerful plotline. The promos for this week's episode made it look like the Emmy-nominated star would be dealt a dramatic challenge when his character, Det. Elliot Stabler, gets blinded by a perp. As it turned out, Stabler only suffered temporary blurred vision, and the story gave miscast guest star Arye Gross (as a schizophrenic serial rapist) and generic supporting player Diane Neal (as ADA Casey Novak) showier roles. Anybody who remembers Meloni's captivating performance as sociopath Chris Keller on Oz knows he deserves better.

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Posted by

Bruce Fretts

Nov 14, 2007 3:53 AM

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I totally agree. This overly hyped/promoted episode was disappointing and misleading. We were led to believe this would be a possibly life-altering event. Having blurry vision is not blindness. He could see hazy images of people and his surroundings from the very beginning. Stabler's presence was almost non-existent. This was the big sweeps big event?
Posted by roseborough1950 Nov 14, 2007 7:49 AM Report Abuse

I thought Arye Gross did a good job as the guest star, but I do agree that the "blindness" was way over-hyped.
Posted by PixieSpy Nov 14, 2007 9:27 AM Report Abuse

I agree. I would have tapped L&O and watch Nip/Tuck rather than the other way around.
Posted by Spider-Man Nov 14, 2007 10:23 AM Report Abuse

I pretty much wanted to jeer the whole episode. The initial premise - that a children's book writer was kidnapping and raping young girls - was and interesting one, and I think they could have done quite a bit with the dilemma over how much responsiblity does someone bear if they commit violent acts due to an unmedicated mental illness if they deliberately *chose* to stop taking the medicine while they were lucid.

The whole back-and-forth over the Feds and Louisiana and the death penalty wasn't necessary, and there have been so many episodes where the perp was suffering from schizophrenia that you'd think Casey's inner conflict due to her fiance's illness would have come up long before now!

The blindness was beyond overhyped - it's whole purpose was to be this week's reason why Benson and Stabler couldn't work together (the show has been having them sort of "alternate" episodes for a couple seasons now so that they can film episodes in less time than if each were fully involved in every script.)

But you know what gets the BIGGEST jeer from me? Jack McCoy showing up as the new DA on SVU before we've gotten to find out anything about how he got the job since they haven't managed to start showing the mothership episodes yet! Did Branch retire or die mid-term and someone appointed Jack to serve as DA until the next election like Lewin did when Schiff resigned? Did Branch decide not to run for re-election and Jack ran in his stead? Or did Jack decide to run *against* Branch? What the.... ?!? That just really threw me for a loop.

BTW: Anyone know why L&O original flavour isn't back on the air yet? *IS* it returning?

Yeesh!

Posted by kriselda jarnsaxa

Nov 14, 2007 10:26 AM

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I think that my favorite part of the episode was when Stabler was testifying. He said that the accident left him temporarily blind (implying that he still was blind) and then he proceeded to visually identify the defendant! In a real court, there would certainly be an objection from the defense if a witnessed stated that he was blind and then said he saw the defendant! That made me laugh out loud.

Posted by LoriK27

Nov 14, 2007 10:26 AM

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I think the original L&O is supposed to return in January (on Sundays at 8), but it was odd that they installed Jack McCoy as DA on SVU before we saw how he got the job.
Posted by Bruce Fretts Nov 14, 2007 10:41 AM Report Abuse

Thanks, Bruce, for putting in print what I was yelling at my television last night. Meloni is the only reason I've stuck with SVU this long, and the whole thing with him going "blind" was another in a long list of HUH??? moments the writers have provided this season. (A recommendation: Season Five's "Coerced" was SO much better than last night's episode)
Posted by siggy26 Nov 14, 2007 10:53 AM Report Abuse

I guess I don't watch enough shows on NBC to have witnessed the "over-hype" of Elliot's blindness - haven't been exposed to a lot of commercials about it. What I did like was his makeup - great circles around and under the eyes after having his brain bounced around in his head!
Posted by tvforever Nov 14, 2007 11:10 AM Report Abuse

I have to agree too. The blindness plotline was over before it even got started. What's up with that?
Posted by Rod Nov 14, 2007 11:16 AM Report Abuse

I love my SVU but it was kinda stupid -- I thought it would be a more 'life-altering' plotline than him having temporary blindless. It was all kinda lame. Not to mention the incredible let down between Liv & Casey. I mean, I expected at least an argument of some sort. If I found out my friend sold me out to my boss, I would be a tad bit miffed. The last 2 eps have been kinda crappy, I must say. And Adam Beach is making Ice T look Oscar worthy...(and I love Ice T's "Fin").

Posted by ERSVULuvr

Nov 14, 2007 12:07 PM

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Absolutely Pathetic!
Posted by celicababy Nov 14, 2007 12:28 PM Report Abuse

"And Adam Beach is making Ice T look Oscar worthy..." I have to agree with ERSVULuvr. What was the point of bringing this guy on if they weren't going to give him anything to do?
Posted by celicababy Nov 14, 2007 12:34 PM Report Abuse

I taped the ep so I haven't seen it yet, but I totally thought El would be blind for several eps. And how ironic that there are Lasik eye ads on this page.
Posted by maurine Nov 14, 2007 1:10 PM Report Abuse

Boy am I glad I'm not the only one who was hugely disappointed with this episode!

I've been looking forward to this episode since the beginning of the season and was expecting it to last at least several episodes and really delve into how going blind would affect someone like Stabler, how Liv would deal with it, how Stabler would come to terms with it and his family, etc.

To have it turn out to be only blurry vision, be able to identify a defendant and be back to normal by the next episode is just ridiculous! I know the episodes have already been shot, but it sure would be nice if the writers could read the comments and make this more realistic.

I was really hoping this would give Meloni the push to get an Emmy next year, but I think it will likely cost him one.

Posted by mbrock5532

Nov 14, 2007 1:13 PM

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