This was definitely the most maddening episode of the season. The episode centred a case regarding child abuse by a gay singing coach. Any one with perception and sense can see that man is clearly being framed from the beginning, but somehow the SVU detectives (with the exception of Rollins) set their mind that he committed the felonies even when there were no concrete evidence to show that he did it.
The episode goes beyond border to prove that Benson can be a prejudicial narrow minded goat (I'm sorry that I don't feel sorry to say this) and to make the children and teens look "innocent" even when they are Satan's spawn (ironically, the episode left me with the opposite feeling than intended by the episode). As shown by the fact that Benson decides to make the case public regardless of the consequences just because she "thinks" the man molested those children. It might've been because of the development she had this season, but it does not excuse her actions in any way. Besides that the ending was preposterous as there are no repercussions against the culprits for making false claims. Barbra says they "won't testify" against each other hence they can't be charged, which is ridiculous since they filed a false report (and confessed to such) which is a misdemeanor (and they had the criminal intent or mens rea for such) with upto 6 months or more jail time (not to mention fines). Besides that, they were liable to civil suit for ruining the defendant's reputation as well.
Years of watching SVU should've made me immune to such trivial burst of anger, but I guess it didn't as by the end of this I was livid. You'd think Benson would not jump to quick conclusion after 15 years with the SVU (especially after the Omar Pena fiasco some seasons earlier), but she exactly does that. Not a good sign of character development. 4/10
The episode goes beyond border to prove that Benson can be a prejudicial narrow minded goat (I'm sorry that I don't feel sorry to say this) and to make the children and teens look "innocent" even when they are Satan's spawn (ironically, the episode left me with the opposite feeling than intended by the episode). As shown by the fact that Benson decides to make the case public regardless of the consequences just because she "thinks" the man molested those children. It might've been because of the development she had this season, but it does not excuse her actions in any way. Besides that the ending was preposterous as there are no repercussions against the culprits for making false claims. Barbra says they "won't testify" against each other hence they can't be charged, which is ridiculous since they filed a false report (and confessed to such) which is a misdemeanor (and they had the criminal intent or mens rea for such) with upto 6 months or more jail time (not to mention fines). Besides that, they were liable to civil suit for ruining the defendant's reputation as well.
Years of watching SVU should've made me immune to such trivial burst of anger, but I guess it didn't as by the end of this I was livid. You'd think Benson would not jump to quick conclusion after 15 years with the SVU (especially after the Omar Pena fiasco some seasons earlier), but she exactly does that. Not a good sign of character development. 4/10