Well Olivia lets her emotions that was from her sexual assault or rape you can call it. Get in her way. As the SVU squad that rarely tackles the military, goes at it with an arrogant Navy JAG Commander who seems to want to make a name for himself, rather than help out the victim. As he claims that since someone in uniform is murdered in the trunk of her car, falls under his jurisdiction. But ADA Greylek, says that she was murdered on civilian soil and wins the argument. Olivia points a gun to the head of a Marine Sgt, who is later cleared of the murder and rape. And that it was a Marine pilot and his wife that are the real culprits. In the end, she reveals to Dominic Pruitt, the Marine Sgt in question, about her rape and apologizes. He tries to comfort her but she pulls back. The two are on a first-name basis now. Captain really was a father figure to her and tells her to take some time off! Love the ending!
3 Reviews
Olivia working through her own issues
bkoganbing12 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The report of an AWOL female marine by her counselor has Olivia on the hunt and when she finds her dead in an impound yard in the trunk of her own car she's on the case with Tutuola. This episode belongs to a Mariska Hargitay as she has to deal with her own issues in addition to solving a crime.
The Navy's JAG unit wants to poach the case from SVU so there are jurisdictional issues to deal with. They're putting their claim in because the victim was raped while on active duty in Iraq. But the murder happened here.
Five marines from her unit are in the USA and two are here. One of them is Master Sergeant Ryan Kwanten, another is Lieutenant Dominick Fumusa who is married to the voluptuous Amy Spanger. They're all in Mariska's sites.
Mariska Hargitay gives an incredible portrayal of a woman suffering Post Traumatic Stress. She was in counseling for her own sexual assault which occurred in a previous episode. And this episode really belongs to Mariska.
The Navy's JAG unit wants to poach the case from SVU so there are jurisdictional issues to deal with. They're putting their claim in because the victim was raped while on active duty in Iraq. But the murder happened here.
Five marines from her unit are in the USA and two are here. One of them is Master Sergeant Ryan Kwanten, another is Lieutenant Dominick Fumusa who is married to the voluptuous Amy Spanger. They're all in Mariska's sites.
Mariska Hargitay gives an incredible portrayal of a woman suffering Post Traumatic Stress. She was in counseling for her own sexual assault which occurred in a previous episode. And this episode really belongs to Mariska.
Trauma
TheLittleSongbird17 November 2021
'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' have done many character-driven episodes, with there being at least one in each season. In terms of quality, they have varied. Some are illuminating and powerful, where one gets insight into how and why the character focused on came to be the way they are. Others are very soapy, can be too heavily focused on and get in the way of the case solving. Those centered around Olivia have fallen into both those extremes for example.
"PTSD" is one of those Olivia-centric episodes, which sees her struggling with coping with the trauma from the events of Season 9's "Undercover" (fantastic episode by the way). Actually thought that her trauma was dealt with surprisingly well and wasn't the overly-melodramatic episode that the synopsis made me sound. It was the case, or at least the way it was handled, that was less good. Which is sad after such a big return to form with the previous episode "Persona."
There is a good deal that is good here. First and foremost, Mariska Hargitay is incredible with her more intense moments so vividly hard-hitting. The supporting cast are very good too, if not quite in Hargitay's league. The depiction of PTSD was vividly intense and moving and it didn't feel over the top. So much so that it is not really that surprising that Olivia finds the case difficult. Did appreciate that there was a better than expected balance of personal life and case, the former not being too over-bearing and actually realistic given the nature of the case.
It was great too to see more of Cragen, he tends to not be used enough, and also to see more of Fin's softer, caring side. He and Olivia gel very well here and that has been obvious with all the times they've worked together. There is emotional power and intensity, especially later on. On a visual level, the episode is solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden, while having enough momentum.
Was however not hugely enamoured by the overall storytelling and the case. "PTSD" did feel on the rushed side from trying to cram in too much in a too short space of time, which did mean that the story was not always as clear as it could have been. There is too much conclusion jumping, especially when prematurely concluding that a suspect is guilty without evidence or much ground to stand on.
Still dislike Greylek as a character, too aloof, full of herself and robotic, and Micaela McManus' wooden acting. Some of the writing could have been tighter.
Bottom line, not bad at all but not great. Neither one of the best or worst of this generally disappointing season. 6/10.
"PTSD" is one of those Olivia-centric episodes, which sees her struggling with coping with the trauma from the events of Season 9's "Undercover" (fantastic episode by the way). Actually thought that her trauma was dealt with surprisingly well and wasn't the overly-melodramatic episode that the synopsis made me sound. It was the case, or at least the way it was handled, that was less good. Which is sad after such a big return to form with the previous episode "Persona."
There is a good deal that is good here. First and foremost, Mariska Hargitay is incredible with her more intense moments so vividly hard-hitting. The supporting cast are very good too, if not quite in Hargitay's league. The depiction of PTSD was vividly intense and moving and it didn't feel over the top. So much so that it is not really that surprising that Olivia finds the case difficult. Did appreciate that there was a better than expected balance of personal life and case, the former not being too over-bearing and actually realistic given the nature of the case.
It was great too to see more of Cragen, he tends to not be used enough, and also to see more of Fin's softer, caring side. He and Olivia gel very well here and that has been obvious with all the times they've worked together. There is emotional power and intensity, especially later on. On a visual level, the episode is solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden, while having enough momentum.
Was however not hugely enamoured by the overall storytelling and the case. "PTSD" did feel on the rushed side from trying to cram in too much in a too short space of time, which did mean that the story was not always as clear as it could have been. There is too much conclusion jumping, especially when prematurely concluding that a suspect is guilty without evidence or much ground to stand on.
Still dislike Greylek as a character, too aloof, full of herself and robotic, and Micaela McManus' wooden acting. Some of the writing could have been tighter.
Bottom line, not bad at all but not great. Neither one of the best or worst of this generally disappointing season. 6/10.
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