Slope Media Group

Netflix Binge: Law and Order: SVU (’99- )

First semester junior year I literally couldn’t fall asleep unless an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit was playing on my computer, resting sweetly beside my head. Does this mean I’m a strange masochist or psychopathic woman who enjoys torturous episodes of television? I’d hope for neither; SVU is just seriously addicting, and I’m not the only one who feels this way.

Last year Jezebel.com posted an article called “What Is It With Women and Law & Order: SVU?” The author talks about this strange obsession some women seem to have with the series, despite the brutality, eerie qualities or horrifying crimes. The characters are awesome, and I’ll get to that later, but first off the author points out that watching SVU is like pressing on a bruise. You know that feeling-something you shouldn’t really do, that kind of irritates you and pains you, but not enough that it overwhelms you or seriously hurts you. And listen, yes…my friends have told me time and again that I have some masochistic tendencies that I won’t get into here on this public forum, but still…no one seriously enjoys watching a girl get brutalized. This article even alludes to a study done by Social Psychological and Personality Science that found that women are more drawn than men to true crime like rape and serial murder.

Maybe it’s the fact that I can watch these animalistic murderers get put away for life, or maybe I just am intrigued with the cruel nature that exists in some of the lunatics out there. And guys, I’m not lying when I say I’ve seen every.single.episode of the series, and I still watch the new episodes that air today (even though they aren’t nearly as good without my man Elliot Stabler).

Character-wise, the show’s awesome. I mean, Ice-T plays one of the main detectives…come on what can beat that?! He’s not the best actor, but that’s what makes it all the better. And his relationship with his partner Detective Munch is hilarious. Munch is an older man who has many conspiracy theories about America that he shares with everyone and whose overwhelming sarcasm is greatly appreciated by a New York City Jew. Now, let’s get to Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler, played by Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni, whose partnership is the foundation for the show’s longlasting success. The show is sometimes a love story between the two of them, and in a very platonic way-although there have been moments that encourage the notion of some sexual attraction. Benson and Stabler are both extremely strong characters on their own, with interesting plot lines that continue throughout the series, but they are even more intriguing when they are working together. Side note: another great character that needs mentioning is B.D Wong’s Dr. George Huang who is a smart, eccentric and proud to be homosexual psychiatrist who makes the show a lot more enjoyable.

 Alright, lastly I’ll leave you with these parting words:

“In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories.”

 And if you’re ever in the need for some dramatic emphasis after you’ve ended a conversation, stormed out of a room or just made ahuuuge breakthrough in a class..just shout out those glorious sounds *”Bum Bum*

Watch Ice-T’s most dramatic moments on the show..do it now: