Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 2)
The second season of the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit premiered October 20, 2000, and ended May 11, 2001, on NBC. The show remained in its time slot, Friday nights at 10pm/9c. As Neal Baer's first year producing the show, the second season was accompanied by drastic changes in tone. Additionally, the series began to increase its focus on trial scenes with the addition of an Assistant District Attorney for sex crimes to the cast.
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | |
|---|---|
| Season 2 | |
 Season 2 U.S. DVD cover | |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 21 |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | October 20, 2000 – May 11, 2001 |
| Season chronology | |
Production
David J. Burke and Neal Baer served as chief executive producers to replace Robert Palm. Baer took over in the season finale. Neal Baer, a former pediatrician, left ER to work for Dick Wolf's first Law & Order spin-off. When explaining how he first became interested in the show, Neal Baer said he was "drawn to it by Mariska",[1] who appeared in ER. Mariska Hargitay felt that Baer gave the show the direction it previously lacked and explained: "There was no consistency. Dick wasn't really here. We had no leader, we had no vision."[2] Jonathan Greene also credited Baer with improving the quality of the show, saying "He literally took this, not just to the next level, but up five or six levels above that."[3] In a video interview, Richard Belzer said "The show's better this year, so I think it's directly attributable to him being at the helm."[4]
The second episode of the season "Honor," was based on a script that Jonathan Greene had written previously.[5] In it, the squad is exposed to misogynistic "honor killings" used to punish women for adultery. As one reviewer puts it, "Airing one full year before the 9/11 terror attacks, this episode examines Taliban rules and plays differently today than it did when NBC first aired it."[6] In the episode "Taken," Olivia Benson's mother dies after falling down a flight of stairs. The character's backstory, as established in the first episode, is that she was raped by a stranger, causing her to become pregnant with Olivia. The writers briefly considered changing this. Deleted scenes that accompany "Taken" on the DVD show a funeral for Serena Benson, during which it is revealed that she had consensual sex to conceive Olivia. Olivia then meets the man she believes is her father who works as a college professor. Many episodes in later seasons reaffirm the fact that Benson is the product of a rape, meaning that the deleted scenes for "Taken" are not canon.
Cast changes and returning characters
First season cast members Christopher Meloni (Detective Elliot Stabler), Mariska Hargitay (Detective Olivia Benson), Richard Belzer (Detective John Munch), and Dann Florek (Captain Don Cragen) returned to the show for the second season. Cast member Michelle Hurd (Detective Monique Jeffries) began to depart the cast over the first half of the season.
Hurd ultimately departed from the series to join the Showtime drama Leap Years. After her departure from the show, Hurd said, "I think it's just sad they didn't have faith to stick around with me."[7] However, she said she bore no ill feelings about her time on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but felt the casting on Leap Years was a "rare opportunity."[7] Gossip blogger Roger Friedman of Fox News reported that Richard Belzer arranged for Hurd to be fired because her character was receiving too many storylines and distracting attention from him, but that report was never confirmed.[8] Although Jeffries departed from the Special Victims Unit during the episode "Asunder," her character was still present in the episode "Runaway," which marked the character's final appearance. "Runaway" was originally intended to air before "Asunder" but was broadcast out of order;[9] and thus new scenes were filmed to present the episode as a "flashback". The retcon explanation in "Runaway" is that Detective Jeffries transferred to Vice and briefly stepped into the SVU squad room again when they were in need of extra manpower for a case. Hurd was replaced by rapper-turned-actor Ice-T, who began portraying Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola.
Stephanie March joined the cast as Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot when the series was using many guest actors and actresses to portray ADA characters in the first season. Tamara Tunie took on the recurring role of Medical Examiner Melinda Warner, replacing Leslie Hendrix's Law & Order character Chief Medical Examiner Elizabeth Rodgers. BD Wong began portraying FBI Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. George Huang closer to the end of the season, replacing Dr. Emil Skoda (J. K. Simmons).
Cast
Main cast
- Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler
- Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson
- Richard Belzer as Det. John Munch
- Michelle Hurd as Det. Monique Jeffries (episodes 1, 7 and 16)
- Stephanie March as ADA Alexandra Cabot (episodes 2–21, guest star: episode 1)
- Ice-T as Det. Fin Tutuola (episodes 2–21, guest star: episode 1)
- Dann Florek as Capt. Don Cragen
Recurring cast
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Guest stars
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In the second episode "Honor," Marshall Manesh played an Afghan diplomat and Anil Kumar played his son, both of whom follow Sharia law and condone honor killings. Susham Bedi played the diplomat's wife who, although powerless in her own country, in a climactic scene of the episode gets the chance to make or break a New York case. Tracy Pollan, who played Harper Anderson in Season 1, reprised her role as the paranoid rape victim-turned-vigilante in the Season 2 episode "Closure."
The fifth episode, "Baby Killer," has a tragic opening in which a seven-year-old is shot by one of her classmates, played by Nicolas Martí Salgado. Carlos Leon portrayed a gang leader who played a large role in how Elias came to possess the gun and how he became traumatized enough to fire it. The sixth episode, "Noncompliance," featured Kevin Breznahan played a schizophrenic whose mother (Kathleen Chalfant) and other family, although aware that he is mentally ill, wish him nevertheless to remain off medication because the real world seems to him even more frightening than his delusional one. The seventh episode, "Asunder," in which he played a police officer accused of spousal rape, was the first of two guest appearances SVU for Nestor Serrano. Amy Carlson guest-starred as his wife.
In the thirteenth episode, "Victims," Eric Roberts guest-starred as a vigilante ex-cop. His character killed sex offenders known to be spreading HIV every time they raped. In this episode, after a visit to a crime scene exposes him to the blood of an HIV-positive victim, Elliot Stabler begins taking antiretrovirals, which is mentioned in the next episode, "Paranoia," in which Khandi Alexander guest-starred as a police officer who secretly works for internal affairs.
In episode fifteen, "Countdown," Andrea Bowen played a key witness who helps the SVU track a serial killer. In the episode "Runaway", Kelly Karbacz played a teenage girl who goes missing. Sean Nelson guest-starred as an informant who helps the SVU search for her. About "Runaway" showrunner Neal Baer said, "That's the only episode ever broadcast just once on the network — because it was stinky."[10] However, the producers still decided to showcase a scene from the episode in the Season 1 DVD extras to help analyze Cragen's character.[11]
In the eighteenth episode, "Manhunt", noted for exploring the partnership between Detectives Munch and Tutuola, R.E. Rodgers and Paul Sparks guest-starred as a serial killing duo. R.E. Rodgers' character is revealed to be the smarter of the two when he murders his partner and escapes to Canada. The second last episode, "Pique", featured Margot Kidder as a woman who sexually abuses her son (Chad Lowe), a disturbed killer whose sexual fetish is piquerism. In an interview with Larry King, Lowe talked about how exciting this role was. Specifically, "if you're playing a serial killer, you can't play them with judgement [sic]. You have to try to get inside their minds. So the further removed it is from your own experience, the more of a challenge it is."[12]
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 1 | "Wrong Is Right" | Ted Kotcheff | Jeff Eckerle & David J. Burke | October 20, 2000 | E1403 | 13.39[13] |
| 24 | 2 | "Honor" | Alan Metzger | Jonathan Greene & Robert F. Campbell | October 27, 2000 | E1407 | 13.20[14] |
| A woman found in the park shows signs of being viciously assaulted. She is identified as Nafeesa Amir, the daughter of Afghan diplomat Saleh Amir (Marshall Manesh). During the investigation, the detectives learn that Nafeesa and her brother Jaleel (Anil Kumar) were raised according to Taliban traditions in which an "honor killing" is the punishment for disobedience. Although her individuality has been suppressed for her entire life, the SVU squad turns to Aziza Amir (Susham Bedi) for help, hoping that the love she feels for her daughter is stronger. | |||||||
| 25 | 3 | "Closure, Part 2" | Jean de Segonzac | Story by : Wendy West Teleplay by : Wendy West & Judith McCreary & David J. Burke | November 3, 2000 | E1409 | 13.40[14] |
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Stabler and Benson investigate a sexual assault very similar to one they worked six months ago. They assume that the prime suspect from the previous case (Neil Maffin) is again responsible. Things turn more complicated when they learn that he is being followed and surveilled by his alleged victim (Tracy Pollan) who is desperate to get her life back.
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| 26 | 4 | "Legacy" | Jud Taylor | Jeff Eckerle | November 10, 2000 | E1401 | 13.40[14] |
| An abused seven-year-old girl lies in a deep coma as the detectives investigate members of her dysfunctional family to determine the source of the abuse. After her mother (Jennifer Dundas Lowe), father (Paul Michael Valley), and brother (Adam Zolotin) lie to protect each other, Munch gets emotional because of a similar case that has haunted him for years. | |||||||
| 27 | 5 | "Baby Killer" | Juan J. Campanella | Lisa Marie Petersen & Dawn DeNoon | November 17, 2000 | E1411 | 12.80[14] |
| The tragic shooting death of a young girl leads investigators to a little boy Elias (Nicolas Martí Salgado). Elliot and Olivia interview him with his parents (Sara Ramirez and Robert Montano) as he is one of the youngest murder suspects they have ever questioned. Meanwhile, Alex argues with her co-workers over what punishment would be ethical. Ballistic evidence reveals that Elias picked up the gun after a gang related murder which he must have witnessed. In addition to providing a mitigating circumstance for Elias' case, this allows the detectives to apprehend a wanted criminal (Carlos Leon). | |||||||
| 28 | 6 | "Noncompliance" | Elodie Keene | Judith McCreary | November 24, 2000 | E1417 | 15.40[13] |
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The question of patients' rights surfaces when a schizophrenic man (Kevin Breznahan) refusing to take his medication is a suspect in the stabbing death of a psychology doctoral student. Against the wishes of his mother (Kathleen Chalfant), the court eventually has him medicated.
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| 29 | 7 | "Asunder" | David Platt | Judith McCreary | December 1, 2000 | E1404 | 15.43[13] |
| The truth behind the alleged rape of a woman (Amy Carlson) by her police officer husband (Nestor Serrano) comes to light when a history of domestic abuse is uncovered. Monique Jeffries leaves the squad and files a discrimination suit against the NYPD. | |||||||
| 30 | 8 | "Taken" | Michael Fields | Dawn DeNoon & Lisa Marie Petersen | December 15, 2000 | E1406 | 14.31[13] |
| The case of a seventeen-year-old rape victim (Jenna Lamia) during the opening festivities of a luxury family friendly hotel takes a strange turn when her immediate family tries to keep the scandal quiet by preparing a lawsuit. Detectives soon realize that the girl isn't as innocent as she pretends to be, especially when an innocent man (Derek Cecil) gets caught up in her scheme. Benson struggles to deal with her mother's death. | |||||||
| 31 | 9 | "Pixies" | Jean de Segonzac | Story by : Clifton Campbell & Jeff Eckerle & Tracey Stern Teleplay by : Tracey Stern | January 12, 2001 | E1416 | 14.80[14] |
| The investigation of a gymnast's murder involves her strict trainer (Philip Casnoff), a wealthy benefactor (Armand Schultz) and a competitor (Kate Mara). | |||||||
| 32 | 10 | "Consent" | James Quinn | Jeff Eckerle | January 19, 2001 | E1419 | 13.60[14] |
| College girl Kelly D'Leah (Tammy Blanchard) is raped during a frat party, but can't remember anything that happened. The detectives find that she had a date rape drug in her system, leaving the squad with many suspects and accomplices. They ultimately discover that the boy who had sex with Kelly (Zak Orth) was unaware that she had been drugged. | |||||||
| 33 | 11 | "Abuse" | Richard Dobbs | Story by : Gwendolyn M. Parker & Lisa Marie Petersen & Dawn DeNoon Teleplay by : Dawn DeNoon & Lisa Marie Petersen | January 26, 2001 | E1415 | 15.20[14] |
| Stabler and Benson suspect parental neglect may have led to the tragic death of the son (Paul Tiesler) of two famous singers including her mother (Christine Andreas), leading them to fear for their little girl Ashley (Hayden Panettiere). Benson realizes that the career-obsessed parents are ignoring Ashley and that her desperate cries for attention have led to a pattern of physical injuries. When Benson pushes the case further, her mother's reaction puts her job in jeopardy. | |||||||
| 34 | 12 | "Secrets" | Arthur W. Forney | Story by : Wendy West & Robert F. Campbell & Jonathan Greene Teleplay by : Robert F. Campbell & Jonathan Greene | February 2, 2001 | E1416 | 15.72[14] |
| A case involving the rape and murder of a teacher hits a snag after the woman's taboo sexual history is exposed by one of her students. | |||||||
| 35 | 13 | "Victims" | Constantine Makris | Nick Kendrick | February 9, 2001 | E1420 | 14.90[14] |
| A former police officer (Eric Roberts), now a community activist, is a suspect in the murders of known sex offenders, all of whom share a certain characteristic that scars their victims for life. One of them (Rosemarie DeWitt) attempts suicide, leaving Stabler in a potentially life-threatening situation. | |||||||
| 36 | 14 | "Paranoia" | Richard Dobbs | Jonathan Greene & Robert F. Campbell | February 16, 2001 | E1426 | 14.10[14] |
| The rape of a veteran police officer (Khandi Alexander), who trained Benson, is first linked to her ex-husband's gambling debts and then to her fellow officers. | |||||||
| 37 | 15 | "Countdown" | Steve Shill | Dawn DeNoon & Lisa Marie Petersen | February 23, 2001 | E1412 | 15.50[13] |
| The detectives work around the clock to find an abducted girl when clues point to a serial killer (Jonathan Fried) who kills his victims after three days, and follows a very specific pattern: during the three days the man has a "Party Day", a "Picture Day", and finally a "Special Day" on which the victims are raped and murdered. The investigation is assisted by the killer's last victim (Andrea Bowen), who escaped. | |||||||
| 38 | 16 | "Runaway" | Richard Dobbs | Nick Kendrick & David J. Burke | March 2, 2001 | E1405 | 14.56[13] |
| The search for a police officer's runaway daughter (Kelly Karbacz), which leads the detectives through an underground rave culture that caters to wayward teens, is seen through the eyes of the squad room personnel and their interviews with the Internal Affairs division. SVU employs the help of informant Tito Frank (Sean Nelson) and Monique Jeffries who returns in her final appearance to help her former colleagues find the missing girl. Darrell Hammond guest stars as shady lawyer, Ted Bolger. | |||||||
| 39 | 17 | "Folly" | Jud Taylor | Todd Robinson | March 23, 2001 | E1428 | 14.30[14] |
| The beating of a young man (Eddie Cahill) uncovers a dangerous male escort service where the boss (Patricia Kalember) may have reasons for sending her staff on potentially deadly dates. | |||||||
| 40 | 18 | "Manhunt" | Stephen Wertimer | Jeff Eckerle | April 20, 2001 | E1431 | 12.70[14] |
| When the details of a kidnapping reveal similarities with a series of previous rapes and murders, Munch and Fin find themselves tracking down a serial killer (R.E. Rodgers). The killer proves exceedingly clever when he takes advantage of the trust that his partner (Paul Sparks) has in him and exploits Canadian extradition law. | |||||||
| 41 | 19 | "Parasites" | David Platt | Martin Weiss | April 27, 2001 | E1427 | 13.40[13] |
| When the remains of a young woman are found buried in an apartment courtyard with a collar and leash, Detectives Benson and Stabler determine that the dead woman is Ava Parulis (Mili Avital), a Romanian immigrant who was brought to the United States for an arranged marriage. They discover from Ava's estranged twin, Irina (Mili Avital), that the dead woman had left her abusive husband, and made a habit of taking advantage of wealthy suitors, but the investigation twists when the dental record of the remains uncover the dead woman's real identity. | |||||||
| 42 | 20 | "Pique" | Steve Shill | Judith McCreary | May 4, 2001 | E1422 | 14.30[14] |
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Observed by an FBI psychiatrist, George Huang (BD Wong) , the detectives uncover a horrifying motive for the murder of a software company employee by a fired colleague when they learn of the disturbed suspect (Chad Lowe) and his true relationship with his overbearing mother (Margot Kidder).
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| 43 | 21 | "Scourge" | Alex Zakrzewski | Story by : Neal Baer Teleplay by : Robert F. Campbell & Jonathan Greene | May 11, 2001 | E1432 | 15.06[13] |
| The team searches for a serial killer (Richard Thomas) who justifies his crimes with paranoid religious motivation set on by a rapidly deteriorating medical condition. Even though she knows that he has been driven to kill, his wife (Karen Allen) begs the prosecutors to show leniency because of his condition (Neurosyphilis). | |||||||
References
- Green and Dawn (2009), p. 26
- Green and Dawn (2009), p. 28
- Green and Dawn (2009), p. 25
- Belzer, Richard (2000). Richard Belzer Interview. Universal Channel.
- Green and Dawn (2009), p. 6
- Pandya, Gitesh. "DVD Review: Law & Order: SVU – The Second Year". Box Office Guru. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
- Green and Dawn (2009), p. 155
- Levins, Harry (January 10, 2011). "People in the news". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. E4.
- Green and Dawn (2009), p. 219
- Green and Dawn (2009), p. 27
- Florek, Dann. Police Sketch: Dann Florek (DVD). Wolf Films. Archived from the original on July 4, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
- "Interview with Chad Lowe". CNN: Larry King Live. January 24, 2007. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
- "SpotVault Law & Order: SVU (NBC) – 2000–01". SpottedRatings.com. December 9, 2011. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
- "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Episode List – Season 2". TV Tango. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
Bibliography
- Green, Susan; Dawn, Randee (2009). Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: The Unofficial Companion. Dallas: BenBella Books. ISBN 1-933771-88-7.