Tuesday October 14, 2008
10004
When Elliot's daughter, Kathleen, breaks into a couple's home and steals a pendant he is forced to deal with ghosts from his past. Unfortunately, his missteps put Kathleen's future and mental health at risk, and it will take all of Olivia's skills to make things right.
Write a Recap »This episode focuses on Stabler's family. A somewhat slower more thoughtful episode that looks at the generational impact of mental illness, and family. We learn more about the Stabler family and Stabler's uneasy relationship with his mother. hide show
This episode focuses on Stabler's family and his daughter's battle with mental illness. Not the usual twists and turns in the plot, keeping you guessing till the end. A somewhat slower more thoughtful episode that looks at the generational impact of mental illness, and family. We learn more about the Stabler family and Stabler's uneasy relationship with his mother. Well scripted with a great performance from Ellen Burstyn, some fans may find however this episode deviates too far from the usual formula. Fans however will love the added depth to Stabler's character and insight into his childhood, and possible explaination for his current actions.
Even though I don't watch this show that often, this is the best episode I ever saw. It touched my heart and soul making me feel teary eyed about the lengths Detective Stabler did to reach out to help out his daughter. His example shows the lengths of how far our own fathers would reach out to protect his daughter in a lens of a cop father or any father. Furthermore, the fatherly protection of his own daughter is a reflection of how much God loves his own people. Just like Stabler was willing to save his daughter, God is willing to save you threw his son, Jesus.
I worry when I see episodes like this that SVU is losing its edge. This could not have been more of a cheap shot if they had tried. It was played purely for sentiment I know they like to do that with Stabler but ther was no narrative imperative driving the story. The subtext of mental illness was almost insulting to people who are genuinely living with bpd. I think it ties into the trend in the U.S. to medicalise normal behaviour (and of course to define normal behaviour in very, very narrow terms). It's the kind of episode that makes me question my commitment to the series
Over a decent episode in the series. hide show
I liked this episode. Part of the appeal is that of it supposed took place on Long Beach Island, NJ where I grew up.
It is possible. It looked like the north end of the island. With it being shot from the beach toward the house, it's hard to confirm that because most people would not see that angle. Most likely it was shot on Long Island rather than LBI. Be nice to know for sure. And how they handled the bipolar issue was intereting. All and all I like the episode. Might not be a classic to some, but it was interesting.
This episode is a great treatment of the topic of mental illness, how society accepts such people, and the tension that is to be found within the issue of a patient's right to refuse or accept treatment. hide show
This episode is a great treatment of the topic of mental illness, how society accepts such people, and the tension that is to be found within the issue of a patient's right to refuse or accept treatment.
Elliott finds that his daughter has been behaving in impulsive and self destructive ways, including excessive spending, drug use, and extreme promiscuity. These are difficult enough for any parent to accept, but the story comes to a crisis when his daughter OD's and has to have her stomach pumped. The doctor then lays the bomb on the Stabler's and informs them that, based on her behavior, their daughter is most likely bipolar and is in need of treatment.
Elliott flies into denial, and his daughter refuses to believe that she has a mental illness. Absent of admitting so, she would have to face charges of a trespass that she committed at the beginning of the episode. She becomes defiant and belligerant, but there is nothing that the Stabler's or anyone else can do as she is not a threat to herself or others, and she is a legal adult.
Elliott tries to reach out to his mother, desiring that she could tell the judge at his daughters trial that there is a family history of mental illness. His mother will have nothing of it, seeing herself as a free spirit. Elliott tries to reason with his mother but in the end is exasperated that she clings to her view of herself as an unapologetic eccentric, a personality that hurt Elliott as a child.
Later Olivia secretly meets with Elliott's mother; we get a different glimpse into her life and living with her mental illness. She shares how in her day they committed her and forced medication down her throat. Although left unsaid, it is well understood that such draconian measures were mostly horrible excesses of the past. Elliott's mother however does agree to secretly see her granddaughter in custody and help her gain some perspective. Elliott's daughter feels understood and comforted from this exchange and is able to go in front of the judge and admit that she needs help for her mental illness. I have to give everyone high marks for exploring the difficult issue of mental illness, especially when this is part of the family secret, as it came across well and in a responsible manner.
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