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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 3 Episode 8

Inheritance

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9.0

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 11/16/01

The search for a serial rapist leads to a suspect who was himself a product of rape, and whose father was convicted of that crime. The young man's attorney blames his genetics as the reason for his actions.

Fan Episode Reviews (3)

This episode was a compelling look at the 'nature vs. nurture' debate. Are we the product of our genes or the product of our experiences? Do we really have a choice? Or as Olivia says, are some of us just lucky?moreless

10

By JaeAngelline, Mar 19, 2011

Do we do things because we're genetically disposed toward them? Or do we do them because that's what we've been taught to do, that's what we know? Olivia has to wrestle with this question as she faces Darryl in this episode, so much like her in background and yet is on the opposite side of the law. If we're to go by her genetics, she's predisposed to violence by sheer virtue of the fact that her unknown father was; if we're to go by nurture, then she should be violent and unpredictable, like her mother. But, despite her own self-doubt, she isn't. By choice.

If I'm to go by my own genetics, my mother was a callous, cold-hearted woman who carried her child for 9 months, gave birth, then for whatever reason dumped me in an orphanage and never looked back. My genetic father is a complete mystery, and my adoptive parents were liars (I never knew I was adopted until the INS tried to deport me when I was 22) and violent (my adoptive mother was abusive.) If I were to go by both nature and nurture, I should be a violent bully with few intimate ties and a lot of anger. Yet, I'm 27, married, with two toddlers, and everyone who knows me tell me I'm a good person.

Do I wory? yes. I was terrified when I got pregnant; how did I know what genetics I was passing on? What if I carried something that would screw them up? I still worry. And I worry about me; what if i can't handle being a mom, what if I suddenly turn into my mother? I never thoght I would have kids; I never wanted them, probably for the same reason Olivia would probably not want them; we're afraid of turning into our mothers. And yet, seeing Mariska's character on the show choose to do good gives me hope that maybe I do have a choice too. That my children can grow up happy and well-adjusted, and not screwed up like I am. Maybe I can choose not to become like my mother(s). Maybe Nature isn't the written-in-stone book some theorists believe it is. Maybe I, too, like Olivia, will be 'lucky'.

Episodes like this one are the reason I watch SVU, and why I write SVU fanfic. The cases present complex questions like this one in a tasteful, thought-provoking way that somehow represents both sides of the equation in a delicate balance of facts and feelings. My respects to Dick Wolf for this episode, and to the cast for playing out such a complex issue so compassionately.moreless
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While hunting the rapist of Asian women, Olivia is reminded of her own family history.

9.7

By Cate118, Mar 19, 2011

Like all the best SVU stories, this one starts with a seemingly straightforward crime, but ends up adressing much more complex issues.

This episode deals with a rapist, and the possibility that he is the product of his genetics - his Chinese mother was raped by an African American male. Is he genetically predisposed to be a rapist? Of course, as a child of rape herself, Olivia cannot help but be affected, despite her denials to Elliot.

While the episode raises issues, legally it's not too hard for the ever-lovely Alex Cabot to demolish the case. The main point of interest is Olivia's reaction, and Mariska does a nice job of holding in Olivia's emotions until a final chat with Huang. I was a little disappointed she bared her soul to him rather than Elliot or Alex. Guess they have to keep BD Wong working. I think it would have had more impact if her confessor had been someone she actually interacts with on a regular basis.

Another little thing I liked was watching Mariska belting down the street and slamming the perp into a wall. She looked like she really enjoyed that. Not a bad runner either! This is a fab episode for Mariska, great acting and she looks gorgeous too. (Shallow I know!)moreless
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Law and Order Special Victims Unit!

9.0

By ourkissgoodbye, Feb 17, 2007

Asian gangs become the focus after a young asian woman is found raped, beaten and left for dead. Things start to look grim when a second victim is found murdered in the same fashion. The Detectives of the Special Victims Unit's first assumption is that these crimes were motivated by hate. With the help of DNA evidence that was found on the second victim, they find a match in the system named Harold Starnes. But when they find that Starnes is confinded to a wheelchair, they start looking for the possibility that he has a son who is following in his father's footsteps.

This is a really interesting episode. You could tell that this case really hit home for Detective Olivia Benson. She herself is a child of rape, and while listening to the testimony that violence could possibly be inherited, she began to question her own genes.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Christopher Meloni	Det. Elliot Stabler
Mariska Hargitay	Det. Olivia Benson
Richard Belzer	Det. John Munch
Stephanie March	ADA Alexandra Cabot
Ice-T	Det. Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola
Dann Florek	Capt. Donald Cragen

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Marcus Chong	Darrell Guan	Guest Star
Diane Baker	Margot Nelson	Guest Star
Nelson Lee	Johnny Chen	Guest Star
Lance Reddick	Dr. Taylor	Recurring Role
Harvey Atkin	Judge Alan Ridenour	Recurring Role
BD Wong	Dr. George Huang	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (4)
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- Dr. George Huang: Some geneticists theorise that violence is inherited.
  Olivia Benson: It's not my fault. I was just born to kill.
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- Olivia Benson: Do you have any kids?
  Harold Starnes: Haven't had the pleasure. Is that an offer?
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- Dr. George Huang: You just asssumed I speak Chinese?
  Elliot Stabler: No, I heard you order take-out once.
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- Olivia Benson: Does he have a choice? Does anyone?
  Dr. George Huang: You don't hurt people, Olivia. You protect them. You're proof that we do have a choice.
  Olivia Benson: Or ... or maybe I'm just lucky.
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NOTES (1)
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- Special billing was given to B.D. Wong (with) and Ron Leibman (Special Guest Appearance by) for this episode.
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