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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Limitations

Season 1, Episode 14, Aired Feb 11, 2000

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8.8

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At the request of a victim, the police commissioner comes to Cragen with a special request -- close the case of the man who raped three women nearly five years ago before the statute of limitations expires. The detectives finally get a lead when they realize one of the victims knows the rapist, but she's not willing to talk.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Jenny Bacon

Jennifer Neal
GUEST STAR
Judith Hawking

Victoria Kraft
GUEST STAR
Jenna Stern

A.D.A. Kathleen Eastman

Christopher Meloni

Det. Elliot Stabler
Mariska Hargitay

Det. Olivia Benson
Richard Belzer

Det. John Munch
Michelle Hurd

Det. Monique Jeffries
Dann Florek

Capt. Donald Cragen

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Fan Episode Reviews (8)

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SVU has to find the rapists from several cold cases before the statute of limitations runs out.

5.1

"Mediocre"

By flerlgirl, Aug 18, 2010

Captain Cragen is ordered to reopen three or four cold cases involving a rapist from years past. Since the statute of limitations is almost up in each case, SVU has to work quickly to find the rapist so they can prosecute him. Over all, this was not one of the more exciting episodes. It is predictable and somewhat anticlimactic--basically, the statute runs out on all the cases but one when they finally catch the guy. While it by all means was not one of the worst episodes, it was rather dull. I don't think I even noticed when it ended. But not a bad one to watch if you're just looking for something to fill your afternoon.moreless
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this was a good ep

9.0

"Superb"

By cube2k8, Jun 05, 2010

in this ep of the show law and order svu they are called to a court were they find out that a man raped 3 women almost 5 years ago and the 5 year limitation is about to close and they only have so little days to find out the rapist and they are doing some old investgating and they find out that it was a man that was on a bike that did messengering and they realize that one of the women who is a quaker knows who the rapist is and she wont tell the name and she goes to lockup and they find the guy and turns out he was put in jail for a break in and was raped in prison and when they found him he was in a whale chair this was a good epmoreless
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A complex episode that shows what television can do.

9.7

"Superb"

By francklloyd, Jun 06, 2007

This episode deals with the many different aspects of rape. There's the limitations of the legal system: how long can an accusation of rape be handled fairly to everyone involved? (Even one of the victims has her doubts.) There's the psychological element: victims react differently to this degrading crime. They can become aggressive, guilt-ridden or very sensitive; what do they need for 'closure'? There's the police problem: should every complaint be treated with the same attention? Interviews with former SVU detectives pointed to the unbearable burden of dealing with constant depravity. Politics can play a role: when a politician takes a rape case to make a point, the police have to put everything else aside to save their reputation, creating more stress. All these themes are fluently brought together in a single episode, some just mentioned in one brief piece of dialogue. The only storyline I found 'overdone' was the reaction of the victim who had found religion. But the surprising ending more than made up for that.moreless
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4 days left on a statue of limitations and a really weird woman make the SVU detectives’ lives very difficult.

9.9

"Superb"

By Elliotlvr08, May 19, 2007

Really freaky. A woman that not only forgives her rapist, but prays with him. It doesn't just end there either. She tries to protect him from the SVU detectives, even talking him out of turning himself in. She goes to jail for him! Who would do that?! And if I was one of those other victims, I don't think I would have been so calm in talking to her. I kept hoping that they would punch her in the face.

On another note, I liked the premise of this episode. 4 days before the statute runs out on a rapist. It's eps like this that make us love SVU.moreless
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This episode is about 3 women that are raped and want there killer to be found beefore the statue od limitations is gone.

10

"Perfect"

By Diamonddoll_07, Feb 02, 2007

What did i think of this episode ? i thought it was ok , it was freaky . if i was the girl i wouldn't og became friends with the rapist and forgaven him . Weird Weird . But i like it when the quit girl finaly told the girl "tell me , shut up shut up you freak !!" it was like wow , u finaly saw the frustration come out of her . But the thing was that i hated how the girl tryed to point him as a victum because he has lost the power to move his legs , but he was still a rapist . He did it and thats it had had to pay although he was now disabled .moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- After the appeal court denies the application for a JD warrant, the victim present in court breaks down and appears to be reciting something. It's the 'Bene Gesserit Litany against Fear' from Frank Herbert's Dune.
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QUOTES (4)
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- Victoria Kraft: (about their rapist) You have the power of life and death over this piece of crap. Jennifer Neal: I don't want that kind of power. Victoria Kraft: But's true, isn't it? So just drop the Lamb of God rap and tell us his name.
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- (Interviewing a man in a church.) Man: There are Quaker judges, Quaker lawyers, Nixon was a Quaker. Elliot Stabler: He put plenty of people in prison. Some were even guilty.
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- Elliot Stabler: Alright, we're going to talk to some of the detectives who originally investigates. Donald Cragen: Munch, that okay with you? John Munch: Sure, it'd be like visiting the Special Victims Unit alumni association. All the people that used to sit at these desks. Where are they now?
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- Jennifer Neal: He's a changed man. We prayed together. Stabler: (incredulously) You prayed with your rapist. Jennifer Neal: Yeah. To turn him in after that would be a betrayal.
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NOTES (1)
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- Michelle Hurd has been added to the opening titles, but she does not join the original four as they walk through the door at the end of the titles.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Don Cragen: Yeah, COMMSTAT is the worst system, except for all the others. Cragen is referencing a famous quote by Sir Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister, who said, "...democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
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