TV.com

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 3 Episode 13

Prodigy

Favorite

Watched It I've Watched This 0

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

8.6

User Rating

97 votes

Your Rating: 10
Your Rating: 9.5
Your Rating: 9
Your Rating: 8.5
Your Rating: 8
Your Rating: 7.5
Your Rating: 7
Your Rating: 6.5
Your Rating: 6
Your Rating: 5.5
Your Rating: 5
Your Rating: 4.5
Your Rating: 4
Your Rating: 3.5
Your Rating: 3
Your Rating: 2.5
Your Rating: 2
Your Rating: 1.5
Your Rating: 1

Rate Now

EPISODE REVIEWS
By TV.com Users

Write A Review

Episode Summary

EDIT

AIRED: 1/18/02

When an animal rights activist is found decapitated in the park, Benson and Stabler must determine which of their two main suspects – a sociopathic teenager or a recently paroled rapist – is responsible for the murder.

Fan Episode Reviews (2)

A deaf thief leads the detectives to two dead bodies. One of the victims being a dedicated officer who fought animal cruelty. While attempting to solve the case, detectives meet a book smart young man who tortures animals and admires serial killers.moreless

8.5

By johndoe70, Dec 13, 2011

Another great, early episode that deals with a serious subject, in this case animal cruelty, without being exploitative or simply intending to shock or amuse the audience. The writers did their research, and handled the issue wisely.

One of the highlights of the episode is the guest starring role of young Henry (played by Michael Pitt). Now, Pitt is basically playing the same type of young crazy, but slightly charming, book smart, killer that he played in film, Murder By Numbers (2002).

However, it is interesting to see the detectives face a young suspect who is well versed in true criminal and criminal procedure. You have no sympathy for the character, and hope that he rots in prison, but he turns out to be a formidable opponent, who manages to walk.

One of the most interesting issues raised with the episode is how little society seems to care about animal cruelty, despite the fact the animal abuse is one of the early warning signs of someone becoming a serial killer.

At the end of the episode, Pitt's character manages to slip through the cracks in the criminal justice system. While this leaves open the possibility of the character becoming a semi-regular nemesis, he is never seen or heard from again.

Granted, this was around the same time that Michael Pitt's film career took off, so maybe it was just not practical to get him back for additional episodes.

It is a shame because I would have really enjoyed watching the detectives bring down Pitt's character.

moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
1 0

Flag
Share Hide
Law and Order Special Victims Unit!

7.0

By ourkissgoodbye, Oct 27, 2011

A man and a woman are found murdered in a park and it is up to Beson and Stabler to identify the victims, even though the female victim is missing both her hands and her head. They are able to determine that the woman is an animal rights officer. They begin to take a look at her past cases, in order to find out of there is possibly someone who is holding a grudge against her. The Detectives are caught between two possible suspects.

This was an all right episode. It wasn't the best one that I have seen, but it was mildy interesting. The teenage suspect, Harry Baker, was really scary. I can't believe that he would harm animals like he did. I would want to make sure my cat stayed far away from him.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
3 0

Flag
Share Hide

See All Fan Reviews

Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Dann Florek	Capt. Donald Cragen
Richard Belzer	Det. John Munch
Mariska Hargitay	Det. Olivia Benson
Christopher Meloni	Det. Elliot Stabler
Ice-T	Det. Odafin Tutuola
Stephanie March	A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot

See All Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Michael Pitt	Harry Baker	Guest Star
Brian Sullivan	Joe Poletti	Guest Star
Ira Hawkins	Humane Law Enforcement Supervisor	Guest Star
Joanna Merlin	Judge Lena Petrovsky	Recurring Role
Jill Marie Lawrence	Cleo Conrad	Recurring Role
BD Wong	Dr. George Huang	Recurring Role

See All Cast & Crew

Watch Online

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (1)
ADD TRIVIA
- In the scene when they found Harry's box of animal skulls, Cragen makes a comment about the knife. There is a cop in the background, just above Cragen's head, that very noticeably stumbles and almost falls down the hill.
  EDIT SHARE
QUOTES (12)
ADD QUOTES
- John Munch (looking at a board filled with thumbtacks representing chemical plants): Garden state my ass. I guess chemical capital of the world didn't have the same zing.
  EDIT SHARE
- Olivia Benson (refering to Henry Baker's room): Tidy.
  Elliot Stabler: Yeah.
  Olivia Benson: Could use a bit of color.
  Elliot Stabler (points to the wall): There.
  Olivia Benson: Blood red wasn't what I had in mind.
  EDIT SHARE
- Lawyer: Closest we came was a girl he had the hots for. She went in a deli, when she came out dog was gone.
  Alex Cabot: Could be a coincidence.
  Lawyer: The dog turned up the next day.
  Alex Cabot: Dead?
  Lawyer: Decapitated.
  EDIT SHARE
- (After finding a missing hand, the technician asks Benson for help.)
  Burt Trevor: You mind slipping this on? (holding thumb piece)
  Olivia Benson: Why?
  Burt Trevor: Thumbs need to be similar in size. (Benson looks at Stabler)
  Elliot Stabler (grinning): Too manly.
  (Although disgusted, Benson pulls on the offered glove, places the thumb piece and is printed.)
  EDIT SHARE
- Vinnie: We had a conversation, is that illegal?
  Olivia Benson: Depends what you talk about?
  Vinnie: Bitches. (looks on Benson)
  EDIT SHARE
- John Munch (discussing pacemakers): They had faults with their receptor wires. Pierced recipients through the heart.
  Fin Tutuola: Now that's just wrong.
  EDIT SHARE
- Officer: We called an interpreter.
  Olivia Benson: I can speak Spanish, French, and Mirandize in three others. What is he?
  Elliot Stabler: Deaf.
  EDIT SHARE
- (In the interrogation room)
  Vinnie: You know, this is entrapment. I'm a victim of a sting operation. I'm here under...
  Olivia Benson: (Cuts in) False pretenses?
  Vinnie: False arrest.
  Elliot Stabler: Hey, man, you're not even under arrest, yet, so why don't you just settle down and tell us about your friend Ed?
  (Olivia pushes a picture on the table towards Vinnie)
  Vinnie: Hey, Screw you.
  Olivia Benson: I can screw you harder.
  EDIT SHARE
- Harry Baker: Criminology 101, Detective. If you're gonna break the law, you don't want witnesses around.
  Elliot Stabler: You think you're real cute, don'tcha?
  Harry Baker: Twenty-three cheerleaders can't be wrong.
  Elliot Stabler: I know where you live, I know where you learn and I know where you bury your kill. You get used to my face 'cause you're gonna be seeing it every time you turn around.
  Harry Baker: Don't lose your head, Detective. You're having enough trouble finding one.
  EDIT SHARE
- Fin Tutuola: This guy, Jake, moves into his father's basement with his new bride, Missy. Father walks in on them on their wedding night.
  John Munch: How is that animal cruelty?
  Fin Tutuola: Missy's a German Shepherd.
  John Munch: That's perfectly legal in twenty-six states.
  EDIT SHARE
- Olivia Benson: He's got a wedding ring. Is this a married couple?
  Elliot Stabler: Trust me, married couples don't have sex in parks.
  EDIT SHARE
- Elliot Stabler: (Confronting the suspect with the proof of his actions.) That year you're gonna be doing on your head? Add twenty-five more and choke on it.
  EDIT SHARE
NOTES (0)
ADD NOTES
- ADD NOTES from this episode.
ALLUSIONS (1)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- Harry Baker: And then there's the Son of Sam...
  
  The Son of Sam was a notorious serial killer in the 1970's, known to friends and family as David Berkowitz.
  EDIT SHARE