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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 12 Episode 17

Pursuit

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8.2

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 2/16/11

Benson and Tutuola are called in to investigate when crusading TV host Alicia Harding's quest to find her sister's abductor becomes dangerous. ADA Paxton gets involved, but she may not be entirely objective. And as Harding nears closure, she will put someone's life at risk.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (4)

Detectives, Olivia Bensen and Fin Tutuola are called in to Investigate and catch a Crazed Stalker obsessed with a TV Reporter: Alicia Harding (Guest Star Debra Messing) but the case soon leads back to a 25 year old cold Case handled by Sonya Paxton.moreless

6.5

By Kalakadusty, May 26, 2011

I enjoyed this episode for the most part, but from the previews I saw I thought Sonya's life would be at RISK. I didn't think they would actually kill off Sonya completely (Christine Lahti.) I was completely suprised by that. This episode had many flaws (by flaws I mean how the writers still continue to disregard the actual Law.) The Alicia Harding character (played by Debra Messing) was interfering with the police investigation far too much, and the police didn't do a darn thing to stop it, which is the first mistake that cost Sonya her Life. I was also suprised that Olivia didn't arrest, get angry, or even confront the TV reporter Alicia Harding, as she was pretty much responsible for Sonya's murder, I love this show so much, but I am finding it harder and harder to enjoy it because of the inconsistencies of the law, and lack of following police procedure. They rarely ever follow anykind of procedure on this show anymore, they seem to just forget about the Law and Order part of the show and just go for shock moments. Now I underdstand the need for the shock and awe moments for ratings and such, but I do get tired of the complete disregard of the Law. Come on NBC, the show's name is "LAW AND ORDER:SVU" not "Law Here and There: SVU"

Anyways I give this episode 6.5 out of 10 only because the acting was superb, as usual, but the story was just too unbelievable to me.

I just wish they would follow a little closer to the Law and how it works in real life. There can still be shock and awe moments in real life too you know.moreless
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Debra Messing and Christine Lahti lead the charge as guest stars in this episode when a crusading tv reporter uncovers the identity of those who pray on young girls while trying to find out who abducted and killed her sister 25 years earlier.moreless

9.0

By Lady_Lancaster, May 26, 2011

Alicia Harding (Debra Messing) is the host of a program named "Neighborhood Predator" which uncovers men attempting to take advantage of underaged girls for sex. Ms. Harding is quite the crusader, the catalyst being the disappearance of her young sister 25 years earlier, a case handled by Sonya Paxton (Christine Lahti) which, so far, even after such a long time, has yielded nothing which will help the grieving reporter find closure.

Paxton became very personally involved with the case and was determined to find the killer, so far, without any useful leads. Meanwhile, Alicia Harding finds herself with a stalker who is obviously hell bent on either killing her or scaring her half to death. Harding is convinced that her stalker is the same man who murdered her sister but Benson doesn't think so until a dumping ground, strewn with multiple bodies is found and the possibility that this killer is not a copycat becomes a reality.

Meanwhile, the killer decides, after seeing a local television broadcast, that both Paxton and Harding must die. He kills Sonya in the bathroom where she is attending an AA meeting and goes after Harding but is stopped by a taser from Benson just before he slits her (Harding's) throat.

In interrogation, the killer admits that he has killed 44 people over the years, one for each year of his life, plus Sonya and wants to tell Alicia all about it in her capacity as a reporter.

An excellent episode with a fantastic script and great work by the guest stars. Debra Messing and Christine Lahti both did excellent work and the makeup department excelled themselves with Christine Lahti's makeup as her character lay dying too.

You must watch this one if you haven't already.moreless
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acceptable

7.0

By TheBlueRipper, May 26, 2011

First, the bad: Debra Messing was not good, and the story was absolutely littered with plot holes. Now, the good: Christine Lahti provides a huge lift to any SVU she appears in, and it's unfortunate that the powers that be decided to kill off pretty much the only interesting guest character they keep recycling. Hargitay was excellent as well, and the story, at its core (despite the detail issues), was enjoyable. Not great, but better than a lot of other SVUs this year.

I need 100 words, so in case you don't catch the review of the episode itself, do not watch the episode following this, 'Bully'. You will regret it, unless you're incredibly cold-hearted and gain amusement from dying baby seals and disabled children.moreless
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agree...

8.0

By 44tvfan, May 11, 2011

I agree with the previous review. Not believable. But I did enjoy it. The biggest blunder on editing, I thought, was when Olivia goes to the woman's bathroom and finds Sonya on the floor....the meeting had just gotten over, the bathroom was in earshot of the other members...someone would have heard the struggle etc. They should have had Olivia walking down a long hall....or even have the bathroom in an adjoining building to make it more realistic. I was surprised too, that she was actually killed. Still enjoyed the epsiode....wish it was more realistic though.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Mariska Hargitay	Det. Olivia Benson
Ice-T	Det. Fin Tutuola
Christopher Meloni	Det. Elliot Stabler
Tamara Tunie	Dr. Melinda Warner
Dann Florek	Capt. Donald Cragen
Richard Belzer	Sgt. John Munch

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Debra Messing	Alicia Harding	Guest Star
Christian Hoff	Adam Grafton	Guest Star
Ashlie Atkinson	Rachel Grey	Guest Star
Christine Lahti	Executive ADA Sonya Paxton	Recurring Role
Caren Browning	CSU Captain Judith Siper	Recurring Role
Joe Grifasi	Heshy Horowitz	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (2)
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- Elliot: Do you want me to cut my visit short?
  Olivia: No, no, I'm covered, I'm good.
  Elliot: Well Fin may have your six, but he's defiantly not me.
  Fin: No I'm better. I actually watch her back, not her backside.
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- Olivia Benson: Alicia, I need your help. You know that he won't talk to anyone but you.
  Alicia Harding: No, thanks.
  Olivia Benson: Well, at least you have closure. God knows his victims don't.
  Alicia Harding: I will not have closure until I bring Vanessa's remains home, and you and I both know that he is never going to tell me where she is.
  Olivia Benson: Probably not for a very long time, if ever. But what about the families with missing daughters? Or did you already forget what that feels like?
  Alicia Harding: (scornfully laughs) Has anyone ever told you you're a manipulative bitch?
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NOTES (1)
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Canada February 15, 2011 on CTV
  United Kingdom June 5, 2011 on Universal Channel/Universal Channel HD
  Czech Republic March 26, 2013 on TV Nova
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