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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Reparations

Season 12, Episode 21, Aired Apr 06, 2011

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Two high-powered attorneys face each other across the aisle when Casey Novak returns to the team, and Joe Dekker takes a leave of absence from his Los Angeles duties after his cousin is charged with rape. Dekker's unwavering belief in his cousin's innocence and a court disturbance, however, make Novak and Stabler take another look at the evidence, which leads them to someone playing a very long game in the name of hatred.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Terrence Howard

DDA Joe Dekker
GUEST STAR
Vondie Curtis-Hall

Dwight Talcott
GUEST STAR
Robert Hogan

Grant Harrison

Christopher Meloni

Det. Elliot Stabler
Ice-T

Det. Odafin "Fin" Tutuola

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Fan Episode Reviews (4)

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Casey Novak of SVU and Joe Dekker of LA face off.

10

"Perfect"

By clockking515, Jun 15, 2011

The Law & Order Franchise has had a pretty good track record when it comes to cross overs, the two part Design & Flaw, probably being my favorites. This episode I thought was good, but I don't think it touches the best crossovers the franchise has done.

I loved seeing Casey Novak (Diane Neal) again. But Joe Dekker (Terrance Howard) soured me, and I also wanted to smack him for calling Novak low, (because she wanted his aunt to testify) after playing the race card in open court, BEFORE he even knew about the case having racial undertones.
I haven't quite loved Terrence Howard's time on LA, he's not terrible, but I've felt he has come across as a little bland at times. I've probably said this countless times, but I always felt he should be a straight man cop w/ Corey Stoll, and Alfred Molina should be the prosecutor on Law and Order LA, and I still don't get why they didn't go that route.

Whilst I would've liked to have seen Olivia here. I felt having Fin as the 2nd detective fit the tone of the episode better (black and white lawyers at oposition, but black and white detectives working together). Sure they could've had Olivia work with Fin, but I always felt Stabler had a stronger bond with Casey.

Anyways I was a little confused as to why they felt the need to have Dwight tell them he didn't rape her in open court. Dwight telling them a rape never happened while at Rikers would have sufficed. I feel the only reason that scene happened was to put Novak in hot water with Petrovsky.
Speaking of hot water, I feel Elizabeth Donnely should've appeared in this episode, keeping an eye on Novak. I'm not sure if Judith Light was unavailable or not, but I would've liked to have had them interacting with each other, given what happened in Cold.

Also I loved the older lady asking Novak, if she knew what it felt like to be disrepected, spit on, cursed at, looked at as less than human, beat up, and raped? Aside from the parts about being raped, I think Casey DOES know what that feels like especially after the incident that got her censured. And she does know what it's like to get beaten (see Night) but probably not to the extent that the older lady was. I just thought that line was perfect, because those things didn't involve racism when it happened to Novak.

I would've liked to know what Novak's plans are after this, I assume that she might look in to the white collar job that was offered in her last appearance, but I'm guessing that role was filled after 3 years.moreless
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great

9.0

"Superb"

By 44tvfan, May 19, 2011

I really enjoyed this epsisode. The ONLY thing that ruined it was ....why didn't they think to arrest the grandfather for kidnapping???! No limitations on kidnapping. That was really dissapointing.
Other then that the acting was supperb. Very clever writing and great ending, other then the grandfather NOT being punished. I have to keep typing....wish they would bring back Casey full time. She really does alot for the series. Don't care for her when she's on NCIS.
Still typing to make one hundred words. Great writing etc, etc etc. twelve words to go....count down three two one and I am out. :)moreless
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underwhelming

6.5

"Fair"

By TheBlueRipper, May 11, 2011

Another season 12 episode of SVU, another disappointment. This one saw Casey Novak make a brief return as the squad's ADA, and it was similar to last season's episode 'Torch' in that the story seemed painstakingly tweaked and manipulated to give the ADA of the hour as much face time as possible. Not much to say about the case itself, generic break-in rape, which (d)evolves into a matter of revenge and racial tensions from years past. No Benson at all in this one, no Munch, no Cragen, and I don't recall seeing Warner either. At least Terrence Howard rattled some cages as a guest defense attorney.

On a side note, it's all but confirmed that Melissa Sagemiller's days on the show are numbered. She's been swapped out for a past fan favorite in three episodes now in the fifteen that have aired since she joined the cast. Sad. She, like Michaela McManus, never really got a chance.moreless
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Fantastic to see Diane Neal again and great to see her in a courtroom up against Dekker. Pity they weren't given a better script to work with, although there were a couple of good twists and turns to keep it interesting.moreless

7.5

"Good"

By Lady_Lancaster, May 11, 2011

A young white woman is raped in her bedroom by a man she identifies as the brother of her black friend and roommate. Turns out she picked the wrong guy and it just may be someone else who was the perpetrator of the crime. (Terrific to see Vondie Curtis Hall again too!)

Everyone is pretty confused, including the SVU team when Casey Novak, back from her legal exile, arrives to try the case with none other than Judge Petrovsky presiding. It's a tough one for Novak, especially when she learns that the grandfather of her victim once was a part of a gang who raped the mother of the second man accused.

Things get even more confusing when, during an agreed plea bargain hearing, the accused man says he did not rape the victim after all. That he wouild not be capable of such a thing.

Who did what? Who is responsible for the rape? Was a crime even committed? Watch to find out! I hope we see Diane Neal again soon. Great to see her back on the show.moreless
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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (1)
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- Fin: Hardwicke's in Miami at a Bar conference. Any idea who's our temporary ADA? Casey: How 'bout one back from the dead? Elliot: Casey Novak! Casey: Alive, and fairly well.
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NOTES (1)
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- Original International Air Dates: Canada April 05, 2011 on CTV
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