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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 11 Episode 1

Unstable

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7.4

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 9/23/09

A victim who bonds with the officer who rescues her forces Benson and Stabler to work with the volatile officer to close the case. Unfortunately, the case becomes more complicated, and extends the unhappy team, when the Executive ADA brings evidence that their case may have been committed by a serial rapist.moreless

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (15)

Overall, incredible!

9.5

By amazing_race, Jan 19, 2011

I'm not a huge fan of this show and there have been several instances of sub-par and mediocre episodes, but this is one that I really enjoyed, the whole way through.

I absolutely loved Wentworth Miller in this one, as he is a great actor, and I loved him in Prison Break, and I think he did really well in the role he was given.

I also think that the case was extremely interesting but I absolutely hated the way that it panned out, which was quite sad for me.

I would highly recommend this episode, and I hope there is more greatness to come! Keep it up, SVU!moreless
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Do they really need to bring in yet another guest star cop?

5.0

By zombiekim, Jan 19, 2011

Over the past few seasons, SVU has developed the annoying habit of bringing in one new star after another. It's a consistently excellent show with a compelling cast, but they just keep trying to change things up--and it doesn't work. They dumped Casey Novak for the way-too-young and poorly-written Kim Grayleck, and they pushed Munch to the back to make way for Chester Lake. It doesn't help that they all seem to have the same M.O.: Lake and this "Prison Break" guy are both tough and street-smart; Cabot, Novack, and Grayleck were all ball-busters who didn't care enough about the victims (at least to start)... Benson, Stabler, Munch, Finn, and Cragen are all solid, interesting, complex characters, yet the producers of SVU choose instead to throw in one guest star after another, all young and all underwritten.

If you like "Prison Break," you'll probably like this episode.moreless
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Strange opener....

6.0

By MayaGatewood, Jan 19, 2011

Strange opener...I was very confused by this season opener. When you see a season premier you want to see all the original cast members. Not crazy unecessary new ones that don't add to the story line. The wrongly accused man making up with stabler, the new exe ada and her **** buster attitude, the rogue guest star cop, lack of ice-t and munch airtime, the totally unbeliveable victims all-encompassing bond with with the guest cop.... Weird! I hope the writers don't lose sight of why the show is sucessful and start writing in crazy unrealistic storyline and characters. If it ain't broke don't fix it!moreless
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Great season premiere.

9.4

By edsappless, Jun 02, 2010

I really enjoyed this episode and I can't understand why so many people didn't liked it.

In my opinion, 'Unstable' was much better than 'Trials', the season premiere from 10th season (that wasn't bad, but wasn't great either).

Also I liked Wentworth Miller's character. 'Prison Break' is a great show that will be missed and he was great in the paper. Personally, my favorite quote was when he said "I hate to run" during the chasing of the suspect, that he used his car and hit him.

The end, I also loved, the doubt in the air... whether the rapist was killed or committed suicide... and oh my god, Victor Tate staying in prison. This was a great episode, but sadly not all of the episodes from this season kept the same good level of quality...moreless
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One of the best SVU episodes ever! Hated Diane Neal left. Hard subject.

10

By duubhglas, Oct 09, 2009

One of the best SVU episodes ever! Great openning to this new season.

Well, I must say i really really hated Diane Neal leave the show. It sucks big time. This new DA sh*tted her pants twice. First time when the defandant left and killed again and another time when she discover that innocent man can't leave jail.

It keeps me thinking: Justice is only blind, it's dumb too! There are none so blind as those who will not see.

The guests made a great job and stealed the scene.

I'm anxious to see what's next with this new DA and the rest of the team.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Christopher Meloni	Det. Elliot Stabler
Mariska Hargitay	Det. Olivia Benson
Ice-T	Det. Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola
Tamara Tunie	Dr. Melinda Warner
Dann Florek	Capt. Donald Cragen

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Mahershala Ali	Mark Foster	Guest Star
Jennifer Ferrin	Rena West	Guest Star
Geneva Carr	Katie Harris	Guest Star
Christine Lahti	Executive ADA Sonya Paxton	Recurring Role
J. Paul Nicholas	Attorney Linden Delroy	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- This is the first episode since the second episode of season two ("Honor") in which there is no ADA appearing in the opening credits.
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QUOTES (6)
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- Elliot Stabler: (about the suspect) What we're saying is he's no first-timer. He's got his rape routine down pat.
  Sonya Paxton: Wait, wait. I thought there were no open rape cases matching this M.O.
  Elliot Stabler: There aren't, maybe the victims didn't report it. My gut is telling me that he's done it before.
  Sonya Paxton: (under her breath) Or maybe it's your acid reflux.
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- Olivia Benson: Where's Alex Cabot?
  Sonya Paxton: Training in Albany. When she's finished, she'll take my spot in appeals.
  Elliot Stabler: Appeals? Well, no disrespect, but we do things a little differently down here in New York City.
  Sonya Paxton: Oh, really? I was trying homicides when you were fresh out of the academy, walking a beat and trying not to piss yourself.
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- Sonya Paxton: The suspect asked for his lawyer and you kept questioning him for 93 seconds. That's a violation of his right to counsel.
  Olivia Benson: We'll leave you to your client, counselor.
  Sonya Paxton: No, no, no, no. I may be wearing couture, but I don't represent scumbags.
  Elliot Stabler: So who exactly do you represent?
  Sonya Paxton: The people. Sonya Paxton, your new ADA. How's it going?
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- Olivia Benson: You got a short fuse.
  Mark Foster: (scoffs) My fuse is plenty long. You should see it.
  Olivia Benson: What for? You couldn't keep your wife happy with it.
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- (The suspect flees; Nate Kendall hits him with his car.)
  Elliot Stabler: What the hell was that? You trying to kill him?
  Nate Kendall: I hate to run.
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- Nate Kendall: I don't like victims. They cling.
  Olivia Benson: Not after you bag the trash that assaulted 'em.
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NOTES (4)
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Czech Republic - January 3, 2012 on TV Nova
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- Special billing was given to Christine Lahti (Special Guest Star) and Wentworth Miller (and) for this episode.
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- Crew Transitions: Story editor Mick Betancourt becomes a full-fledged member of the writing team and a co-producer, Daniel Truly moves from supervising producer to co-executive producer, and Michael Ciliento moves from script coordinator to part of the writing team as an associate producer.
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- This episode marked the new day and time which was forced on the program by The Jay Leno Show sucking up all the weekday 10:00 pm timeslots. The Wednesday, 9:00 pm slot would be the first time original broadcasts had aired pre-safe harbor (10:00 pm E/P, 9:00 pm Central) since the first nine episodes of season one aired in the original Monday, 9:00 pm slot.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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