...Or Just Look Like One
- Episode aired Oct 4, 1999
- TV-14
- 43m
Two underage models are attacked, raped, and killed. The detectives identify the background details of the modeling business.Two underage models are attacked, raped, and killed. The detectives identify the background details of the modeling business.Two underage models are attacked, raped, and killed. The detectives identify the background details of the modeling business.
Photos
- Detective Elliot Stabler
- (as Chris Meloni)
- Assistant D.A.
- (as Liana Pai)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn court, Detective Monique Jeffries (Michelle Hurd) states that a 13-year-old boy accused of rape is being raised in an atmosphere that condones rape. As evidence, the prosecutor introduces a Japanese comic book called "Rape Man", about a high school boy who by night becomes a masked "super hero" who rapes women who wronged him. This is a reference to the 1985 Japanese manga "The Rapeman", by author Shintarô Miyawaki (also credited by pen-name Keiko Aisaki ), about Keisuke Uwasaki, a high school teacher who by night works as some kind of alternative "hitman", but instead of killing, he rapes. The original Japanese manga was aimed to adult males, mixing violence, erotica, and dark comedy.
- GoofsA case where someone steals a doctor's identity, medical license, and DEA license would not be the jurisdiction of local police like the NYPD. Medical practitioners (doctors, dentists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, etc.) don't automatically have the privilege to prescribe all drugs. A medical license gives practitioners authority to prescribe any drug that is not a controlled substance. A practitioner needs to get a separate license from the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) in order to have the authority to prescribe medications that are controlled substances, like in this case Benzedrine. So if someone were unlawfully prescribing controlled substances by stealing a medical practitioner's identity to fraudulently use that practitioner's DEA license, that crime would be investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's office, not NYPD narcotics and the New York County DA's office.
- Quotes
[Elliot walks in to find Kathy and Maureen in conversation at the dinner table]
Kathy Stabler: Oh, you're home.
Maureen Stabler: You're probably on her side.
Det. Elliot Stabler: You look healthy enough to me.
[to Kathy]
Det. Elliot Stabler: Have you eaten?
Kathy Stabler: No, I was waiting until you got home.
Det. Elliot Stabler: Manicotti Night, down at Scarentino's. Bottle of chianti, our name on it. Let's get out of here.
Maureen Stabler: You can't make me eat Italian, either.
Det. Elliot Stabler: Good, you're not invited. See you.
- ConnectionsReferences Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973)
"Or Just Look Like One" is a great episode, and quite a powerful and emotionally impactful one. After the previous two episodes, a lot admittedly was expected from "Or Just Look Like One" and it was as good as hoped. Not as mind-blowing as "Payback" but a slight step up from "A Single Life". This was back from 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' was in its prime years, had stronger cases, more professionalism and not as much focus on (sometimes) soapy personal lives subplots. Felt nine years ago that the show had declined quite a bit, but it has grown on me even though the early seasons generally are better.
While relating a lot to the Kathy side plot, being somebody who has had an unhealthy relationship with food that is still an on and off struggle, it didn't grab me as much as the rest of the episode to be honest and more could have been done with it actually.
Really admired however that "Or Just Look Like One" explored the dark side and dangers of the modelling business and its competitiveness, doing it in a way that was very harrowing and very sad. It is not familiar territory, have actually seen for myself what modelling does to people, but it is a difficult subject well worth addressing. It was relevant back then and is still relevant to talk about now, more so actually, with the business being nowhere near as glamorous as it looks on the outside. The case drew me right in and didn't let go, also surprising me more than once without losing me, nothing is what it seems here. How the case is solved is very interesting.
Absolutely loved seeing Briscoe and Green involved in the case, without them over-dominating, back when the original 'Law and Order' was still running and in one of its best periods. The chemistry between Briscoe and Green is great, as well as with the SVU, and still feel that Briscoe is one of the best things about the original 'Law and Order'. Had no problems with the acting, Mariska Harigitay and Jerry Orbach faring best and pre-Tracey Kibre Bebe Neuwirth was interesting and somewhat creepy as Nina.
Dialogue continues to be thought-provoking with the odd touch of humour that works much better than that in "A Single Life". The music is spare in use but has presence without being intrusive or repetitive. The main theme and voice over have always stuck with me.
Concluding, great episode. 9/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jul 20, 2019