A New York psychiatrist goes on trial after her torture methods are cited in the death of a former Iraqi prisoner.A New York psychiatrist goes on trial after her torture methods are cited in the death of a former Iraqi prisoner.A New York psychiatrist goes on trial after her torture methods are cited in the death of a former Iraqi prisoner.
Photos
BD Wong
- Special Agent Dr. George Huang, M.D.
- (as B.D. Wong)
Jarreth J. Merz
- Haroun Abbas
- (as Jarreth Merz)
Elizabeth Morton
- Kate Simes
- (as Liz Morton)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJennifer Van Dyck has played three different characters over the course of the series:
- Episode 16.16 December Solstice (2015) - Dr. Brenda Tedroe
- Episode 9.5 Harm (2007) - Dr. Kelly Alvin
- Episode 5.19 Sick (2004) - Ann Ostilow
- GoofsAfter she testifies at Dr. Sutton's trial, Dr. Warner can be seen sitting in the gallery observing the rest of the trial. However someone who is a witness in a trial is not allowed to be in the courtroom, except for when they are on the stand. This is to prevent a witness' testimony from being influenced by other witnesses testimony, to reduce the number of opportunities for the defendant to try and intimidate a witness and to prevent witnesses from talking to each other and change their version of events or "get their stories straight".
- Quotes
Dr. Faith Sutton: Our country is at war. I have skills that can help. Do you really expect me not to use them?
Dr. Melinda Warner: You took an oath. You don't get to take a time-out because we're at war, because it's difficult to uphold. The oath was written for times like these.
Featured review
Political harm
Like "Avatar", "Harm" did nothing for me on first watch, one of not many early season episodes where that was the case. In Seasons 1-6, 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' was a very good show with several outstanding episodes and few disappointments, but it was around Season 7 where it became more inconsistent and Season 9 was very rocky. Watched "Harm" recently again, like most 'Special Victims Unit' episodes, for the third time as there have been episodes that grew on me quite a bit on re-watch.
Sadly, "Harm" is not one of those episodes. Actually thought the flaws were more noticeable this time and even more problematic than before and noticed more along the way. Of a very up and down Season 9, "Harm" is definitely one of the season's worst in my view. It is not a waste of time as an episode as it did start intriguingly, but very quickly it became an episode that could have easily passed for one from another show. As much as "Avatar" disappointed, "Harm" underwhelmed more.
Certainly there are good things about "Harm". The production values are still slick and suitably gritty (without being too heavy in it). The music is not too melodramatic and is not used too much, even not being too manipulative in revelations.
Whatever major flaws the episode has, the performances of the regular cast are far from being among them. Diane Neal in particular brings the most out of the material that is beneath her. It does start intriguingly.
"Harm" however has a lot of drawbacks and am saying this with regret, being someone who really liked 'Special Victims Unit' in the early seasons and still watches it every now and again. "Harm" just doesn't feel like a 'Special Victims Unit' episode, as hugely disappointing as "Avatar" was (and it was) that was nowhere near as much of a "belonged in a different show" feel in the way that there is here. "Harm" starts off well, but most of the episode felt like an over-stretched rammed down the throat political statement and very quickly the actual case is forgotten about. It is not the first, only or last time 'Special Victims Unit' made its points of view on subjects and politics too clear and too sidedly, but "Harm" is one of the worst cases of the early seasons.
As a result of how this is emphasised, part of me forgot what "Harm" is about and how it started out as. Really didn't like some of the character writing of the regular writing of the regulars, Novak is too stubborn and self-righteous and really do dislike it when Stabler takes the moral high ground compared to how he was written in Season 6 and the first half of Season 7 (it was the second half of Season 7 where this began to happen).
Too much time is spent on everything with the torture methods and the victims are given short shrift. The story is dully paced and not always easy to follow, while the script lacks tautness and can be heavy handed. Was not crazy on the support acting here, with Steven Weber for instance coming over as annoying.
In conclusion, disappointing. 4/10.
Sadly, "Harm" is not one of those episodes. Actually thought the flaws were more noticeable this time and even more problematic than before and noticed more along the way. Of a very up and down Season 9, "Harm" is definitely one of the season's worst in my view. It is not a waste of time as an episode as it did start intriguingly, but very quickly it became an episode that could have easily passed for one from another show. As much as "Avatar" disappointed, "Harm" underwhelmed more.
Certainly there are good things about "Harm". The production values are still slick and suitably gritty (without being too heavy in it). The music is not too melodramatic and is not used too much, even not being too manipulative in revelations.
Whatever major flaws the episode has, the performances of the regular cast are far from being among them. Diane Neal in particular brings the most out of the material that is beneath her. It does start intriguingly.
"Harm" however has a lot of drawbacks and am saying this with regret, being someone who really liked 'Special Victims Unit' in the early seasons and still watches it every now and again. "Harm" just doesn't feel like a 'Special Victims Unit' episode, as hugely disappointing as "Avatar" was (and it was) that was nowhere near as much of a "belonged in a different show" feel in the way that there is here. "Harm" starts off well, but most of the episode felt like an over-stretched rammed down the throat political statement and very quickly the actual case is forgotten about. It is not the first, only or last time 'Special Victims Unit' made its points of view on subjects and politics too clear and too sidedly, but "Harm" is one of the worst cases of the early seasons.
As a result of how this is emphasised, part of me forgot what "Harm" is about and how it started out as. Really didn't like some of the character writing of the regular writing of the regulars, Novak is too stubborn and self-righteous and really do dislike it when Stabler takes the moral high ground compared to how he was written in Season 6 and the first half of Season 7 (it was the second half of Season 7 where this began to happen).
Too much time is spent on everything with the torture methods and the victims are given short shrift. The story is dully paced and not always easy to follow, while the script lacks tautness and can be heavy handed. Was not crazy on the support acting here, with Steven Weber for instance coming over as annoying.
In conclusion, disappointing. 4/10.
helpful•97
- TheLittleSongbird
- Sep 2, 2021
Details
- Runtime42 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
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