Hardwired
- Episode aired Oct 21, 2009
- TV-14
- 1h
Benson and Stabler are faced with a dilemma when a child-abuse suspect offers to reveal the identity of the leader of a controversial civil rights group in exchange for amnesty.Benson and Stabler are faced with a dilemma when a child-abuse suspect offers to reveal the identity of the leader of a controversial civil rights group in exchange for amnesty.Benson and Stabler are faced with a dilemma when a child-abuse suspect offers to reveal the identity of the leader of a controversial civil rights group in exchange for amnesty.
Photos
- Sergeant John Munch
- (credit only)
- Special Agent Dr. George Huang, M.D.
- (as B.D. Wong)
- ME Dr. Melinda Warner
- (credit only)
- Cory Banks
- (as Cruz Santiago)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaRosie Perez was injured while filming this episode. A scene called for an extra to violently shake her and she suffered two herniated discs, a bulging disk, three sprained ligaments, and a pinched nerve. A year later she finally had surgery to repair her injuries which left her with scars on her neck and hip.
- GoofsAfter Eva is arrested for stabbing her husband, Olivia persuades ADA Cabot to give her a Desk Appearance Ticket (DAT) instead of taking her to arraignment court that night. At the time, DATs were given only for violations, misdemeanors, and E-class felonies. Since stabbing someone would be considered "Assault in the Second Degree" -- a D-class felony -- Eva would not have been eligible for a DAT.
- Quotes
Olivia Benson: Eva, you don't have to move.
Eva Banks: But Thomas pays the mortgage and he's never given me any of the passwords on any of our accounts.
Olivia Benson: So we'll go to the bank, we'll show them your lD, we'll empty the accounts, we'll start a new one in your name and then we come home here and we change the locks.
Eva Banks: Really?
Olivia Benson: Yeah.
Eva Banks: [sighs] Damn, girl, you got a little gangster in you, huh?
While not one of my favourite 'Special Victims Unit' episodes, "Hardwired" is another solid episode. All the previous four episodes were well above average, apart from finding "Solitary" particularly uneven. "Hardwired" is a long way from perfect, but it handles a difficult subject harrowingly and movingly and a lot more tactfully than Season 10's "Confession" that had a similar topic. Regarding the returns of Cabot and Huang's, Cabot was pretty much nailed but Huang could have been handled a lot better.
There are a lot of good things about "Hardwired". 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. The script is gritty, taut and intelligent more often than not, and doesn't get as melodramatic as the previous four episodes did at times.
Did find the storytelling incredibly powerful, it really hits hard with the subject matter and doesn't sugar-coat or trivialise while not being in your face. Not an easy subject and appropriately the episode is a tough watch. It is also very emotional, with a truly heart-wrenching courtroom scene. Did appreciate that it was one cohesive story, rather than one case leading to another bigger one with varied success, and that it had an early seasons feel. For the first time this season, the ending satisfied. Absolutely loved Cabot here, she is on top form and it was like she had never left. She's ruthless but also by the book, and one is completely on her side in the combative moments. Can't fault the regulars, or Stephanie March who has lost none of what makes Cabot such a great character. Every bit as good are the supporting cast, with tear-jerking performances from Cruz Santiago and especially Rosie Perez (who manages to make a character that on paper sounds frustrating come over as real) and chilling ones from Jim True-Frost and the ever creepy Garrett Dillahunt.
Once again however, the conduct of the SVU is beyond unprofessional and Stabler unleashing his anger physically and verbally to most people has been old for quite some time. His behaviour here is not just sackable offense worthy, but also borderline criminal. This may sound petty, but it has been a repeated occurance for a few seasons now and has always stuck out like a sore thumb. Also thought that what happened at the beginning was too glossed over and the lack of resolution made it too much of a loose end.
Huang could have been handled better, though BD Wong does play him beautifully. His character writing does not live up to the hype it got when advertised. The big revelation (one that was very personal to me, due to having a very close family member who's been there) not only comes out of nowhere, it also is treated indifferently and too thrown in-feeling. Huang felt out of character as well, he is usually so calm and perceptive and not quick to make judgements so it was very shocking and hard to buy seeing him so rage-filled and quick to judge in a situation where he is usually so collected.
Good overall, if not great. 7/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 9, 2022