Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) Info Wars (2018) User Reviews

Waging of war

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 26 December 2022]

Have always appreciated and admired anything that deals with tough and controversial subjects, regardless of how they're executed. The subject matter for "Info Wars" is one of the toughest and 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' has proven many times that it can do uncompromising, harrowing and moving very well, which are things that for me are associated for me to work properly. In fact, it in its prime was one of its main interest points and one of the major things that was particularly admirable for me.

The subject in "Info Wars" could have been executed better. That sounds as if it was a bad episode, that is not the case in any way. Quite the opposite. "Info Wars" is a long way from being one of the best episodes of Season 19 or one of the best episodes of 'Special Victims Unit', despite having one of the more appealing subject matters of the season, but there were episodes of a generally disappointing Season 19 that had a lot of good things and that was the case here.

"Info Wars" has a lot of things that are good. The best thing about it is the uniformly strong acting, especially from Mariska Hargitay and Raul Esparza (the latter in his penultimate appearance as a regular). It is as ever shot with the right amount of intimacy without feeling too up close, even with a reliance of close up camerawork. That the editing has become increasingly tighter over-time is great too. The music isn't over-scored, manipulative or used too much. There is intimacy and tautness in the direction. The script is intelligent and lean with not many signs of fat.

Moreover, this reviewer really loved how Barba summed up the trial, which was very apt. The most apt he has been all season actually. The case is tight and intriguing on the whole. The topic is an interesting one that exposes the extreme fanatical views of both sides, some of it making for some suitably uncomfortable listening. And yes, Barba is his usual sassy and commanding self.

On the other hand, for my tastes "Info Wars" is a bit too heavy handed, while both sides are seen as heavily flawed and fanatical there were times where one side was more so than the other to a quite extreme level. Didn't like how unsympathetic and judgemental Olivia was towards the accuser when this is more an attitude she has for perpetrators. Maybe the writers were addressing what fans were saying about her jumping to conclusions too often and always believing the victims without knowing the whole picture, but somehow this felt out of character for her.

Did feel too that the outcome had a rather unresolved feel, but that is a little more understandable due to the prosecution case being weak.

All in all, above average if unexceptional. 6/10.

Info Wars

[bobcobb301 · 6/10 · 12 February 2018]

I know a lot of the low ratings are for the political aspect of this episode. I thought they did as best a job of painting both sides, a far-right conservative celebrity and an anti-fa protester, but others might not feel the same way.

It was a pretty weak story though that was ruined by the predictable ending. Not a bad episode, it just went nowhere and fast.

It's a Metamodern Time Capsule Episode

[scribblebytes · 7/10 · 25 July 2021]

We signed up for an IMDB specifically to discuss this episode, because it can be argues that this is an important historical artefact.

Many people have shared their extreme dislike for this episode for mainly 4 reasons:

1. Benson is uncharacteristically apathetic toward Martha Cobb, the episode's victim.

2. The political characterizations.

3. The fact that there was no end or consequence to any of the characters. This is not completely uncommon in the L&O Universe, but there is usually some kind of denouement. Barba didn't get scolded by his bosses, Benson didn't experience change and Cobb didn't get justice.

4. The perceived intent of the show runner, writing staff and production company.

These are all valid areas of concern and they are worth discussing. We, on the other hand, believe that this episode is meant to be a meta piece on the general temperature of the time. Kinda of like a time capsule piece, people in the future will look back on this episode in abject horror at how divisive politics were in 2017/2018. This episode is not directed against one side or another, and it is also not pretending to be some kind of utopian dream where everybody comes together for justice at the end. Instead, this episode is showing how information wars can cloud even the most empathetic person we know: Benson. That's how bad 2017/2018 was. And the outrage a lot of the reviews show is emblematic of the exact point the show was trying to make.

Evidence for our argument:

1. The student wearing the branded red cap.

• Dick Wolfe has gone on record saying that he makes his shows devoid of branded items so that you can watch them in any decade and still feel immersed in the world of the characters. The fact that they clearly show a branded red cap in this episode shows that this is not like other episodes and should be viewed differently. In 15 years time, that red cap will date this episode and future generations will be horrified at how even the most caring, rational peoppe behaved during this time.

2. The actual crime.

• It has been a while since we have seen such a vicious attack on a victim in L&O. We felt sick when they discovered Cobb in a garbage heap, in a state that is too graphic to state here. Then we are shown the instrument of the crime and it's even worse. The writers are driving the point home that Cobb suffered an extreme act of violence and as a viewer you expect there to be massive empathy from SVU. The fact that there isn't is the entire point of this episode.

3. We know who did it.

• We know who committed the crime. It's obvious. Barba has put away people with much less and SVU have pressured people into testifying with much less. In this case we not only have DNA evidence singling out 1 suspect, but we also have him with the instrument of the assault. The fact that Barba let him go is a testament to the politics of the day. It is not a statement by the producers of their political beliefs.

4. Lack of investigation and interrogation.

• SVU is famous for their interrogation scenes. Just a few episodes ago, Benson spent the entire 42 minutes interrogating an EDP who killed an innocent man in his sleep. In this epsiode, she is impatient and detached from the victim. Usually she would win them over with her unending grace, but this time, she's frustrated. They didn't call TARU to go through cellphone footage which might have captured the attack. They didn't canvas the area or show some kind of investigative effort. Carisi didn't have a moment of faith. Dobbs Sr. Didn't come in and lambasted them...Nothing...not even One Police Plaza. This furather proves that this episode exists in a vacuum and is not meant to be taken literally.

5. Listen to the words.

• Finally, the most important thing is the script. The characters are representative of ideals rather than individual thoughts and actions. The part where Benson forces Cobb to admit to being a victim is very telling. Usually, Benson tells women that they are survivors. The fact that she is trying to diminish Cobbs (albeit out of frustration), is the smoking gun proving our argument.

We're about to watch the next episode and we trust everything will be back to the usual character pieces. This episode is vital for historical reasons and bares re-examination.

{Typed on smartphone. Errors and omissions expected.}

Battle of Armors and Moral Compasses

[yazguloner · 10/10 · 23 March 2022]

This is the episode where Olivia and Barba's moral compass is put to a serious test.

We watch the wind of Barba's charisma abundantly and with pleasure.

The war of sharp opinions on social media creates victims. She moves into the courtrooms with him.

Olivia's humanity, her struggle to bring the victim to justice, and We are watching all the ideals of the wonder of Barba.

However, with the case and the event, it turns into a language fight of two opposing views. All the arguments of opposing views on social media stand before us like an armor in this section.

Dialogues, writing, stories and performances, with guest actors... are giant episodes, Rock is episodes.

Rollins lyrics: "Carma's Bit..", "More you dismiss her, the more you embolden her supporters" and with all its other arguments... an excellent article...

At the very end, in the final, a result that is rare in svu occurs. And than, unfortunately, the victim puts on her armor and fights against a woman as a villain. She shoots a sharp arrow at Olivia's mother and her collateral damage.

Please fire this writer!

[conductorchrist-782-559548 · 3/10 · 31 January 2018]

Good Lord, everyone in this episode was so overly stereotyped. What awful dreck. Whomever wrote this episode should be relegated to writing teletubby episodes after this. I love this show but this is just too much. No-one on either side is this ridiculous. We all knew where it was going from the beginning.

Keeping up with the times

[tuhraycee-14571 · 8/10 · 17 December 2021]

This episode covers a range of what is happening politically nowadays. Pretty impressive what they chose to include. Well done, as usual. It doesn't glorify either 'side'. It shows the mess of the landscape. It was also good to see Kim from Better Call Saul.

Disrespectful for women & victims

[capcp · 1/10 · 31 January 2018]

I've been watching Law & Order: SVU since season 1 and I don't recall wanting to turn off the tv or chang chanels before this episode. Regardless of political views, one thing should always be common ground: no violence is to be accepted or tolerated and while the detectives work to find the perpetrator of a crime, they never miss an opportunity to take jabs at the victim between conversations and it even got the point of Lt.Benson disbelieving the woman she was supposed to advocate for due to different political views. Even more bothering was Mr Borba dismissing the case due to his conflictuous views and opinions regarding the honesty of the victim whose political position he loathed. I'm sadly disappointed with the path this show is following, it seems that just like Chicago P.D., Law & Order: SVU is taking a stand to defend and even encourage racial and political war. As a woman, to have writers paint a horrible, heinous crime such rape as a possible political weapon or tool is absolutely disrespectul. This show was supposed to encourage victims to come forward, and instead, it is doing the opposite, trying to discredit those with certain beliefs.

It's a hard picture to paint, but SVU did it very well

[audaciousness · 10/10 · 24 October 2018]

SVU gives us another brilliant episode this week with "Info Wars", one of the series' most political episodes in a while. Emotions and tensions run high as Martha, a far-right extremist is sexually assaulted. And in the end, the perpetrator remains unknown.

I'm really enjoying seeing the spotlight on Rafael as we have for the past 3 episodes. It's unexpectedly refreshing and gives his character a lot of depth and development. Liv was also wonderful in this episode, struggling to help Martha despite all of the horrible things she's said and done, and the way she treats Liv and Amanda like low-lives and scum of the earth.

The guest star with glasses was perhaps one of the most despicable and vile characters on the entire show. A white supremasist with truly disgusting views and opinions on the world was truly well-captured and written here, showing how some people really do view other human beings with such hate and anger. It's such a sad reflection on the United States of America, and a hard picture to paint on network TV. But - SVU did it. And they did it well.

The political aspect is awful!

[english-casbarro12 · 1/10 · 1 January 2020]

The fact that Benson is less than sympathetic stood out loud and clear- trying to be a helpful advocate at the end made me scoff in disgust. She clearly thought that Martha incited her own rape, whether it was due to her speech on campus or in the bar the night before, although she also obviously thought that the former was somewhat justified, and the latter was terrible due to the potential perpetrator. The alt-right guy was contemptible, but is not representative of most people who voted for Trump- did anyone notice he was in the red hat? Associating all Trump voters with that filth showed the level of hatred coming from the left. No- this was not handled well- it was a ham-handed way of forcing political biases down the viewers throats, and since I've seen most of the earlier years, I don't think I'll be back for these- this show was dreckd.

Hudson U. invaded by the right and left

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 1 February 2018]

Law And Order franchise's Hudson University is the scene of a speech by provocative right wing speaker Rhee Seehorn who makes Annie Coulter look like Mary Poppins. Some Alt Right neo Nazis show up in solidarity and some left wing radical types protest her. A riot ensues and Seehorn leaves and seeks shelter. But when she's found by campus security she's just been sodomized with the pole of a protest sign.

This is a frightening episode not for the characterizations of some of the people, but for the fact that we've become so polarized that a woman like Seehorn is far more interested in using this crime to further her cause than to actually get justice.

Adam Zastrow who was seen with the picket sign during the riot is arrested and he's defended by Kurt Fuller a Bill Kunstler type lawyer. But there's good and sufficient reason to believe that right wing yahoo Jonathan Judge Russo might also be the perpetrator as the case develops.

You've got to love Rhee Seehorn. A bit of Ann Coulter, a bit of Kelly Anne Conway and you've got the kind of blond ice princess the current right wing seems to just love. She reminds me a bit of my former boss at Crime Victims Board Joanie Cusack of Staten Island. Surprised she hasn't gone for a job at the Trump White House, she'd fit right in.

Our finely crafted jury trial system with its careful rules is supposed to be a search for truth. It's anything but in this SVU story.

Really...?

[mhammon-69711 · 1/10 · 8 December 2019]

Ridiculous, offensive and just awful. I wish I hadn't wasted my time. A horrible and obvious political statement that is completely shameful. They use the term "pundit," but then I must ask, what is the writer....? 🤔 Munch would be condemning them all for hating a victim for free speech.

Interesting

[servaneytb · 10/10 · 7 June 2021]

Very good episode. I don't understand why the people hate this.

good portrayal, but could do with some work

[freyamathilda · 8/10 · 27 April 2021]

As much as i despise trump supporters and republicans, the victim in this case was portrayed as 'evil' where as the alleged assulter, or the side of the democrats were portrayed as good. I do not agree with the victims view AT ALL but i wish she had been portrayed more like the other victims. But all over a good episode.

Barba carried this episode by himself.

[katieg215 · 3/10 · 28 August 2020]

This episode was very disappointing. It's very clear that the showrunners have a specific image of conservatives and they painted it in. I don't understand the point of this episode beyond dunking on right-wingers.

Olivia, who is normally a hardcore advocate for sexual assault victims, is clearly letting her dislike for Cobb's political views cloud her judgement. Sure, in the end she comes out and advocates for her, but too little too late. I actually laughed when she told Barba 'She deserves her day in court!' Since when? You didn't even seem to believe her until five minutes ago!

I had to laugh at their portrayal of conservatives. I know that Platt was supposed to be a white supremacist and Cobb was a bit of an extremist herself, but come on, they were painted as villains to the point of parody. I laughed when Platt recited Hitler's 14 words because that is such a ridiculously pointless thing to include. And when he called Martha Cobb 'white Christian stock' I about died.

Barba carried this episode. Everyone else was clearly biased against Platt, to the extent of using whatever they could to prove his guilt ('she turned him down at a bar so he must have raped her in revenge!'). Barba wasn't so sure and even though he clearly didn't agree with the politics of Platt and Cobb, he did his job the best he could and didn't treat Cobb any differently than any other victim. He is why I gave this episode 3 stars and not 1.

I also appreciated that Fin just didn't care. He didn't want to play politics and I respect that.

Double standards at its worst.

[m-47826 · 3/10 · 30 October 2019]

Two extremes, and just because the victim is from the « wrong » side. No justice ensues. And some viewers were still satisfied with that ending. And the overall way the subject was handled. But imagine one second, if things were to be inverted. The show would've probably ended the following season, due to lack of viewership. This episode only managed to enhance that. One extreme, is more appropriate than another. What a sad assessment...

Snowflakes sure seem to get triggered a lot over a fictional tv show

[laurawalters-27500 · 5/10 · 24 October 2020]

Why ya'll getting so salty, it's just a tv show. The episode is fine, cringey yes, but fine.