“In the criminal justice system, sexually based offences are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the special victim’s unit. These are their stories.”
A set of words that cannot only be read, but also heard. We have had 20 years now to learn this iconic opening monologue, as well as keep up with the lives and careers of the NYPD’s finest, led by the backbone of the Special Victim’s Unit, Detective Olivia Benson. Premiering in 1999, SVU has managed to maintain a steady storyline, while tackling the difficult and often controversial topics of the ever-changing reality of the political and social climate in America. Much like the original Law and Order that concluded in 2010, SVU has had a long lifespan, and doesn’t appear to be slowing down, with recent episodes covering anything and everything, from child molestation; to date rape; to school shootings; and domestic abuse.
With such heavy content matter, the show doesn’t shy away from even the most contentious matters and tackles each sensitive issue with empathy, but also through a pragmatic lens. Many components go into making a show last for 21 seasons, spanning over two decades, and SVU has evidently managed to strike the perfect balance between quantity and quality. It doesn’t just cover week-to-week cases but has intrinsically weaved in the personal hardships and challenges of its detectives, including rape, torture, and domestic abuse. Making an audience care about its characters, particularly for this long, is a skill few have mastered. Audiences have not tuned in for this long, and stayed this loyal the series, just to see victims come and go and story-lines pop up and conclude in the span of 40 minutes. The lives of the detectives, particularly Olivia Benson, have become a key component of what keeps us coming back for more.
In some way or another, the series encourages viewers to reflect on the nature of their own behaviour and is written in a way to makes us take a second look at how we treat each other, and what the consequences of our actions can entail. Sexual abuse, in the real world, has become an ever-increasing topic of discussion, with younger generations cluing on to the disparity in gender and legal normalisation of abuse and the stigma attached to it. The political climate has become more aware of the prevalence of sexual harassment yet has also plateaued in terms of the number of cases cropping up globally, with little change being made. The conversation has changed but have people’s actions?
This is what Law and Order forces people to face. Not every episode wraps up in a neat little bow and the results of many of these crimes have an ongoing effect on the lives of the victims and the detectives involved. The legal and emotional repercussions of abuse don’t always end in justice and satisfaction and SVU’s ability to highlight the reality of that injustice is what has kept it relevant for 20 years and what will keep it relevant for years to come.
Let us know your favourite Law and Order: SVU moments in the comments.