Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Superman · Fleet Admiral Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 10220

Anyone watch Law & Order: Special Victims Unit?

I'm not the biggest fan of modern detective shows, I find some of them boring and not a patch on classics from yesteryear such as Columbo. However, there are some good ones such as Law & Order: Criminal Intent and CSI.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a very good show with excellent attention to detail, real engrossing plots and SUPERBLY convincing performances from EVERYONE in the cast. It may not have too many car chases, shoot-outs and fights but it doesn't need them as it really draws you into the cases of the SVU who investigate sex crimes. The various guest stars who play the victims and accused also do a good job in the episodes, drawing you into their predicament. And things are never black and white in the episodes.

I've only seen Season 1 and half of Season 2 as Channel 5 in the UK has only aired them (despite Season 1 having started over five years ago). I choose not to have satellite TV so have to depend on terrestrial TV for the show. But I can't wait to see more episodes, it really is a fine piece of drama.

Anyone else like it?

IntrepidIsMe · **Thu Dec 16, 2004 4:38 pm**

I dooooo. It's my favourite out of the three.

Superman · Fleet Admiral Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 10220

I'm not sure if it is my favourite because Law & Order: Criminal Intent takes some beating. That is a fantastic show, a modern day Columbo which gives us insight into the Major Crimes Unit AND the criminals themselves. It is absolutely gripping, must-see TV.

The Law & Order franchise is a worthy one, all the spin-offs are good. Not too sure about the CSI franchise, though. CSI is, without a doubt, a fine piece of TV with chemistry between the actors and some gripping stories. Not too sure what my feelings are on the spin-offs, though. CSI: Miami has a good lead in David Caruso and some stunning Miami scenery not seen since Miami Vice but it seems to lack the chemistry and heart of the original.

As for the forthcoming CSI: New York, I won't judge it yet. But why did it have to be New York? Nothing against the city (I love it) but so many cops shows have been set in New York? Why not something new like CSI: Detroit or CSI: San Francisco?

Siege · Commander Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 447

I used to watch the show alot when it first premiered years back, great show, and I was glad to see them bring in Detective Munch from Homicide: Life On The Street, as he was always my favorite character from that show. Some of his rants about issues are golden.

Superman · Fleet Admiral Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 10220

Oh, Detective Munch is just a blast to listen to. He's quite educational too, I remember one SVU episode where he talked about Einstein and how Einstein had been a failure at Maths at school.

Homicide: Life On The Street was another superb show. Detective Munch also appeared in an episode of The X-Files. That must be some sort of record, playing the same character in more than one show because he's been in Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Homicide: Life on the Street, The Beat and an episode of The X-Files.

Siege · Commander Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 447

Munch was in X-Files? How the hell did they explain that one?

Superman · Fleet Admiral Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 10220

I haven't actually seen that episode. A friend told me he was in it and I checked it out on IMDB. He was in it, I'd love to see how they explain that.

Siege · Commander Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 447

Maybe the episode was set in Baltimore?

You should check out http://www.tvtome.com as it has alot more information on TV shows than IMDB, including episode guides, plots, guest stars, goof listings, etc.

Superman · Fleet Admiral Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 10220

Thanks for the link, I think I've heard of tvtome but maybe haven't visited it much.

Siege · Commander Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 447

By the way Dentist, have you ever seen The Shield?

Superman · Fleet Admiral Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 10220

One episode recently. Wasn't too keen but maybe caught a bad episode. It is highly recommended, I plan to rent the first season boxset soon.

Siege · Commander Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 447

Yes! I actually own seasons 1 and 2 on DVD, despite the relatively high cost (they were about $75 cdn each) it was well worth it. Anyone I've ever gotten to watch it has praised the show afterwards.

Superman · Fleet Admiral Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 10220

Maybe I did catch a bad episode. Nothing much seemed to happen in the episode, it was fairly uneventful.

From what I have read, the show is very violent. I hate political correctness and I guess the show isn't PC. If it has plenty of action, I think I'll love it.

I'm renting the first season very soon.

Siege · Commander Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 447

Superman · Fleet Admiral Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 10220

Sounds good.

We used to have a show in Britain called The Sweeney which was definitely not PC. The officers drank, smoked and broke every rule in the book to catch the bad guy.

I think the premise of a show like The Shield makes a refreshing change from all the forensic science and detective shows, as good as they all are.

Siege · Commander Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 447

Superman · Fleet Admiral Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 10220

Well, I believe a show should stand out from the crowd and be different. Too much of the same thing leads to monotony.

In the 80's, there were many unique shows. You had Airwolf, with superior production levels and some of the best writing you'd ever seen. You may have heard of it, it was a show about a supersonic helicopter, flown by a reclusive Vietnam veteran.

Shows such as Quantum Leap stood out from the crowd. Time travel wasn't nothing new on TV but the way in which Quantum Leap tackled it was fresh and innovative.

That's probably why The Shield is so popular, it is different. Did we really want another forensic science or detective drama?

I like the Law & Order franchise because each show is different. The original focuses on the apprehension and prosecution of a criminal. Law & Order: SVU focuses on sex crimes. Law & Order: Criminal Intent takes a fresh approach because it delves into the minds of the criminals who commit the crimes.

But, with regards to CSI (the original and the best), all these "samey" programmes are not to my tastes. I don't think I'll watch the new CSI: NY spin-off because what can it offer me that I haven't already seen in countless New York City shows or the CSI programmes. I could be wrong of course, but I want something different. And when I rent The Shield, I have a feeling I'll be in for a nice surprise.

Siege · Commander Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 447

Hopefully anyway. I wouldn't say The Shield is a huge hit show or anything, as most people I talk to have never even heard of it. But that could just be where I live, though.

Lord Borg · **Sat Dec 25, 2004 3:41 pm**

i like svu, i have the first season and want to get the one that just came out on dvd

Cathexis · **Sun Dec 26, 2004 5:58 am**

SVU is my favorite Law & Order show...Criminal Intent is okay, but we like the "sexual crimes that are considered to be most heinous" lol.

Nah I like the actors on the show..they do an awesome job, non?