‘Law & Order: SVU’ season 16, episode 10 preview: Harry Hamlin’s chilling speech
Harry Hamlin has played many a likable guy in his day, and that is probably what makes the turnaround on “Law & Order: SVU” all the more dramatic. His character of Deputy Chief Patton is on the surface an amiable, supportive man, but behind the scenes lies someone far more terrible and sinister: A rapist.
The knowledge of what Patton did to Rollins (Kelli Giddish) is already knowledge to us in watching the new sneak peek below from Wednesday’s episode, and it is with that in mind that it is all the more uncomfortable to watch. Rollins is forced to stand there while Patton gives his grand speech, talking about his various achievements and how he was the pioneer of sorts behind the Pattern Seventeen case. Basically, he took a ton of credit despite what he was doing (or not doing) with old rape kits.
Just from the way that he talks to Rollins and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) in this preview, you will probably be thoroughly freaked out. This is true even more so when you realize that the other woman in this video goes on to become a victim at some point in this episode.
The struggle for Rollins here is the same one that many on-duty officers have faced as victims of sexual assault: How do you tell someone the truth? The perfect-world solution is that you do so right away, but this is a world stuffed full of fear and external pressure. Some officers worry about their state of their jobs, and how other officers perceive them.
(Photo: NBC)
Michael Goldman
January 7, 2015 @ 3:57 am
I’m starting to get a nagging feeling that what happens in “Forgiving Rollins” may not be concluded until at least episode 13. SVU said that they weren’t going to pull this kind of crap anymore, but I think that they’ve decided that there will be so much interest in “Forgiving Rollins” that they might as well continue to string us out. I have no doubt that the fans will be left hanging somewhat, but to be left with a tremendous plot twist hanging would be disrespectful. I’m probably more angry about this because it involves Kelli Giddish, my favorite person on the show. If it was someone else(even Mariska) I probably wouldn’t be bothered too much. Let’s hope that when it comes time to give Kelli a new contract, NBC will break precedent and actually SPEND SOME MONEY ON SVU instead of cutting it. Kelli was paid too little for the last 4 years. It’s time for NBC to make up for that and treat her right.
Michael Goldman
January 8, 2015 @ 4:37 am
I’m glad that I was wrong, and that there was some sort of a conclusion tonight. It was a great episode and everyone got to see the real “classy” people Amanda used to have to work with. We also got to find out again what Amanda did to save her disgusting sister. If Amanda’s sister has a problem in jail and calls her, Amanda better hang up. Chief Patton may not be in jail, but he’s out of a job and certainly has an axe to grind with Barba. Will he be back for revenge. Only time will tell. Let’s hope not.