So this episode has gone somewhat viral because of its storyline. And I thought it would be worthwhile to discuss it here.

This girl does a pretty succinct summary of the episode and the controversies surrounding it (and includes clips).

https://youtu.be/1dVdKs6wdtQ?si=J3lqLwwQU24l6u-w

And I'll put my summary and thoughts down below since I just watched the full episode myself

Obviously, don't read any further if you don't want spoilers

--The story opens with the victim (named Natalie) trying on a swimsuit in a nice boutique because she and her wife are planning a tropical honeymoon. We see her and her wife being super happy and adorable in the cold opening. So we know things will not end well for poor Natalie.

--The store is beset upon by a flash mob of mostly teenage boys smashing & grabbing anything in sight. Natalie steps out of the dressing room in her swimsuit to see what's going on. Which seems massively stupid on her part. Most women would be smart enough to stay put if they heard smashing and screaming outside rather than run out barefoot and in a swimsuit to go take a look. But maybe that's just me.

Unfortunately, she's spotted by her assailant and forced into a dressing room

-- Natalie's wife meets the cops at the hospital and immediately goes on an ACAB rant and accuses police of letting crimes like this happen to "prove we still need you". She acts as if rapes and other crimes are an act of God instead of something criminals choose to do with or without cops around. I'm not sure if I would behave this way towards the investigators if my wife was lying in the hospital after a violent rape. But this episode makes it clear that these women aren't very bright. Natalie acts cagey and says she didn't see her assailant's face and remembers nothing about him

--I love how dedicated SVU cops are to rapist hunting even when the victim doesn't cooperate. Even if it is wildly unrealistic.

--Cut to the scene where Natalie looks at mugshots to jog her memory (at this point, security footage shows that the rapist took off his mask in front of her before pushing her back into the fitting rooms). Natalie appears to be more upset about all the dudes getting arrested for robbery than she is about getting raped

--Cut to later when a bunch of men dressed in black and covering their faces (just like the boutique flash mob) storm the police station and trash the place. Taking all the cops by surprise. Benson stops a female cop from shooting one of them because "THEY'RE JUST TEENAGERS!!!"

First off, Olivia, how do you know they're all kids? Second, these "teenagers" were involved in a violent mob robbery that completely destroyed a store and resulted in at least two sexual assaults that they're aware of (a second woman reported that a different man grabbed her breasts during the chaos before stealing all the jewelry in her department of the store). Even if Benson doesn't want anyone to get shot, acting as if these young men are innocent babies makes her look fucking stupid

--They finally find DNA on the swimsuit. It belongs to an eighteen year old Black man named Jay Watson.

--Of course, the rapist gets some activist Black male lawyer who accuses them of planting his clients semen on the swimsuit to put an innocent Black child in prison

--And then we get a stupid scene where Benson says the rape was brutal and Black Male Lawyer responds with, "You know what else is brutal? POLICE BRUTALITY AGAINST BLACK MEN!!!"

LOL. OK. I guess rape should be legal then. CASE DISMISSED

--Natalie's wife goes up to Benson during the trial to whine that the guy who RAPED HER WIFE might not get a fair trial because of systemic inequities. Even though her wife eventually ID'd him in a line up and his DNA was found on her swimsuit.

WTF!? I know some White libfems martyr themselves to an absurd degree. And that lesbians aren't immune to handmaiden behavior. But I just cannot see any lesbian woman behaving like this after someone violated her and/or her wife. Maybe some lesbians here can chime in on this. But I would think that seeing one's wife laid up after a violent rape would make even a lesbian handmaiden drop the "boo hoo poor men" act for a minute

--Natalie freezes when she's on the stand and is asked to point out her rapist in court. When the court takes a break and the detectives ask her what's wrong, she cries that he's just an oppressed baby boy in an ill-fitting coat. At this point Natalie reveals her tragic handmaiden backstory. She has an adopted Black brother whose life went to shit after he went to jail as a teen for stealing gum for her (no, seriously). And that's why she's reluctant to send another Black teenage boy to jail. Because his life might get ruined over a few minutes of action. Thankfully, Benson reminds her that there's a goddam difference between stealing gum and rape. And that rapists actually deserve to face some form of punishment because rape is a violent crime

And here comes the scene that has been going viral! Natalie tells the detectives that she'll be okay because her White Privilege allows her to afford therapy and medical care to get over her rape (not all White women can afford that shit. And this rapist could go on to rape a woman of color. But go off, Natalie). But if this poor widdle eighteen-year-old baby boy goes to jail, he may never get the opportunity to rape again reform and become a productive member of society.

--"HE'S ONLY EIGHTEEN!!".

Girl, eighteen is a legal adult. Why is she treating this rape as if it's just a youthful mistake. As if he slipped on a banana peel and his penis just fell in there. Where is the compassion for the next girl he will inevitably rape if he gets to walk away with zero consequences?

Also, I think it's pretty fucked up that she's comparing her adopted brother (who's only crime was stealing gum) to her rapist simply because they're both Black

--Thankfully, Natalie eventually opts to ID him in court. But not before reminding the courtroom that she's still a good White ally despite the White Feminist act of wanting rapists to go to jail

--Black Male Lawyer naturally counters by calling her a liar and going on about "White Guilt" and White Girl Tears

--Cut to later at the DA's office. Black Male Lawyer comes in and tells him that his client is ready to make a deal because he knows he wont win this trial. And also that the client wants to speak to him

--The scene where the show tries to make the audience feel sorry for the rapist is fucking ridiculous. He comes in like, "Gee golly gosh, Mr Policeman. I didn't realize that raping a woman would hurt her so much! I have felt unseen and invisible my whole life at home, school, and society because of societal inequities!! I only went to that store intending to rob it. But when I saw that woman in that sexy, easy access swimsuit, I impulsively decided to rape her because I figured that nobody would care if I committed another crime because I am oppressed boohoo!!! But I swear I'm super sorry and will never rape again. HONEST!!"

And the DA responds with, "It's never too late, son! Good on you for taking responsibility! Now do your time and try not to commit another impulsive rape next time you see a girl in a bathing suit, you little scamp!"

.....Sooooo much wrong with this scene. First off, inner city kids don't talk like that. Second, doesn't this go against the woke belief that White women can literally snap their fingers and summon lynch mobs to kill Black people over any little thing? But he thought he could get away with rape because his mommy and his math teacher don't pay attention to him? This scene would have been excusable if the DA was aware that the little shit was crying crocodile tears in order to get a good deal. But the scene is played straight and the DA appears to believe the rapist

So, did anyone else see this episode? How did you feel about it and the controversy surrounding it?