Fallacy

Out of all of the topics that Season 4 of 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit', and the whole show in general actually come to think of it, "Fallacy's" is one of the bravest, yet also controversial, ones and actually even more relevant today than it was back then (despite more knowledge the ignorance is still there unfortunately today). Never have had a problem for such increasingly misunderstood people and actually don't really understand why there are others that do, and they deserve every ounce of happiness and acceptance.

"Fallacy" does a great job with this very difficult subject. It must have been a real challenge addressing this topic, due to how well or not it would go down, but "Fallacy" handles it with a lot of honesty and delicacy. Cannot disagree more with anybody that says that it shoves political views down the throats and feel personally that it is not particularly sensitive to say that. Is this episode one of my favourites of Season 4? Not quite, but to me it has always been a truly admirable and exceptionally well done episode and deserves a big Grade A effort for even trying tackling an issue that so many have been and still are ignorant of.

Did find myself somewhat annoyed by Stabler's attitude towards Cheryl, it did strike me as rather unsympathetic (and fans do know from episodes before and since that he can be sympathetic) and somewhat ignorant. That was my only real issue actually about "Fallacy".

So much is done right. The production values are slick and professional, not ever resorting to cheap or untested gimmicks or anything. The music is haunting in the right places and isn't constant or too loud, and the direction gives the drama urgency and breathing space.

The script provokes a lot of thought, especially in the whole conflict with whether to see Cheryl through law as a man and a woman (which will, and most probably still does, be a cause for debate), and doesn't ramble. The story is very interesting throughout and moved me too quite a bit, there is one significant and shocking event part-way through that many, including myself, are likely to wish to have a not bad outcome. It isn't obvious either, can think of at least three parts that shocked me, and it is not confusing. The episode did not have an easy subject to cover and it covered it actually with honesty and tact, personally didn't see the shoving down people's throat vibe others got.

All the regulars are terrific, namely Mariska Hargitay as the most understanding and sympathetic of the team members here. The truly moving and courageous performance of Katherine Moennig as a complex character also stands out in a major way. The ending did shock and sadden me.

Overall, great. 9/10

Transgender issues are explained and sad to say exploited in this particular SVU episode. Despite a beautiful performance by Katherine Moennig as the tragic and troubled transgender woman, the story is flawed with characters that have mixed motives.

Moennig who has become the girlfriend of Chad Lindberg without revealing her physical nature is assaulted by Lindberg's brother at a party where the brother is then killed. Moennig is charged with his murder.

It becomes clear that she's the victim more than a perpetrator any way you slice it. I'm not at all agreeing with the decision that Stephanie March made in charging Moennig, but then there would be no story.

Then there's Michael Lerner who's a noted criminal attorney who takes the case because it's a headline maker. March is concerned about his motivations, but her own conduct is in question for me.

In the end there's no relief in sight for Moennig who seems destined to be a victim of all around her including law enforcement. The story is clearly borrowed from Boys Don't Cry.

But it's not nearly as well made.

Often SVU episodes focus on one or other of the detectives: here the episode clearly belongs to Kate Moennig as Cheryl Avery. Her heart-rending performance really gripped me (as do most of her appearances - I confess to being a Kate Moennig fan!). Her skill is maybe not surprising, coming from such a theatrical family. We have had a few episodes where the theme is the failure of the law to keep up with advances in scientific techniques. Here we have an episode where the law is failing to keep up with social norms. "The System" currently expects people to be one of two genders., and hasn't yet caught up with reality since Edward II of England had a relationship with Piers Gaveston, 700 years ago. Society is changing faster than it used to, and the law needs to pick up its skirts and work out how to catch up.

I remember watching this when I was the USCG before my 21st birthday. As a closeted pretransition trans woman, the story made it clear that if I transitioned I would only experience pain, suffering and death and law enforcement will not care.

The good thing since transitioning at the end of 2011 it has been extremely rewarding and positive experience.

The one thing that has proven to be accurate is the violence of the police toward trans people and how people in power spread fear and make laws to criminalize being trans people.

I hate this episode because of how it negatively effected the mental health of trans people.