Doubt

The examination scene was terrible! Det. Benson waas clearly in charge, not the nurse. Benson's the one who comforts the patient and explains what's happening and why. This is insulting to real forensic nurses. In real life, the police aren't even in the room.

Now for the key issue. I, the juror, find the defendant....

Not guilty. His lawyer's closing argument was compelling. Nothing in his past indicated that he was capable of that type of violence. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the young woman. She threw a bottle through the back window of a cab, and only mentioned rape when she was about to be arrested. Then she falsely accused Det. Stabler of sexual abuse when he was trying to help her. Then she faked a suicide attempt to get sympathy from Benson. Very discrediting. Of course, the professor show very poor judgement himself, but poor judgement isn't a crime.

I can't see enough evidence to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, so I'd find the defendant not guilty.

I didnt like this "choose yourself" ending in this chapter.

A lot of episodic content from tv shows - SVU included - follows a predictable if pleasant formula which means when an episode stands out it really stands out. This was one of those times for me. On the surface 'Doubt' is very much a "He said, she said" tale, but the deeper in we go the less that seems to be the case. I'll be blunt - I found it refreshing to see a story for once that featured a guilty female party who seems very much a liar and a male victim. It's a hot button topic, but the laws & penalties regarding people who make false rape allegations aren't severe enough.

Myra Denning (Shannyn Sossamon) a bit disheveled and possibly intoxicated tries to hail a cab in the middle of the night leading to a minor scene and the cops showing up. Immediately she blurts out she's been raped and Benson (Hagarty) & Stabler (Meloni) investigate the claim. The accused attacker - a university professor Ron Polikoff (Billy Campbell) - shows up quickly on scene (his apartment nearby) and shockingly makes the claim he knew this was going to happen with his female student.

The dynamic of burden of proof is handled quite well here because the story (at least initially) plays to it's strengths having the main stars taking sides of the victim, suspect respectively in this not-so-clearcut case. Some episodes tell a very straightforward tale with no ambiguity while others keep you guessing to know where the truth lies. This episode could have been either one of those if only Myra didn't keep making suspect decisions that equally diminish likability & credibility.

Viola Davis is here as the defense attorney and does her part making this episode a strong outing. The two other central guest stars are solid without question too. No one's dismissing that rape is a real thing and should be treated seriously, but this tale was really ahead of it's time. It showcases brilliantly how much a man has to lose legally, financially, judgmentally when he makes a bad decision involving sex. Pity about that failed experiment of an ending though.

Sorry, but you're mistaken. Actually, there were three endings.

So in fact..

This episode was actually good, but your network obviously missed out on something.

The original NBC network let users vote online considering the ending, and they showed the one with the most votes.

Guilty was 20%, (they thought it was rape). Innocent was 60%, (they thought it was consensual). Mis-trial was 20%, (they needed more information).

So just a little message to whoever-you-were, I'd just like you to give SVU another try, and I sincerely hope that you won't be disappointed. Although some episodes are better than others, if you had seen the ending of this episode, I'm certain that you would have had a different view on it.

No, they do not all end like this.

Once again, I sincerely hope that you give it another try. :)

I gave this an 8 star rating due to its ending ... which basically made me quite angry, and ended my support of SVU. One expects a story to have a beginning, a middle, and an ending ... mess with the formula will cost you! I will say that I found Shannyn Sossamon to be quite the actor in this piece, unfortunately, I can't say as much about her work prior to this piece. Frankly, I don't particularly like anyone that acts as if they are some type of royal figure to be bowed to, especially as she usually has very little to offer a part other than her looks ... their is no meat to her performances ... just a great looking appetizer, per say, and you leave still hungry for something of substance. So many actors, today, really do not measure up to those of past decades. Actors of yesteryear would never deny giving an autograph, nor would they treat a fan as though they were beneath them ... because, without fans the actor would not survive in the entertainment world, not leave a store full of people thinking ... "What a B%T@H!" Ms. Sossamon could stand to take some lessons from someone like Jasmine Guy ... whom seems to always be a class act, and a descent actor / entertainer! (hugs & kisses, Jasmine!) LadyShalene