Identity

As michthemunchkin said previously, this story is based on the real events of David Reimer. The story of identical twin boys who were raised as boy and girl became a famous one in medical circles. Originally known as the "John/Joan" case to protect their identity, the story later came out, and was told by John Colapinto in his book, "As Nature Made Him". The efforts and treatment by Dr. John Money to convince David's parents to raise David as a girl after a botched circumcision shortly after birth was related to his desire to prove his theories that the development of gender identity in humans was entirely due to environmental factors and not by genetic or other innate factors, and for Dr. Money, having identical twins where one of them was raised in the opposite gender was the "perfect experiment", and that's what they were to him, an experiment. David later married, but his marriage was on the rocks, and after his wife told him she wanted to leave him, he killed himself. He was 38. His twin brother Brian OD'd two years before.

The case in "Identity", based upon the true story of David Reimer (a very sad one), is hardly a "stolen" idea. "Identity" is actually one of the "ripped from the headlines" type of stories that the 'Law and Order' franchise (especially the original 'Law and Order') often did. Where they would do stories with tough topics that were, either closely adhering to or loosely based, based upon actual real life events and stories. A type of story that was more often than not done very well.

"Identity" is a wonderful episode and one of my favourites from Season 6 and certainly from its mostly highly impressive first half. The major twist that changes events drastically and spins the case on its head completely is obvious early on admittedly, which does take away a little from the surprise factor. The twist still was very well executed, plausible and the outcome of it does shock. As far as 'Special Victims Unit's' episodes go, "Identity" is there towards the top in my view.

What really stands out here is the acting, which is superb all round. Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay are both tough talking yet sympathetic, and their chemistry when Meloni was still on the show (which was up to the end of Season 12) played a big part in the earlier seasons' appeal. Peter Firth does expertly in making his character so detestable to almost scary effect, have always on all my viewings been absolutely repulsed by what he says and equally repulsed by how anybody can be that delusional and full of themselves.

Best of all is the unforgettable performance of Reilly McClendon, the heart of the episode. An acting highlight being Lindsay's heart-wrenching reaction to learning the truly disturbing truth about her, was completely on her side at that point and would have acted exactly that way if that happened to me.

Script challenges enough while still being easy to follow and not being too complicated. It is very thought-provoking, flows beautifully, is forceful yet sensitive and the wide range of emotions is striking. The story is both uncompromisingly shocking and very moving. It is a very tough subject to tackle and one that should always be approached carefully, something that "Identity" does extremely well.

As usual, the production values are solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough while also taut.

Concluding, wonderful. 10/10

I'd recommend the documentary about the actual events.

I disagree with the reviewer who claimed that the writers of this episode thought they were "clever" by coming up with this plot. Clearly the episode was based entirely on the story of David Reimer, who suffered a disfiguring injury (specifically, a botched circumcision) shortly after birth and was subsequently raised as a girl, on the advice of Dr. John Money. Like the kid in this episode, Reimer had a twin, who was raised as a boy.

I find it ludicrous that anyone would think the writers set out to create this story line on their own; like so many of their other episodes, this one was obviously based on real events. The only difference between the real events and the outcome of this episode is that, sadly, the doctor who essentially ruined David Reimer's life suffered no ill consequences of his actions. Instead, it was David himself who lost his life. He died by suicide in 2004.

This presents an extreme outcome of a "botched circumcision", but it is only a "worst case" projection of what might happen with any non-medically required circumcision. Any such procedure opens up the patient to a wide array of negative outcomes. Only when male genital mutilation becomes as unacceptable as female genital mutilation will this blot on humanity be washed clean. FMG is generally condemned internationally, while still supported locally as a cultural practice where it occurs. MMG is also supported as a cultural practice where it occurs and widely for historical reasons. Neither has a greater moral authority than the other.