Law and Order: SVU

By: Larissa Koitmaa Feb. 5, 2018

 

Law and order: Special Victims Unit, a show about the most unbelievable crimes that dramatize your most paranoid thoughts. Something about this show gives us the urge to keep watching and find out what happens next. SVU is currently in its 19th season; for 19 years something about this enduring show has been incredibly fascinating for millions of people. So what's so intriguing about SVU and why do we keep watching it after so long?

 

After 19 years, this show has gone through many different actors and characters. Many viewers lose interest in shows once the main characters leave the show so it’s interesting to know why people keep coming back to watch it. Only one character has been on the show since the beginning; Olivia benson, played by Mariska Hargitay, has been on the show for 19 years. Her love and determination is what is so endearing to watch. Many actors struggle with the fact that they will be forever known as a character from a specific role. This is not the case for Hargitay, She told E-News, "That sort of happened by choice...look, the character has taught me so much and obviously changed my life and...was the impetus for The Joyful Heart Foundation and has completely taken my life in a different direction, an extremely fulfilling one...No, it's been nothing but a privilege to play her." This shows that it has a great impact on many people and can lead to amazing causes and foundations.

 

Law and Order: SVU educates the importance of consent before sexual activity. In the show, many accused rapists say that the victim “wanted it” or that they “didn’t say no”. It was said by the producers that the show does not glamorize rape but spreads awareness and help reduce the number of assault victims. It also portrays unhealthy relationships

 

Many of the episodes are so called “ripped from the headlines”. Without really depicting a certain event, the show gets inspiration on real life stories and typically puts a twist on them. In the opening credits, the show has a disclaimer saying that the stories aren’t based on any one specific person or event. This allows the writers to go on with their own creative story without worrying about the public relating an episode to a specific event and getting false information.

 

SVU has opened the eyes of the public about issues surrounding sexual harassment and rape. Mariska Hargitay founded “Joyful Heart”, which is an organization to raise money and awareness about sexual and domestic abuse. Hargitay helped raise $32 million to help get services and goods for  survivors as well as create various prevention programs. She also raised awareness to test untested rape kits and campaigned for the Violence Against Women Act.

 

People are obsessed with crime. Something about rape and murder draws us in. The mystery of not knowing what’s going to happen keeps us interested and wanting more. Many of the stories are similar but the small intricate detail is what keeps us watching and wanting more. The twisted and intriguing plots is something that SVU excels in. They play with the mentality of the audience and use psychology and emotion to intensify the story.