XX.II: A Snoozer of a Start Leaves Much to be Desired for the Rest of #SVU20

The #42Minutes

A rape victim recalls an assault at the hands of a couple who are quickly identified as Heath and Sadie. As the investigation unfolds and almost comes to a halt, Carisi finds a damning video on Heath's computer which leads the squad away from the more recent crimes and to a 14-year-old kidnapping and murder. As it turns out, Heath is a serial predator who used his medical expertise to keep remaking Cece/Sadie into the perfect woman and, in the process, making her a slave to his desires (this was implied more than it was shown and the episode was worse for it).

Verdict

Well, I suppose we wouldn't want to set the bar too high for the rest of the season...there are, after all, thirteen of these episodes left. In addition to being boring...

• None of the actors gave notable performances. Everyone seemed flat and uninterested which, given the story, is not surprising.
• Having Sadie ask Benson if she's ever been with a woman felt like a cheap attempt at baiting fans who wouldn't mind Benson doing just that, but the looks exchanged between Rollins and Benson and Fin and Carisi were classic.
• As if Benson was going to reveal some juicy details to a perp. Ha.
• I know we only had #42Minutes, but the episode unfolded a little too conveniently for me. Sadie/Cece rolled on Heath instantly after Benson made the "hay" connection; for someone who had been brainwashed by her captor (most of her dialogue was robotically delivered) she defected to Team SVU too quickly
• Annoying camera angles...like...a zoom on the teapot to foreshadow Mrs. Kimball dropping the cups later...ugh. I feel almost as bad for her as I did for Mr. Markowitz. 
• I would have traded half of the first #42Minutes for some legal drama, after all Sadie is both victim and perpetrator, but then again, that means Stone shows up so, never mind. 
• Speaking of Stone, he was used perfectly--off screen, on the phone
• The break room conversation between Benson and Rollins was weird although I can't say I'm surprised Rollins would be enticed to sexual experimentation if it involved Botox and cupcakes (or a fancy, free apartment and regular heart screenings?)

Quotable

"There were three people in that room and and two of them are saying that you're lying." What? WhAT? WHAT? Might be the truth but Benson and her tone were way OOC here. Can you imagine if Rollins had said that? Benson would've ripped her head off behind closed doors!

"Not just a perv; he's a pervmurderer." One of many quips that may have looked good on the written script but fell flat during the scene. 

"Beauty fades." Not for you, OMB.

"And Ava was the sweetener." CUE MY EYE ROLL

Is it Next Thursday, Yet?

After sitting this one out, Stone's coming back with a vengeance next week. Oh goodie. And I'm not going to let him ruin my Dryuary streak so...

Almond Milk, no sugar, just like OMB.