# Why are the Law and Order SVU detectives such judgmental jerks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 23, 2014, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066 "2014-12-23T23:32:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066/81 "2015-01-03T23:34:12Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > You watch it to see a cop get shot? What did you think of **The Onion Field?** What are you… what? Are you being serious in this thread? You know that these people don’t really exist, right? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066/82 "2015-01-04T00:02:53Z")
Let me put it this way… what is there in \*Law & Order SVU \*that you expected to appeal to you–that is, your reason for watching it in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066/83 "2015-01-04T00:29:30Z")
Huh… 😕 … the hell :dubious: ??? wait, wait, wait… > [@dougie\_monty](#): > > It looks to me as though those posting have plenty of criticism for the cops but none for pedophiles, rapists, or murderers. Shows me which side the posters are on. > [@dougie\_monty](#): > > So pedophilia, rape, and murder are pardonable to your way of thinking, but being shrill and strident are downright inexcusable. That’s a peculiar set of values. > I know what awaits these cases of arrested development once they set foot in Rikers. Don’t whine to me about cops’ “poor judgment.” :rolleyes: > [@dougie\_monty](#): > > You watch it to see a cop get shot? What did you think of **The Onion Field?** :rolleyes: Whoa there sparky. Deep breaths. Herbal tea or even a shot of bourbon… This thread is critiquing the _ **writing and characterization** _ in a TV crime procedural. _ **Characters and plotlines in a work of the imagination** _. And the question with which the OP headed the thread is _how come_ the characters of the police are portrayed as judgmental jerks – meaning _we would expect and prefer a portrayal of higher professionalism_ among the heroes. Especially when the early L&O shows were very well written for the time, waaay back when we did not have the Web around. We already know the bad guys are the bad guys – the problem is that the Good Guys, the folks whose lives we are following and who we’re supposed to identify with, are sometimes shown engaging in prickery, incompetence, preachy windbaggery, etc. for no good reason; while the crime scenarios on which the plots depend sometimes fail to get past suspension of disbelief or are un-self-consistent in-universe or are transparently contrived to make a point. That has led some in the audience to lose the enjoyment that the L&O franchise \*used \*to bring back in the 90s. It used to show fallible but committed and professional detectives and DAs trying to have justice done, facing both practical and procedural obstacles and sometimes having to end the day with an unsatisfying resolution but knowing they had done their duty; some times one of the characters may get too hung up on a case and then the others would talk him/her back down. But with the passage of time the show in general got tired and SVU as mentioned devolved into “perversion of the week” set pieces. Again: the critics’ beef is with _ **the writers of a TV show** _. NOT the real-world police and DA(_). Jesus Christ on rollerskates isn’t that obvious? (_ Now, if someone had threadshat and posted \*“Of course they’re obnoxious pricks, they’re NYPD” \*then **that** would be rank asshattery and something to get riled about. I almost expect that someone will now just because I could even \*think \*of the example.) ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066/84 "2015-01-04T00:37:48Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Let me put it this way… what is there in \*Law & Order SVU \*that you expected to appeal to you–that is, your reason for watching it in the first place? Well, I like mystery/thrillers and police procedurals. There’s the sleazy appeal of the “ripped from the headlines” episodes (yes…I’m watching the Woody Allen one right now, I admit it), and the cheesy dialogue and out of this world plots, which really makes it more of a guilty pleasure for me. It’s not as though I’m sitting there, rubbing my hands and maniacally hoping that Benson or Finn gets shot–in fact, I’ve never actually seen that happen (in the ep I mentioned, a detective shoots a teen girl who’s in the process of shooting suspects in a rape/murder case). Are you saying you find the existence of this show abhorrent to begin with because people might watch something bad happen to a cop? I think you might need to read the thread with your sense of humor recalibrated. I don’t think the cops are terrible people (and yes, I think it goes without saying I think rapists and murderers are horrible human beings)–I object to how they’re portrayed. Though not even that strenuously–the show is addictive and incredibly fun. It’s just fun to mock the writers/characters. I don’t think anyone takes SVU all that seriously at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066/85 "2015-01-04T00:49:23Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Let me put it this way… what is there in \*Law & Order SVU \*that you expected to appeal to you–that is, your reason for watching it in the first place? Well, the redhead ADA was wicked cute. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066/86 "2015-01-04T01:42:04Z")
I find the newish guy Barba to be oddly…compelling. I just watch his eyes glare and mouth move and disregard what he is saying. > [@Spice Weasel](#): > > Hey, that brings to mind a question. What about those child actors? Do they usually have any idea what sort of show they are working for? I wonder how much context they get for the roles they’re playing, or if they have to have special briefings to explain what sex abuse is. That would be a weird experience as a parent. The creepiest was that four- or five-year-old obvious psychopath who demonstrated on a doll how he clawed at the face of his baby sibling (who it turned out was already dead) because it was crying. I see that kid in other roles and get skeeved out. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066/87 "2015-01-04T02:10:18Z")
What general demeanor would you guys prefer that Stabler, Benson, et al., show instead? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066/88 "2015-01-04T02:28:32Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > What general demeanor would you guys prefer that Stabler, Benson, et al., show instead? Their demeanor is fine. If they could just refrain from random digs about their suspects, especially before they even know if the person has done anything. Oh, and the “Karma! Prison rape awaits you, rapist” remarks–I hate those. It actually came back to bite Olivia in the ass when she got framed for murder by a guy whom she told would get raped in prison and who later is sodomized when he’s locked away. The great part is when he tells Olivia he was raped (after sneaking into her apartment) and she switches right into sympathy mode. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066/89 "2015-01-04T03:05:10Z")
The thing that slays me about SVU is that Ice T is just so who he IS, I think he’s actually a fair actor but I can’t think of him as anyone else other than Ice T. So to entertain myself, in my mind, I add in dialogue related to how random it is that Ice T is hanging around with the NYPD, solving crimes. I picture some poor victim of a violent crime telling her friends “well, the police arrived very quickly … and also Ice T showed up? I guess for moral support? I wasn’t expecting that.” ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066/90 "2015-01-04T03:11:17Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > The thing that slays me about SVU is that Ice T is just so who he IS, I think he’s actually a fair actor but I can’t think of him as anyone else other than Ice T. So to entertain myself, in my mind, I add in dialogue related to how random it is that Ice T is hanging around with the NYPD, solving crimes. I picture some poor victim of a violent crime telling her friends “well, the police arrived very quickly … and also Ice T showed up? I guess for moral support? I wasn’t expecting that.” Heh. I like how when Captain Cragen left, he basically said something to that effect…something like, “For a guy who shouldn’t even be an SVU officer, you’re okay!” Cute moment. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066/91 "2015-01-04T03:48:30Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Their demeanor is fine. If they could just refrain from random digs about their suspects, especially before they even know if the person has done anything. Oh, and the “Karma! Prison rape awaits you, rapist” remarks–I hate those. It actually came back to bite Olivia in the ass when she got framed for murder by a guy whom she told would get raped in prison and who later is sodomized when he’s locked away. The great part is when he tells Olivia he was raped (after sneaking into her apartment) and she switches right into sympathy mode. Personally, I think the problem with Olivia is the rash promises she makes on behalf of her squad and the Department–which we know she’ll be hard put to keep. ---
**Author:** ![Beauty\_Taint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7993a0/32.png) [@Beauty\_Taint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Taint)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066/92 "2015-01-04T04:34:26Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > The thing that slays me about SVU is that Ice T is just so who he IS, I think he’s actually a fair actor but I can’t think of him as anyone else other than Ice T. So to entertain myself, in my mind, I add in dialogue related to how random it is that Ice T is hanging around with the NYPD, solving crimes. **I picture some poor victim of a violent crime telling her friends "well, the police arrived very quickly … and also Ice T showed up? I guess for moral support? I wasn’t expecting that.**" LOL This really cracked me up. On a semi-related note, my daughter and her BFF were visiting NYC and ran into a filming of an L&O episode. They said hello to Ice T and he chatted with them for a couple minutes and they said he was very nice. He gladly posed with them for a pic when they asked, as well. DD told me she made sure to ask for a pic for my mother. I was all like, “For Grandma?! How the hell does Grandma even know who Ice T is?!” LOL I had totally forgotten he was on the show as I don’t really watch it, but my mom is addicted to it. My mom still has it as her desktop background. She seriously treasures it. I think if her house caught fire she’d grab the computer before she ran out of the house. :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066/93 "2015-01-11T01:46:09Z")
Yes, Ice T for the win. > [@astorian](#): > > Bear in mind, the cops and prosecutors on L & O shows are only judgmental about CERTAIN types of crimes and criminals. > > I remember an episode in which a former hippie terrorist, who’d killed a cop while carrying out an armed robbery decades ago, was finally found and arrested. DA Sam Watterston wanted to be lenient on her- it was the SIXTIES, man! She was fighting for truth and justice, dude! A dead cop was a small price to pay! And after all, the woman had been living as an ordinary housewife and soccer Mom since then. These later, SVU eps feel a lot more conservative, actually. A lot of them, anyway. Whenever we see stuff from the race angle, it feels a lot more “Oh man, poor cops, why are people always playing the race card?!” Like there was one where a black rapist is defended by a lawyer who alleges racial bias–we know he’s wrong because we see the rape go down in the first scene. There was also the time Amaro shot at a black kid fleeing the police who turned out to be unarmed—he had no way of knowing (and thought he and another cop were being fired at), but he’s portrayed as the victim, is later attacked by those who think he’s a bad cop, etc. In other episodes, part of the process of looking for a black rape suspect is lots of stop and frisk. I get that here the cops are the main characters, so we get to see things from their perspectives, but it comes off a little off at times…coupled with the casual police brutality (“No way, Captain, he was totally taking a swing at me”), I get an icky vibe from them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-law-and-order-svu-detectives-such-judgmental-jerks/708066.md?page=4)