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"Brotherhood"
SVU, Episode 5.12
Production number: E4412
First aired: 6 January 2004
  th of 502 produced in SVU  
th of 502 released in SVU
  th of 1271 released in all  
Munch Fin Brotherhood
Written By
Jose Molina

Directed By
Jean de Segonzac

Plot[]

The detectives investigate the murder of Tyler Henry, a young fraternity pledge master, which soon leads them to Tyler's multiple websites that show him exploiting young women in bars. It is soon discovered that a former pledge, Will Carey, was responsible for Tyler's murder as revenge for being raped by him. The detectives soon discover how violent the fraternity was towards new pledges.

Eventually pledge master Rob Sweeney is charged for his part in the crimes and is defended by Tyler's father Xander. Xander gets the fraternity's ledger thrown out, which holds the proof they need, but after the paddle used to sodomize Carey is found in Tyler's coffin with the DNA evidence needed, even Xander starts to realize the truth.

At the trial, Xander asks Rob a question on the stand that opens the door for Novak to get the ledger back in and she has Rob read from it his own entry about the rape. Afterward, Novak asks if he committed the rape and Rob confesses to it on the stand and is presumably found guilty. Stabler confronts Xander afterward, having realized that Xander asked that question on purpose so the evidence could be let back in and Rob found guilty. While Xander doesn't admit it, it's obvious that Stabler is right.

Summary[]

Episode summary

Cast[]

Main cast[]

Recurring cast[]

Guest cast[]

References[]

Quotes[]

Warner: [to Elliot and Olivia]: I found your John Doe in the fraternity face book. My husband's Alpha Phi Alpha. He keeps his Greek Directory right next to his Harry Potter hard covers.

Stabler: What ever happened to keggers anyway? I mean college kids don't even party anymore. They're too busy makin' money organizing strip shows and selling porn on the web.
Munch: We live in perverted times, my friend.

Stabler: Whoever dumped our victim really knew their crap.

Stabler: Rob Sweeney, you're under arrest for aggravated sexual abuse.
Rob: I didn't abuse anybody.
Benson: What do you call beating up a pledge with a hockey stick?
Rob: Pledge hockey?
Stabler: You have the right to remain silent, smart ass. You give up that right, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. In the unlikely event that Daddy can't afford one for you, the court will appoint one to you.

Background information and notes[]

  • Dr. Huang's name is mispronounced during a courtroom scene, but it is unclear whether it was a mistake on the actor's part, or a deliberate action on the part of the character.
  • Tyler Henry was listed as the Treasurer of the Panhellenic Council, which is actually the national organization of African-American fraternities and sororities. The primary organization for men's fraternities is the Interfraternity Council. The primary organization for women's fraternities and sororities is the Panhellenic Conference. There are also several other national inter-Greek organizations for multi-cultural fraternities and sororities.
  • Evidence previously excluded can be used to challenge perjured testimony, but in this instance, the notebook had no corroboration and couldn't be used as a challenge. The witness could have claimed the writings were fictional, and there's nothing the prosecution could have done to prove otherwise.
  • The pledge name: "Pledge Master Dahmer" seems to be a reference to Jeffrey Dahmer, who was a serial killer in the late 1980s to early 1990's. Dahmer was convicted in 1992 for the murders of fifteen men. Before that, he was a convicted sexual offender. Dahmer was murdered in prison in 1994 while serving a life sentence.
  • The Rack Menagerie (the website run by Tyler Henry) is an allusion to the play, "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams.
  • Serena Williams, the woman who portrays college basketball player Chloe Spiers, is an accomplished tennis player and outspoken feminist in real life, along with her sister Venus Williams.

Episode scene cards[]

1 2 3 4

Tau Omega
Fraternity House
Wallace University
Monday, December 8

Moose's Pub
536 Hudson Street
Tuesday, December 9

Bellevue Hospital
Prison Ward
Thursday, December 18

Wallace University
Standler Quad
Monday, December 22

5 6 7 8

Chambers of
Judge Preston
Tuesday, December 23

Trial Part 22
Friday, January 2

Tri-State Crematorium
Queens, New York
Saturday, January 3

Trial Part 22
Monday, January 5

Previous episode:
"Escape"
"Brotherhood"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Season 5
Next episode:
"Hate"
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