| "Depravity Standard" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | SVU, Episode 17.09 | → |
| Production number: 17009 First aired: 18 November 2015 | ||
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| Written By Ed Zuckerman Directed By Martha Mitchell | ||
Summary
Lt. Benson seeks justice in the trial of child abductor Lewis Hodda, but when a plea deal is rejected, Barba must rely on decades-old evidence to make his case and faces off against former SVU colleague Dr. Huang.
Plot
After Lewis Hodda rejects a plea bargain in his murder trial for the death of 7-year-old Hector Rodriguez, he accuses Benson of coercing his confession. Even though Barba wants to go to trial with the kidnapping of Wyatt Morris (back in 2012), Wyatt's parents refuse to make their son testify.
To the shock of SVU, Hodda's defense lawyer brings in Dr. George Huang to testify for the defense. The case gets complicated when Stephen Lomatin (who helped the SVU detectives find Hector's body back in 2012) interferes with the investigation.
When Hodda is asked if he murdered Hector, he doesn't answer. In the end, the jury is deadlocked and the judge ends up declaring a mistrial. Then, Wyatt's parents decide to step up and testify against Hodda.
Meanwhile, Rollins is taken to the hospital where she goes into labor and towards the end of the episode, her condition takes a turn for the worse when she begins bleeding and the baby's heart rate goes down.
Cast
Main Cast
- Mariska Hargitay as Lieutenant Olivia Benson
- Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins
- Raúl Esparza as A.D.A. Rafael Barba
- Ice-T as Detective Odafin Tutuola
- Peter Scanavino as Detective Dominick Carisi, Jr.
Recurring Cast
- Tom Sizemore as Lewis Hodda
- Joe Grifasi as Judge Hashi Horowitz
- Liza Colon-Zayas as Delores Rodriguez
- Alex Karpovsky as Officer Stephen Lomatin
- Mili Avital as Laurie Colfax
- Steve Rosen as Defense Attorney Michael Guthrie
- Betsy Aidem as Dr. Sloane
- B.D. Wong as Dr. George Huang
- Jenna Wolfe as Herself
- Allyson Morgan as Nurse Shelby Roberts
Guest Cast
- Kathryn Meisle as Sharon Daley
- Robin Weigert as Defense Attorney Lisa Hassler
- Stephen Reich as Thomas Johnson
- Natalie Carter as Juror #5
References
Episode references
Quotes
- Barba: Lewis Hodda may walk if Hastler can make it look like your emotions are getting in the way of your police work which is what they're doing right now.
- Olivia (about Lewis Hodda): He confessed because he did it!
- Dr. Huang: I'm sorry, but I don't know that. And neither do you.
- Mrs. Rodriguez: I waited a long time. I had hope. Then they dug up that basement. Detective Benson showed me that picture. Hector's backpack.
- Rollins: I'm tired and I hurt like hell and it's too late for an epidural.
Background information and Notes
This episode continues the plot from the season 14 episode, Manhattan Vigil.
Episode scene cards
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Supreme Court |
Supreme Court |
Supreme Court |
| 4 | 5 | 6 |
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Day 2 |
Day 5 |
Day 6 |
| Previous episode: "Melancholy Pursuit" |
"Depravity Standard" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 17 |
Next episode: "Catfishing Teacher" |