| "Swing" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | SVU, Episode 10.03 | → |
| Production number: 10004 First aired (US): 14 October 2008 First aired (AUS): 19 February 2009 | ||
 | ||
| Written By Amanda Green Directed By David Platt | ||
Summary[]
When Stabler gets a call to help catch a trespasser, he's shocked when the clues lead him to a suspect in his own family: his daughter Kathleen. Things get so bad he seeks help from his estranged mother.
Plot[]
Olivia visits Kathleen and has brought her grandmother Bernadette. They talk, with Kathleen believing her father hated her but Bernadette reveals he does not while begrudgingly hinting to Kathleen that she, herself, was suffering from bipolar disorder after listing an incident where she injured Elliot as a child. Bernadette also reveals Elliot covered up the story to his father.
Realizing she needed help, Kathleen thanks her grandmother while Bernadette has Olivia promise to keep this from her son.
In court, Kathleen accepts a plea in which she had to undergo treatment and medication for her condition. Seeing this, a confused Elliot questions what brought about this change while Benson makes a subtle reference to his mother.
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler
- Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson
- Richard Belzer as Sergeant John Munch (credit only)
- Ice-T as Detective Odafin Tutuola
- Michaela McManus as A.D.A. Kim Greylek
- B.D. Wong as Dr. George Huang (credit only)
- Tamara Tunie as M.E. Melinda Warner (credit only)
- Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen
Recurring cast[]
- Isabel Gillies as Kathy Stabler
- Allison Siko as Kathleen Stabler
- Lizette Carrion as A.D.A. Kristen Torres
- Harvey Atkin as Judge Alan Ridenour
- CCH Pounder as Defense Attorney Carolyn Maddox
- Deep Katdare as Dr. Parnell
- Edelen McWilliams as CSU Tech Martin
- Erica Bradshaw as Court Clerk
Guest cast[]
- Ellen Burstyn as Bernadette Stabler
- Steven Flynn as Mr. Foster
- Sarah Bennett as Ronda Foster
- Megan Tusing as Julia
- Fiona Dourif as Detective Nikki Breslin / Mikki Braithwaite
- Rob Welsh as Will
- Jay Sullivan as Boy
- Brian Anthony Wilson as Detective Jawarski
- Peter O'Hara as Detective Corman
- Sheila Kay as Waitress
- Robert Mauzell as Corrections Officer
- Ed Kalegi as University Professor (uncredited)
References[]
- Georgia O'Keefe
- Bipolar disorder
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Hudson University
- New Jersey
- Paris, France
- Elliot Stabler, Jr.
- "I Will Survive" (song)
- Joseph Stabler
Quotes[]
- Stabler: Liv! Patrol dumped this one on us, why? Because a whack job was found naked in the shower?
- Benson: Elliot.
- Stabler: Last week it was because a guy had his 'johnson' out taking a piss in the alley. What's next? Fido puppy humping in the dog run?
- Benson: Elliot, I called you in.
- Stabler: Why because your "Spidey Sense" tells you she was a rape victim?
- Benson: Because she's your daughter.
- Stabler: Kathleen...
- Kathleen Stabler: [high] Hey, Olivia. You want to come play?
- Benson: Uh, that's probably not the best idea, sweetie...
- Maddox: Your new ADA's a smart cookie. Looney bin's the safest place to hide from the long arm of the law. I have to say, Elliot, I'm surprised you called me.
- Stabler: My daughter needed a shark, you're the deadliest one I know.
- Maddox: Thanks?
- Elliot Stabler: What the hell just happened?
- Olivia Benson: Maybe God remembered how cute you were as a carrot.
- Bernadette Stabler, on the depression that accompanies bipolar disorder: Well, that's the price we pay for greatness, honey. The higher you fly, the farther you fall.
Background information and notes[]
- The song Kathleen is singing during the shower scene at the start of the episode is called "The Eddystone Light" by Burl Ives.
- Kathleen mentions how she is in trouble again, referring to her arrest for DUI which happened in the episode "Blood", was arrested for in the episode "Screwed", and was performing community service in the episode "Alternate".
- After Kathleen is diagnosed with bipolar disorder after her OD, it is referred to as BPD. However, BPD is actually meant to stand for "Borderline Personality Disorder", which is a completely different condition (though bipolar disorder may also be present, and BPD is often misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder).
- The first and only appearance of Bernadette Stabler, Elliot's mother, on SVU. She later reappears as a recurring character in the second, third, and fourth seasons of Law & Order: Organized Crime.
- Actress Ellen Burstyn won the 2009 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Bernadette Stabler.
Episode scene cards[]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dorm Room of |
Saint Mark's Hospital |
Office of |
Long Beach Island |
| 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|
|
Arraignment |
Hal's Crab Shack |
Arraignment |
| Previous episode: "Confession" |
"Swing" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 10 |
Next episode: "Lunacy" |