History Recap / LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS9E12Signature

* ShoutOut: This episode shares similarities with ''Film/SawI'' (2004) in which a serial killer kidnaps and tortures his victims, similar to what is depicted in this episode. The movie also has FBI agents trying to locate the serial killer, some of whom are strongly affected emotionally, like Agent Lauren Cooper.

* ShoutOut: This episode shares similarities with ''Film/Saw'' in which a serial killer kidnaps and tortures his victims, similar to what is depicted in this episode. The movie also has FBI agents trying to locate the serial killer, some of whom are strongly affected emotionally, like Agent Lauren Cooper.

* ShoutOut: This episode shares similarities with Saw (2004) in which a serial killer kidnaps and tortures his victims, similar to what is depicted in this episode. The movie also has FBI agents trying to locate the serial killer, some of whom are strongly affected emotionally, like Agent Lauren Cooper.

* ThoseWhoFightMonsters: Quoted in the episode by [[spoiler:FBI agent Lauren Cooper who murdered a serial killer as a [[ItsPersonal personal act of revenge]] for her mentor [[AteHisGun who killed himself over the case]]. Lauren also unwittingly caused the serial killer's last victim to die when they found her too late, which helps [[DrivenToSuicide drive her to suicide.]]]]

-->'''Doctor:''' What the hell happened to her?
-->'''Lauren:''' Everything.

-->"It's La-VAN-der. Do I look a damn flower to you?"

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Lauren going RogueAgent and murdering the Woodsman in cold blood results in the surviving victim not being found until it's almost too late--and she ultimately dies of her wounds--and no way of knowing if all of the Woodsman's victims have been accounted for.

* AbsenteeActor: Creator/ChristopherMeloni (Elliot Stabler), Creator/RichardBelzer (JustForFun/JohnMunch), and Music/IceT (Odafin Tutuola) sit this episode out. Stabler and Fin's absence is explained as them being in Canada; Munch's isn't explained.

* ForcedToWatch: The Woodsman would occasionally hold two victims at a time, to force one to watch (or at least listen) to the other being tortured. In fact, when his TortureCellar is found, the TV is playing a tape of one victim being tortured, presumably so that the one still captive will have to hear the screams -- which she quite possibly doesn't even realize are coming from a recording rather than an actual victim being tortured nearby.

* ForcedToWatch: The Woodsman would occasionally hold two victims at a time, to force one to watch (or at least listen) to the other being tortured. In fact, when his TortureCellar is found, the TV is playing a tape of one victim being tortured, presumably so that the one still captive will have to hear the screams -- which she quite possibly doesn't even realize are coming from a recording.

* ForcedToWatch: The Woodsman would occasionally hold two victims at a time, to force one to watch (or at least listen) to the other being tortured. In fact, when his TortureCellar is found the TV is playing a tape of one victim being tortured, presumably simply so that the one still captive will have to hear the screams.

* ItIsPronouncedTropay: Strip Club owner Lavender?
-->"It's La-VAN-der. Do I look a damn flower to you?"

--> '''Lauren Cooper:''' Those who fight monsters has better make damn sure they don't become one.

* BeserkButton: For Lauren Cooper, insulting her late mentor Karl Tillman is one. Benson makes note of this during her interrogation of Lauren, pushing it further by insinuating she and Tillman were romantically/sexually involved.

* AbsenteeActor: Creator/ChristopherMeloni (Elliot Stabler), Creator/RichardBelzer (JustForFun/JohnMunch), and Music/IceT (Odafin Tutuola) sit this episode out. Their absence is explained as them being in Canada.

* ForcedToWatch: The Woodsman would hold two victims at a time, to force one to watch (or at least listen) to the other being tortured.

* AssholeVictim: The Woodsman himself. A few people (namely Casey and Cragen

Detectives Benson and Lake investigate a double homicide in which a man was shot and a woman was raped and stabbed. They soon team up with Special Agent Cooper (Creator/ErikaChristensen) who is tracking a serial killer and sexual sadist known as "The Woodsman." Through the Woodsman's aunt (Creator/JaneCronin), they are able to find out the location of his latest victim. Police rescue the tortured woman (Creator/AmandaLeighCobb) but she succumbs to her injuries during treatment. The tragic ordeal turns into a case against a vigilante when the SVU discovers that the serial killer is already dead and that he was in fact the male victim discovered with the gunshot wound.

* AbsenteeActor: Creator/ChristopherMeloni (Elliot Stabler), Creator/RichardBelzer (JustForFun/JohnMunch), and Music/IceT (Odafin Tutuola) sit this episode out. Their absence is explained as them being in Canada (see SequelHook below).

* AssholeVictim: Despite Lauren Cooper executing "The Woodsman" being against the law, every other character besides Casey dismisses it as "he had it coming".

* DownerEnding: "The Woodsman"'s rescued victim ultimately dies from her wounds and Lauren Cooper gives in to her depression and kills herself in front of Benson and Lake, leaving the former traumatized.
* DrivenToSuicide: Lauren's mentor and eventually Lauren herself both shot themselves in the head.
* FBIAgent: Lauren Cooper and her contemporaries.

* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Lauren Cooper ultimately finds herself NotSoDifferent from "The Woodsman", much to her dismay. She even quotes the trope nearly word per word before killing herself.

* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Lauren justifies executing "The Woodsman" due to him being a SerialRapist.

* SequelHook: Cragen explains Elliot, Munch, and Fin's absence as them working a case in Canada, which is the plot of [[Recap/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS9E13Unorthodox the next episode]].
* ThatOneCase: Agent Lauren Cooper is overly obsessed in putting down "The Woodsman" she's willing to break the rules.

* AbsenteeActor: Creator/ChristopherMeloni (Elliot Stabler), Creator/RichardBelzer (JustForFun/JohnMunch), and Music/IceT (Odafin Tutuola) sit this episode out. Elliot and Fin's absence are explained as being in Canada, while Munch's is not commented on.

* AssholeVictim: Despite Lauren Cooper executing "The Woodsman" being against the law, every other character besides Casey dismisses it has "he had it coming".

* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Lauren Cooper ultimately finds herself NotSoDifferent from "The Woodsman" much to her dismay. She even quotes the trope word per word.

* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: Lauren Cooper breaks her oath as FBIAgent by killing the notorious SerialRapist known as "The Woodsman".