Written By Judith McCreary
Directed By Arthur W. Forney
A victim bonds with the volatile officer who rescued her, forcing Benson and Stabler to work with him. To their displeasure, the mounting evidence of a possible serial rapist keeps the trio together and bring Stabler into conflict with a cop similar to himself.
This episode provides examples of:
- Aloof Ally: Both Nate Kendall and Sonya Paxton are on SVU's side, but neither are enthusiastic on making a proper cooperation.
- Ambiguous Situation: Did Nate Kendall threw Mark Foster to his death or was it a Better to Die than Be Killed scenario? The episode left it vague.
- And Starring: "Special Guest Star Christine Lahti" plus the regular guest-stars lineup and with "And Wentworth Miller".
- Asshole Victim: Whether his death was accidental or not is left vague, but Mark Foster being a shitty human being is not.
- Bald of Evil: Mark Foster is bald and a Serial Rapist.
- Casting Gag: Prison Break lead star Wentworth Miller plays a cop in an episode about a wrongfully incarcerated man.
- Continuity Nod: Olivia gives Rena West the calling card for the rape support group she's attending throughout the previous season.
- Cowboy Cop: Nate Kendall has no qualms using excessive force. It's telling that even Elliot becomes concerned over this.
- Death by Falling Over: Mark Foster dies after falling from the precinct's window. Whether it's suicide or a Vigilante Execution on Nate Kendall's part is left ambiguous.
- Double-Meaning Title: The title refers to both Cowboy Cop Nate Kendall and Serial Rapist Villain of the Week Mark Foster
- Downer Beginning: The Season 11 premiere concludes with a Sudden Downer Ending (detailed below).
- The Drag-Along: Nate Kendall makes no effort voicing his displeasure on being roped into the rape case.
- Freudian Excuse: Nate Kendall justifies his Jerkass attitude through the deaths of his wife and daughter.
- Glasgow Grin: The left side of Katie Harris' face, thanks to Mark Foster's sadism.
- Ironic Episode Title: "Unstable" happens to be one of those episodes in which Elliot Stabler is in his best behavior.
- Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique: Nate Kendall is wiling to squeeze information out from anyone using any means necessary.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Elliot when he realized he put the wrong man in jail back in 1998.
- Scars Are Forever: Katie Harris, Mark Foster's victim in 1997, still sports the scar he gave her in her left cheek.
- Serial Rapist: Mark Foster has been raping women since he was in his late teens.
- Sudden Downer Ending: Elliot finally captures the real culprit to a case he had in 1998 and thus freeing the wrongfully convicted man. And then the real culprit dies before trial, which renders his recorded confession moot, which means the wrongfully convicted man will still be in jail for the forseeable future.
- Tempting Fate: Elliot promises Victor Tate that he's finally being freed due to the capture of Mark Foster. Unfortunately, Mark Foster dies before trial, meaning his recorded confession is moot.
- Van in Black: Mark Foster uses one per the typical Serial Rapist stereotype. It is seen being burned to destroy evidence.
- Would Hit a Girl: Nate Kendall is seen using the Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique on Mark Foster's ex-wife.
