Written By Marjorie David and Paul Kolsby
Directed By Ted Kotcheff
Detectives find themselves in the middle of a he said, she said battle when a college student claims rape and her professor claims it was (albeit rough) consensual sex. A pattern of manipulation from both parties leaves the case with no clear outcome, further exasperated by the lack of any physical evidence.
Tropes
- Driven to Suicide: Myra tries to kill herself partway through the episode. However, she does so after learning that Olivia is coming to see her, meaning she knew someone would be there in time to save her.
- False Rape Accusation: Myra may or may not have made one against Ron. She definitely makes one against Stabler (or at least falsely accuses him of touching her inappropriately), which hurts her credibility.
- Gray-and-Grey Morality: Utilized to the hilt in the episode, highlighting the main reasons as to why so many rape cases boil down to "He Said, She Said". Myra Denning claimed her ex-boyfriend (and former professor) Ron Polikoff had raped her, while he claimed that it was consensual. Complicating this is Myra's claim that Stabler had sexually assaulted her while escorting her home (he caught her when she'd stumbled), and one of her other ex-boyfriends stating that she was into rough sex, up to and including choking. On Ron's side, he subtly coerces his daughter into lying for him and has had a habit of dating his students, a morally dubious action. The episode ends with "We, the jury, find the defendant...", Fade to Black, leaving viewers to form their own opinions. (For the record, NBC ran a viewer poll after the episode aired and the majority found him not guilty by 60% with 20% for guilty and the remainder either voting for a retrial or saying they needed more information to make a decision.)
- Left Hanging: As the rape case boils down to, He Said She Said - the jury's verdict was never uttered on-screen.
- Manipulative Bastard: Ron and Myra manipulate the detectives over the course of the episode, playing into the above mentioned Grey-and-Grey Morality.
- No Ending: We never find out whether Ron Polikoff was found guilty or not.
- Riddle for the Ages: Did Ron rape Myra? By the end, even the detectives aren't sure.
