1. They cover the issues that matter
Law and Order: Special Victims Unit is no longer a show about catching rapists, pedophiles and abusers. It’s branched out to cover current events, giving closure to the public when it’s denied in real life. In recent seasons, they’ve covered big topics such as illegal immigrant rights, the anti-vaxxer movement, transgender rights, homophobia, Islamophobia, the Black Lives Matter movement, gender roles, sexism in video games, feminism, acquaintance rape, public figures as both victims and perpetrators, mental health, rape in the military and prison systems, hazing, and sex trafficking. Basically, if it’s an important issue, you’ll see it next season of SVU and it will probably end better than it did in real life.
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2. It gives us the closure we need in a turbulent society.
Too often in our real lives, we don’t get the happy endings we need to see. Rapists go free because their story was “more credible” than the victim’s. Black people are gunned down in the streets with seemingly no consequences. LGBTQIA people face discrimination and hatred on a daily basis. In SVU we get the endings we’d like to see. There are consequences for every action. I’m not saying that it promotes this perfect world where every accused rapist is put behind bars. Sometimes, we do watch the bad guy slip through the cracks. It represents a realistic version of the world, but a better world. A world where good still seems to prevail and allows us time to escape and heal.
3. The A+ cast.
I mean, first we’ve got Emmy and Golden Globe award winner Mariska Hargitay as the hardcore female heroine you never knew you needed in your life. Then there’s Richard Belzer, the lovably paranoid old uncle figure. Raúl Esparza, our most recent ADA Rafael Barba, doesn’t hold back in court. And then, of course, there’s the phenomenal acting of rapper Ice-T playing the quintessential badboy cop Odafin Tutuola (Finn, for short). And I mean really, if nothing else can convince you, watching Ice-T act has to do it for you.
4. It's helped start a conversation on victim's rights and experiences.
After watching the way Olivia Benson dealt with misogyny, assault, threats of bodily harm and still managed to put away the bad guys, Mariska Hargitay’s inbox was flooded with letters from victims of sexual assault. They sought her out as a confidante and detailed their own personal tragedies. For some, it was the first time they actually admitted what happened. Hargitay was so moved by this that she started the non-profit organization “Joyful Heart Foundation” to help survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse.
5. Mariska Hargitay
I mean, seriously. Look at these her. If Mariska’s acting skills and general amazing, aggressively and unapologetically feminist character aren’t enough for you… I’m not sure a listicle can help convince you.
6. Ice-T
Seriously. His acting is worth watching, and his relationship with John Munch is fantastic.
7. The quotes
They seriously have some great one-liners from this show.
Seriously, guys. You should watch this show. Wednesdays on NBC at 9:00PM EST.
