Donnellysode, Greylek, Late Classic, Peak Josh Duggan Donnellysode, Greylek, Late Classic, Peak Josh Duggan

Episode 23: Donnelly Is Essentially the Destroyer (S10E8 Persona)

What happens when an accent choice derails an SVU where the initial crime is wrapped up in an open-and-shut murder at minute 19 and becomes a bizarre cold-case-cum-morality-play sans benefit of flashback? Well, the Randomizer selected “Persona” (Season 10, Episode 8), so Adam and Josh found out the hard way. For far from the first time in the run of Munch My Benson, a foreign-born actor plays fast and loose with a wavering accent. This time, the offender was two-time Oscar-nominee Brenda Blethyn, whose presence pulls a certain big gun down from the bench to settle a 34-year-old score. Along the way, the question as to whether this feminist text passes the Bechdel test, the greater concerns raised by Liv’s proclivity towards inappropriate actions, an exploration of just what “vile thing” meant in 1974-speak, and an alternate reality in which Benson DuBois chases down perps are all discussed.

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Episode 215: God, I Miss Neal Baer (S23E6 The Five Hundredth Episode)

Cold Case comes in with a cold case, and Olivia's ancient history comes screaming into this week's big-round-numbered installment of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The old friends who join us this week are a welcome sight. Olivia's personal relationship with an older man alluded to in prior episodes, however, was much less welcome, as everyone around her tells her what she needs to hear while she bafflingly ignores their advice and is a real jerk to an old partner in the process.

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Stunt-casting, Classic, Pantheon, Peak Josh Duggan Stunt-casting, Classic, Pantheon, Peak Josh Duggan

Episode 110: It's Not A Gay Cowboy Orgy, Probably... (S11E18 Bedtime)

What this delightful episode of SVU (S11E18 Bedtime) lacks in terms of coherent three-act structure or thoughtful character development is more than made up for by the absolute cavalcade of bonkers plot lines and instantly recognizable famous people. Ann-Margaret justifiably won an Emmy for her turn as the perma-drunk Rita Wills. William Goddamn Atherton plays a petulant serial killer! Morgan Fairchild gets about 30 seconds of screen time! Liv and Elliot get propositioned for a threesome! Theres so much fun in this episode you're going to have to just dive in and revel in the madness.

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