This week, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit lays off the musicians-as-guest-stars trend, if only for a while.  Two weeks ago we saw Jesse McCartney take on the role of a murder suspect, which is a surprise considering the image we’ve had of him, both as a singer and actor, for the longest time.  Last week, we saw OutKast’s Big Boi take on the role of a, well, hip hop artist who aids the team with uncovering an animal smuggling ring, and it was an easier thing to believe, if you look at it one way.

Tonight, things are going to be back to how it was ought to be.  Not that I’m saying musicians can’t be actors, and vice versa; it’s just a little unusual, really.  Tonight’s SVU is entitled “Persona”, and it is a return to roots, of sorts, for the long-running crime series.  Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) handles a cast of spousal abuse: Mia Lorimer (guest star Clea Duvall, Carnivàle) claims that she was raped in an attempt to hide from her husband Brett (guest star Nathaniel Marston, One Life to Live).

Everything actually goes well—Mia eventually confesses to being beaten up, and Brett is arrested, but it all culminates in a surprise: Mia decides to drop all charges.  Bent on keeping her safe, Olivia decides to hide in the couple’s home, and ends up discovering an entirely different case of spousal abuse—and murder—altogether.  Ahh, the tradition of suddenly springing a surprise when you think it’s all over…

Also appearing as guests are Mike Farrell (Desperate Housewives) and Brenda Blethlyn (Atonement).  Law & Order: Special Victims Unit returns tonight from 10pm on NBC.  Oh, and if you’ve missed the episode from three weeks ago—that one titled “Retro”—then you can catch it again this Saturday, also from 10pm.  That’s a double dose for you.


-Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: NBC
(Image courtesy of NBC)