Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Choice - S5-E7

Character mistake: When Casey is talking to Rebecca Balthus about Jennifer's defense, Balthus claims that Jennifer is innocent and intends to prove it. While she can present a defense, Balthus is not required to prove anything: the burden of proof lies solely on Casey; Jennifer possesses what is called the presumption of innocence, the basic principle that she is considered innocent until it's proven she's guilty.

Cubs Fan

Careless - S5-E18

Revealing mistake: After M.E. Warner tells Fin and Munch the boy was smothered to death, you can see the foot of the "dead body" twitch or move.

Mother - S5-E3

Visible crew/equipment: Stabler and Benson are with Christina in the interrogation room. Christina stands up to look out the window. Shortly after, she walks away from Stabler towards the foreground camera. As she does this, an overhead microphone is briefly visible in the mirror on the left. (00:35:55)

Manic - S5-E2

Continuity mistake: Dr. Huang and Stabler are in the interrogation room with Joe when Joe starts telling him about the voices in his head. The boy is screaming for the voices to stop when Huang comes forward to comfort him. He takes his hand down from his ears, but in the next shot they're up near his head again. (00:18:25)

Tragedy - S5-E1

Visible crew/equipment: When the detectives are executing a search of Daniel's home, Benson is talking to his fiance. As she moves in front of the television, the reflection in the TV shows a crew member's legs moving alongside her. (00:25:10)

Manic - S5-E2

Character mistake: Capt. Cragen says that Columbine shooter Eric Harris shouts, "All jocks stand up" during the massacre, when, in fact, it was the other perpetrator, Dylan Klebold who stated this. (00:12:20)

Born Psychopath - S14-E19

Dr. Huang: I'm conflicted about labeling a ten year old a psychopath. But...
Don Cragen: "But"?
Dr. Huang: I've had a chill like that two times in my life. With death row serial killers.

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Show generally

Question: Why does Oliver Gates come up with ridiculous reasons for the people he defends whenever they commit murder? In the episode "Hate", Sean Webster was killing Muslims and Oliver claims that his hatred was genetic but, it was found out that Sean had been raised to hate Muslims after his dad left his mom and married a muslim. In the episode "Game" a guy is murdering people the exact same way that's done in a video game when it's clear the suspect is using the video game as a scapegoat for his crimes.

Answer: His clients are guilty and won't take a plea. He's using desperate defenses in hopes of swaying a juror or two. Also makes for better television. "Temporary insanity" isn't nearly as compelling as "the video games made me do it."

Brian Katcher

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