Two Ladies & Their TVs

We love our shows so much we created a blog for it.

About the Ladies

athenawj is a writer-mama-artist-editor-blue ribbon junkie who can't get enough of her favorite t.v. shows (and the ridiculous amount of videotapes in her house proves it). She's owned various t.v.s for awhile, but only recently discovered the joys of OnDemand.

merserene is a professional-turned-student who has an unhealthy addiction to some shows. She bought her first TV last year and is particularly fond of old reruns and British comedy.

 
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
L&O: SVU - 6.12 "Identity"

In my years watching SVU, I don't recall coming across an episode so intriguing, unique, yet disturbing all at the same time. Whoever thought of and wrote tonight's episode, I applaud him/her for delving into a new frontier. Victims of sexual identity reassignment aren't what one would associate with "special victims" in the sense that this series has usually portrayed it. I wouldn't know how often "accidents" happen, but some would consider babies who have been circumcised to be victims as well, since they have absolutely no say in it, plus there is increasing study that circumcisions may be too traumatic and not as beneficial as previously thought.

Enough with the social commentary...

I knew something was up since the preview from last week, when they showed this pair of sister and brother who looked exactly identical. While fraternal twins can look like each other, they don't usually look completely identical. I couldn't get over how much the two look alike - if in fact, there were 2 actors instead of one - and my suspicion was confirmed when they went discovered both were born identical boys. I swear I saw the same blemishes when they showed the kids' profiles - will have to wait until TV Tome or some other site list the credits for the episode to find out if there was one or two of them.

A funny bit in the somber episode: Did the father look familiar to anyone? I giggled to myself as he explained to the detectives that Lindsay had urinary tract infection or whatever medical term it was, because I recognize him from the Viagra commercials as the guy with the Viagra devil horns "who's back" after taking the pill. Hee. It kinda went downhill from there and I couldn't take him seriously anymore.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

ETA: Ok, a little research on IMDb didn't pop up anything about tonight's episode, but I did come across the famously running joke that apparently everyone has been employing other than us Two Ladies: "Is it because I'm a lesbian?" Some folks on the IMDb boards confess to using that line randomly in their convesations as well, i.e. "You didn't email me. Is it because I'm a lesbian?" The more hilarious anecdote comes from someone who said his guy friend used that line to the Dell Support guy when Dell was about to put him on hold, and the customer rep.'s response is, "Uh, I'll put you right through." :D

I believe "Is it because I'm a lesbian?" will be Elizabeth Rohm's career-defining moment.

Posted by: merserene at 21:24 | link | comments (4)
it s all drama


Comments:
#1  18 January 2005 - 22:07
 
Ack, more computer problems and I've become unlogged again.

I thought this one was good, but I was distracted a little because I knew that the two kids were actually one boy (I'll add my thoughts on that later). That said, he did a really good job, especially with the voice change. But... that wig could have been better, don't you think?

I remember watching a segment on a newsmagazine a few years ago about a boy who was much like the girl in this case. I think he killed himself, but at the time he'd married and was writing/had written a book. It's incredibly sad; wish that SVU, which I think handles these topics well, could have shown more of that.

My two cents on circumcision: I think in the long run it's the best thing, and this is coming from someone who did consider not having it done, should I have had a boy. But after researching, at the least it would have prevented some hygenic problems. HOWEVER, had I had a boy, and there'd been an accident with the circumcision, I'd never turn my child into a girl! I didn't have much sympathy for the parents; you shouldn't be that easily swayed. For all their arguements, I don't see how this was the best avenue for the boy.

Oh, btw, I just found out tonight that the Olsen twins are fraternal! No idea.

I didn't recognize the dad, and I'm like the queen of spouting off who's been in what (I'm sure to Mr. Calm's irritation while he's trying to watch a show). Good on you! :)

Random thoughts: Could MSM have lost her license that easily? I thought she was going to be on the show more than three times. And did you think the Sister was going to be killed by a gang banger? I was worried for a minute.

My thoughts on the boy who played the twins: I often wonder how parents can let their kids be on this show. This is actually something YD and I were talking about recently. While I'm all for honesty, it just seems... eh, too much for a kid, even an actor, to handle. Older kids, I suppose it's fine, but like little rape victims, murder witnesses, etc? I wonder if that kid is going to get teased for playing a girl. Kids can be made fun of for the stupidest things.

Lastly, re: the preview: Now, how many times does this make Olivia the object of a stalker? Three? Isn't this overkill?

And where's Stabler? I hope next week isn't one of the ones where one of the main characters is off in court.

Actually lastly: the lesbian line! I read that Dell anecdote the other day, heh. You know that my mom, who faithfully watches the Mothership, wasn't paying attention and missed the entire firing? I had to tell her, and she couldn't believe it. That line is all over the place. Mr. Calm and I are still using it with each other. OD doesn't get it; she keeps saying I can't possibly be a lesbian because I'm married. :)
Mo'nonymous
#2  18 January 2005 - 22:07
 
That was the other lady in "Two Ladies", btw. -- Athena
Mo'nonymous
#3  18 January 2005 - 22:32
 
That one boy did do a great job portraying two people, and the voice change. I was so busy trying to figure out whether it was the same person or not that I didn't notice the wig until at some point, when it became clear it was a bad wig. :> That clued me in even more.

Should've figured this was based on a true story. It is pretty sad that the writer killed himself because of what he went through. Perhaps SVU wanted to avoid even more somberness into the whole thing. Totally agree that if I was one of the parents, I wouldn't have done the same.

That reminds me; forgot to mention - how creepy was that therapist?! Imposing his own morals/philosophy on children and experimenting with them like that, and convincing the parents it was the right thing to do.

Not that I've given birth, nor is this Lady a guy, but I've heard that the hygenic problems aren't as bad as they were put out to be. With proper cleaning there shouldn't be problems. Everytime I hear of circumcision, I think of a news magazine episode I saw that showed newborns who were just circumcised crying their hearts out and all bandaged up. It's heartbreaking. Who knows what I'd think, though, by the time I become a mother.

Back on topic - MSM did look into other people's files and misused her authority, so I suppose she could be fired, though I really have no idea. I, too, thought that sister would be killed by SCA. Hope they gave her good police protection.

You know, I never thought about kids acting in this show. Today's child actors are certainly in a grown-up profession; they're not all playing Opie or the Beaver anymore. Guess they're forced to grow up fast. Perhaps that's why so many child actors have a hard time adjusting to growing older? Don't know what their parents think but they're surely a lot better than those who put their little kids in beauty pageants to get quick cash - those just seem so wrong. I'll bet none of those people are putting the quick cash in trusts.

I knew they were going to mention Mariska winning the Golden Globe. I have no idea why they give her so many stalkers. Guess they don't like people stalking Stabler? :>

Last but not least: Does OD not watch the show? :) R always uses that line for himself and that definitely cannot be! Also, read some speculation that Dick Wolf threw in the lesbian thing in because he had been under pressure from the gay community for years for not having a gay character on L&O. I had no clue this was the case. If he really threw that line in to fill the quota, so to speak, people in the gay community aren't too happy about it.
Contact me View user's mediablog merserene
#4  19 January 2005 - 06:20
 
I forgot about the doctor. I caught onto him as soon as I saw all the artwork in his office, and told Mr. Calm that if I were treating children, no way would that stuff be in my office. Very creepy, and no getting around that it was molestation.

Not that I've given birth, nor is this Lady a guy-- That cracked me up. :D

With Benson's stalking, it just seems like we're being beaten over the heads about her looks or whatever. Three times in six years is too much. More and more, I'm getting aggravated with this show and the de-Stablerizing, especially with the interviews in which Hargitay calls Benson a momma lion and/or bear, and Neal Baer's obvious delight in destroying a character who, while he definitely has faults, was essentially a good guy. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself (probably), but it seems like they're on a path of Benson-perfection at the expense of Stabler. And maybe it bugs me a little because it smacks some of the way I've seen McCoy portrayed over the last few seasons; sort of dumbed down so Serena can look better.

Anyway, enough of my rant. Sorry you're going to have to suffer through so many this season!

Re: OD: she actually finds SVU much more interesting, so she didn't see the line. I did tell her about it, so I think she's poking fun right back at me. ;)
Mo'nonymous
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