TV Thoughts on L&O: SVU (9/25): Crazy Like Miranda

There's no question for me -- Law and Order: SVU is far and away the strongest of the Law and Order franchise. The acting is top-notch, the stories are generally pretty interesting, and the guest stars are impressive and appropriate. So I looked forward to last night's episode, which promised "Cynthia Nixon as you've never seen her before."

Well, it's true -- I have never seen Cynthia Nixon play a woman with multiple personalities before. Or, to be accurate, I have never seen Cynthia Nixon play a woman who is playing a woman with multiple personalities before. And although she was convincing in the role, it is actually the scenario she was placed in where the problem lies.

All in all, the season premiere was a big, hot mess. For the first 2/3 of the episode, there wasn't even an actual crime! And the show played so fast and loose with the disorder itself, if I was a member of the psychiatric community (or a patient suffering from the disease), I would be downright insulted. Having it all be a ruse for two sisters to murder their formerly abusive parents? Come on, L&O, you can do better than that.

It was good to see Mariska Hargitay back on the case full-time, though (with short hair, no less!), it seems like Stabler and his wife are really trying to make a go of it, and it was humorous to see Munch temporarily assume the role of captain during Kragen's suspension. Hopefully next week we'll get back to an episode that actually makes a bit of sense!

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