Last night on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Hilary Duff played a young mom whose baby was first missing and then found dead. I tuned in because I couldn’t resist the promo ads featuring Duff screeching at her mother, played by NYPD Blue‘s Gail O’Grady. Hoo boy, what a nutty episode: Duff’s character was portrayed as a partying, self-absorbed single mom (the episode was called “Selfish”), and her performance was good, a model of restraint compared to a bellowing, grimacing O’Grady, who seemed to be getting her working-class acting tips from Archie Bunker.
Mid-way through the episode, the plot nearly became a different episode, as Duff faded into the background and L&O commenced a storyline about how Duff’s baby had died from measles contracted by another kid in a public playground. The mother of that kid was one of those parents who doesn’t believe in vaccinating her offspring. That woman was tried for murder. Stars Chris Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, and the L&O:SVU regulars engaged in a lot of yawny debate about vaccination, pro and con. The whole thing reminded me why SVU is my least-favorite Law & Order franchise: Give me the cranky scoldings of Sam Waterston on the original, crispy version, or the new tangy flavor of Criminal Intent‘s Jeff Goldblum any time.
Even Duff looked bored by the end. Maybe she was pondering her upcoming new version of Bonnie and Clyde during the vast stretches when she had no lines.
Did you watch? What did you think?
I thought it was a very good performance by Duff. Granted, it was no “Robbin Williams”, but it was will good.
I was intrigued by the story of the mother refusing to immunize her child.
Good episode, but it practically had no character advancement with the cast, which is odd because the finale is coming.
http://tvdonewright.com/2009/04/29/tv-tonight-wednesday-april-29th-2009/
SVU is your LEAST favorite?? Are you insane?! It is far and away the best, with the least cliched performances and the most intriguing storylines. Granted, I’m sure an episode involving H. Duff was probably not the best (I didn’t watch), but typically SVU delivers the best of the L&O franchise, in my opinion.
I couldn’t agree more about SVU being the worst of the bunch, at least for the last few years. I can’t comment about last night’s episode because I stopped watching the show last year. Too much Olivia and not enough Fin and Munch.
I thought that was a GREAT episode. Did anyone catch the off-the-cuff Lizzie McGuire snipe? HI-Larious! (I have a tween daughter – otherwise, it would of went over my head!) I believe the jury felt “natural mom” was credible and made the right decision, her son was non-symptomatic, but vaccines DO SAVE LIVES!
I’ve always found the eps where the DA’s office is determined to find someone (anyone) culpable for someone’s death a bit of a stretch. This was really pushing it. My partner who’s an RN was all “This is DUMB. I cant watch anymore” and stomped off. The ending was equally over-wrought. Bottom line? Going out in public poses certain risks for everyone. I believe people catching something and dying from it are acts of God, not neglegent homicide.
I thought Hillary Duff did a very good job. I was somewhat surprised by her performance as I was when she appeared on Ghost Whisperer. SVU is an awesome show! I would also like to see more Fin and Munch.
SVU has been my favorite of the L&O bunch for a long time, but last night’s ep was RIDICULOUS! First was the way too obvious link to the Caylee Anthony case then a woman is charged with murder for not vaccinating her kid? Murder? And the explanation for the (extreme) murder charge was that its an election year! I can’t believe such a poorly written episode made it on the air.
Hard to believe Hilary Duff as another character when she’s wearing her trademark five-pound false eyelashes. For a lower-class single teen mom, she looked, she looked like a millionaire singer. The measles plot point was a bore, and you could see the ending coming a million miles away. I hate Dick Wolf’s “special topic” episodes, when he decides to cram statistics down our throats.
Who dies in the season finale, that’s what I want to know!
I agree, more Fin and Munch!! They aren’t going to kill one of them off are they??? There is supposed to be a main character death!!
“Even Duff looked bored by the end. Maybe she was pondering her upcoming remake of Bonnie and Clyde duting the vast stretches when she had no lines.”
What is “duting”?
It’s funny that the article you linked us to makes a point to say Duff’s movie is not a remake, yet you made a point to call her Bonnie & Clyde a remake. Way to be consistent with your colleagues!
play the svu drinking game with friends at your own home. it’s easy, any time stabler crosses the line, you shotgun a beer. any time olivia comforts/bullies a victim into making the right decision, you shotgun a beer. it’s fun for everyone!
SVU the worst of the L&O series???? Shush your mouth EW!!! My husband would be outraged, it’s his fav of the bunch and he’s a MAJOR L&O junkie who watches each on reruns over and over and over and SVU is the best from the bunch!!!
Oh, and the annoying newbie guy who annoys everybody and leaking info to the press? GET RID OF HIM. NOW.
Hilary Duff acted surprisingly well. The episode plot line was a bit of a bore.