Rage
- Episode aired Mar 1, 2005
- TV-14
- 41m
Years ago Stabler was unable to get a conviction on a rape-murder case. Now the suspect is held and questioned once again, and Stabler is sure he is guilty. But can he keep his head straight... Read allYears ago Stabler was unable to get a conviction on a rape-murder case. Now the suspect is held and questioned once again, and Stabler is sure he is guilty. But can he keep his head straight enough to get a confession?Years ago Stabler was unable to get a conviction on a rape-murder case. Now the suspect is held and questioned once again, and Stabler is sure he is guilty. But can he keep his head straight enough to get a confession?
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- ADA Casey Novak
- (credit only)
- Special Agent Dr. George Huang, M.D.
- (as B.D. Wong)
- (credit only)
- Clinical Worker
- (uncredited)
- Opening Announcer
- (archive footage)
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring the interrogation Matthew Modine's character breaks down and yells "I am a psycho killer!" This is both a reference to and a quote from the famous line spoken by Pvt. Joker in the film Full Metal Jacket (1987), a character also played by Matthew Modine.
- GoofsA detail from this episode contradicts dialogue from the episode "Doubt" earlier in the season. In that episode, Detective Stabler was said to have twelve years of police service, but in this episode, he collared Rickett fourteen years ago, with no indication that he was rookie then.
- Quotes
Detective Elliot Stabler: Did you think I froze? Is that why you fired first?
Detective Olivia Benson: I fired first, because you would've killed him.
Detective Elliot Stabler: He deserves to die.
Detective Olivia Benson: Maybe he does. But he wanted you to kill him. He wanted you to always remember that you took his life. Not 'cause you had to, but because you were angry.
- ConnectionsReferences Ghostbusters II (1989)
In my view, they needn't worry. There is a lot of talk in "Rage", but it actually didn't feel too much and all the talk was interesting and added to the case and the characters. It is also very intimate, but that also doesn't matter as it doesn't feel too claustrophobic. As an episode, "Rage" is brilliant and one of the best episodes of a season full of outstanding episodes (by far the best and most consistent Season 6 of those for this, the original 'Law and Order' and 'Criminal Intent'). As well as one of the best of the early seasons and a 'Special Victims Unit' standout. As said, it is basically an extended interrogation scene in structure but with the amount of tension throughout the episode that is usually present in the climax.
The episode is very tense and smart when it comes to talking about the writing, and as said it never feels too much. All of it says a lot about both Stabler and Rickett as well as the case, with nothing being irrelevant. The story drips with tension and sears in suspense, especially in the latter stages the angrier Stabler gets. It does help massively that Rickett does give off a genuine sense of unease and really gets under the skin.
Although the setting is very intimate and more confined in location, "Rage" never feels dull or too claustrophobic. Actually think oddly enough that it engrosses more than a good deal of episodes that are not as intimate and more eventful in action thanks to the suspenseful script writing and character writing and interaction. The engrossing factor increases even more the more that is learnt about the characters and the case, even when not heavy in action (the closest the episode comes to it being when Stabler loses it).
When it comes to the character writing and interaction, "Rage" is pretty much masterful. The most dominant and most focused upon being between Stabler and Rickett, which is tension personified. Something that intensifies the angrier Stabler gets and the smarter, more taunting Rickett does. It is very clear, and this is true throughout Season 6 and throughout the time Stabler was on 'Special Victims Unit' (over half of its run), that Olivia cares for Stabler. Evident in their last exchange where she is firm but empathetic. Have actually really liked Stabler's more tormented and intense character development in Season 6, some found it too angsty but not me and to me it added to him as a person behind the job dealing with a stressful job and an increasingly difficult family life. And then having to deal with somebody as reprehensible as Rickett, it's not surprising that Stabler struggles with his emotions here.
Christopher Meloni's performance was award-worthy, truly riveting and not just his best performance of Season 6 but also some of his best acting on 'Special Victims Unit'. Matthew Modine here is at his most chilling in a departure role. Their chemistry absolutely scintillates. The music use here is relatively minimal compared to usual, it is haunting when used but adding even more to the unsettlement is the sound of the clock ticking. It's a slickly made episode that is not gimmicky or static and the direction is tight yet accomodating, really succeeding in getting the absolute best out of Meloni and Modine.
Overall, brilliant. 10/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 10, 2021