Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) Hardwired (2009) User Reviews

Amazing and Touching Episode.

[amandasilvestri · 10/10 · 22 October 2009]

First off, I would like to say, I love the storyline of this episode. I know, it's th usual, kid sexually abused by adult. But this was different in a way I can't explain. It could have been the pedo ring, the mom's reactions, and how mom and son were homeless (which keeps Cory, the son, from talking earlier. He doesn't want to go back to the shelter), but this episode was a tearjerker.

I am younger (not saying my age, just a younger teen), but this episode made me really think. It sort of got me into the episode, nervous when the hidden cameras were catching the dining room action, I teared up when the boy made the outburst in the court room, and was scared along with the mom as she found out her son was a victim.

Amazing performances by the cast. Rosie Perez is amazing, really bringing an emotional element into this movie that no one could have done better. She really brought a new dimension into the episode.

The boy, Cruz Santiago, was amazing as the son. It is hard for younger actors/actresses to bring that emotional role into their character, and he did it breathtakingly. He really made me jump into the show, I think he deserves an award for his performance.

The rest of the cast was amazing as well, including Jim True-Frost as Cory's step-dad/rapist (role was not good, but acting was amazing), and Garret Dillahunt as Kevin O'Donnell, the pedophile ring leader.

Truly amazing episode. Possibly the best yet of SVU. Amazing job by cast and crew.

Heart rendering performances

[r_betaencourte · 10/10 · 22 October 2009]

This episode features a rare appearance from Rosie Perez as Eva Banks, a mother who has just learned her son, Cory, was sexually abused. The performance from Perez was so emotional, I let a few tears out myself (and I do not cry to shows). Cruz Santiago, Cory, was also spectacular as the boy who is being secretly raped by his stepfather, played by Jim True-Frost. Garret Dillahunt plays O'donell, the president of a civil rights organization that protects pedophiles, claiming that pedophilia is a mental thing, homosexuality. This episode is very hard to watch, but the performances from the guest actors are just stellar, as well as Chris Meloni's, who is enraged by both pedophiles (O'Donnell and Thomas Banks). Excellent episode, without Munch, sadly.

A standout episode for several reasons

[garrard · 8/10 · 21 October 2009]

Rosie Perez makes a rare television appearance as a mother whose son has been sexually molested by her husband (the boy's stepfather) for some time. The revelation leads to the husband making a deal with the SVU cops to bring down the head of an organization dedicated to the promotion of and sexual interaction between adult men and adolescent children.

Perez gives a fine turn as the mother, creating a believable character that is both outraged and sickened by the actions of the man that she brought into her son's life. Young actor Cruz Santiago is excellent as the boy Corey. Both give award-winning performances.

Besides Perez's rare television appearance, the landmark installment marks the return of Stephanie March as ADA Alexandra Cabot and also features Jeri Ryan ("Star Trek: Voyager's" Seven of Nine) as a defense attorney.

Hard hitting

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 9 May 2022]

"Hardwired" saw the return of two regular characters, George Huang and Alexandra Cabot. Both great characters that were missed. Their return was the main interest point of the episode, and the hype surrounding Huang (and there was a lot at the time) held my interest as well. The subject matter is as tough as one can get, and 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' often did so well with difficult subjects and handling them in a take no prisoners manner.

While not one of my favourite 'Special Victims Unit' episodes, "Hardwired" is another solid episode. All the previous four episodes were well above average, apart from finding "Solitary" particularly uneven. "Hardwired" is a long way from perfect, but it handles a difficult subject harrowingly and movingly and a lot more tactfully than Season 10's "Confession" that had a similar topic. Regarding the returns of Cabot and Huang's, Cabot was pretty much nailed but Huang could have been handled a lot better.

There are a lot of good things about "Hardwired". The production values are still slick and suitably gritty (without being too heavy in it). The music is not too melodramatic and is not used too much, even not being too manipulative in revelations. The script is gritty, taut and intelligent more often than not, and doesn't get as melodramatic as the previous four episodes did at times.

Did find the storytelling incredibly powerful, it really hits hard with the subject matter and doesn't sugar-coat or trivialise while not being in your face. Not an easy subject and appropriately the episode is a tough watch. It is also very emotional, with a truly heart-wrenching courtroom scene. Did appreciate that it was one cohesive story, rather than one case leading to another bigger one with varied success, and that it had an early seasons feel. For the first time this season, the ending satisfied. Absolutely loved Cabot here, she is on top form and it was like she had never left. She's ruthless but also by the book, and one is completely on her side in the combative moments. Can't fault the regulars, or Stephanie March who has lost none of what makes Cabot such a great character. Every bit as good are the supporting cast, with tear-jerking performances from Cruz Santiago and especially Rosie Perez (who manages to make a character that on paper sounds frustrating come over as real) and chilling ones from Jim True-Frost and the ever creepy Garrett Dillahunt.

Once again however, the conduct of the SVU is beyond unprofessional and Stabler unleashing his anger physically and verbally to most people has been old for quite some time. His behaviour here is not just sackable offense worthy, but also borderline criminal. This may sound petty, but it has been a repeated occurance for a few seasons now and has always stuck out like a sore thumb. Also thought that what happened at the beginning was too glossed over and the lack of resolution made it too much of a loose end.

Huang could have been handled better, though BD Wong does play him beautifully. His character writing does not live up to the hype it got when advertised. The big revelation (one that was very personal to me, due to having a very close family member who's been there) not only comes out of nowhere, it also is treated indifferently and too thrown in-feeling. Huang felt out of character as well, he is usually so calm and perceptive and not quick to make judgements so it was very shocking and hard to buy seeing him so rage-filled and quick to judge in a situation where he is usually so collected.

Good overall, if not great. 7/10.

Help please?

[Amma_of_4 · 22 October 2009]

Can anyone tell me the name of the actor who played the boy's father?

He isn't listed and I have seen him in other shows but can't remember his name! I'm referring to his natural father, not the step-father.

I am sure he had a show of his own, but my memory seems to left me behind on this one.

Must be that in order to remember, I have to watch a show for years??

Stabler goes a bit nuts, but you find yourself wishing he went farther.

It was a first time we have seen the Dr. get so mad, plus the mention of being gay is so seldom heard, at least from him.

It was a great show, Rose Perez shines.

She really hones in on the mother aspect of this role.

I thought the rest of the crew could have been used more.

Holding it together

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 22 July 2015]

The episode of SVU has the squad investigating a case of child molestation of a juvenile by a juvenile. Young Cruz Santiago is accused of molesting one of his classmates, but as it usually goes in cases like this he's imitating what is being done to him.

And the one doing it is his stepfather Jim True-Frost who only married Rosie Perez so he could be near her son. I knew second hand of a situation like that in real life. When she finds out there's no limit to Perez's future.

It will take a lot of patience and guidance from Mariska Hargitay for Perez for what comes next. They've got True-Frost dead bang cold, but he offers to serve up Garret Dillahunt the national president of a pedophile civil rights group. He's supposed to be getting together with him at his home which means that since he knows about the wife and stepson they have to be there.

John F. Kennedy was once quoted as 'sometimes politics demands too much'. So does criminal prosecution as you see when Rosie Perez is asked to participate in a sting. She's barely holding it together as is.

To see what happens with all them this is a must see SVU story.

Overall not very realistic

[zaphod71828 · 2/10 · 10 February 2010]

I'm not generally a viewer of this show, but when you're stuck inside with 25 inches of snow... I've seen it a few times, and it seems that Stabler punches someone out every time. His anger management is a recurring issue. Still, someone should take this Stabler guy and throw him in jail. That's only slightly more realistic than pedophile rings - now there's a hackneyed old chestnut to fall back on when you're out of fresh ideas. I hope that they way the cops subject the boy to their irresponsible sting operation and otherwise put the screws to him is also unrealistic, but I'm not so optimistic about that. As for the mother, in real life she would have lost custody. We never do find out why she can suddenly be off to Florida, having somehow disposed of two assault and battery charges.

Acting: the guy who plays Stabler is always good, putting forth a very convincing despicable character. The female lead is OK; she tries to pull off this thoughtfulness that doesn't quite work. The female guest star was OK. The boy was OK, too, before disintegrating into one of those cry-on-demand kids. Since this ep is about exploitation, I wonder if the boy is himself an exploited child actor with pushy stage parents. History dictates that this is more often than not the case.