Ep 1. I'm Going to Make You a Star

In the first episode of the twenty-first season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, titled "I'm Going to Make You a Star," the Special Victims Unit team is called to investigate a sexual assault case involving a famous Hollywood producer, Sir Toby Moore. The episode opens with Sir Toby arriving in New York City to oversee the pre-production of his new movie, which is being produced by BAFTA-nominated producer, Paula Foster, who has been working under him for the past few years.

The case comes to the attention of the SVU team when an aspiring actress, Tiana, accuses Sir Toby of sexual assault. Tiana claims that she was invited to audition for the lead role in Sir Toby's upcoming movie and was sexually assaulted by him during the audition. Following this, she left the audition in a panic and headed straight to the hospital for an examination.

Detective Olivia Benson and her team start investigating the case, but it quickly becomes apparent that Sir Toby has a lot of power and connections in the industry. His lawyer, Tyrone Evans, is able to suppress any evidence against his client, citing lack of proof.

The episode also deals with the issues of power dynamics in the entertainment industry, where young and naive actors can be taken advantage of by their powerful superiors. Sir Toby's assistant, Rhonda, tells the team that she was also a victim of sexual assault and harassment by Sir Toby, but due to his power in the industry and the lack of support from her colleagues, she was never able to come forward.

As the investigation progresses, the team uncovers a history of sexual misconduct by Sir Toby, but their attempts to bring him to justice are thwarted by his power and the lack of evidence. However, the SVU team is determined to bring justice to Tiana and other victims of sexual assault.

The episode concludes with an unexpected twist that puts the SVU team in a dangerous situation and threatens to derail their efforts to bring Sir Toby to justice.

Overall, "I'm Going to Make You a Star" is a gripping season premiere that tackles important issues of sexual assault and power dynamics in the entertainment industry. With strong performances from the cast and a thrilling storyline, it sets the tone for an exciting and thought-provoking season.