Ep 7. Choice

The Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 5 episode 7 named "Choice" revolves around the sexual assault of a teenage girl. The story begins with a distraught father breaking into the apartment of his daughter's alleged abuser. Later, the Special Victims Unit team is called to investigate a sexual assault case involving the same girl.

The SVU detectives learn that the victim, who is just 14 years old, was drugged and raped after attending an underground party. The investigation takes a twist when the detectives discover that the party was organized by a group of teenagers who attend a prestigious private school. The SVU team embarks on unraveling the network of privileged teenagers who abuse drugs and engage in non-consensual sex.

The investigation reveals that the young victim was not the only target of the group of teenagers. The detectives uncover more victims, who are too afraid to come forward and report the sexual abuse they endured. As the detectives conduct interviews and gather evidence, they realize that the teenage boys are not just participating in illegal and immoral activities but also documenting them on video and sharing them on the dark web.

The case becomes complicated when the detectives discover the boys used a pseudo-psychology ideology to justify the sexual assaults they were perpetrating. The detectives dig deeper into the group and discover that the students are being mentored by a graduate student who subscribes to a similar ideology.

As the investigation deepens, the detectives face roadblocks, including a judge who refuses to sign a search warrant against the school because he has close ties to it. They also have to deal with a defense attorney who tries to discredit the victims during the trial.

The episode "Choice" addresses issues such as rape culture, victim-blaming, and male entitlement. The story shows the challenges that sexual assault survivors face when they come forward to report the crimes committed against them. It also highlights the importance of consent and the dangers of entitlement culture.

The episode ends with a gut-wrenching twist that demonstrates that abuse and violence against women are not exclusive to one particular group. The storyline raises questions about how to prevent these atrocities from being normalized in society, especially among the privileged and powerful, and how to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.

In conclusion, the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 5 episode 7 is an intense and thought-provoking episode that highlights the complexities of sexual assault cases. The episode effectively showcases the challenges and frustrations that the SVU team faces while investigating these cases and ensuring that justice is served. "Choice" is a must-see for anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of detective work and how society deals with cases of sexual assault and rape culture.