This has to be the best episode of SVU yet. This episode is just simply stunning, from quality direction to picture perfect acting. As always, great performance from the regular cast, especially Christopher Meloni & Mariska Hargitay. Cynthia Nixon played her character, Janis Donovan, a woman with multiple personalities to perfection. She portrayed each of her personalities to equal quality, some of them nice, some childish and some fiery. Great acting from other guest stars as well. Praise goes to everybody involved in this episode. I've heard there is an episode coming up featuring Robin Williams. Hopefully that will beat this one...but it's gonna be pretty hard to beat!
10 Reviews
Split
TheLittleSongbird5 August 2021
'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit's' Season 9 opener "Alternate" stayed in the memory for a long time on first watch. Primarily down to Cynthia Nixon in a way one has never seen her before, who bowled me over. On first watch, it was a case of the guest performance being better than the actual case itself, but there were also great things other than Nixon. Was hoping that when rewatching the show overtime that "Alternate" would be an upgrade from the variable standard of the previous season.
On the whole, it was. "Alternate" is not on the same level as the best of Season 8, but it is nowhere near close to being on the same level as the worst of it. It is a very good season premiere, the best since Season 6's "Birthright", and almost great until a certain point, with one of the season's best guest turns. As far as Season 9 goes it is not one of the best or one of the worst. Though it was actually close to being in the former category and just missed out.
Its only major issue is the final quarter. This portion was rather unrealistic and everything wraps up too neatly.
While Lake is marginally better than he was in Season 8, he still comes over as bland and unlikeable. Stabler's overboard loose cannon personality has already gotten old.
"Alternate" succeeds (very highly) more than it fails. Its clear best aspect is Nixon, who is absolutely incredible in a challenging role that is very easy to overact. Nixon however has always given me the chills and freaked me out in the final quarter. Along with Robin Williams, she gives one of the best and most memorable guest turns of the season. A vast majority of the regulars, apart from wooden Adam Beach, are excellent, particularly Christopher Meloni. If not quite on the same level as Nixon.
The script is taut and the amusing humour and suspenseful drama is balanced beautifully. Most of the story is absolutely riveting in what happens and the atmosphere (which is often creepy). The truth is shocking and completely unexpected.
Visually "Alternate" is well made, especially the intimate photography. It looks stylish and slick with a more refined look than when 'Special Victims Unit' first started all the way back in 1999, while maintaining the show's grit. The music doesn't overbear and is not overused. The direction keeps things moving well while letting the drama breathe.
Overall, very good and promising season opener. 8/10.
On the whole, it was. "Alternate" is not on the same level as the best of Season 8, but it is nowhere near close to being on the same level as the worst of it. It is a very good season premiere, the best since Season 6's "Birthright", and almost great until a certain point, with one of the season's best guest turns. As far as Season 9 goes it is not one of the best or one of the worst. Though it was actually close to being in the former category and just missed out.
Its only major issue is the final quarter. This portion was rather unrealistic and everything wraps up too neatly.
While Lake is marginally better than he was in Season 8, he still comes over as bland and unlikeable. Stabler's overboard loose cannon personality has already gotten old.
"Alternate" succeeds (very highly) more than it fails. Its clear best aspect is Nixon, who is absolutely incredible in a challenging role that is very easy to overact. Nixon however has always given me the chills and freaked me out in the final quarter. Along with Robin Williams, she gives one of the best and most memorable guest turns of the season. A vast majority of the regulars, apart from wooden Adam Beach, are excellent, particularly Christopher Meloni. If not quite on the same level as Nixon.
The script is taut and the amusing humour and suspenseful drama is balanced beautifully. Most of the story is absolutely riveting in what happens and the atmosphere (which is often creepy). The truth is shocking and completely unexpected.
Visually "Alternate" is well made, especially the intimate photography. It looks stylish and slick with a more refined look than when 'Special Victims Unit' first started all the way back in 1999, while maintaining the show's grit. The music doesn't overbear and is not overused. The direction keeps things moving well while letting the drama breathe.
Overall, very good and promising season opener. 8/10.
Great work by Cynthia Nixon - but let's bury Stabler ASAP!
akicork12 May 2021
I put the blame for the implausibility of Stabler's conduct on the writers rather than Christopher Meloni. Stabler's been in SVU how long?... at least ten years, given that he was partnered with Olivia well before the pilot episode. He has seen instances of multiple personality disorder before this, so there is no excuse for him to fly off the handle at Cynthia Nixon's several characters. I have to say that for me this episode belongs to Cynthia Nixon. She was completely convincing in the breaks and differentiation between her characters. However, Stabler's behaviour pointed up everything I dislike about the character: rush to judgement, too early to resort to violence, tendency to scene-chewing in the Jack Nicholson mould. When Stabler departed the series I was hugely relieved and I am not happy that the character has been resurrected in "Law & Order: Organized Crime". I had been suppressing my urges to comment on the way the character is presented, because he left SVU and there didn't seem much point. However, since he's back in the spin-off, I really need to make a point to the writers. Much weight was put throughout SVU on Stabler's ancestry - typically "Stabler... that's Irish Catholic, isn't it?" The writers really need to be aware that in the Irish telephone directory there are two (yes, 2) people called Stabler or Staebler. Compare this with the thousands of Stablers, Staeblers and Stäblers in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. You get the picture - Elliot Stabler with an Irish Catholic background is as convincing as the US Navy recovering the the Enigma codebooks.
Why didn't they just call it Primal Fear?
timdogthehulk10 May 2021
Seriously, it's like they weren't even trying with this episode. The writers just watched/read Primal Fear and put their own spin on it.
Don't get me wrong, Nixon brilliant in almost everything she does but this had to be no challenge for her. Once you realize where this episode's plot is going to tune out because you ask yourself: "What's the point?"
I saw the twist coming a mile away, didn't you?
Don't get me wrong, Nixon brilliant in almost everything she does but this had to be no challenge for her. Once you realize where this episode's plot is going to tune out because you ask yourself: "What's the point?"
I saw the twist coming a mile away, didn't you?
Nixon's The One As SVU's Prize Pest
stp437 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
SVU by 2007 was more than established for viewers and its tautness of plotting and strength of cast show through again in this very good episode with a show-stealing performance by Cynthia Nixon as the ultimate nut job, a split-personality who leads SVU on a wild goose chase for her sister.
This episode brings out the inadvertent humor that adds charm to the series as Nixon dons several guises, first as a lawyer reporting a child is being abused, then as a waif holed up in Central Park, then as a bitchy broad who tells off her own lawyer and then explodes in the subsequent trial - the bitchy broad telling off her lawyer is funny as heck, and the only thing this daffy duck doesn't portray is the telephone with dial tone - a Warner Brothers gag that, given how nutty Nixon's character is, would almost work in all seriousness on this show.
Easily the creepiest scene comes soon after Elliott Stabler has to sleepily tell off his teenage daughter who is griping about her punishment for drunk driving - Stabler goes to work, then gets a call that Nixon, in a hayseed guise complete with crude ponytails that looks like a deliberately atrocious Holly Marshall getup, has boldly walked into Elliott's house and is chatting with his wife and teenage children - complete with tightly-held butcher knife.
The other source of humor stems from the temporary "reassignment" of Captain Cragen over incidents of rule-breaking by Elliott, Olivia, and Fin; Munch is hastily promoted to oversee SVU and his protest to Fin et al that he wasn't seeking any promotion naturally isn't believed by anyone; he also doesn't inspire anything but snickering when he has to don the officious blues of his new assignment - which thankfully isn't permanent.
This episode brings out the inadvertent humor that adds charm to the series as Nixon dons several guises, first as a lawyer reporting a child is being abused, then as a waif holed up in Central Park, then as a bitchy broad who tells off her own lawyer and then explodes in the subsequent trial - the bitchy broad telling off her lawyer is funny as heck, and the only thing this daffy duck doesn't portray is the telephone with dial tone - a Warner Brothers gag that, given how nutty Nixon's character is, would almost work in all seriousness on this show.
Easily the creepiest scene comes soon after Elliott Stabler has to sleepily tell off his teenage daughter who is griping about her punishment for drunk driving - Stabler goes to work, then gets a call that Nixon, in a hayseed guise complete with crude ponytails that looks like a deliberately atrocious Holly Marshall getup, has boldly walked into Elliott's house and is chatting with his wife and teenage children - complete with tightly-held butcher knife.
The other source of humor stems from the temporary "reassignment" of Captain Cragen over incidents of rule-breaking by Elliott, Olivia, and Fin; Munch is hastily promoted to oversee SVU and his protest to Fin et al that he wasn't seeking any promotion naturally isn't believed by anyone; he also doesn't inspire anything but snickering when he has to don the officious blues of his new assignment - which thankfully isn't permanent.
"Alternate"
allmoviesfan14 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Changes are afoot at SVU, with Benson returning from suspension with a new haircut, to find out that all the personal life issues of the team have had a workplace consequence: Captain Cragen has been recalled by the Chief of Detectives, and Munch, who apparently took the sergeant's exam on a bet the previous summer, is in charge. That doesn't go down well with Finn, Stabler or Benson.
Then a psychiatrist played by Cynthia Nixon turns up to report a missing baby. Nixon is chillingly brilliant in this role, playing a character who suffers from multiple personality disorder. Watching her seamlessly switch from one personality to another - even from female to male - was incredible, and her disturbing performance is the main reason that I'll remember this episode amongst a handful of others long after the show has finished. A stunningly dark episode with lots of twists and turns as Benson and Stabler try to find out what had happened to the child.
Talk about starting the season - SVU's ninth - on the front foot.
Then a psychiatrist played by Cynthia Nixon turns up to report a missing baby. Nixon is chillingly brilliant in this role, playing a character who suffers from multiple personality disorder. Watching her seamlessly switch from one personality to another - even from female to male - was incredible, and her disturbing performance is the main reason that I'll remember this episode amongst a handful of others long after the show has finished. A stunningly dark episode with lots of twists and turns as Benson and Stabler try to find out what had happened to the child.
Talk about starting the season - SVU's ninth - on the front foot.
Eerie episode with a twist
lisab6136712 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Multiple Personality Disorder (Dissociative Identity Disorder) is addressed in this episode. Nice job done by Cynthia Nixon. Bronson Pinchot guest stars in a dramatic role. It's easy to see why Nixon won a Emmy Award for this episode. Eerie music, spiders (Nixon's character is an arachnologist) and dark caves add to the suspense. Lots of twists and turns, dealing with past child abuse and murder. It was nice to see Munch as temporary commanding officer. Detective Stabler's wife, Kathy, and daughter, Kathleen, are also seen in this episode. I enjoyed watching and felt it was well written and nicely played out.
Disappointing yet intriguing
GreenGableViews21 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Dissociative Identity Disorder has rarely been portrayed accurately in media so it's no big surprise that they fell into a lot of tropes. I expected that.
The best part of this episode is Cynthia Nixon. This is one of the best guest stars of the entire show in my opinion. Her slipping in and out of alters was done so well, amazing how in one second her entire expression and demeanor changed.
The positives in terms of representing DID: to a certain extent some of the characters show a lot of compassion, which is great. Dr Huang naturally is more understanding, that's his specialty. But Olivia in particular was very gentle with this woman, and that was refreshing. they were also correct that DID is almost always caused by long-term childhood sexual abuse. It's important to acknowledge that sufferers of this condition are viewed with sympathy. This is a mental illness that is the product of abuse, not some personality defect.
***SPOILERS BELOW***
unfortunately, the last quarter of the episode ruins any good the rest of the episode had done. It was extremely disappointing that it turned out she was faking it. additionally, it played into the incredibly dangerous and stigmatizing myth that the mentally ill are dangerous.
The stats show it time and again: people with mental illness are most likely to hurt themselves, very rarely other people. They're about as much of a danger to society as the average person. L&O unfortunately chose the lazy route.
it's still an interesting episode and it's worth watching for Cynthia Nixon's performance. Just so long as you go into it knowing that this is not an accurate depiction of this brain disease, it's just a TV show. Don't expect facts from it.
if watching this episode makes you curious about the disorder, there are a lot of great resources online that will provide you with better information.
The best part of this episode is Cynthia Nixon. This is one of the best guest stars of the entire show in my opinion. Her slipping in and out of alters was done so well, amazing how in one second her entire expression and demeanor changed.
The positives in terms of representing DID: to a certain extent some of the characters show a lot of compassion, which is great. Dr Huang naturally is more understanding, that's his specialty. But Olivia in particular was very gentle with this woman, and that was refreshing. they were also correct that DID is almost always caused by long-term childhood sexual abuse. It's important to acknowledge that sufferers of this condition are viewed with sympathy. This is a mental illness that is the product of abuse, not some personality defect.
***SPOILERS BELOW***
unfortunately, the last quarter of the episode ruins any good the rest of the episode had done. It was extremely disappointing that it turned out she was faking it. additionally, it played into the incredibly dangerous and stigmatizing myth that the mentally ill are dangerous.
The stats show it time and again: people with mental illness are most likely to hurt themselves, very rarely other people. They're about as much of a danger to society as the average person. L&O unfortunately chose the lazy route.
it's still an interesting episode and it's worth watching for Cynthia Nixon's performance. Just so long as you go into it knowing that this is not an accurate depiction of this brain disease, it's just a TV show. Don't expect facts from it.
if watching this episode makes you curious about the disorder, there are a lot of great resources online that will provide you with better information.
ALTERNATE Episode of a woman with split personalities
kearney-b30 July 2016
Alternate TV-14 | 1h | Crime, Drama, Mystery | Episode aired 25 September 2007 This was a horrible portrayal of mental illness. The characters used slang, mocking humour about depression, mental illness, multiple personality, "Nut House, Coco Nest, the Psychiatrist looked like inept" As if they are not even people. You wouldn't be nicknaming mocking a man who had dementia and when confused shot someone I doubt the detectives would be using lines like "Think he knows the day, maybe it's Christmas?" I would like to know if you talked to a Dr. before this episode. I love Law and Order saw every episode of 20 years. This SUV sad reflection on a story if real Police act like this.
She has them going
bkoganbing22 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I remember on another episode of SVU Elliott Stabler described a suspect as 'coocoo for Cocoa Puffs'. That would have described Cynthia Nixon in this
episode in spades, diamonds, clubs and hearts, the whole deck of cards.
This episode is a once in a lifetime part for Nixon as she delivers playing a multiple personality disorder murder suspect. This starts out as a search for an infant daughter, it ends up a homicide of Nixon and her sister Laura Allen's two parents, killed with a shotgun while they slept.
Nixon is just marvelous slipping effortlessly into her different guises. Her psychiatrist Bronson Pinchot is so taken with her he's writing a book, a title just might be The Many Faces Of Eve And Counting.
Highlight of the episode is when she finds out where Christopher Meloni lives and goes there and terrorizes Isabel Gillies. Seeing her there brandishing that steak knife Nixon should have been Emmy consideration.
In the end we find out almost by accident she's conning everyone. Especially Pinchot who felt like a nickel looking for change.
This episode is a once in a lifetime part for Nixon as she delivers playing a multiple personality disorder murder suspect. This starts out as a search for an infant daughter, it ends up a homicide of Nixon and her sister Laura Allen's two parents, killed with a shotgun while they slept.
Nixon is just marvelous slipping effortlessly into her different guises. Her psychiatrist Bronson Pinchot is so taken with her he's writing a book, a title just might be The Many Faces Of Eve And Counting.
Highlight of the episode is when she finds out where Christopher Meloni lives and goes there and terrorizes Isabel Gillies. Seeing her there brandishing that steak knife Nixon should have been Emmy consideration.
In the end we find out almost by accident she's conning everyone. Especially Pinchot who felt like a nickel looking for change.
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