There are some SVU episodes that make you feel like you've been punched in the gut after it's over. And this is definitely one of those episodes. I don't want to give too much away, but in a nutshell, Olivia and Elliot get a case of a young rape victim. They come to find out that the girl's mother is locked up in a women's prison, and the girl's attacker may in fact be a crooked CO from the jail who has singled out the girl's incarcerated mother for cruel and unjust punishment. It turns out that several complaints have been filed against this particular guard, and others in the same prison, for raping inmates, yet somehow the CO's always come out unscathed. Olivia, feeling an obligation to bring justice to young Ashley and her jailed mother, decides to go deep undercover in the prison to catch the crooked CO in question in the act and bring him to justice. Things go from bad to worse as Olivia finds herself in a horribly dangerous situation. Can one of her co-workers (also undercover as a CO in the prison - I won't say which one, though, as we don't see right away that it's one of the SVU team members undercover, and it's revealed in a great twist) save Olivia before it's too late, and she becomes the next victim of abuse? This episode is definitely one of the biggest nail-biters in the whole series, and it will leave you on the edge of your seat, glued to the television, anxiously anticipating each riveting moment. An absolute must-see for any Law & Order fan. This definitely goes on my list of top-5 favorite episodes.
9 Reviews
Chills undercover
TheLittleSongbird29 September 2021
"Undercover" left a massive impression on me on first watch, and was a fairly unique episode for 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' up to that point of the show's run and still does stand out. One scene especially chilled me to the bone (and still does) and it was very interesting to see once again Olivia go undercover and see her on the other side of the law. Something that was shown brilliantly in Season 8's "Infiltrated", so anybody who loved that in that episode will of course be intrigued here.
The undercover plot is handled every bit as brilliantly in "Undercover", and perhaps even better. As an episode of 'Special Victims Unit', "Undercover" is brilliant and among the best episodes from the middle period in my view. As an episode for anything, it is also brilliant. As far as Season 9, "Undercover" is easily one of the standout (in a good way) episodes and one of the few high rated ones to be as good as touted (was disappointed by a few of them personally).
Everything is executed wonderfully individually and comes together just as much. Photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has some nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way.
Writing is taut and thought-provoking. The story is always compelling and tightly paced, with a great tense atmosphere and very foreboding and unforgiving use of the prison setting. The scene that all fans talk about when discussing "Undercover" (the one in the basement) is truly terrifying, a scene where one is truly scared for Olivia and not sure what will happen. Easily one of the standout scenes of Season 9, from the show's middle period (Seasons 8-12) and in quite a while and to this day it is still one of its finest.
Mariska Hargitay delivers another fantastic performance, one of her best of Season 9 and of the show overall. Olivia's chemistry with Ashley is touching and it is very easy to root for a good outcome and there is genuinely creepy tension.
In summary, brilliant. 10/10.
The undercover plot is handled every bit as brilliantly in "Undercover", and perhaps even better. As an episode of 'Special Victims Unit', "Undercover" is brilliant and among the best episodes from the middle period in my view. As an episode for anything, it is also brilliant. As far as Season 9, "Undercover" is easily one of the standout (in a good way) episodes and one of the few high rated ones to be as good as touted (was disappointed by a few of them personally).
Everything is executed wonderfully individually and comes together just as much. Photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has some nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way.
Writing is taut and thought-provoking. The story is always compelling and tightly paced, with a great tense atmosphere and very foreboding and unforgiving use of the prison setting. The scene that all fans talk about when discussing "Undercover" (the one in the basement) is truly terrifying, a scene where one is truly scared for Olivia and not sure what will happen. Easily one of the standout scenes of Season 9, from the show's middle period (Seasons 8-12) and in quite a while and to this day it is still one of its finest.
Mariska Hargitay delivers another fantastic performance, one of her best of Season 9 and of the show overall. Olivia's chemistry with Ashley is touching and it is very easy to root for a good outcome and there is genuinely creepy tension.
In summary, brilliant. 10/10.
One of the best ever SVU episodes - tempting a ten
akicork7 May 2020
Olivia puts herself at risk to identify a Correctional Officer raping female inmates. This episode provides the basis for several following storylines. Olivia needs a lot of internal work to take her out of this mesh, and we will see it over several series. I think this may be the point where the viewing audience realises that Olivia's long term aims maybe outpace any short-term story line.
Amazing episode with one glaring flaw...
johnthefisherman-4383023 February 2020
Easily one of my favorite episodes of SVU.I love every episode where the detectives go undercover(Demons being my favorite), and this episode was nearly perfect except for one horrible glaring flaw...:The girl playing Ashley is without a doubt the worst actress I have ever seen in anything.The corpses on this show have more personality than her.She makes Paris Hilton look like Meryl Streep.If it wasn't for her horrendous "acting" this episode would easily be my favorite of the series.
What Happened In The Basement?
whoneedsascreenname14 November 2023
Pretty much every dedicated SVU fan has seen this iconic episode about a rogue prison guard (fantastic Johnny Messner) and the female inmates he terrorizes. But it's always worth a rewatch.
Even with all the jarring stuff that happens in this episode, it's that one line from Stabler - "What happened in the basement' ? - that truly sends chills up ya spine every time.
And even with Mariska Hargitay's really top performance here in a harrowing situation, it's Meloni as Stabler with that simple question that really sums up the whole thing.
Both of course give stellar performances here but it's always cool to rewatch those quiet moments where it's just two people trying to figure out why the world is so crap*y and what they can do to fix it, all while never waning in their care for one another.
Tamara Tunie as Warner is also super clutch in this episode during a couple of key moments.
10 stars. Should have been Emmys all around.
Even with all the jarring stuff that happens in this episode, it's that one line from Stabler - "What happened in the basement' ? - that truly sends chills up ya spine every time.
And even with Mariska Hargitay's really top performance here in a harrowing situation, it's Meloni as Stabler with that simple question that really sums up the whole thing.
Both of course give stellar performances here but it's always cool to rewatch those quiet moments where it's just two people trying to figure out why the world is so crap*y and what they can do to fix it, all while never waning in their care for one another.
Tamara Tunie as Warner is also super clutch in this episode during a couple of key moments.
10 stars. Should have been Emmys all around.
They Missed the Chance
keiljd23 January 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This review is almost all Spoilers, so don't read further if you haven't seen the show, And why haven't you? It's one of the key episodes in the series. The central problem with this otherwise very good episode is its credibility. The viewer knows Olivia will save the inmates from the evil guard, thus exposing the villain and that's a wrap. What's missing is even one iota of suspense, drama, tension or doubt. We know from the get-go that nothing will happen to Olivia while undercover, and nothing does happen, especially with Fin to watch over her. Under these conditions the infamous Basement Scene becomes a foregone conclusion long before it inevitably occurs. We know Olivia will not be raped, and that's the problem. If Dick Wolf were the trail blazer he thinks he is, he'd have told the writers to make it Real, bring Fin into the room just after the rape, get the bad guy, and in the process make not only a great episode, but also a television landmark.
"Undercover"
allmoviesfan31 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Brilliant! By far and away the best episode of the season thus far, and one of the best episodes of any season of Special Victims Unit that I've watched yet. Also, a somewhat different one: no courtroom scenes. Instead, Benson goes undercover in a woman's prison (supported, at least to a degree, by Finn as a Corrections officer) to unmask a prison officer - chillingly well played by Johnny Messner - who is systematically raping inmates.
There are some very tough scenes to stomach in this one: the scene when Benson goes to prison and is searched in a bodily fashion made my skin crawl, but it was nothing compared to the scene where the officer gets Benson alone and very nearly... That it was so uncomfortable is a massive credit to both Mariska Hargitay and Messner. They both deserve massive kudos for their work here.
Undeniably a tough watch, but "Undercover" is SVU at it's very best.
There are some very tough scenes to stomach in this one: the scene when Benson goes to prison and is searched in a bodily fashion made my skin crawl, but it was nothing compared to the scene where the officer gets Benson alone and very nearly... That it was so uncomfortable is a massive credit to both Mariska Hargitay and Messner. They both deserve massive kudos for their work here.
Undeniably a tough watch, but "Undercover" is SVU at it's very best.
Benson in general population
bkoganbing27 July 2013
The theme of crime within the prison system by correction officers is one the Law And Order franchise has used before. But in this case Mariska Hargitay risks life and limb for a child victim of rape. Her only backup is Ice T who also goes undercover as a guard.
Tawny Cypress is the child victim and she may rank up there as one of the most uncooperative complainants in the history of show. She's scared for herself and her mother who is in the joint for a drug charge. But her performance registers well.
I've found that certain people can never quite grasp the concept that in prison you belong to the state and its employees who run the place. This episode reinforces the fact that prison is one good place to stay out of.
Tawny Cypress is the child victim and she may rank up there as one of the most uncooperative complainants in the history of show. She's scared for herself and her mother who is in the joint for a drug charge. But her performance registers well.
I've found that certain people can never quite grasp the concept that in prison you belong to the state and its employees who run the place. This episode reinforces the fact that prison is one good place to stay out of.
There are Moles and Then There are Moles
yohnny11 June 2022
Add prison guard aka correctional officer to the list of lowest form of human life along with used car salesman and lawyer. Any undercover cop operation spells dire danger. Marijuana was still a big deal back in 2008 and was always a no no. This episode is another standout within Mariska's solid body of work.
"Talk amongst yourselves." ~ Linda Richman.
"Talk amongst yourselves." ~ Linda Richman.
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