Stabler: From good cop to bad cliche

[ultraviolet730]

I became an SVUer purely to stave off post-Oz depression. Fearing the Meloni drought, I thought, "What the hell, I'll give that SVU thing a try." And at first, I couldn't get into it. I kept waiting for Elliot to strip. Or to snap some perp's neck. After getting a blow job, of course

Comments

[alinewrites]

...why does it have to be Stabler that falls apart while Benson rules the world?

Because she's not a very good actress and that she's unable to show more than 3 emotions when Meloni CAN do it. Really. She's beautiful, classy but as an actress... :(
The more I think about the show (I saw some episodes during the first 5 seasons, I'd say the first 4 ones every time before giving up), the more I think Meloni's the only one who's really acting. Belzer looks like he's dying with boredom. Ice-T... No comment I'm personnally not a fan. Cragen maybe. I didn't get to see the new DA.
I'd give a lot to know what Meloni *really* thinks about his character.
And I'd hate to see him go down without a believable explanation. And there's the kiss of course, that's being discussed in every list. True kiss? Teaser?

[ultraviolet730]

Ha! You know, if my sister wanders into the room and Benson is onscreen, my sister inevitably makes a comment on MH's lack of ability. And the ont thing she mentions most is that MH's expressions and inflections never change

[noir_moll]

Ultraviolet, what are we going to do with ourselves?

I didn't think it was possible for me to be more bitter than I was last season, but it will definitely happen if the writers fuck up Stabler. Yes, my beloved Alex left, but at least she went out in a blaze of HoYay and escaped with her character intact. We can't say that for the rest of Our Heroes.

And why, oh why, is Casey still around? All of this would be so much easier to take it Alex were the one sharing three scenes an episode with Stabler.This is the annoying thing. Generally, it seems there's been a good deal less of Casey, so far, this season than there was at this point last year--there's definitely been fewer courtroom scenes, thank Christ. But, most of the time Casey is on screen during Season 6, she's with Elliot. And that annoys the hell out of me. What? Is she stalking him? Never mind, I think Casey bothering La Familia Stabler on the weekend in "Birthright" answers my question. Make.Her.Go.Away.Already

[ultraviolet730]

This is serious. You brought out the tie-tuck!

I didn't think it was possible for me to be more bitter than I was last season, but it will definitely happen if the writers fuck up Stabler.

I can't fathom what the reasoning is. Wait - did I just give the PWs credit for reason? I DO need a drink.

Yes, my beloved Alex left, but at least she went out in a blaze of HoYay and escaped with her character intact. We can't say that for the rest of Our Heroes.

Really - all she had to live through was the bangs. Fuck it, let Meloni grow a mullet if they need to ruin something. But not this.

And you're right about Casey. They seem to have used her sparingly, but overabundantly with Stabler. It's not working - we still hate her!

The fact that Meloni and Neal couldn't go to that damned party last night because they were filming just irritates me even more. Now the Novak/Stabler ickybonding is ruining shallow moments OFFscreen.

Oy.

[alinewrites]

Fuck it, let Meloni grow a mullet

Noooooooooooooooooooo! ;)

[ultraviolet730]

Heehee - you're right! Maybe I went a little overboard there. No Mulloni!

[rileyc]

Of course Olivia's legion of fans will be thrilled to pieces at this. And it will spew many more E/O fics ... Gee, I can hardly wait.

*pfft*

I'll still watch, of course, in hopes Meloni can salvage something from this mess. AngstyStabler is wonderful, I just hate it to come at the expense of the character, and to mainly serve to make Olivia look sooooo much better. And I cringe at the thought of Elliot and Casey.

It wouldn't be so bad if there was some great Elliot fic around, but aside from "Arrested Development," "Behind the Badge," and "Fide et Amor" (which seems to be in permanent limbo) there's nothing.

Again, *pfft*.

[ultraviolet730]

Man, I am still seething after watching that episode. (Trying not to be too spoilery because I know you're in a different time zone.) And all the online fangirl squeeing about how they should just hand MH the Emmy now is not helping.

AngstyStabler is wonderful, I just hate it to come at the expense of the character, and to mainly serve to make Olivia look sooooo much better. And I cringe at the thought of Elliot and Casey. It is totally at the expense of his character. Tonight was just humiliating. Great acting by Meloni, in the five minutes we got to see him

[debaser28]

You're just jealous 'cause Mariska has an Emmy nomination and Meloni hasn't! *shows tongue* *g*

Seriously, the episode was that bad ? The funny thing is that when I read that Mariska considered that this was her best work ever I thought: "This is going to suck".

"But I loved the fact that Stabler was a straight, white, Catholic, male NY cop who managed to be completely masculine but still sensitive. Who was progressive, given his profession and background, but not glorified or unrealistic. Who had a family, and a life outside of his work, that he struggled to hold onto. He wasn't perfect, but he was secure. And competent. And confident."

You said it all. How can the writers turn that solid and "in charge" Stabler of other seasons into such a mess? It's sad.

"But I cannot tell you how much I dread watching Stabler on the long, slow, painful ride to sidekick land."Oh, I hope they don't do that. Because it will be embarrassing to see Mariska trying to carry the show by herself. They must be smoking some really bad shit if they do

[ultraviolet730]

Yup - you caught me, Ana Paula. I'm just bitter, bitter, bitter!

Seriously, the episode was that bad ? The funny thing is that when I read that Mariska considered that this was her best work ever I thought: "This is going to suck".

Your insintcts were correct! No, actually, it's not the worst episode ever. But it's pretty bad. And MH is getting a lot of praise for a lot of overacting. (Though she was affecting in some scenes.)

The biggest problem for me was the humiliation of Stabler, especially at Huang's smug hands. There was far too much Huang for my liking in this.

Meloni acted the hell out of the scenes he was given though. A little Keller even shone through. When he walks out, glaring at Cragen and especially Huang, it reminded me of the look he gives Toby when he moves out of the pod, after the "You killed my son" accusation.

It was part Keller, part Stabler!

Let us know what you think when you see the episode.

[meganinhiding]

I think CM is great and that he singlehandedly made Stabler an interesting character. On the other hand I strongly dislike Benson and MH as an actress. I mentioned to LinnyB on her LJ that early Benson was SVU's attempt at their own Bayliss, someone new to the department with her own personal issues, but neither the acting or writing were up to the challenge of making this a good character. LinnyB repied that they made Benson more like MH later on because of her lack of range. I have always been aware that this is an actress reciting her lines. Same with Casey, but at least she isn't held up over Stabler, as a paragon of virtue and professionalism.

[ultraviolet730]

I think MH is a good actress, and has gotten so much better since Season One, when she was a disaster. I do, however, resent her ascendancy on the show, since it's come at Stabler's expense. And also because they haven't done anything to make her character more interesting or really more evolved. They have just erased most of her flaws and now all we get to see is how strong and good and brave she is. Yawn.

I didn't know LinnyB was on LJ. I'll have to seek her out and apologize for not delurking on CM's board to defend her against the MH fans who constantly harass her. Don't know if you go there, but they don't seem to understand that you can like SVU and not be an MH fan.