"Torch" | ||
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← | SVU, Episode 11.21 | → |
Production number: 11021 First aired (US): 28 April 2010 First aired (UK): 30 July 2010 First aired (CAN): 30 April 2010 First aired (AUS): 15 July 2010 | ||
Written By Mick Betancourt & Amanda Green Directed By Peter Leto |
Plot[]
When two sisters are killed in a fire, Detectives Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler are confused about why they are called to investigate. They soon discover that Stabler's old partner, ADA Jo Marlowe, has been put on the case (despite the absence of a sex crime) because the two victims were so young, and that she has enlisted the duo to help. However, as the investigation continues, Benson and Stabler find that the case might be more suited to their department than anyone originally assumed, and Stabler's interrogation tactics threaten to get the detectives into trouble.
Originally, it is believed that the father murdered the kids by accident when setting an arson fire, but after he attempts suicide in front of Marlowe, she begins to believe his innocence and turns to a fire investigator, Dr. Iggy Drexel, to prove it. Drexel is able to come up with another theory: that it was an accidental electrical fire. However, he has no way to prove it and McCoy presses for Marlowe to continue the trial. In order to prove the man's innocence, Marlowe and Drexel set a condemned house on fire in a similar manner to what they believe happened. When it burns exactly like the fire that killed the girls, Marlowe drops the charges at the trial after showing everyone the evidence.
Summary[]
Episode summary
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler
- Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson
- Richard Belzer as Sergeant John Munch
- Ice-T as Detective Odafin Tutuola
- B.D. Wong as Dr. George Huang (credit only)
- Tamara Tunie as M.E. Melinda Warner (credit only)
- Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen
Recurring cast[]
- Sharon Stone as A.D.A. Jo Marlowe
- Lindsay Crouse as Judge D. Andrews
- Georgia Lyman as Officer Whitney Bowman
- Jason Jurman as Legal Aid Attorney Mitch Shankman
- Sam Waterston as D.A. Jack McCoy
- Tom Lucca as Lieutenant Lou Gezmur
- Erica Bradshaw as Court Clerk
Guest cast[]
- Justine Cotsonas as Emily Sullivan
- P.J. Benjamin as Deputy Fire Marshal Kurek
- Jeremy Allen White as Michael Parisi
- Brad Dourif as Dr. Iggy Drexel
- Kevin Anderson as Frank Sullivan
- Lorraine Farris as Marcy Sullivan
- Marty Lawson as Pete
- Spencer Trinwith as Brian
- Jane Dashow as Mary
- Michael Arthur as Uni #1
References[]
- ACS
- Faye Sullivan (victim)
- Kedzie Sullivan (victim)
- Texas
- Alexandra Cabot
Quotes[]
Episode quotes
Background information and notes[]
- The episode is based on the Cameron Todd Willingham case.
- Another episode in the Law & Order franchise that also involves a faulty fire investigation with a parent accused of killing their children is the Law & Order: LA episode "Echo Park".
Episode scene cards[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
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Mercy General Hospital |
Apartment of |
1794 Lexington Avenue |
Sullivan Residence |
5 | 6 | 7 |
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Arraignment Court |
Rikers Island |
Laboratory of |
Previous episode: "Beef" |
"Torch" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 11 |
Next episode: "Ace" |