The case of an abandoned seven-year-old boy in Times Square leads to the shocking discovery of two women locked in a basement cage by their abductors for nearly a decade.The case of an abandoned seven-year-old boy in Times Square leads to the shocking discovery of two women locked in a basement cage by their abductors for nearly a decade.The case of an abandoned seven-year-old boy in Times Square leads to the shocking discovery of two women locked in a basement cage by their abductors for nearly a decade.
- Sergeant John Munch
- (credit only)
- Detective Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola
- (as Ice T)
- Scott Greyland
- (as Donald Mackay)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThere are many similarities with the crime in this episode with the real life events of the Ariel Castro case; which is even noted by ADA Rafael early in the episode. One of the most striking similarities, other than the crime itself, is the interview Detective Amaro has with the suspect's neighbour in the episode compared to the real life news interview with Charles Ramsey, who is often credited as the neighbour who helped free the victims of Ariel Castro.
- GoofsWhen discussing the elderly mother of the suspect, Cragen says "nobody has seen her for years, but her social security payments are directly deposited at the end of every week". Social Security benefits, both retirement and disability, come on a month to month basis, not weekly.
- Quotes
Rafael Barba: [to Olivia] You okay with all this?
Olivia Benson: Are you? I got a seven-year-old in the car who's spent his entire life in a basement and God knows what else went on down there. We have no idea where this Pa is or... or... or who he is. And now the feeding frenzy begins?
[walks away]
Rafael Barba: Welcome back.
- ConnectionsReferences King & Maxwell (2013)
Which was the case with too many of the latter seasons of 'Special Victims Unit'. Luckily, "Imprisoned Lives" is one of the latter seasons ripped from the headlines type episodes that belongs in the former category. Which is amazing seeing as it is strongly based on the Ariel Castro case, which could have felt like too much too soon. And it also manages to be a truly fine episode on its own too, regardless of what type of story it is. Not as brilliant as the previous outing "Surrender Benson", but of a very inconsistent Season 15 "Imprisoned Lives" is one of the better episodes.
The case is handled in a way that pulls no punches and holds nothing back, while not being one sided, exploitative or reliant on gratuitous shock value. Really did appreciate that the story was almost all about the case and the victims, with hints of Olivia's feelings after her trauma in "Surrender Benson". Which thankfully didn't take over and brushed away my worry of Olivia being in action too soon.
It was remarkable to show Olivia's sympathetic reconnecting with the victims side while also showing her raw pain, the latter not dominating. Something that is amazing considering what she went through and that it was a case that would have hit home. Michael Massee is truly frightening, shocking that someone so normal looking would be capable of such evil (which was actually what was so unnerving about the Castro case). Did like what "Imprisoned Lives" had to say about media reporting in a on the nose and spot on way. Something that is even more relevant now than it was back then.
All the regulars are great, especially Mariska Hargitay with the meatiest material. The production values as ever have slickness and grit, with an intimacy without being claustrophobic. The music has presence when it's used but does so without being intrusive, some of it is quite haunting too. The direction is also understated but the tension never slips, the second half being full of it. As expected, the script is lean, even with a lot of talk, and incredibly thought provoking and gritty.
My only minor gripe was the hypocritical feeding frenzy quip.
Otherwise, excellent. 9/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 1, 2022