Law & Order SVU Plot Twist Really Did This Character Dirty
Law & Order: SVU is a crime drama television series that has been on the air for over 20 years.
Throughout its 23 seasons, the show has delivered a number of surprises and plot twists, but one, in particular, stands out for its controversial nature.
In the show's fourteenth season, fans were shocked when it was revealed that a popular character, FBI Agent Dana Lewis, was actually a murderer.
Dana Lewis, played by Marcia Gay Harden, only appeared in four episodes of the show between 2005 and 2013. However, in the episode titled Secrets Exhumed, her character was revealed to be hiding a dark secret.
How Her Fate was Sealed
The final episode featuring Dana Lewis was met with controversy, as it was revealed that she had committed murder years prior. The reason was that the man she loved had forced her to have an abortion, only to later announce that he was marrying his girlfriend Kira Stanger, who was also pregnant. The jealousy and heartbreak she had endured led to her snapping, and Kira paying the ultimate price.
In an attempt to cover up her crime, Dana staged the crime scene to make it look like the work of a serial rapist and murderer Brian Traymor who was on the loose at the time, effectively framing him for a murder that he actually didn't commit. However, as the episode progressed, it became increasingly clear that Lewis herself was responsible for the crime. She was only caught when detective Nick Amaro began investigating the case.
A Damaged Soul
This revelation was met with disappointment from fans of the show, who felt that the writers had wasted the opportunity to build upon an exciting and complex female character, instead reducing her to a stereotypical "femme fatale" trope. Additionally, this plot twist was seen as a betrayal of the show's overall themes and message, as it trivialized the trauma of victims of sexual assault and perpetuated harmful stereotypes.
As a character, Dana was known for her toughness, determination, and passion. This is why many felt that the plot twist revealing her as a murderer was unjust. The character had been a victim of psychological manipulation, and subsequent sexual trauma as a result. She was no villain, merely a victim who crumbled under the weight of the pain.
To conclude, Dana's plot twist was a disappointment for fans and critics alike. The character had been built up as a strong and likable character, but her sudden turn to being a villain was seen as a cheap and lazy way to create drama and rid the show of her character for the foreseeable future.