Law & Order: UK - 1.07 "Alesha"
Apr. 7th, 2009 11:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lizbeeI think this is one of those cases where fandom makes me a bad person. Because part of me was sitting through the episode going, "Yes, Alesha's been raped, that is terrible. WHY DOES SHE HAVE ALL THESE SCENES WITH BAMBER? NO ONE CARES WHAT MATT THINKS, WHERE IS JAMES STEELE AND HIS MANLY RECTITUDE AND SUPPORT AND SHIT?"
So yeah, horrible person.
I thought this episode was okay but flawed. Mostly in the ending, because -- barring certain legally dubious laws passed in the wake of September 11 -- I don't think it's actually possible to arrest someone and hope that a charge turns up later.
Otherwise, I liked it. I thought Alesha's actions were deeply stupid, but in an understandable way. She recommends a gynaecologist for her depressed and traumatised best friend, even pays for a visit, and when the friend tries to kill herself after seeing him, sets out to find out if the man's a problem. On suffering a minor sexual assault at his hands, and finding it unprovable, she goes back. Which is a bad decision, but she had no reason to expect to be raped.
I thought the actual rape scene was handled as well as possible, in terms of filming. The trial scenes were more traumatic. Which accords with real life, unfortunately. Right down to the woman barrister setting out to Make An Example Of The False Rape Accuser. Blech. How glad am I that this was written by Catherine Tregenna, not Chris Chibnall? VERY.
I've decided, btw, that I just don't like Matt Devlin. And not just because he's Bamber. He's all Mister Male Privilege until the moment a woman he's interested in is violated, and then he puts on his Male Feminist Hat. He's not sincere, however much he might think he is.
Anyway, that was fraught but compelling. And I defy anyone to watch this, and then try and say that Freema can't act.
I've added 139 screencaps from the episode to freema.mirrordance.net.
So yeah, horrible person.
I thought this episode was okay but flawed. Mostly in the ending, because -- barring certain legally dubious laws passed in the wake of September 11 -- I don't think it's actually possible to arrest someone and hope that a charge turns up later.
Otherwise, I liked it. I thought Alesha's actions were deeply stupid, but in an understandable way. She recommends a gynaecologist for her depressed and traumatised best friend, even pays for a visit, and when the friend tries to kill herself after seeing him, sets out to find out if the man's a problem. On suffering a minor sexual assault at his hands, and finding it unprovable, she goes back. Which is a bad decision, but she had no reason to expect to be raped.
I thought the actual rape scene was handled as well as possible, in terms of filming. The trial scenes were more traumatic. Which accords with real life, unfortunately. Right down to the woman barrister setting out to Make An Example Of The False Rape Accuser. Blech. How glad am I that this was written by Catherine Tregenna, not Chris Chibnall? VERY.
I've decided, btw, that I just don't like Matt Devlin. And not just because he's Bamber. He's all Mister Male Privilege until the moment a woman he's interested in is violated, and then he puts on his Male Feminist Hat. He's not sincere, however much he might think he is.
Anyway, that was fraught but compelling. And I defy anyone to watch this, and then try and say that Freema can't act.
I've added 139 screencaps from the episode to freema.mirrordance.net.
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no subject
Date: 2009-04-07 02:16 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2009-04-07 04:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-07 05:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-07 06:22 am (UTC)I was thinking the same thing too. Although, it was his idea that got Dr Nasty put away in the end, even if it was, as you pointed out, somewhat suspect. Plus, I've discovered that Ben Daniels' woobie face can actually break my heart, as did Freema's performance.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-07 06:34 am (UTC)I'm with you on not liking Matt much, alas, even though I rather do like Bamber and sometimes, when he's not annoying, Apollo.
There were definitely NOT enough Alesha/James scenes.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-07 07:41 am (UTC)Glad that I was not the only one thinking that. James had some nice scenes with Alesha, though (as a friend of mine pointed out, he's actually the only one who touched her this ep and, also, he referred to them having a 'personal relationship', which I took as shippy). I just wish there wasn't so much pushing of Matt/Alesha in the episode. I find Matt so boring.
And I defy anyone to watch this, and then try and say that Freema can't act.
Amen to that.
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Date: 2009-04-07 09:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-07 04:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-07 10:41 am (UTC)No, just me then