Episode Report Card Wendola: A+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Uncivilized
By Wendola | Season 1 | Episode 7 | Aired on 11.14.1999
Benson and Stabler walk past police tape. Apparently the body of an eight-year-old boy named Ryan Davies has been found. In case we weren't horrified enough, the crime scene is a public park. In case we're still not outraged, it turns out that two more boys found the body when they went to get a ball out of the bushes. Benson talks to them. Stabler goes over to the bushes where the body bag is lying. "Kid was assaulted, strangled, left in a shallow grave," the cop on the scene tells him. "How old?" asks Stabler. "Around eight," cop says. Stabler sighs, squats down by the body bag and hesitates a few moments, as if deciding whether he should look. He unzips it a little and his stoic expression flinches a little. Benson and Stabler go to notify the kid's parents, who freak out very realistically, in case we're still not completely depressed.
Oh yeah, and then the opening credits laden with headlines and creepy photos, in case we forgot that the city is filled with sickos.
And then the commercials, in case we don't have a soul and would rather just have a Bacon Cheddar Whopper.
At the station, Stabler is looking through snapshots of Ryan Davies. He lingers over one where the boy is holding a soccer ball and smiling. Cap'n Cragen pops out of his office: "All right, people, what have we learned?" "That nobody can handle crimes against children," says Benson. "Yeah, and [those with] less than two [offenses] get out after two years," adds Jeffries (who seems to be allergic to nouns). "And no one can handle the children," says Stabler, still looking at Ryan's photo. Everyone discusses the details of the crime, in case we missed the first five minutes because we were out getting a Whopper. Ryan's body was found with ligature marks around his neck, and no weapon or other evidence was found; crime probably occurred in the park, attacker was probably a stranger. The camera keeps cutting back to Stabler, who appears stony-faced and detached; this episode it’s his turn to Take It Personally. "Last time his parents saw Ryan was after school -- he went to a comic book shop in search of Pokémon cards," says Benson, making sure to put a tad of bitter emphasis on the word "Pokémon." "Who lets an eight-year-old out alone?" sighs Jeffries. "You watch over them twenty-four hours a day, you wind up with safe little neurotics," says Munch, like he's Dr. Benjamin Spock. Cragen ends the meeting: "Well, let's canvass the neighborhood." Everyone goes back to their desks or whatever, but Stabler doesn't move. He's obviously upset and thinking about his family. I know this is really not the time to say this, but man, he's hot.
Rrrrring! goes a school bell. The sound editors wisely decide not to chung-chung! here. Munch and Cassidy are outside an elementary school. "Ever think of having kids?" Cassidy asks. "Why?" says Munch, "I have you." Aww. They approach three girls and two moms sitting at a table; apparently part of a Girl Scout troop. "Cookies for sale!" perks up one girl. Munch greets them; Mom #1 barks, "Who are you?!" Moms everywhere agree: Munch is creepy. The detectives introduce themselves and ask the moms if they know anything about Ryan Davies. "I know I won't let her out of my sight," says Mom #2, putting her hand on her daughter's shoulder and glaring. "How much are the cookies?" Cassidy asks. "Five bucks!" chirps one of the Girl Scouts. Cassidy buys four boxes. Savvy cop that he is, he knows that the Girl Scout posse don't talk on the street until you deal. As we get a better look, we see that the cookies so prominently featured are not the Girl Scout cookies we know and love, but are in fact big honking bags of President's Choice Decadent Chocolate Chip cookies. What are these children up to? Are they Girl Scouts or are they the Product Placement Junior Brigade? Cassidy squats down and talks to one of the little girls who knew Ryan. "Do you think you can remember someone who might have talked about what has happened? Have you heard anything?" The little kid glances at her friend, then at her mom, and answers, "Boys. Older boys." "Who?" asks Cassidy. The kid looks around again. She does just the cutest rendition of L & O Witness Who Knows Something. Finally she says, "Mike D -- and Jimmy G?" Cassidy asks her if she knows where they "hang out."