Ep 3. Solitary

Solitary is the third episode of the eleventh season of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. The episode follows the journey of Detective Benson and her team as they investigate the alleged rape of an old friend, Kelly, who has been serving a sentence in solitary confinement for nine years. The story presents complex themes such as power dynamics, institutional abuses, and the psychological effects of loneliness and isolation.

The episode begins with a glimpse of Kelly's life in the solitary. She is shown communicating with a fellow inmate through a wall, trying to keep her mind engaged by exercising and reading books, and talking to herself. The next shot takes us to a courtroom where Kelly is being presented with the news of her rape allegation by a prison guard. The news shocks Kelly, and she denies the accusation vehemently, stating that she has had no visitors or interactions for the past nine years.

The Special Victims Unit (SVU) team is called in to investigate the matter, and Detective Benson takes it upon herself to interview Kelly. The episode presents a harrowing account of Kelly's experiences in the solitary and how they have shaped her perception of the world. She is shown to be distrusting, paranoid and agitated. Kelly refuses to accept any help from the SVU team and is keen on proving her innocence on her own.

The investigation takes a dramatic turn when the SVU team discovers that Kelly's rape allegation might be linked to a larger institutional scandal. The SVU team's investigation leads them to a dysfunctional and corrupt prison system in which male guards routinely abuse and mistreat female inmates in their control. The case becomes an intense power struggle between the inmates, who are deprived of all human dignity, free will, and the guards who abuse their position.

Throughout the episode, the psychological effects of solitary confinement are keenly observed. Kelly is portrayed as an inmate who has been rendered psychologically muted due to prolonged confinement. Her isolation has created a cognitive dissonance, where she seems almost unaware of the world outside her confinement. The episode highlights the importance of human connection and interaction, raising concerns about the long-term effects of solitary confinement.

The episode expertly portrays the power dynamics between the prison guards and the inmates, wherein the prisoners are almost helpless against the corrupt administration. It is revealed that Kelly's rape allegation is linked to her refusal to oblige a guard's demand for sexual favors. The system is shown to be stacked against the inmates, and their complaints are almost always ignored, dismissed or punished.

The episode ends with a trial, where Kelly must face her alleged rapist. The trial is tense, and the stakes are high. The episode's finale expertly weaves together the investigative threads, asking some hard-to-answer questions such as the ethicality and morality of long-term solitary confinement, the abuse of power inherent in the prison system, and the broader societal implications of institutional abuse.

In conclusion, Solitary is a well-written, well-executed episode that raises some hard-hitting questions about the inherent corruption in the American prison system. The episode's treatment of the psychological effects of solitary confinement, along with the intricacies of institutional abuse and power play, make it a gripping and thought-provoking watch.