Ep 21. Denial

Detectives Benson and Stabler investigate a complex case of sexual abuse in the season 3 finale of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, entitled Denial.

The episode opens with a young girl, Marie, coming home late at night after spending time with her boyfriend. As she enters the house, she is attacked by an unknown assailant who proceeds to sexually assault her. The next day, Marie tells her mother that she was raped, but when her mother takes her to the hospital, Marie denies that anything happened.

Benson and Stabler are called to the hospital by the attending physician, who suspects that Marie has been sexually assaulted. The detectives question Marie, who continues to deny that anything happened, even though the doctor has found physical evidence of sexual abuse. Benson and Stabler suspect that Marie is in denial and try to get her to open up about what happened.

As the investigation continues, the detectives discover that Marie has been sexually abused by her father, who has been using her since she was a young girl. Marie's father, a respected community member and successful businessman, denies that he has done anything wrong, and the case becomes a battle of credibility between Marie and her father.

The detectives work tirelessly to build a case against the father and to help Marie come to terms with what has happened to her, but she continues to deny that anything happened. The case becomes more complicated when Marie's father's attorney uncovers a connection between Marie and one of the detectives, which threatens to derail the case.

In the end, Benson and Stabler are able to convince Marie to testify against her father, and he is convicted of sexual abuse and incest. The episode ends with Benson and Stabler reflecting on the toll that these cases take on them emotionally, and the importance of their work in bringing justice to victims of sexual abuse.

Overall, Denial is a powerful and emotional episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit that deals with the difficult subject of sexual abuse and the trauma of denial. The performances of the cast are strong, and the story is well-written and engaging from start to finish. Fans of the show will not want to miss this powerful season 3 finale.