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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
S4.E22
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  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Futility

  • Episode aired Apr 25, 2003
  • TV-14
  • 41m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
Ice-T and Mariska Hargitay in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
CrimeDramaMysteryThriller

After arresting a man accused of raping several neighborhood women, Detectives Benson and Stabler attempt to obtain an indictment for their suspect with the help of a key eyewitness--his las... Read allAfter arresting a man accused of raping several neighborhood women, Detectives Benson and Stabler attempt to obtain an indictment for their suspect with the help of a key eyewitness--his last victim. However, the suspect's decision to handle his own defense casts some doubt over ... Read allAfter arresting a man accused of raping several neighborhood women, Detectives Benson and Stabler attempt to obtain an indictment for their suspect with the help of a key eyewitness--his last victim. However, the suspect's decision to handle his own defense casts some doubt over the trial's outcome as he proves to be a formidable opponent for ADA Cabot.

  • Director
    • Alex Zakrzewski
  • Writers
    • Tara Butters
    • Michele Fazekas
  • Stars
    • Christopher Meloni
    • Mariska Hargitay
    • Richard Belzer
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.3/10
    1.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alex Zakrzewski
    • Writers
      • Tara Butters
      • Michele Fazekas
    • Stars
      • Christopher Meloni
      • Mariska Hargitay
      • Richard Belzer
    • 2User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Episodes

    Photos3

    View Poster
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    Top Cast29

    Christopher Meloni
    Christopher Meloni
    • Detective Elliot Stabler
    Mariska Hargitay
    Mariska Hargitay
    • Detective Olivia Benson
    Richard Belzer
    Richard Belzer
    • Detective John Munch
    Stephanie March
    Stephanie March
    • ADA Alexandra 'Alex' Cabot
    Ice-T
    Ice-T
    • Detective Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola
    BD Wong
    BD Wong
    • Special Agent Dr. George Huang, M.D.
    • (as B.D. Wong)
    Dann Florek
    Dann Florek
    • Captain Donald 'Don' Cragen
    Fred Savage
    Fred Savage
    • Michael Gardner
    Myndy Crist
    • Carrie Huitt
    Tyra Ferrell
    • Bethany Taylor
    Dana Eskelson
    Dana Eskelson
    • Karen Leighton
    Lauren Ward
    Lauren Ward
    • Erin Russ
    Joel de la Fuente
    Joel de la Fuente
    • TARU Technician Ruben Morales
    • (as Joel De La Fuente)
    Tamara Tunie
    Tamara Tunie
    • ME Dr. Melinda Warner
    Audrie Neenan
    Audrie Neenan
    • Judge Lois Preston
    David Lipman
    David Lipman
    • Trial Judge Arthur Cohen
    Jenny Maguire
    Jenny Maguire
    • Kimberly Gardner
    Annie Burton Alvarez
    • Janet Todesco
    • (as Annie Alvarez)
    • Director
      • Alex Zakrzewski
    • Writers
      • Tara Butters
      • Michele Fazekas
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews2

    8.31.1K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      In the very beginning of the episode, in Michael's apartment when he's playing cards with his wife and friends before he is arrested; the song that plays in the background is Dear Claudia by SouthFM which is a real song.
    • Goofs
      Benson takes a punch to the mouth in the first scene, but never shows any signs of bruising.
    • Quotes
      • Det. Olivia Benson: I made Carrie relive the worst thing that's ever happened to her. I screwed any number of victims who might have sought counseling from Bethany Taylor. And a few less rapes may be reported because of it.
      • Elliot Stabler: And if Michael Gardner is convicted, he'll never rape another woman.
      • Det. Olivia Benson: It's not worth it. It's not worth the cost.
      • Elliot Stabler: To you or them?
      • Det. Olivia Benson: I'm not talking about me.
      • Elliot Stabler: Yeah, you are. For as long as I have known you, you've always identified with the victims. Now, maybe that's because you're a woman. I don't know. I do know it's one of the things that makes you a great cop. It's also one of the things that makes this job torture sometimes. You can never go back and change things that have already happened, Olivia. You can't. You kill yourself to make something happen or you do nothing.
    • Connections
      Featured in 10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)

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    Details

    • Release date
      • April 25, 2003 (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Wolf Films
      • Universal Network Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 41m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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