A woman claiming to have been raped and left for dead commits suicide while waiting to be treated in the emergency room.A woman claiming to have been raped and left for dead commits suicide while waiting to be treated in the emergency room.A woman claiming to have been raped and left for dead commits suicide while waiting to be treated in the emergency room.
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- Special Agent Dr. George Huang, M.D.
- (as B.D. Wong)
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaRichard Belzer's character John Munch helps a potential suicide recover and reveals to her that his father killed himself. In real life, Belzer's father killed himself when Belzer was 23 years old.
- GoofsOlivia talks about a web site she has seen that gives teenager girls advice on how to become "anorectic". An anorectic is a drug that suppresses appetite. Olivia presumably meant to say "anorexic", referring to the eating disorder.
- Quotes
Det. John Munch: [to Amy] Can you read my lips?
Doctor Amy Solway: Yes.
Det. John Munch: Why won't you take this kidney?
Doctor Amy Solway: My life, my decision.
Det. John Munch: Yeah, well, it's the wrong decision.
Doctor Amy Solway: Leave me alone.
Det. John Munch: Why, so you can die alone in this dump?
Doctor Amy Solway: Get out.
Det. John Munch: Great way to catch that train, isn't it?
Doctor Amy Solway: I don't want to hurt anymore.
Det. John Munch: Then let them do the transplant.
Doctor Amy Solway: No.
Det. John Munch: It will take away your pain.
Doctor Amy Solway: So I could go to prison?
Det. John Munch: So you can live.
Doctor Amy Solway: Why do you care if I live or die?
Det. John Munch: Because my father killed himself. When I was a kid, I thought it was my fault. The night before he blew his brains out, he punished me for being a wise-ass. I told him I hated his guts. Those were the last words I ever said to him. It haunts me to this day. You're the only person I've ever told.
Doctor Amy Solway: Why me?
Det. John Munch: Because we're the same. I feel guilty. My father was suffering, I couldn't help him. You feel guilty because of what you did to Christina.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2004)
After a little dip in quality with "Criminal", Season 5 and 'Special Victims Unit' overall is back on form with "Painless". It is a wonderful episode and one of the season's most intense and moving. As well as up there with one of the best. While the quality of the episodes varied between just above average to outstanding, 'Special Victims Unit's' Season 5 is quite a bit more consistent than those for the original 'Law and Order' and 'Criminal Intent' with a higher number of great episodes. "Painless" handles the suicide topic with sensitivity, intensity and complexity and it was great to see Munch spotlighted.
"Painless" is highly successful in every way when it comes to execution. The production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. The direction has enough taut urgency when needed while giving the case breathing space.
The script raises a lot of very interesting questions, especially on the legal side of the case, that are emotionally resonant and are ones that will spark and has sparked much debate. Really appreciated that it explores the topic from several different points of view instead of just taking one side or being just agree vs disagree, it is so easy to make a judgement without knowing of the reasons behind the action but "Painless" doesn't do that. The exchanges between Amy and Munch and Novak and Amy are particularly good and Munch's speech is powerful.
Loved the development to Munch, found myself admiring and feeling for him, completely understanding every part of his conflict. After seeing him underused for most of the season, it was great to see another glimpse of the softer and more conflicted side to him that has been present in other previous episodes but not in a while. The story is compelling and intensely moving, with a perpetrator that one is not sure at all whether to hate or feel for (both sides in my view here can be understood). Will openly admit to being in tears at the end.
All the acting is great, with top honours going to a nuanced Richard Belzer, expertly bringing out Munch's pain and conflict in a moving way, and Marlee Matlee on dynamite form as an interesting character that can be both hated but also understood.
Overall, outstanding. 10/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jan 6, 2021