With one episode left before the fall hiatus, Law & Order: SVU finally gave us a powerful story.
It was a cautionary tale about what happens when admiration becomes idolization and how predators can use hero worship to manipulate the people they’ve inspired.
Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 7 hit hard, and for me, it was a bit close to home.
The Idea of a Writer Using Her Mission To Destroy Her Fans’ Lives Disgusts Me
When I’m not writing about shows like Law & Order: SVU, I write novels meant to inspire trauma survivors to live their most authentic lives, but unlike Claire, I’m not doing it to trick my readers into worshiping me.
So I found Claire’s behavior particularly disgusting — which was the point, of course.
The idea of someone writing stories that really speak to people, but only so she can victimize those people further, is deeply upsetting.
It was a new version of love bombing — the thing predators do when they first meet a potential victim and want to make them feel like the most special person in the world — that took advantage of the parasocial relationships that people often have with artists online.
What Happened to Leah Is A Digital-Age Problem That Is Not Talked About Enough
Thanks to social media, it’s easy to talk to celebrities that you admire.
People can follow any author, actor, or other artist on social media and sometimes communicate directly with them.
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In the digital age, artists often offer public posts to their fans and sometimes respond to fan comments.
It’s a way to build a connection with your audience, and in most cases it works well, but it can be extremely dangerous for both the artist and their fans.
There have been cases of fans stalking celebrities they think they know personally because of these online relationships, which is why it was so easy for Claire to make it sound like Leah was an obsessed fan whom she tried — and failed — to help.
And in Leah’s case, she fell into Claire and Stuart’s trap because she admired Claire so much.
The idea that Claire gave her any attention, let alone focused on her for an entire night, made her feel special, because she thought Claire was this amazing person who would never pay attention to someone like her.
Claire’s psychological manipulation worked so well that years after the fact, Leah still wanted to protect Claire from knowing that her husband was a rapist, even though she also knew that Claire was aware of what was going on and didn’t do anything about it.
It’s shocking that someone whose life’s work inspired and empowered readers was doing the opposite to the most vulnerable among them, but that’s how predators operate.
It Would Have Been Compelling For Rollins To Have More of An Emotional Reaction
It’s unsurprising that Rollins was a fan of Claire’s books before she learned what she was really like.
Rollins’ childhood was traumatic, and so was her early adult life, and it’s only in recent years that she’s dealt with it in a healthy manner, so she is exactly the audience for the kind of books that inspire readers to find their voice.
Did you think Rollins’ reaction to this case was realistic, or did you want something more?
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She’s also an adult, and not prone to hero worship, so once she realized that Claire was every bit as much a predator as all the other criminals she’s arrested in her career, Rollins stopped admiring her and focused on arresting her.
I didn’t need Rollins to be majorly upset, but I’d have liked more of a reaction.
These were books that made a positive difference in Rollins’ life, so much so that she read them more than once.
They were also the kind of fantasy novels that are very popular with preteens and teens, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she let Jessie read them too.
That would have been a fascinating thread to follow. How do you explain to your pre-teen that the author whose books they are devouring is a predator?
I wish SVU had thought of that, though the episode was powerful even without that subplot.
The Crossover With Law & Order Helped Demonstrate How Inadequate the Legal System Is
Whenever Benson gets in the same room with Nolan and Baxter, they butt heads because the DA’s office wants to prosecute a rape survivor without considering their trauma, so that conflict was nothing new.
However, the conversation did help demonstrate that the legal system is woefully inadequate for pursuing justice when it comes to rape survivors.
I was especially struck by Baxter’s comment that he wanted to make a deal because he was tired of arguing about this case.
That struck me as true to life — that there are too many lawyers and judges who have just had enough and want the case settled so they can move on to something else.
Baxter had a point, though. Leah wasn’t in imminent danger when she stabbed Stuart, so legally, she was responsible.
This was yet another episode where Dr. Huang was sorely missed — in the old days, he would have evaluated Leah’s mental health to determine if a battered victim defense was appropriate.
Fin Had a Trauma Reaction But He’d Better Not Be Leaving!
There are always rumors that Ice-T is closing up shop, but he’s consistently said he’ll stay with SVU as long as Mariska Hargitay does.
Still, Fin’s trauma reaction and need for a more extended leave of absence are disturbing.
Ice-T is critically underused as it is, and now there’s a story-driven reason for it.
Hopefully, Fin comes back soon, though a story about him dealing with trauma after all these years could be compelling.
Alright, let’s hear from you, SVU fanatics.
What did you love, hate, or not care about on Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 7?
Hit the comments with your thoughts, and share this article with your friends so they can join the conversation.
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If you enjoyed this article, check out our coverage of other Dick Wolf shows like FBI and Chicago PD. You might also enjoy our thoughts about Boston Blue.
Law & Order: SVU Season 27 airs on NBC on Thursdays at 9/8c and streams on Peacock on Fridays. The 2025 fall finale episode will air on November 20, 2025.
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