"Law & Order SVU" Season 12: Great Cast, Great Guest Stars

The most popular of the "Law & Order" franchises, "Law & Order SVU", is currently in its 12^th season. The shows cast features detectives Benson, Stabler, Munch, Tutuola, and Captain Cragen as the law part of the equation. The order has come from a long list of ADA's, with, Gillian Hardwicke as the newest ADA for the SVU unit. While the regular cast is a strong reason for SVU's success, the guest stars on this show have always been outstanding. In season 12, the great list of guest stars continue.

Episode 1, Locum

The first episode of the season featured Joan Cusak, and Peter Strauss as parents of a missing, adoptive daughter, Mackenzie. Cusak does an excellent job as an overprotective mother still grieving the disappearance of her other daughter, Ella. In an attempt to protect her remaining child, Cusak installs a computer chip into the young girl, a startling discovery made by Detective Benson. When it's discovered the mothers made Mackenzie into a "clone" of Ella, detectives begin to question her story. After briefly suspecting the mother of hurting her daughter, the detectives find a young girl, who breaks the case open. In the end, Ella is found and reunited with her family. An overjoyed, emotionally drained Cusak, holds on to Ella, as Mackenzie looks on.

Episode 3, Behave

One of the best episodes of the season to date, featured Jennifer Love Hewitt. Love Hewitt plays Vicki, a rape victim, being stalked by her rapist. Forced into seclusion by fear, Vicki is finally convinced to help in the investigation. She ID's the rapist who seems to have an airtight alibi. Benson's investigation leads her to LA, where we get our first glimpse of Detective Rex, of the new "Law & Order Los Angeles" franchise. Jennifer Love Hewitt is remarkable as a four time rape victim, who eventually gets some justice.

Episode 8, Penetration

Episode eight of the season, featured Marcia Gay Harden returning as FBI agent, Dana Lewis. Agent Lewis appears to Detective Benson asking her to do a rape kit. During the investigation to find Lewis's rapist, Benson, and Stabler are told Agent Lewis has left the FBI. After some "Law & Order" type drama, the rapist is caught. Harden does an incredible job, especially the court room scene in in which agent Lewis describes what the rapist did to her while she lay paralyzed. Marcia Gay Harden delivers one of the best performances by a victim to date on the show.

The quality of guest stars on "SVU," continues to impress. It'll be exciting to see who they line up for the remaining of the season. For starters, up coming episodes will feature the return of Christine Lahti, and CCH Pounder.