Marsha Gay Harden Reprises Her Role as FBI Agent Dana Lewis on "Law and Order--SVU"

How does a television drama stay on the air for years without becoming stale? "Law and Order -- SVU" does it by creatively using stories out the news headlines and by having a host of talented artists appear on the show. Such was the case in this week's episode entitled "Penetration."

Guest star Marsha Gay Harden reprised her role as FBI agent Dana Lewis. Regular viewers first met Agent Lewis on the show when she was working undercover to thwart a white supremacy group. She later enlisted the aid of Detective Olivia Benson, played by Marisa Hargitay, thus becoming not only acquaintances but friends. Agent Lewis with her authentic Southern accent left no doubt that this tough agent could handle just about any situation.

In the episode "Penetration" Agent Lewis appears at Olivia's apartment late in the night with some evidence of her own rape, requesting that Olivia have her crime lab run the evidence as a Jane Doe to maintain her undercover identity. Against the wishes of Agent Lewis, Olivia's desire to help her friend will not let her remain uninvolved, and soon she and her partner, Detective Elliott Stabler, played by Christopher Meloni, begin their own investigation to find her rapist.

When there is a similar rape a few days later, the SVU detectives implore Agent Lewis to help them. She allows them to join a group of protesters at the site where there are plans by a Muslim group to build a community center close to ground zero. Unfortunately, the two detectives lose Agent Lewis in the crowd and the next time they see her, she's getting into a van with a group of men. When the burned van is discovered later, the remains of a charred man sits in the driver's seat. Benson and Stabler fear their friend is in danger, but unsure whether her leaving was part of her undercover plan.

Eventually, their investigation helps them find Agent Lewis, but upon their arrival, they discover the FBI in the process of raiding the compound. Agent Lewis is upset that the two detectives ruined her undercover work with their interference.

Finding a possible connection between the rapes of Agent Lewis and the other woman, she, Benson and Stabler track down a possible suspect. Although he finally admits to the rape and murder of the second victim, he denies any connection to Agent Lewis.

One of the most emotional scenes in the "Law and Order -- SVU" episode is the testimony of Agent Lewis as she describes in detail the vicious attack on her. Marsha Gay Harden gives a powerful performance, not only with her words but also with the sincerity she elicits from the script. It is through her testimony on the stand while reciting words the rapist spoke that Detective Benson realizes why she was attacked.

"Penetration" is a great episode of revenge. In the final scene where Agent Lewis confronts her enemy in prison, the viewer gets to enjoy her final words to him in which she lets him know that unlike his bleak future behind bars, she has and will have a life.

"Law and Order -- SVU" airs Wednesday nights at 9 pm ET on the NBC network. Viewers who missed the original episode on Wednesday, NBC will air the show again on November 13 at 10 pm ET.

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"Law and Order -- SVU" on NBC