BDSM in crime dramas and other public attractions

[WorkInProgress]

I rarely watch television, but I just learned something intriguing. Apparently, at least two different TV crime drama series have had episodes which educated their viewers about the BDSM world. Specifically, these episodes have shown the difference between doms/dommes and violent criminals. In each of the two episodes that were described to me, the scenario is that somebody has been murdered (actually, in one of them there were multiple suspects), and the prime suspect is a dom or domme. Predictably, there are some cops in each episode who think it's a no-brainer that of course the BDSM person must be guilty. However, it turns out that this isn't the case, and in the process, the audience learns that people in the BDSM world only inflict pain on consenting parties and that this has no connection with the propensity to be a violent criminal.

Has anybody here seen any of these episodes, or any other instances where the mainstream world learns something edifying about BDSM? Has anybody seen any bad portrayals?

(I put this in the General Discussion section because it isn't really about tickling experiences, but deals with a broader subject that affects people with any kind of BDSM proclivity, including ours.)

 

[WorkInProgress]

Doesn't anybody have anything to say on this?

 

[milagros317]

There was a Law & Order episode with a very unflattering portrayal of a foot fetishist. He not only turned out to be the murderer, but a woman's boot with her foot still in it was found in his closet. Ugh.

 

[WorkInProgress]

Interesting. Was that recent, or some years ago? The episodes I was told about, one of which was apparently on "CSI" (a spin-off of "Law and Order"), were purportedly within the past year. I'm wondering if there's been a shift.

And of course, what's involved is the same principle as with those who are gay, the need to break the stereotype that lumps a sexual proclivity together with the violent and predatory version of it. I'm under the vague impression that TV producers may be starting to realize this more than they used to.

 

[The Sean Man]

CSI is not a spin off of Law & Order. Different producers and network.

The episode you're talking about involved a murder at a Chateau-type place run by Lady Heather (Melinda Clarke). During the course of the investigation, there are hints of a strong attraction between her and Grissom, as well as a very intelligient discussion on the foundation, concepts, and reasons behind the love of submission and domination. It actually (for a change) presented a great case, and didn't relegate lovers of such things as "weird".


The Sean Man

 

[WorkInProgress]

Thanks for that clarification. Is that the episode where, when the guy in bondage shows genuine fear, she releases him, proving that she's not the murderer because she doesn't have the heart to do violence to anybody who isn't still choosing to be her sub? In any case, this does sound like one of the episodes I was told about.

 

[milagros317]

The Law & Order episode was a rerun on TNT, so I don't know how many years ago it was first shown.

 

[The Sean Man]

Thanks for that clarification. Is that the episode where, when the guy in bondage shows genuine fear, she releases him, proving that she's not the murderer because she doesn't have the heart to do violence to anybody who isn't still choosing to be her sub? In any case, this does sound like one of the episodes I was told about.

No. This episode dealt with a guy who was not happy with his marriage. He would take out his aggression on one of the girls at Lady Heather's place, and accidentally ends up suffocating her.
But, in any case, it didn't portray BDSM lovers as freaks, which is what usually happens in movies and tv. We're normal people...but we just like a little extra "hot sauce" in our lives


The Sean Man

 

[tickledorange]

There was one on the new show "The Inside", but I don't remember what happened. One of the agents had to go question people at a BDSM club because the suspect was said to be a member there.

This prob won't count, but in the book, "Perfect Victim", the main character was into BDSM.

 

[WorkInProgress]

Sure it counts, because it's a question that can be broadened, narrowed, and seasoned to taste.

 

[Dr. Vollin]

There was a Law & Order episode with a very unflattering portrayal of a foot fetishist. He not only turned out to be the murderer, but a woman's boot with her foot still in it was found in his closet. Ugh.

Was this one of the more recent episodes? I haven't seen one like that, but it definitely sounds like one I could miss.

Anyway, there was another episode of Law & Order where the killer was targeting people into BDSM. In the investigation, the cops went into a BDSM club; I remember one of them came down on the scene pretty hard.

 

[desdemona]

There have been several L&O variety episodes involving BDSM - and not all of them SVU. One where the Domme was guilty, but her sub would not betray her...until he committed suicide at the end and left the police a letter and pictures betraying her. I'll try to dig out my episode guide. CI (not to be confused with CSI - CI=Criminal Intent and has Vincent D'onofrio staring people down) has had a few "fetish" type episodes - one dealing with internet voyeur style action - that's all I recall off the top of my head. But yes, the CSI ones (and there have been at least two with Madame Heather) were well done.