Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

The team becomes involved in an online hoax, an internet‑based deception that they pursue. The hoax escalates and ultimately leads to an internet celebrity being raped. Benson sets Sheila some firm ground rules, which she must follow immediately without exception.

Intent is a television programme that delivers its stories in a single‑episode format, each one standing on its own while still fitting into the series’ broader framework. The show typically follows a group of characters as they encounter unusual or challenging situations, and this particular instalment continues that pattern, presenting a compact narrative that unfolds within one viewing. In this episode the team finds itself drawn into an online hoax. The fabricated story spreads rapidly across digital platforms and ultimately leads to a disturbing outcome: an internet celebrity becomes the victim of a sexual assault. This development forms the core of the episode’s conflict, driving the characters to confront the severe repercussions of the deception. Amidst the turmoil, Benson steps forward to impose a set of clear, firm ground rules on Sheila. He outlines strict expectations for her behaviour and interaction, aiming to bring some measure of control to the chaotic situation. By laying down these boundaries, Benson seeks to manage the fallout and guide the team toward a more orderly response. The episode therefore centres on the clash between the repercussions of the online hoax and the authority Benson attempts to assert through his rules. It tracks how the team navigates the aftermath of the assault while adhering to the constraints placed upon Sheila, creating a tense and focused storyline that examines the limits of control in a crisis.