"Law and Order SVU" is tackling a major world issue in its new episode. Next week, the team is headed to a video game convention to investigate an assault. What should be a grand day for all gamers will turn into a big mess of a crime scene.
Season 16 episode 14 is titled "Intimidation Game." The official synopsis goes:
"Video game developer, Raina Punjabi (guest star Mouzam Makkar), will solidify the launch of her first game amid a stream of online insults, intimidation and death threats from the male-dominated gaming community. When a female employee is assaulted at a gamer convention, Detective Tutuola (Ice-T) will investigate the crime, but Raina is going to refuse to delay the launch, and the cops will have to 'level up' to protect her."
"Intimidation Game" is taking on a relevant issue in the gaming community, which is still very sensitive at this point. From the synopsis and the promo, it seems like the episode is based on the Gamergate controversy.
This controversy is brought about by sexism in gaming. Men believe that they should dominate the gaming culture, thus making women feel that they shouldn't be part of that. However, things get too out of hand when online attacks are made via social media targeting female gamers.
It was in August 2014 when this controversy exploded. Many female gamers reported that they've actually been receiving death threats from male gamers. Naturally, it instills fear in female gamers, but this shouldn't be the case at all. Now, non-profit group WAM! or Women, Action & The Media launched a tool to help victims report any harassment they experience in social media. This tool forwards the report to Twitter for the company to take action.
Similarly, in this episode, a female gamer is under threat because she is launching her own new game. The antagonist even goes as far as assaulting an employee just to prove a point. And perhaps, he won't stop there.
Watch "Law and Order SVU" on Feb. 11 on NBC to see how the show can help achieve gender justice on social media.
