Since it's premiere in 1999, NBC's newest installment of the Law and Order series known as Special Victims Unit has garnered a broad viewership that spans a wide variety of households nationwide, developing it's own cult-like following of dedicated fans. The addiction can creep up on you suddenly - it isn't hard to get absorbed into the show's dramatic yet compelling storylines. Here are a few warning signs that you might be addicted to Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.
1. You can recite the opening monologue to a tee.
The telltale sign of a true SVU addict.
2. You catch yourself singing the theme song in seemingly appropriate situations.
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3. You can tell which season an episode is from just based on Olivia's haircut.
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The pixie cut appears to be one of her favorites.
4. You're still not over Stabler's departure...
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Most of us are still in denial.
5. Or Capt. Cragen's...
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Don't lie. You cried real tears when he left.
6. Or even Munch's.
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SVU's most snarky detective.
7. In fact, you miss the original cast more than anything.
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After season 11, the Special Victim's Unit was never the same.
8. You can never fully accept Amaro as Stabler's replacement.
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No matter how attractive he may be...
9. But Ice T still slays the comic relief.
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How he maintains a long-term serious role is beyond me.
10. The debate on the superior ADA still rages on.
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Alex Cabot? Casey Novak? Even Rafael Barba is in the running.
11. Your favorite television psychologist is Dr. Huang, not Dr. Phil.
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Huang doesn't need his own show to be the bigger boss.
12. Finding an SVU marathon on USA is like Christmas morning.
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13. After hours of binging, you feel like a complete expert on law and psychology.
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14. In fact, you've probably seen every episode at least 3 times each.
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If not several times more...
15. When someone claims they've never seen SVU before...
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How is that even possible?
16. Or that they don't like it:
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Impossible.
17. Yet somehow you can never just watch one episode.
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18. You know anyone who's anyone has guest starred on the show at some point.
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Brittany Snow...
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19. You wish Benson and Stabler had gotten together before Stabler's departure.
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Still waiting... (Hey. Anything can happen.)
20. The most frustrating part of basically every episode:
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They just love leaving viewers hanging on the edge. And they're damn good at it.