Lena Savoie
In the long-running TV series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the character of Captain Don Cragen, played by Dann Florek, is a recovering alcoholic. In the episode Hammered, ADA Paxton, played by Christine Lahti, prosecutes a case where a man drank heavily and murdered a woman he met at a bar. Paxton herself is an alcoholic and is forced to seek treatment after a mistrial.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Episode | "Hammered" |
| Air Date | 2009 |
| Character | Scott Foley |
| Actor | Christine Lahti |
| Character Played | ADA Sonya Paxton |
| Alcoholic | Yes |
| Other Characters | Detective Elliott Stabler, Benson, Christopher Meloni |
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What You'll Learn
- Captain Don Cragen, played by Dann Florek, is a recovering alcoholic
- ADA Sonya Paxton, played by Christine Lahti, is an alcoholic
- Paxton's case in the episode Hammered involves a man who drank heavily and murdered a woman
- Paxton enters court-ordered alcohol rehab
- Cragen helps Rollins, who is a heavy gambler, by requiring her to attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings
Captain Don Cragen, played by Dann Florek, is a recovering alcoholic
As a recovering alcoholic, Cragen is understanding when Detective Amanda Rollins, played by Kelli Giddish, is exposed as a heavy gambler in the episode "Home Invasions". Cragen threatens to take her badge but ultimately decides to help her by requiring her to attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings.
Cragen is written out of the main Law & Order series in 1993, as he is transferred to the Anti-Corruption Task Force, occasionally making guest appearances on the show. The character is brought back full-time in 1999 to be the Captain of the Special Victims Unit. As the SVU Commanding Officer, he is portrayed as a stern but understanding father figure to the detectives who work under him, often giving them a lot of leeway because he trusts their ability to get results.
In the episode "Hammered", ADA Paxton, played by Christine Lahti, prosecutes a case where a man drank heavily and murdered a woman he met at a bar. The defense blames alcoholism for the murder during the trial. Paxton herself is an alcoholic and is ordered to seek treatment after a mistrial is declared when her blood alcohol level is found to be above the legal limit.
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ADA Sonya Paxton, played by Christine Lahti, is an alcoholic
Indeed, Paxton's behaviour towards her colleagues is described as "irritating" and "sympathetic", her "bravado being a shield for her real problems". She is also described as lacking people skills and doing nothing to foster a good working relationship with the squad. Paxton's alcoholism is also alluded to in the episode title, "Hammered", which is a slang term for being drunk.
In the episode, Paxton accidentally plays a computer-generated video mockup of the crime, with the defendant's face superimposed onto the attacker. This mistake could be due to her alcoholism, with her judgement impaired by drinking, or it could be a technical error. However, the episode ends with Paxton returning to the SVU precinct to apologise to the team and state her intention to make amends, suggesting that she is taking responsibility for her actions and seeking to improve her behaviour.
Christine Lahti's performance as ADA Sonya Paxton is described as "electric", and her character is "both irritating and sympathetic". Lahti's portrayal of Paxton's internal struggles and her complex relationships with her colleagues adds depth to the character and the storyline. Lahti's performance is impressive given the challenging nature of the role, and her appearances on the show are praised as "strong sections on addictions".
Overall, ADA Sonya Paxton, played by Christine Lahti, is an alcoholic, and her struggle with alcoholism is a central theme of the "Hammered" episode. Lahti's portrayal of this complex character adds a compelling layer to the show and explores the impact of addiction on an individual's life and relationships.
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Paxton's case in the episode Hammered involves a man who drank heavily and murdered a woman
In the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Hammered", Paxton is prosecuting a case where a man, Dalton Rindell, drank heavily and murdered a woman he did not know. Dalton wakes up after a night of heavy drinking to find a dead woman in his apartment, with no memory of the night before. He calls the police, and Detectives Benson and Stabler suspect a love triangle, but Dalton does not recognize the victim.
During the trial, secrets of ADA Paxton's past and private life are revealed, and her alcoholism comes to a head, leading to a mistrial for the defendant, Dalton. Paxton's actions result in double jeopardy, meaning he can never be retried for the murder. Paxton tearfully apologizes to the SVU detectives before leaving for court-ordered rehab.
The episode also involves the murder of an abortion doctor, with the defence arguing that alcoholism is a disease. ADA Paxton is bitterly opposed to this claim.
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Paxton enters court-ordered alcohol rehab
In the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Hammered", Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Paxton is prosecuting a case where a man drank heavily and murdered a woman he met at a bar. During the trial, the defence argues that alcoholism is a disease and blames it for the murder. Paxton, who is portrayed as an alcoholic herself, is bitterly opposed to this claim.
At the end of the episode, Paxton's blood alcohol level is revealed to be .082, resulting in a mistrial. She is ordered to seek treatment and enters court-ordered alcohol rehab. Paxton returns to the SVU precinct and apologises to the team, stating her intention to make amends.
Despite her personal struggles, Paxton continues to appear in the series. In season 11, she meets ADA Cabot outside the courtroom and warns her to watch out for Benson and Stabler. Paxton makes a surprise return to SVU in season 12, serving as the Executive ADA in the episode "Gray". She also appears in the seventeenth episode, "Pursuit", to help a friend who is being stalked.
Portrayed by Christine Lahti, Paxton is a complex character who adds depth to the SVU cast. Her struggles with alcoholism and her dynamic with the squad, particularly Christopher Meloni's character, create tension and intrigue in the series.
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Cragen helps Rollins, who is a heavy gambler, by requiring her to attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings
Captain Donald Cragen, played by Dann Florek, is a recovering alcoholic on Law & Order: SVU. Cragen helps Detective Amanda Rollins, played by Kelli Giddish, with her gambling addiction by requiring her to attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings.
Rollins is a Sergeant assigned to the Special Victims Unit after moving to New York City from Atlanta, Georgia. In Season 13, Episode 14 ("Home Invasions"), it is revealed that Rollins has a gambling problem and owes $20,000 to a bookie. Instead of firing her, Cragen, who is a recovering alcoholic, chooses to help Rollins by requiring her to attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings.
Rollins' gambling addiction resurfaces in Season 15, Episode 17 ("Gambler's Fallacy") when she begins gambling at an illegal site. She gets into trouble with the site owners when they learn she is a cop, and they coerce her into stealing a gun from the evidence locker. Despite this setback, Rollins continues to attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings for her gambling addiction.
Cragen, as the Commanding Officer of the SVU, is portrayed as a stern but understanding father figure to the detectives who work under him. He gives them a great deal of leniency because he trusts their ability to get results. This is evident in the way he handles Rollins' gambling problem, choosing to help her instead of firing her.
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Frequently asked questions
Christine Lahti played the role of alcoholic ADA Sonya Paxton in the 2009 episode "Hammered".
In "Hammered", Paxton is prosecuting a case where an alcoholic man drank heavily and murdered a woman he met at a bar. The defense blames alcoholism for the murder during the trial.
Yes, Christine Lahti made several appearances on SVU as ADA Sonya Paxton.
