18.2: When Getting It Right Feels Kind Of Wrong

The Case in 182 Words

Vice President Biden honors Benson and SVU for their work in clearing the rape kit backlog and as she accepts the accolades, Olivia tearfully announces that testing the kits resulted in the exoneration of Sean Roberts who went to prison at age eighteen for raping Melanie Harper. Things go south quickly with SVU being called to the Harper residence early the next morning. Ashley has been raped, doused with bleach, and burned. The detectives eventually end up at Roberts' apartment. Sean has an injured hand and an alibi…which falls apart quickly. Ashley dies, Charlie identifies Sean, SVU and company go back to the apartment with a warrant where Fin finds Ashley’s engagement ring in the drain and, ok, back to prison ya go, Mr. Roberts. But it’s not that simple because when is it ever that simple and what Barba at first sees as a fairly easy case to prosecute quickly mangles and almost is torpedoed until our favorite ADA hostile-witnesses Melanie (the original victim) and he’s so good that a chastened Buchanan asks for and gets a plea deal for Sean. 

My Thoughts In Unlimited Words

Stop me if you've heard this one. THE SHOW NEEDS TO BE LONGER. Ninety minutes. Or more two-parters. This one left me staring (albeit a bit bleary-eyed from the alcohol) at the beginning of whatever show comes on after SVU wondering how on Earth and hour can pass so quickly and also...

Could we not have had a little more Finfo? Such as...the background to the original case? I know "Talkin's overrated" but would it have been possible to see a little bitty snippet of introspective Fin? Like a convo between him and Amanda in a bar or him and Carisi in a bar or him and OMB in a bar or..I KNOW...him and Liv in the office having a heart-to-heart and then Fin picks up a new framed photo of the Tuckers in Paris and he shifts gears into Grandpa (I know, I know, it's Fin) mode and then maybe she gets a text from Ed and is all like "I gotta go" and Fin is like "yeah, don't wanna keep him waiting" and OMB smiles kinda mischievously, and they walk out together? I'm not trying to type words onto the writers' scripts or anything, but...oh, who am I kidding? Yes I am.

I CANNOT be the only viewer who was whimsically smiling at the good ole Veep as he commended SVU and thinking, as the camera panned the onlookers, that ED FUCKING TUCKER would be front and center with a proud and perhaps a bit lustful smirk on his face? Y'all couldn't have called RJB in for a few minutes that day? I KNOW it wasn't like there were security clearance issues or anything. Jeez Louise if #Tuckson is #Tuckson there would be no fucking way Tucker would miss his boo getting that honor and, btw, don't you imagine Tucker and Biden getting along really well? #DrinkingBuddies

So, I was certain Benson was going to have another closed-door sesh with Rollins after the spat in Barba's office, but I was proud of Mama Bear for keeping it cool and sending everyone out. I am hoping against hope that Fin's Sergeant's exam griping was a red herring and it's Rollins who actually will take the test and get the promotion. 

The whole Charlie thing reminded me of Holden and also of the kid with Pica who was molested by Dr. Keppler and ended up shooting and beating the life out of him because the Doc called him stupid...wtf was that kid's name? Jeffrey? Barba was as compassionate as ever outside the court room ("You'll be fine") and I don't care what his IQ is...he pissed me off because Rollins did nothing wrong there...now we're detective-blaming because she's attractive????????????????????

I am very shocked the episode didn't end with the old person with loads of unbearable guilt and also a bleak future pulls the court officer's gun and blows her brains out on the court steps a la the former QB with brain damage...what was HIS name? Damn. Did I ever mention I'm bad with names (even real people's)? I'm really good with Twitter handles though...anyway...lemme get this straight. Melanie Harper was raped. Melanie Harper's ID was wrong (I think...still a little fuzzy on that one because she did ID Sean Roberts and also who's to say there wasn't a problem with evidence collection or Sean worked in conjunction with a partner or he's good at destroying or damaging DNA). Melanie Harper and her daughter, big hearted as they are, help Sean get on his feet. Sean gets all fucked up. Sean, drunk and also irreparably damaged from being raped and brutalized in prison, rapes and kills Ashley after she laughs at him. So, as Barba so helpfully walks us through in court, because of her bad ID, Melanie the victim is now Melanie the rapist, murderer, and hell, while we're at it, let's blame her for me having to choose between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on November 8.

JFC.

Style Guide

Ok, so, this is what happened. Ed Tucker loves OMB in leather SO MUCH that she's purchased a few new pieces (she has extra cash because they've moved in together and are now splitting expenses). Those of you following me on Twitter know how I feel about OMB's wardrobe so excuse the redundancy but those leather-accented blazers at the beginning of the ep were so freaking redonk that I went directly to Madewell.com among others, filled carts with thousands of dollars of OMB-esque merchandise, and then realized I was breaking my "no buying under the influence" rule and I slammed that laptop shut and thanked myself this morning (silver linings because I had a wicked hangover).

Rollins buttons the top blouse button and OMB does not. That's what happens when ya have an Ed Tucker in your life I guess.

Fic Writers Could Fill In The Blanks With...

Take your pick from the ideas already articulated above...#Tuckson sex post-VP visit--like, they're watching the news and they show the clip and he tosses his plate aside and to the bedroom they go and, IDK, say Noah is already asleep or they plop him in front of the TV or iPad (maybe he has some baby Beats by nwow?)...or maybe Tucker just whisks her away for a nooner at a hotel or something (I'm still on the fence about how far OMB would go in her office...in real fake life of course)...take that honor out to play, kids!

Ain't No Party Like An #SVU Watch Party

It was #NationalBeerDay or something...and I did the hashtag proud.

Quotable

"It's not your fault."

"Then whose is it?"

"Talkin's overrated."

And Barba's entire line of questioning Melanie...

And also the off-screen exchange when Tucker says "Olivia Margaret Benson, I'm so proud of you." and then he jokes about feeling threatened "you're not gonna leave me for the VP are ya?" Oh, Tucker.

Is It Next Wednesday Yet?

I've been bitching on Twitter all day about how I didn't like this ep but I've calmed down but it's still not on my list of "I'm sure the people at Hulu look at my viewing history and are like 'damn, IDK what meds that lady needs, but she needs somethin'' 

Tension between Barba and everyone else in NYC seems to be building and, um, I seem to remember his LIFE BEING IN DANGER at the end of S17, so I'd really like to know how all that's going or maybe he's just bunking with Carisi now and Sonny was like, don't be givin my address out, Raffie.

There was zero suspense. ZERO. Nobody thought Fin planted evidence. I thought there was something off about Sean from the get-go. And I absolutely hate what happened to Melanie. 

Did I also mention I happen to hate that there was no #Tuckson reference? 

I see the squad coming together and I see OMB continuing to grow into her leadership role, but I want more of that side and not just evidence gathering, arrest, trial, aftermath, someone's not happy, ok, let's start over. 

The engagement ring, upcoming wedding talk...to me that's all a tease, so nobody can say anything even loosely related to marriage on this show because I read too much into it and think it hints at #Tuckson and then I spend the rest of the night finishing what's left of my husband's Macallan 12 and watching #Tuckson clips.

Lastly, I thought the show "looked" a lot better this week and not like the cameramen were being carted around in rickshaws.

Really lastly, when's sister Kim coming back? God, I miss that crazy bitch.

18.1: Whose Job IS This Anyway?

The Case in 181 Words

OMB's morning in the park turns into a nightmare when an abandoned four-year-old points a loaded Glock at her. Fingerprints on the gun lead to Luka Terzic, and the search of his apartment signals a more nefarious scheme than any of the detectives anticipated. Despite a frantic investigation, Luka and his accomplice/victim Ana kill two people in Central Park. They flee and a sniper takes out Luka. While in custody, Ana claims she's been brutally raped, tortured, and held against her will by Luka and his brother for years. As the rest of the world pursues Ana's conviction with vengeful zeal, Benson investigates the rape claims, putting her at odds with Dodds and Barba. The formidable Rita Calhoun steps in as Ana's defense attorney and she and Benson go up against the least favorable circumstances on Earth to get justice for Ana who accepts a plea deal. The agreement gives Benson leverage to arrest the rapist and safely return Ali to his native Bosnia where he will live with his aunt (we all know how well that worked out for Mommy).

My Thoughts In Unlimited Words

Did Ali's response to Benson translate as "the bike crushed Auntie?" I am, in NO WAY, suggesting Noah is better off in anyone else's hands but DAMN! The kid's been exposed to more real life guns than I have been exposed to in my entire life. And I grew up near Detroit.

Now Rollins, seriously? You've made me question my entire domestic existence because I have the exact contents (minus the juice boxes but if there's a BOGO sale I'm not ruling them out) in my kitchen--cereal, milk, and takeout and, I guarantee you, there is no one under the age of thirty in my apartment. 

The first #Tuckson dose proved Ed's in love but still Tucker. I hope that dynamic between the two of them continues with him sticking to his pragmatic self while showering our OMB with love and happiness forever. The kid held a loaded gun on you. Even more dangerous. OMB appeared to be headed for a semi-breakdown when she talked about Noah but then deftly switched subjects (which she also did in the final scene of S17). I hope we get some Captain Tucker not allowing her to do that anymore. She's way too good at it.

At one point I was like, waymint. Barba is right. Dodds is right. Fuck this bitch and everything else that's happened in her life ever. Throw her American-hating-and-murdering ass in jail and send Ali with her. But then OMB stared us down a few times and, uh, ok, lemme reconsider. I did think it was a little odd that Luka and his brother prevented Ana from exercising her own free will yet allowed Ali to stay with her Aunt? Was the aunt also complicit? Was that why they were ok with that? Was that why the gun was in the backpack? Or was the gun just a little reminder of home Ali brought with him? Teddy Bear/Terrorist Version?

Everyone got their vests on?

Style Guide

Nothing terribly impressive in this ep except for Barba's suits which, yawn, are always impressive. In my next life I'll be a fictional Manhattan ADA. OMB in red always impresses but I kept thinking about how fucking hot she must be in that heavy-looking blazer on July 27 (my birthday, btw). Loved the white blazer, rather brave for a toddler mommy, I might add.

And for those of us constantly on the lookout for previously unseen jewelry...when Tucker (ADORABLY) plays with her hair in the last scene I think maybe he was sort of admiring a pair of newish earrings? Possibly purchased in Paris? I'm telling you, y'all, I really hope I don't have to have Here lies AJ, Still Waiting For #Tuckson Paris Pics etched on my tombstone.

Do people even do tombstones anymore?

Adding to the list of things I'd pay money to do is the chance to gently brush back Carisi's loose little curl before he asks me if I prefer veggie or traditional lasagna for dinner. Oh, wait. No lasagna. Bad memories. Rigatoni. Ravioli. Anything but the Bronwyn special. Nice call on the new do, Peter Scanavino...or SVU Style or whoever.

Looks like there's some new office furniture but all I could do was imagine which one Tucker and Benson will christen first.

Fic Writers Could Fill In The Blanks With...

This one's a no-brainer. Extension of the final scene? What happened that caused OMB and Tucker to meet after she almost got smoked by a preschooler? Fill in the blanks of the final scene because JFC, is it me or did they delete a kiss? I would also like to know about Tucker's new gig, but I suspect that will be revealed in due time, or it should be revealed because I swear to GAWWWD he said HNT had an opening, and I remember very clearly that he formerly served in that role, so I don't really see the problem with the switch. Maybe he trusts too much now? Maybe he prefers operating out of an office? IDK. Those writers who like to stick to canon may want to avoid this one. Every time I've wandered away my ficpredictions have NOT come true but I just laugh it off and tell myself it's because the writers are reading the fic and they don't want me to get a big head when they copy my ideas. LOL.

Anyone interested in a Dodds-centered fic? Me neither, but I'm not saying I won't read one.

Ain't No Party Like An #SVU Watch Party

Had a threesome, y'all!

Quotable

"And your people came here on the Mayflower?"

"I'm going to investigate a case everyone wants to ignore."

"I do, and so does she, and, trust me, that's enough." (More Benson-Rollins, por favor)

"Unless, of course, you're a Muslim woman accused of murder and then we just throw you under the patriotic bus and go on with our merry lives."

"I'm going to arrest that sonofabitch."

Is It Next Wednesday Yet?

If I gave this episode a grade and removed all #Tuckson-related emotions, I would give it a B-. I LOVE SVU. I really, really, really, really love it and its syndicated marathons and now Hulu and Netflix catalogues have helped me weather many hangovers. However, there was something about this episode that seemed off. 

Rita Calhoun, for one. She looked weird. I can't pinpoint exactly why. At first, I thought my TV was, like, too crystal clear. Her eyes? Hair? The fact she'd flippantly commented that former ME Carl Rudnick was paying for a better plea deal than what Barba was offering and now she's defending a possible TERRORIST? Did I miss the S17 ep where she decided she'd made enough money defending wealthy criminals and decided to help herself sleep at night by taking cases like Ana's? Her involvement originated in a way similar to A Misunderstanding...but she knew the family in that instance. She kind of came out of the blue here.

DISCLAIMER: I have zero background in anything that remotely has to do with cinematography, videography, photography, etc., etc., etc. So, excoriate me if you will, but the "look" of this episode was not appealing at all. Transitions between scenes and even among characters were choppy and almost haphazard. OMB went from no blazer to blazer, hair back to hair down, sharing a sweet moment with Tucker then suddenly walking off with him and Noah...it didn't flow smoothly...but maybe that was the point?

Overall, Terrorized set up a lot of arcs to be explored during the season. OMB obviously operating with a heightened sense of duty to protect her squad. Will her guilt end up clouding her judgement or make her think twice instead of using her instincts? The entire squad, Carisi in particular, operated with a chip on their shoulders and I'm sure this new togetherness mentality will culminate in (maybe/pretty please) a Christmas gathering at the Benson-Tucker residence complete with a sweet little toast and maybe some happy tears from OMB and then, of course, Tucker will kinda nuzzle her neck, and whisper "I love you" in her ear. Yep. I'm pretty confident that's how it'll play out.

Dodds did look truly remorseful after he blamed OMB for Mike's death. Maybe a heart-to-heart in the near future because honestly, the Chief's grief and attitude towards Benson became more and more annoying by the end of the episode and I hate to say that about a grieving father. When, exactly, does etiquette dictate us removing the "In Memorium" placard? I really hate myself for saying this, but it's been three months and that constant reminder may be more of an emotional and mental obstacle for Dodds than a source of comfort.

Barba toggled back and forth as OMB's friend/ally and principled adversary, and I usually hate it when they're at odds, but I kinda liked this and I eagerly anticipate more eps like this one.

Maybe the squad needs another detective, but...I want to see Fin-as-grandpa, Barisi or Rollisi, #TucksoNoah, and #Barson...is there room for another person? I'm not so sure. The eps already fly by and sometimes I feel like there's too much breadth and not enough depth. This could easily be solved with a two-hour or at least ninety-minute slot but that's not gonna happen so...I'm all for more special guest stars rather than a new permanent cast member.

And, in the category of clips I'll watch over and over was the final scene. Oh, my #Tuckson heart and soul and everything else. The fact that Olivia Margaret Benson verbalized her fears to Ed was such a breakthrough...and him? HIS FACE? I am planning to freeze frame that Tucker expression and make my husband imitate it UNTIL HE GETS IT RIGHT because everybody deserves to have someone look at them like that...just...GAHHHHHH.

The THAT'S NOT TRUE. NOT IF I CAN HELP IT? OMFG. How are any of us still alive? But, damn, Captain, put a RING on it at some point, pretty please and also I'm taking your words as not just fictional dialogue directed at a fictional character but as an assurance to the ENTIRE FANDOM that #Tuckson will last #always.

Bring on the VP!