Nooch.13: A Rushed Exit for Our Beloved Barba

The #42 Minutes

As Jack McCoy gives Ben Stone a final encomium to a chapel full of  mourners, Aaron Householder has fled to Sheepshead Bay with his very ill and very-in-pain son. Aaron and his wife are at odds about ending baby Drew's life, so he takes off, but he doesn't really have an end game because what's a guy to do in Brooklyn with a paintball gun and a little one who needs round-the-clock care? Either Benson knew the weapon was harmless and not one of the dozens of law enforcement personnel missed that or she's temporarily nuts because she disarms herself (even the gloves!) and heads inside. Aaron and his wife tell their ten-month-old's story separately to Benson and Barba and we all agree their dilemma absolutely sucks and nobody should ever have to agonize over this and also that baby was beautiful, I mean...those eyelashes...was it even a real baby? If not, fooled me.

Anyway, perhaps seeking redemption for what he didn't do for his father (we'll forgive the continuity flub for now), Barba pulls the plug and...

"You killed the baby?"
"I expedited his passing."
"That's gonna be a tough hair to split in the courtroom."

I'm chagrined to admit it, but I had to chuckle a little at Benson. Her incredulity is always so endearing.

Jury of One:

Thank you Mr. Nooch for not drowning us with Benson sanctimony and agony over babies and breathing and kidnapping and parenthood and, for that, I'm willing to let you slide on the do you have kids line because Benson's had that in her quiver for a while now and I suppose she deserves to use it. ONCE. ONCE IS ENOUGH.

This could have/should have been a two-parter. Everything felt hurried. Barba needed more heart-to-heart convos with Maggie and he definitely needed one last scene with Benson at the bar perhaps to spill more about his guilt/deets about his father's illness. Though Maggie's desperation was palpable, Barba's decision seemed abrupt and a little, uh, capricious, for he doesn't actually know this family, but what's done is done and and I'm surprised they didn't show him being perp-walked and damn he looked super uncomfortable and a little annoyed at the defense table...

Despite the compacted plot, this was a logical culmination for the ADA's run on the show. With Benson's urging, Barba has grown to appreciate the various "colors" of people and cases and circumstances. Taking care to consider all those nuances would undoubtedly tax the most durable of prosecutors, and, as he walked away and left Benson alone (don't worry, she's used to it and fuck forehead kisses), I was happy for him.

Quotable:

"A man shouldn't do what he can, he should do what he must without regard for consequence or repercussion." Barba certainly took that to heart. BTW....

Hate to gossip at a funeral, but...is he yacht guy? Is he?

"The law...the law...the law..." Oh boy, back to the drawing board on that black-and-white thing, OMB.

Also, they looked very cold. Winchester doesn't freeze well.

"I'll take that as a compliment." So I'm gradually inching to the edge of my couch cushion as Benson's in the house with Aaron, and she's sitting down, and WHY IS SHE SO RELAXED? and OMG she's WALKING TOWARD THE GUN. WHAT ARE YOU--oh, paintball...alright, alright, that's the last time I doubt you, OMB, but Tucker may not let ya off so easily.

#Badass

Appearances

I need the story on this new ring RIGHT NOW!

Tracking Tucker

In addition to grumbling about her going into the house, I'm sure would have lovvvved to find out she ordered everyone to stand down and everyone actually followed the order because remember when Captain Reese all but laughed in Tucker's face outside the Crivello townhouse when the Captain suggested ESU do the same thing?

#BringBackBobby

I miss that smirk.

Head Scratchers

There are too many loose threads hanging with regards to Stone--rocky relationship with father, no family, played baseball--just enough for folks to latch on and ship him with Benson and please let's not make that happen. They don't look good together and he's also like 20 years younger and "Cougar" doesn't exactly fit her character and she's with Tucker anyway.

Is It Next Wednesday Yet?

I already miss Barba because who's gonna thump Liv on the head when she helps Cassidy? I cringe at the thought of Bensidy III and I also nearly choked on my IPA when I saw them hug in the promo, but, hopefully OMB's not yet through the wringer and if the next ep follows the pattern, Cassidy's presence will not have a happy ending. And I am SO OKAY  WITH THAT.

Iiiiiiit's Olympics time!

Nooch.12 She called Barba a Schnauzer...smh

The #42 Minutes

The Ann Coulter-esque Martha Cobb is attacked by a mob and raped by one of its sign-wielding members with the tube part of the sign during a speech at Hudson University (which, btw, sure could use some positive press). In the melee someone struck Cobb over the head, and she's "pretty sure" the guilty party is Justin Vi-something-or-other but "pretty sure" means "I don't actually know" just like Benson's "I don't have much time for reading" translates to "fuck you, Martha."

Kudos to Casting!

Assessment

We still have a long way to go before S19 is anywhere near as terrible as Eidteen, but Nooch & Co. are not doing "ripped from the headlines" well. They're overdoing it.

Rhea Seahorn was phenomenal as Ann Coulter. If anyone bothers to make a documentary about AC, Seahorn's a shoo-in for the lead role. Jonathan Judge-Russo's Randy Platt (Andrew Anglin meets Richard Spencer) was laughable, the script was overloaded with trite right and left wing talking points, and only Carisi and Rollins were spared lines better suited for a nine-year-old.

"Do you think she'd make a false accusation for political reasons?" (first day at the rodeo, Barba?)

"That doesn't seem so harmless to me." (yeah, Benson, we all heard it but I get you sometimes like to state the obvious)

"(Platt) took a sign from a lady in Virginia and hit her over the head" (which, of course, clearrrrrly indicates he's a rapist, right Fin?)

THEN...Justin has the poster! Justin has the poster! Oh, FFS, y'all. You don't think there's any chance he maybe, uh, dropped it?

Dude, if you're gonna wear the hat, will you at least wear it? I was waiting for Rollins or Carisi to grab the bill and tug it down.

Once again, fidelity to the headlines obstructed creativity. I would have really liked to see Benson and the squad under intense media and public pressure as they seek justice for a victim everyone loathes. Instead, all characters end up exactly where they began.

Quotable:

"But you are a survivor and I really want to help you get justice."
"...be well. Take care of yourself."
Benson class and dedication at its finest.

"My moral compass has gone a little haywire."
Ominous...

"Old line of duty injury..."
Carisi charm with the conservative moms.

Appearances:

This week's installment of OMB WTF faces...

Downplaying the bangs FTW!

Tracking Tucker

This was the Barba-Benson show, so not much room for anyone else. I'm sure Tucker was holding down the fort during the day and spending the evenings reminding OMB how important and beautiful and wise and amazing she is and also waiting on her hand and foot because that's what Ed does.

Head Scratchers:

Does a juror get to make an outburst like that? Barba did open the door, but still...

I did NOT have to scratch my head about "doxxed!" I KNOW THAT ONE! So there's one positive outcome of Intimidation Game. 

I found it odd Liv wasn't in court when it was revealed Coulter spurned Platt's advances, but, of course, the Lieutenant's busy and she and Tucker probably had some thing at Noah's school.

Is It Next Wednesday, Yet?

No direct mention of Sheila and Noah, but OMB still looks like she needs a vacay and next week won't help. And neither will the still-unresolved whatever's going on with the shifty Bill Dodds. Sometimes you do play politics, dontcha Fin? And in the let's-invite-everyone-back-except-RJB category, Ken's set to appear on a future episode! Grandpa Fin will surely make me melt which probably means Ken's arc will have nothing to do with his child.

How do IIIIIIIII say goodbyyyyyyyye....

Barba's gone and fucking Cassidy's returning yet again. What is life?