Losing #Tuckson...Again?

Oh, #Tuckson. This freaking relationship. Ugh...so well crafted by Warren Leight and Company that I care more about them than most of the real-life people in my world. So, naturally, when it was confirmed Tucker would be returning, all the #Tuckson feels came rushing back as well. There was euphoria! Dancing! A resurgence in #Tuckson fic!

Warren to the rescue! All is right with the world!

But I couldn't shake the feeling that it was all too good to be true. After all, isn't the show's secondary purpose to make sure Olivia Benson's life sucks? The most recent pics seem to validate my fears.

Tucker's back...with a ring.

After a Twitter meltdown and a vow to ignore social media until the show returns in January (which I subsequently broke within minutes), my emotions gave way to obsessive speculation and led me to a few predictions which, of course, will all end up being totally wrong.

Here they are, in order of most to least likely.

1. Tucker moved on and got married. Why wouldn't he? This is painful, but it is the scenario that makes the most sense. Rick Eid's Olivia Benson inexplicably let him walk out of her life (and out of Noah's). Tucker being married would undoubtedly be a blow to Benson and it would provide an opportunity to address the "complications" of #Tuckson's demise. Can you imagine her face when she hears him say "my wife?" Or when she notices the ring? Rollins will probably ask her how she's doing and she'll of course be fine but she's not and then she'll end up in Lindstrom's office and we'll all be fucking sad as hell but this is the most logical and realistic explanation. The only piece that doesn't quite fit is that Tucker was ready to retire...but the fact that he didn't and got married might further twist the knife in Benson's heart. I saw someone tweet about the redhead rumor and mention Pippa...don't freak out, but I kind of don't hate that idea even though I can't imagine Pippa stuck around New York after Hank got shipped off to prison. Just out of curiosity, what's Jessica Phillips doing lately? 
2. He's undercover. The more I hash this out the more I don't think that's the case, but it would explain why Tucker didn't show up at crucial times such as when Sheila showed up and kidnapped Noah. If he's undercover, why is he so conspicuously working with SVU? Unless those pics were from the end of the case? But then...why is he still wearing the ring? But then again, if he's not undercover, why would the whole squad be at his house in Queens? If that is actually his house in Queens. Goddamn, set stalkers, ya'll need to do a better job getting us the deets!
3. He's undercover...with Benson. Fuck the redhead rumors, she's the wife! And then when they're done she takes the ring off but he doesn't because he likes it. What a great few lines of dialogue that would be. "Ed, you can take the ring off now." // "Oh, yeah, uh, I guess I got used to it." //And then he pulls out the engagement ring from 17 and says something about how she ditched the pretend ring but maybe she'd like to wear this one for real?????? Gahhhhhhhh.
4. Robert John Burke forgot to take his ring off. I don't think this is the case. I'm almost positive he's wearing it in another scene (when he's handing Benson coffee) and in pics I don't think the real life RJB wears a ring. On a related note--in those pics, Tucker's not wearing a shield. Why not? 
5. Tucker dies. Similar to him being married to someone who’s not OMB, but I’m not sure I’d watch the show anymore. I’m not here for Benson torture overkill. 

I am prepared to be heartbroken. I'm prepared for the "How's Noah?" and Benson reporting "he still has Eddie" and "Congratulations, Captain" and I'll make sure to have extra wine and extra tissues. 

Please, #SVU Gods, let all this angst be for nothing and let me be wrong! 

Remember, writers, there are a lot of fun scenarios with in-a-relationship-with-Tucker Captain Benson...

Now where in the hell are those fucking ep descriptions?

#Always

21.9 Rollins, It's Your Turn

The #42Minutes

Vincent Kartheiser guest stars as Steve Getz, an Epstein carbon copy, who has amassed a fortune mostly from his chain of Gimme That Body gyms. Getz's procurer, Granya, ensnares Ivy Bucci with the help of a cute lap dog and promises of a modeling career at GTB, and, in an astounding opening series, we see Ivy groomed, raped, pimped out, and forced to bring her twelve-year-old sister, Millie, to Getz's townhouse. Millie, however, freaks out, tells their father (Detective Bucci from Part 33), and Bucci ends up in Benson's office, pleading for help. As it becomes clear the wall of power and wealth surrounding Getz is impenetrable, Bucci becomes more and more frustrated with the investigation and with the detectives' efforts. After Kat gives herself an impromptu undercover assignment posing as Bucci's sister, Getz's goons go after Bucci. He lands in the hospital with minor injuries, but flies into a rage which ends up convincing Ivy to testify. On the legal side, Hadid arranges for a plea deal, unbeknownst to Carisi, and "Let 'em Go Joe" sentences Getz to time served. Instead of simply shooting Getz outside of the courthouse, Bucci follows Rollins to her therapist's office, bursts in, and takes them both hostage.

I'm here for the acrimony between Kat and Rollins, but, Amanda, cut her some slack. I remember you screwing up, like, majorly, a few times in your career. And you weren't exactly a rookie. 

Oh, and Noah gets Chinese for dinner after apparently eating a lot of pizza lately. Seems like Benson's off the salad kick? Tucker's probably not a fan of salad, either.

The Verdict

A

The episode was well paced and compelling. Ripped from the headlines eps are not always my thing (and this was ripped right down to the initials GM), but this one told a poignant story and advanced the season's money-and-power theme while also laying bare the toll taken on victims and their families.

A week ago, Hadid seemed like she was not so bad after all, but what the fuck? She agrees to an outrageous plea deal then lashes out at Carisi for being green? Did she get paid off by Getz? Did Let 'Em Go Joe? Because how in the hell can he ignore a law? So what if he thought the sex was consensual? Ivy, at fifteen, couldn't consent. Will his decision be overturned in the second part because for all the clout judges have, this one was an egregious, unlawful abuse of power.

The fourth sentence I wrote down in last night's notes was Gun in glove compartment? First of all, why? Seems irresponsible at best. Or does the therapist ban them from sessions? Wouldn't she make an exception for a cop?

Bucci's anger is understandably misplaced, and in addition to an explosive temper, I think he, as a former fellow officer, also felt as if the squad owed him swift, decisive justice and he quickly lost patience when he felt they were bungling the investigation. Bucci and Rollins had a chummy moment in Part 33 and I think Bucci felt extra kinship with Rollins.

So he follows her and takes her hostage.

I'm not sure what to think about this. Rollins is struggling, secretly seeing a therapist, still fending off Mr. Rollins-related demons, feeling abandoned and alone, and now she's battling for her life...for what? Where is Bucci taking her and what exactly does kidnapping Rollins achieve? Will it squeeze out some Rollisi feels? Force Benson to confront vivid Lewis memories that will inevitably bubble back to the surface? Make Kat feel bad for fucking up? Make Fin feel bad for letting Kat fuck up?

I'll get back to you in January. Right now, I'm scratching my head and thinking, "again?"

Wardrobe

Not the flashiest day in the closet, but Benson sported a cute polka-dotty blouse and Rollins' puffy sleeve shirt was one not many people can pull off.

Quotable

"We have to hit him from every angle." I cannot get enough of in-charge Captain Benson. And, how refreshing to go back to an erudite ADA! #BoydCycle

"Figure it out." Yaaaaas, Carisi. Barba would be so proud of you.

"Nobody listens to me in this family!" I felt genuine compassion for Bucci in this moment. He's not perfect, but he hit the end of his rope. Nick Turturro was great, but there were a few times in the ep when he struggled to convey the extreme anger the writers intended.

Lucky Fin. He took absolutely no heat for Kat's blunder.

"...green ADA like you." FUCK YOU, Hadid! Are you fucking kidding me? She's the one who agreed to the deal, FFS. Is she dirty?

"You have no idea what utter terror is." You're about to find out, Amanda. Don't recall this quote from last night's show? It's from Part 33.

Is it January Yet? 

Ugggghhhh. I'm not sorry to say I'm more concerned about the context of Tucker returning than anything. I feel my fragile heart will never recover if he comes back with a terminal illness or immediate death or anything other than a sweet, loving #Tuckson reunion. And Lindstrom is also in an ep in which Tucker appears? Great. But Liv has to process Simon's death and also the probable near-death of Amanda and all of the repair work that will have to be done after she's rescued.

And does Getz actually commit suicide or were the guards on duty in this version?

Hot. (Her, not him)

21.8: "Logic and Proportion Have Fallen Sloppy Dead"

The #42Minutes

After three young women have been found pumped with hallucinogens, raped, and dumped in public places, evidence leads the squad to Dr. Julius Adler, a well-renowned psychiatrist who operates a satellite academic research facility out of a brownstone in the Village. The problem is, what began as a genuine, well-intention-ed, law-abiding career spiraled into a cultish, drug-fueled sex trafficking operation. Rollins, of course, has a connection to Adler and, in the interrogation room, nudges him to a breaking point which may or may not have been a ruse. With him unresponsive at Bellevue, she and Benson take Adler's daughter, Anais, to another psych hospital to see the mother Anais thought was dead.

The Verdict

B

Maybe I wasn't as drunk as I thought I was Thursday night. Now, on Saturday morning, sober as a judge, I'm still scratching my head trying to process this episode.

Gang's all here. Well, except for Fin. But Garland's daughter is adorable. 

Kansan Meghan Gale (who definitely needs new friends), Jane Doe, and Freja, three initial victims, disappeared, never to be heard from again. Well, at least the writers sent Freja back to Stockholm, but what about Meghan and Jane? Nothing? And I know Adam Arkin was the guest star, but a far more interesting thread would have been that of Anais who is arguably the most fucked up of anyone in that house. My issue with this #42 is that there were so many potential stories to be developed, but none of the guest actors got enough screen time to make me care about them. I also didn't buy the implication that Dr. Adler's inability to fix his wife turned into an obsession which eventually caused him to snap and let his career drift out of the bounds of science and into a criminal enterprise.

I was a bit surprised Kat seemed perfectly fine after Lily's suicide last week. She's settling in, but, in almost every episode, the looks on the faces of her colleagues suggest that her eagerness is going to land her in hot water soon.

Rollins was back to her annoying self in this one. I disagree with Benson's assessment of her blind spot. I don't think she has one when it comes to "men who she thinks are smarter than her." Rollins has a blind spot for people with whom she's had a personal connection or considers to be good. It's more of an ego issue with her, almost like she's saying, This person has earned my approval and admiration, and I cannot possibly be wrong. At the end of the episode I felt like she was still sympathetic toward Adler and disbelieving of the idea that he could possibly be faking the psychotic break. At any rate, she proved that Benson is right to still have some reservations about trusting her. Oh, and, how did Adler know her? Did she send an email about sitting in on the lecture or did Rollins so something silly like sleep with him in Atlanta?

Wardrobe

Hello, leather! Benson rocked the burgundy trench and black blazer. You know Tucker has to be drooling when he sees her stroll into the bar or into his apartment dressed in those pieces. Puh-lease, Warren, let this #Tuckson reunion be permanent, in a good way, because my heart cannot take anything else.

Kat's wardrobe is...a little tacky? Like she's not sure how to dress now that she's in the big leagues? The gray plaid suit she wore in this one made me chuckle.

Quotable

"I'm with Kat." TuTuTamin! But will Fin be "with" her when she fucks up and disobeys the Captain's orders next week?

"I do, Fin, but every time I go out on a limb for you guys, somebody saws it off." Yaaaas, Carisi! I loved this! Tension is brewing for sure, and I'm ready for it to explode. He's worked more or less harmoniously with the squad, but they can't be one, big, happy, justice-seeking family for the whole season. At some point they'll be on different pages, and I'm excited to see it play out. 

"A cello being thrown out of a third story window." What could be more normal for a building associated with a university? 

Sure you didn't inhale, Rollins? Not even a little bit? 

"Aren't you a fish out of water?" Can we please stop writing dialogue that treats Rollins as if she was brought up on another planet? I mean, rural Georgia could certainly qualify, but, trust me, Atlanta isn't freaking Jupiter. 

"And a freak."

"He thinks you're all so covered and armored, you'll never open up." Hmmmm...loaded piece of dialogue here...I hope to see this sentiment unfold during the second half of the season. 

Is It Next Thursday Yet?

Vincent Kartheiser as villain? Yes, please!

Were we promised a cliff? I think we were promised a cliff. I look forward to speculating with y'all for the holidays.

21.7: Ah, The Big Boss!

The #42Minutes

SVU is involved in a sting operation targeting Chinatown spas masquerading as fronts for human trafficking and women trapped in debt slavery. On the initial bust, they arrest Evelyn "Mamasan" Lee, the ground-level boss and enforcer. From there, the squad, joined by Sgt. Chin, and Carisi climb the ladder of increasingly powerful perps until they finally get to the Changs--a wealthy, well-connected couple who bill themselves as philanthropists but actually have been enabling the nefarious trafficking operation for decades. At the interrogation table, Christine Chang, seeing the evidence mounting against her, gambles with a confession. She's arrested and indicted, but, at arraignment, the feds show up and, much to Carisi's disgust, whisk her away. Carisi ends up getting a silver lining, but, big picture, everyone gets away with it, and no one agonizes more over that reality than Kat.

The Verdict

A/B

After the last two edge-of-my-couch-cushion episodes, this one felt like a "let's take a breather" before heading for the mid-season cliffhanger. It was well-paced and compelling, but not a #42Minutes that left me blown away. I did love the spotlight on Chinatown and the sinister truths that lurk below and beneath the tenement building walls.  Law and Order: Chinatown could probably stand on its own as a spin-off.

Even though Mrs. Chang hinted at past victimization, I was glad the plot didn't venture into victim-becomes-perp territory. SVU has done that so many times before. However, in this case, Chang was in a position to proactively battle traffickers and instead chose to enable them and enrich herself.

The character development of Carisi as ADA and Officer Tamin continues to be perfection. Carisi clearly forgot his role during the initial sting when he burst out of the van and Spidermanned his way up the fire escape to rescue Mei Mei. He's always been one to internalize and sometimes over-analyze the true meaning of justice as it relates to certain cases, and while it was heartwarming to see him tell Mei Mei she was free, I can't help but worry that he's never going to be satisfied with the outcomes of his work. 

But maybe that's a good thing?

At what point will he blur the lines between cop and ADA and get himself in hot water?

Hadid seemed genuinely shaken by the last-minute switcharoo; maybe she has a heart after all. 

POOR KAT! She's been developing a bit of a swagger as she gets comfortable at SVU, but Lily's suicide obviously dinged her soul. Was it my TV or did the sound get foggy and muted after she saw Lily's body splayed on the sidewalk below? That moment was so powerful and functioned as a crucial coming-of-age moment for the young officer. A big WELL DONE to the writers for allowing the audience to gradually get to know Kat before springing this on us. 

(Unlike the Peter Stone writers who produced the character, shoved him on screen, and demanded we love him.)

I loved the scene in Benson's office at the end of the episode when we saw the clear difference between the two seasoned detectives who've seen more than their share of job-related disappointment and Kat who looks like she's ready to go home and either punch something or violently sob into her pillow.

Wardrobe

Benson is so fucking HOT this season, she's being written like she's supposed to be written, and her blazer and glasses game in this episode was better than ever. Leather blazer, blue blazer, red blouse, several dramatic reader removals...excuse my obsession, but, as you will recall, many of these pieces or similar ones were worn in S17 as her relationship with you-know-who heated up. 

Also, Kat and Rollins as chipper gals-about-town was ADORABLE!

Quotable

"I thought it was a food delivery." Yeah, because I always pick up my Seamless in the middle of the street and it's usually packaged as a brick in a rumpled paper bag. Well, actually, sometimes it is. 

"You saved me twice now, you can rest." That was sweet, but I don't think he's going to, Mei Mei. 

"We read the articles." Benson not buying Mrs. Chang's I'm an upstanding citizen argument was hilarious. Also,  I'm wondering how Twitter perceived the threats over the Mah Jong table--I loved Benson using Mamasan's daughter's future as leverage (and also the slight nod to the college admissions scandal) but I suspect it may not have sat well with some viewers. 

"It's not a come true dream." 

Just. Wow.

Is It Next Thursday, Yet?

It's Machine Elves time! 

How will Kat rebound? Do we get to see trial Carisi yet? A Tucker mention? Fin consoling Kat because I really, really, really love the idea of TuTuTamin?

Ah, what the hell. 

21.6 Touch DNA Shall Set You Free

The #42Minutes

While investigating the rape of a 14-year-old girl, the squad comes across touch DNA evidence that matches a sample collected at the scene of a sixteen-year-old double murder. Everyone knows something's amiss, but two men have already been convicted of the crime. One guy's dead, the other isn't willing to cooperate, and the original detective isn't the least bit interested in entertaining the idea he'd made a mistake in the initial investigation. Nevertheless, SVU and Carisi press on. A touch DNA match plus Lupe's unwavering voice ID gives them their guy, a worker named Tim Stanton, but Benson points out it'll be challenging to bring a case against a man who's accused of crimes related to a case that was long ago adjudicated. Carisi, who's gradually finding his ADA groove, pesters his former law professor until he finally finagles a vacate order for Carlos from a vaunted Queens DA who now suffers from dementia. 

Stanton goes away for the double murder, Lupe doesn't have to testify, Carlos is released, and, oh, by the way, Simon dies. And, um, Hi, Melinda!

The Verdict

A+

Remember all those episodes of the Leight Years when you didn't want the hour to end yet were fascinated how such an intricate story could be told in only #42Minutes? Yeah? So do I. IT'S BACK, BABY!

First of all, how many innocent men's and women's files are stacked on tables in the office of the debilitated ADA? That might be the most infuriating detail of the entire #42. 

The titular theme wove its way through the entire episode--the perpetually broken project elevator forced Lupe to the dangerous stairwell; the stigma of being gay both in the neighborhood and in prison stripped Carlos and Ricardo of their power to defend and exonerate themselves; when arrested, the pair's public defenders didn't have the capacity to battle a powerful DA and shortsighted, dispassionate detectives.

Guillermo Diaz did a fantastic job in his role as the wrongfully-convicted Carlos. From the first meeting with Carisi and Fin, it's obvious from his affect that something's not quite right--he's wary of the guard and there's a cloud of evasion in his declarations of innocence, but the detectives (and me) couldn't quite figure out why until Stanton unwittingly filled in the blanks. 

Officer Kat taking the subway to the scene was adorable and so was her ah, what the hell attitude toward taking a cannoli. I'm glad Benson gave her a shot and seems to trust her more and more; however, I do wonder if Carisi, when he has a minute to reflect, is a little rankled when he recalls how Benson and the rest of the squad treated him when he was a newbie. 

Quotable

"...see what Voltaire would do..." Smart writing all around, but this was such an appropriate sentence for Wentworth Miller's character, and by the way, I wonder if he's going to return because he and Carisi had some chemistry going on. 

"We call that railroadin', right honey?" Rolled my eyes a little bit here as I always do when the show makes reference to Rollins' southern roots.

"I don't want to die shoveling snow in the stepchild borough." He didn't get much screen time, but Montes' dialogue was perfectly written.

"I knew this was a bad idea." Let's address Simon, shall we? I always take notes during the show and the first two words I jotted down on my Moleskine page were stalking her?. Simon just happening to bump into Olivia and Noah on the street was creepy and unsettling and though Benson will probably never completely forgive herself for the message she left, she was ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. Meeting him was a bad idea. NOTHING GOOD ever results from her allowing Simon in her life, yet she can't help herself whenever he shows up. Her heart's too big, but she always, always, always gets burned.

Despite Simon's optimism, all was not well in his life. He'd been separated from his own family for five years, and we'll probably never know why, but there had to be a good reason for Tracy to decide to completely cut Simon out of their lives. Maybe Benson will learn more, maybe not, but hopefully she'll gain some clarity and come to accept his death was not her fault. 

And of course I can't help but think this opens the door for Tucker's return. Benson craves family, and the squad-as-proxy isn't cutting it. Will Tucker hear about Simon's death and call to check in? Will Benson realize she misses the months they spent as "the three of us" and desire to get that "good thing" going again? 

Or maybe Simon's passing was just another instance of needless torture inflicted upon Benson. 

Answers, please!

Wardrobe

I'm going to substitute wardrobe for "you swipe" and "folks chipped in." Carlos' unfamiliarity with 2019 technology was darkly funny because it emphasized a sad truth. Yes, he's free; however, what's next? He has to scrape together a life, all alone, in a world he doesn't recognize.

These turquoise earrings remind me of #Tuckson--one of the first scenes post-Collateral Damages was of Benson wearing these, and even though they weren't new, I always imagined good old Ed complimenting them!

Is it Next Thursday, Yet? 

Margaret Cho looks phenomenally evil in the preview clip for next week. I'm anticipating an epic battle of words and wits between her and Benson.

 Getting a little antsy for Carisi's first actual trial...and also for midseason...

21.5: Kat Won't Be Saying That Again

#The42Minutes

The squad and Carisi juggle three cases they caught late on a Friday night because Kat fucked up and said the Q-Word. Each case comes with its own unique snags, tempers flare, coffee flows, and Benson and Rollins have to pay some serious babysitter overtime unless of course Noah was being cared for by...ok, I'm not going to go there quite yet.

The Verdict

A+++++++

There's so much to unpack in this loaded, ambitious episode, I'm certain to miss something. Showrunner Leight had already stated either in a tweet or in an interview that this season will explore how race, power, and class stratify the criminal justice system and determine agency, so, thematically, the episode wasn't a surprise and there was relatively little case-related suspense. Rather than a whodunit with multiple twists and turns, this episode was a raw, real, beautifully written, acted, and directed plea for humanity.

The juxtaposition of the three victims was done in a way that evoked compassion and sympathy without diminishing each woman's inner strength. But, from the outset, race, class, connections, and, in Lakira's case, gender, led them down three very different paths.

After her husband assaults her, Joelle goes to the hospital with her son, and there are apparently no actual rooms available, so she's relegated to a bench in the hallway. Lakira is on a gurney, partially separated from other patients by a curtain. Chloe, whose mother called Benson on her cell phone to report the attempted rape, is treated in a softly-lit private room that would make the occupant almost feel not too bummed out about being in the hospital.

For Carisi, who's assigned to an unappealing newbie role within the DA's office, the cases are difficult to get off the ground. Joelle is concerned with losing Leon's financial support, Lakira doubts anyone will believe her story, and the Hail Me driver Chloe accused appears to have an alibi. The frustration leads to an argument with Rollins and "I would be fine if you were here beside me"...was she exhausted and overly emotional? Simply missing her partner? Or is there a more personal meaning to what she said? I'm sure we'll see this play out over the course of the season. I'm not a Rollisi shipper, but it's certainly probable that Rollins has realized she has developed some complex feelings for Sonny. It's also reasonable to assume Carisi's new job has left him little time to help her out with the girls and she's missing that piece of their friendship.

A little over halfway through the episode, as Chole's case comes together, we're introduced to the fourth victim--Aadesh Patel. My heart absolutely broke seeing this kind man invite the detectives into his house only to witness his son's arrest in the backyard. The writers managed to touch on the peril of medallion owners in the age of Uber and Lyft and also included a reference to the circumstances that led to the murder of Samantha Josephson, who mistook the killer's car for her Uber.

Speaking of hearts, before mine broke it melted at Fin caring for Andre, Joelle's son who is all too familiar with fathers going to jail...see what I mean? There are just too many elements to squeeze into one post!

BTW-Carisi debating the merits of putting Andre on the stand to testify against his father reminds me of the bourbon bar and "Either he has to testify against his father, which is barbaric..."

Carisi applying eyedrops while Rollins does push-ups was such in-character writing it almost hurts.

Finally, I really didn't appreciate Davies sullying Venn Diagrams.

Wardrobe

Not a lot of outfit changes in this one, but Benson sizzled with her hair back in that clip.

Quotable

"Get over it." Badass Boss Benson is back and it's bringing me more joy than a television show character should. There is absolutely no doubt as to who's calling the shots, but OMB being all "hey, kids, shut the hell up, Mama's on an important call" was especially fabulous.

"Women are stronger than men."
"...Andre would be alone."
So well written, compassionate but not condescending.

"Even his eyes shine money." Lakira's no dummy; she knows how the world works. Too often victims have to choose between fighting for justice or basic survival, and Lakira, much to Kat's disappointment, chose survival.

"Already on the street cams." Overeager Kat started to get on my nerves a little bit and I think maybe on Benson's too, but her reaction to Davies' arrest was adorable and I love her.

"Your shoes say police." LOLOLOLOLOL. What a great character. I hope there's room to see her again even though the use of "Moms" sounded awkward every time Lakira uttered it.

"Siddown, Gilligan."

Is It Next Thursday, Yet?

Fuck next Thursday, when exactly is "midpoint of the season"?

Kidding, kidding, well, sort of...in the teaser for next week Benson's crying. WHY IS SHE CRYING? Looks like another good one and I'm wondering if the ghost from the past is someone we know. In the meantime, will Tucker's return be cause for celebration or result in crushing disappointment? For the love of all things good and perfect and wonderful, please let it be the former.

21.4: Platonicaly Shipping TutuTamin

The #42Minutes

A thirteen-year-old girl from western Ohio travels to New York, desperate to get an abortion after being raped by her stepfather. Evangeline is easily tracked down, and once she reveals the abuse and explains why she fled, SVU and Carisi decide the best route is to take emergency custody, so they call in Trevor Langan to assist in family court. The legal arm seems to be swinging Evangeline's way until some very midwestern-looking lawyers from Ohio show up (great job, casting) with a fistful of arrest warrants and their leader, Mr. Graham, parks himself on the courthouse steps and spews all the conservative Christian anti-abortion talking points he can muster. As Benson and Garland stroll by, Garland vows, with cocky disdain, to fight the Ohioans. Garland didn't play a huge part in this ep, but if I can't have Barba as Benson's sparring partner, I'll gladly take Garland.

Anyway,  Carisi and Langan prevail in court, and Benson lays it out plain and simple for Evangeline's mother--believe your daughter or lose her.

The Verdict

A
A+ for directing

I must admit, there was so much hype about this episode, actually, maybe too much hype, that I was certain I'd be disappointed. After the PERFECT opening sequence (damn, that was good), I immediately got Patrimonial Burden vibes. Who can blame me? Pregnant teenager from a rural area, fundamentalist family, and a pastor who's also a lawyer because of course he is. I feared the episode would be #42Minutes of Who's the Father? and that would have been awful because I immediately pegged the babyfaced stepfather as the rapist. When Mrs. Miller objected to the fetal DNA test as too invasive, I groaned. Here we go again.

But I was wrong! The bulk of the episode was devoted to giving the audience a balanced and, at times, rage-inducing, view of all sides of the abortion debate and the implications of "Heartbeat Bills" that have been passed into law in four states and are hung up in appeals courts in several others. I did not expect Carisi would be the one to mic-drop Graham in the final scene, but he distilled the issue down to its most salient point--the decision to abort is painful for everyone; most painful for the mother, but it's a decision women must have the legal right to make.

Officer Tamin wasted no time asserting herself, and I did have to laugh a little when she went nose-to-nose with Carisi in the squadroom. Benson's all, "okay, okay, calm down" but she knows she has a live wire on her hands and it only makes me more excited for how this new relationship with Carisi will develop. Kat and Fin had immediate chemistry; I can't wait to see him take her under his wing and he'll be so proud when she gets her detective shield OMG OMG OMG. I got warm fuzzies each time he said "good job" or "nice work."

Kelli Giddish did an excellent job in this episode. It may have been one of her best. Rollins was clearly in personal agony the entire episode, but she managed to be Evangeline's staunch advocate and friend. Too many times, when Rollins identifies with a victim, her dialogue is mostly snarky, sarcastic digs at the South or the good ole boys club or the world in general. Kudos to the writers for "growing" Rollins--while she'll never be an Olivia Benson, she stepped out of the Angry Amanda persona during this case, and I liked it.

A couple of nitpicks--

No one other than SVU at the Baptism?  No one? I would have preferred substituting the deleted scene for the Baptism scene which seemed kind of pointless other than to emphasize the religious undertones in the ep. And I was very surprised there was zero interaction between Langan and Benson. Not even a "how's Noah?" Nice to see Trevor though! Finally, I was bummed the breakroom convo between Benson and Rollins was cut short. I'm not desperate to see those two become besties, but they were having a moment for Chrissakes!

Wardrobe

Benson in red and in oversized reading glasses? Yes, please!

Quotable

Too many to list.

"...The rest of the world, that's not your responsibility."

"If you have enough money, there's always a way."

Officer Tamin challenging Carisi--"so a woman has to be a victim to control her own body?" Damn, Sonny, buckle up.

"Take some family time." Um, Benson, could you also take your own advice? Even though Rollins didn't exactly go straight home...but still...

If this isn't the most "Bitch, I'm Serious" Faces of all "Bitch, I'm Serious Faces" IDK what is.

And of course Mrs. Miller had to ask Benson about the husband she doesn't have. Or maybe she does? Secretly? :-)

Is It Next Thursday, Yet?

Sir Toby's court battle looms ahead...

As long as Leight's checking off boxes of loose ends to tie up, how about we explore the complications that led to #Tuckson's demise? Thank gawwwwwd the Benson abortion question is put to bed once and for all, and now that I think about it, it's sort of amusing that scene was cut.

Next week looks like the most intense of the season so far. Carisi on the hot seat! I'm here for it!

21.3: Finarisi Is My New Ship

The #42Minutes

In Hell's Kitchen, a serial rapist targeting men on the DL has stymied law enforcement, but celeb Mathis Brooks lands in the hospital with injuries consistent with the serial's pattern and he saw the perp's face, a shred of evidence previously unreported. At first, Mathis, his brother, and manager insist he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time but, in truth, Mathis is gay and turns the vicious attack into a platform for revealing his own truth and for advocacy for the gay community. In the meantime, Ken brings in another victim who provides enough of a description for the squad to create a profile and send new Deputy Chief Garland in on a UC mission to sniff him out. The assailant happens to be at No Inhibitions (The SVU-est of SVU bar names) that night and they get their man...the problem is, Mathis can't ID him and Benson quickly concludes Mathis is, himself, the copycat. With no other victims willing to testify, the case nearly falls apart, but Devon returns to the precinct, having held back key information in his original disclosure. The ADA's office has enough ammunition to force a plea, Garland agrees to let Mathis off the legal hook, and Noah starts dance class and finally smiles at his mother.

The Verdict

A + for reasserting SVU's core values.
B for everything else.

This episode felt like the writers were given a list of everything that went wrong in the past three seasons and were charged with reaffirming SVU's core values. The story fell flat, probably because the plot served mostly to provide an opportunity for Benson and Company to deliver lines such as "We don't blame victims here." That sentence was part call to arms and part slap in the face to the multiple victim-blamey episodes we've to endure, particularly those of Eidteen, and it was refreshing to hear our beloved characters fight the good fight again. The dialogue was on fire. Without it, the case wasn't all that captivating.

I did like that the writers didn't completely riff from Jussie Smollett and crafted a believable scenario--an epically famous pop star wanting to get out in front of potentially damaging personal information before the press drops a bombshell.

OMG. OMG. Fin has come a long way from making wisecracks about Carisi to sharing a table with him in a gay bar. That was hilarious to me. What was not hilarious was Benson shutting down Rollins' opinion on pick up lines because, of course, we all know the greatest pick up line of all time is "I think you should try the bourbon" so that little exchange was really just mean. Unless it's foreshadowing the return of BB, in that case, cool.

Headlining the list of characters I'm starting not to care about is Noah. We had to age him to help him get kidnapped to torture Benson more, then we had to make him into a baseball player to insert Peter Stone's masculine energy, now we're stuck with a too-old child actor who's a dancer so now Noah has to be a dancer. Are we supposed to believe Benson will be uncomfortable with her son's new passion? I don't think so. Will Noah's supposed friends tease him and Benson will have to mother him through it? Maybe. Either way, I don't care. The show does not need to be a Thursday showcase of Ryan Buggle's burgeoning dance career.

Forgive the Noah rant. I'll forever be disgruntled about how 19-20 played that whole thing.

I loved that Fin was the one who went to talk to Mathis. As tough-as-nails as he is, I love it when Fin shows his compassionate side and how he understood though Mathis may not have been a victim in this particular instance, he was battling buried traumas of the past.

Wardrobe

Benson blouses were a mix of something old, something new, and something blue. Mariska looks so good this season I can't stand it. Tucker, where are you?

Courtroom Carisi!

Quotable

"Gets more ass than a toilet seat..." What a perfectly crass comment from the manager.

"She calls her boss and he calls my boss..." I'm all in for Benson and Garland navigating city politics together. I'm 100% on board with the new guy.

"I don't care about her exploding clock. I'm not letting this go." Benson may not be Hadid's boss, but she sure as hell took control of the room. That scene at the end of the episode was Benson at her finest. Well done. On a related note, Benson also showed a hint of being protective of Carisi. I've said it before and I'll keep saying it--I'm eagerly anticipating the unfolding of the tension that's brewing between Carisi and Hadid and Carisi and his former coworkers.

"So why's he a cop?"
"Don't take this the wrong way, Chief, but you're his type." LOLOLOLOL

Is it Next Thursday, Yet? 

Carisi's got that damn camera out again. Are we invited to another Unitarian Church dedication ceremony?

21.2: In Darkness, There's Leight

The #42Minutes

After an alcohol and drug-fueled girls' night out, Raegan James orders a QuikRide (how are they still in business?) and presumably heads home; however, when she wakes up the next morning she knows something horrible has happened. She stumbles into SVU and, little by little over the course of the episode, the squad is able to cobble together the bits and pieces of evidence into a case strong enough to force all four perps into plea deals.

The Verdict

A-

The episode did the "imperfect victim" some well deserved legal and poetic justice. Instead of hammering away at the imperfections, Benson, especially, zeroes in on piecing together the night and identifying the assailants. Had this same plot been the core of an episode in the past three years, we would have endured #42Minutes of the detectives lamenting Raegan's implied mental illness, her drug and alcohol abuse, and her penchant for engaging in casual sex acts in department stores. This episode prioritized the crime and the bad guys. Bravo.

The episode's one drawback was the highly anticipated trauma-based interviewing sessions. First of all, being in that cell-like office should have been trauma enough. WTF?

Rollins' and Fin's segments felt like filler. I know we're a bit overloaded with debriefing in bars scenes, but I would have liked to see the two of them add some after-hours context to what they experienced. As far as Benson is concerned, how many more times do we have to witness the specter of William Lewis come back to haunt her? After (I think it was Part 33?) there was speculation Lewis may have raped her and WL mentioned having to tie up some loose ends lingering from his hiatus, but nothing new came of Benson revisiting her trauma.

On the other hand, her relentlessness and compassion throughout the investigation showed growth and healing (as she mentioned at the end without being preachy, thank you very much writers)...but, then again, the "new interview technique" didn't seem all that cutting edge. It seemed like someone putting a name on an approach experienced detectives already use.

Finally, Lewis is NOT polarizing. He's universally loathed. So, that teaser was disappointing. My personal, and, possibly, futile, #TuckerWatch continues.

Wardrobe

Captain Benson sizzled! Perfect hair. Perfect blue blouses. And was that the Captain in chic sandals? I believe it was!

Quotable

"But I feel like I can trust you." Raegan speaks for us all. 

"Counselor Carisi..." LOL. I don't always love Amanda Rollins, but when I do, it's when she's at her sarcastic, skeptical self.

"That's Dennis, my old boss. I like your hair that way." I sincerely apologize, but I chuckled. BTW-the chemistry between Ariel Winter and Mariska Hargitay was phenomenal. Benson wrangling mercurial Raegan was the show at its finest, and I was worried I wouldn't be able to see Winter as anyone other than Alex Dunphy, but...Alex who?

"I just wanted her to get up." Finnnnnnn! Hugs!

"I drove her home. Who knows what would have happened to her?" Well, you could have driven her home in the first place, scumbag. 

Raegan recognizing Benson having said all of those lines...yes, true, but that doesn't mean they become irrelevant. Nice touch.

Is It Next Thursday, Yet?

I've scratched Uptown Girl from all playlists (thanks, SVU, for casting yet another sinister hue on something beloved).

I'm looking forward to Detective Kat joining the crew (this is all but guaranteed, right?) and watching Carisi settle into his new role. He didn't necessarily clash with Benson, but he was a voice of reason when she was leaning toward going all in with the four perps. I cannot wait to see this new dynamic play out over the course of the season.