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...