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.