19.14--Justice for Cassidy

The #42Minutes

Whoops...we forgot to tell ya about him, Stone.

Cassidy's "epic tantrum" causes a mistrial and sets a child molester free. The situation sucks all around--a new trial will traumatize victims all over again, Stone wonders what the hell he got himself into, and plucky, well-connected Detective Holiday stands her ground when SVU tries to wrest the case from homicide after Dr. West is found stabbed to death in his home. Several people and God had a motive to kill the doctor, but Cassidy is PoI #1. Benson's pretty much the only one not sold on Cassidy' guilt but she keeps that to herself at first and directs the squad to investigate even though it's not their case anymore. Thanks to fish DNA (or something like that) they are able to narrow the suspect pool fairly easily and in the course of a follow up interview with a victim's family, Benson notices the smoking gun, er, smoking fidget spinner.

These things have been trouble from the get.

Jury of One

My aversion to all things Cassidy certainly is not a state secret and I still hate him; however, good for the writers for creating a more layered and nuanced backstory for the character. It was evident Brian has come to the realization that the trauma from his abuse has infected his entire existence and prevented him from actually loving the "love of his life." No, Cassidy never was and never will be good enough for Olivia, but at least now we know there's more substance to the man and his jackassery had a lot, if not everything, to do with the devastating and enduring effects of the abuse he suffered as a child. Unfortunately, Cassidy's nightmare wasn't ameliorated by his father beating the shit out of the baseball coach. 

This week in OMB WTF faces

I may be a cold-hearted bitch, but I'm still not letting him off the hook for a couple of things. First of all, dude, man the fuck up and deal with your mistake (and good job, Rollins for demanding he do this and, on a side note, why does she have the key? Oh wait, she was running point on the mission to help Liv harbor a murder suspect and also provide a home for her child--Noah, the real child, not Cassidy). How dare he ask Liv to help him? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it--the two of them have a deep connection and history and they trust each other (once again, I share Rollins' incredulity)--but that was typical fucking Cassidy and epitomizes everything I loathe about him.

(second gripe in Quotable)
Oh, oh, oh, Kudos to the writers for tying up all the Cassidy loose ends in a neat little knot...they did their homework and hit a home run.

LOL poor Stone...he must've aged ten years during this one case, good luck pal. And good luck to viewers...I really hope the awkwardness was intended. Maybe I have a Barba hangover, but he already seems to be an ill-fitting member of the team (fictional and nonfictional). However, I think I ship Stoliday.

I L. O. V.  E. how Rollins and Benson are being written. Cassidy was absolutely spot-on with his skeletons-in-the-closet comment, but Amanda has proven herself and Liv has cut her some slack. After all, OMB hasn't exactly been a rigid adherent to policies and procedures either. Good for Rollins for simultaneously standing her ground with the boss and being loyal and also for verbally smacking Cassidy into reality.

Oh, Noah...

Damn observant kids...

Quotable:

"It's a little early in the morning for stick up your ass." The teased tension between Holiday and the squad did not disappoint. I hope this isn't the last we see of her. Could be an interesting arc--another new member with a powerful father? Then again if Mr. Holiday is anything like Dodds, never mind.

"I wear them to clean my toilet."
Burrrrrrrrrnnnnnn. But here are some frozen veggies for your head. Seriously, though...she kept the sweats? Also...that apartment sure as hell expanded in the past few years. Bri musta been amazed. 

"We're the ones who botched the trial." Come. On. Olivia. The Lieutenant was really starting to annoy me in the middle of this episode because  she was on the questionable side of rationality a couple of times. I don't often get frustrated with her, but when I do it's usually because her gigantic heart smothers her brain. She stuck her neck way, way out for this prick without knowing what we all sort of guessed. For the record, Tucker would've never asked her to do that. In fact, he demanded the opposite.

"...You were never gonna bare your soul to me..." And Liv is supposed to feel guilty about this? You can't accept this yet you also couldn't bare your soul to her? 
"I was trying to explain to Morrison what happened between you and I..." More like you were trying to explain it to yourself, dude. YOU TOLD A STRANGER ABOUT LEWIS AND DIDN'T THINK THAT WOULD HAVE ANY CONSEQUENCES? Unforgivable. Sorry.

Appearances:

Hell of a way to spend Valentine's Day.

Tracking Tucker

I need him in bed with her. It would've been so great if Tucker met Cassidy at the door with a gun.

Also this reminded me of Dr. Keppler and Lead and Tucker was in that episode.

That is all.

Head Scratchers:

What will arise from Stone's "something came up" comment and Carisi's closed dry cleaners???

Is It Next Wednesday Yet?

Puh-lease let this be the last of Cassidy. For his sake, disclosing to Stone, maybe, was a tiny step forward. I hope he finds peace, but Olivia has moved on. I haaaate that she was left in the dark because I feel like it leaves a door open for him to return, and I can't decide how OMB would have reacted if he'd revealed that deep, dark secret to her. Maybe Cassidy was being considerate and saving her from having another person to save...or maybe he saw no upside to telling her.

Surely he'll have to find a new job. I mean...really...how can he possibly have any more credibility in the courtroom? Oh! Also! I was irked by him telling Liv he was begging Stone for his job when he was really pleading for Reggie's fate. Anyone with a quarter of a heart and a modicum of common sense would agree Reggie deserved the lighter hand of the law. 

Anyway...I hope the message to Dean Winters was dig deep and go all in because this is your SVU swan song. He gave an impassioned performance and displayed a range I didn't realize he had. Well done, Dean, but...Bye.

This was beautiful and perfect. Olivia expecting to see him still there...but no. For once her being alone didn't tug at my heartstrings. She's better off without him.

I am soooooo excited for Carisi drama I'm almost willing to skip the weekend.

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?

Nooch.11 Culture Shock

The #42Minutes

What initially presents as a terrorist investigation turns into an SVU case which turns into a a Barba-led trailblazing mission to dismantle "sexist, misogynistic pig" workplace culture. As an enduring, all-encompassing fix, it doesn't exactly work, but, as he put it, "the wheels are turning" and leaked grand jury proceedings end up hitting Optimum Air where it hurts most. Unfortunately the company's financial downfall doesn't seem like it will translate to any far-reaching substantial change (shocker) and will most likely be disregarded as an isolated incident.

The fight continues...

Also, Fin's onto Chief Dodds' shade and the rest of us will be theorizing about the mystery memo for the rest of the winter.

Be honest, how many of y'all have tried to piece together that upside down inside out text?

Assessment

Sorry, guys, but all I could think about in the first minute was filming that scene and people shouting "LEAN TO THE LEFT. OKAY, NOW LEAN TO THE RIGHT. FLIGHT ATTENDANT! DROP YOUR TRAY! SEATBELTS EVERYONE! SEAT! BELTS!"

Fake airplane scenes are cheesy 90% of the time on any show, and this was no exception. Like...while everyone was excoriating Tara for putting the lives of over 100 people in danger I'm thinking, uh, guys, there were 30 tops. And also why are we bothering with locked cockpit doors when future terrorists can use the beverage carts as battering rams?

Sooo...Flight Risk exemplifies my problemo with SVU making a statement about the egregious and unforgivable doings of real-lifers. In case anyone out there was still ignorant about how corporations and businesses establish and get away with maintaining sexist, toxic, and demeaning means and methods of operation, this episode preached it plain as day.

The manual reads:

1. Embellish minor infractions and contextualize them so the victim appears incompetent, foolish, and derelict in duties.
2. Recite laudatory (yet insubstantial) talking points and platitudes such as "I have two daughters" and "I let my assistant have the day off so she could attend the women's march."
3. Disregard and/or trivialize complaints and debase the plaintiffs.
4. Resolve allegations with empty promises and/or monetary compensation (anything that avoids bad press or the legal system)
5. Have confidence in public outrage's ephemeral nature.

This week in OMB WTF faces...

The episode would have been more interesting if...

A. It focused on Barba's culture-changing crusade...he and Benson pushing all the prickly corporate buttons and maybe being told to stand down but they don't (sort of like in Institutional Fail) and Barba's path away from the show is a political one. I really thought at the end he was going to tell Benson he was running for office.

B. NYPD's own culture was called into question and whatever the hell is going on with Benson and that memo unfolded alongside the case against Optimum Air and the episode ends with Benson and Rollins sitting in her office, bewildered, because how in the hell didn't they notice they, too, were under siege by their employer's very own boys' club?

In other news, Rollins is D.O.N.E. with pilot worship.

For the record, CEChauvinist Petruchio, er, Fleming and his Mengele-esque memo made my skin crawl.

Quotable:

"I felt cheap...devalued."
"I could shrug it off."
In a nutshell, the only ammunition women have to fight back.

"Jurors don't like difficult women."
Not only jurors, OMB.

"An interesting marketing strategy if this was the sixties." The scene at Optimum's headquarters and Benson's what-the-serious-fuck reactions were priceless.

"Come tomorrow there's gonna be a new t-shirt...Logan Carter, rapist."
Cue eye roll. Carisi, you nerd.

And in the Dodds (yes, Fin, we want you to cut him) file...

"They don't need Special Victims inventing a defense for her." Fuck you, Dodds and excuse me is this statement not grounds for him to be reassigned? Damn.

"If there's one thing I hate, it's a hypocrite." See above.

There are plenty of openings for Dodds to be a bad guy. Even though he and Benson seem to be in one of their periods of detente, he's not (nor has he ever been) 100% on her side. We needed neither a memo nor interview rumors to know this, but it's nice to be reminded and I'm excited for all of this to play out...

Thanks but no thanks on the welcome back hug, Amanda.

Appearances

Welcome back gray trench and red blouse with the silver clasps and hello camel blazer!

Benson's clearly (and admittedly) exhausted. Did anyone else notice how unenthusiastic she was as Barba presented his grand plans for changing the world?

Petition for the immediate return of bangless Benson. C'mon, people.

Tracking Tucker

What I would've given for a freshly-showered Tucker to come waltzing into the living room while Dodds was there...

And I can't believe Barson Tweeps didn't go ga-ga over this (then again, I probably have most of those people muted)...

Excuuuuuse me but the only hand Benson is supposed to touch when looking at a phone is TUCKER'S!

Head Scratchers

1. Now Dodds is at the apartment? Sheesh. Can I get a fucking invite? I'll tidy up...

2. Is my Cassidy-as-Fin's-Source theory correct? I actually hope not because my stomach turns thinking about how the writers could make OMB buy Cassidy's attempt at redemption and go running back into his arms and that would be so ridiculous and OOC but I really do think these people hate me that much.

Is It Next Wednesday, Yet?

Important, poignant story? Yes.
Gripping television? No.

Loose threads abound, though...

Is Barba's departure temporary or permanent? Punitive or self-imposed? Will Stone be friend or foe? Is McCoy's return Munch-esque or something more meaningful than a cameo? How long will Fin keep whatever he knows from Benson and will his gallant deed end up backfiring? Can I not be constantly dreading Bensidy 3.0?

What the hell else are they going to do to Liv?

In the meantime, would it be possible for OMB to get some fucking sleep in the next two weeks?

Oh, Mother!

The #42 Minutes

Let's work backwards...

Nobody wants to see Mariel go to prison for killing her mother and Barba slips up by stepping into a crowded elevator while talking on the phone. The caller is concerned about the death penalty and Barba agrees that punishment would not exactly fit the crime but he says this in the presence of jurors (c'mon, Barba you didn't notice Miss Funky Blue Glasses of all people?) so a pissed-off Judge Barth declares a mistrial. Barba's in trouble, but a more palatable version of justice is served. We'll see how this factors in to the arrival of Peter Stone in a few weeks.

The case begins when SVU is called to a special needs school to investigate a rape, but the actual crime lies elsewhere, in the actions of Mariel's mentally-ill mother who, had she not been bludgeoned to death, probably would have spent the rest of her life in a hospital. You know it's bad when even the doctor emerges, stunned, from the interrogation room and says, "Uh, guys, this woman is seriously fucked up there's no way she can be held responsible for her actions no matter how egregious they may be."

I paraphrase, of course.

Assessment

Two weeks after the kidnapping, Mother and Son Benson are still reeling from, as Fin called it "road trip with Grandma." Noah doesn't want to sleep alone and he's having Sheila dreams and Liv's having flashbacks and I'm no child psychologist but Eddie-in-jail surrounded by police cars seems to indicate Noah won't so easily forget what happened and OMB will not be able to ignore it away.

The pessimist in me predicted Benson's inner turmoil would be cast aside or minimized, but it wasn't and it was beautifully written and acted.

HOWEVER...

One thing that annoys the hell out of me is when there is too much of a contrived effort to connect the cases with the squad's personal lives. Of course, it's fiction and we only have #42Minutes, so everything's contrived, but there is a glaring distinction between Sheila and Dawn, and Barba and Benson implicitly acknowledging the similarity of the two mothers was a big-time, eye-roll-worthy stretch and if Benson lets that woman back into her life my head will explode and SVU will be down a viewer which isn't such a big deal because ratings are pretty good. My hope is Sheila spends her twilight years in federal lockup and I can't imagine Benson road-tripping for visits.

Ordinarily I find Benson's compassion and gigantic heart endearing, but those qualities occasionally come around to haunt her and my concern for her well-being is manifesting as anger and I really hate being angry at anyone, especially OMB.

Hello, Doc Warner and welcome back, but WHERE THE HELL HAVE YA BEEN? We couldn't get one little line about why we haven't seen her since Season 17 and for someone who was a hashtag subject she sure didn't get much screen time. Since Benson's apartment was open for business, I thought maybe she would join the party but everything I think about this show ends up either wrong or not happening so IDK why I even try anymore.

Safe to say The Little Mermaid won't be queued up in the Benson household anytime soon...or ever.

Quotable:

"The law says she's guilty, but your heart says she's not."
Dear Barba and Benson, the two of you have a combined fifty or so years in law enforcement...buck up...you know at least one juror is going to dig in and refuse to convict.

"Not what he wanted."
"You. Are. Hurting. Her."
PAGING DR. LINDSTROM!

"You're a single mom. You're a full time cop. Your life is not easy. It's okay to say that out loud every once in a while."
Will someone please embroider that on a pillow for Liv as well?

Get with it, Dad.

Wardrobe:

Speaking for the minority, I prefer Benson in her work clothes.

Tracking Tucker...

I'm not EVEN gonna mention Liv sleeping ALONE on the hospital sofa...

Oh wait, I just did.

Maybe Noah will leave Eddie in a taxi in the coming weeks...that elephant is too painful.

Hey! That's Ed's!

Head Scratchers:

1. For once the Rollins-Olivia convos didn't have their typical edginess, but why exactly did Rollins go to Liv rather than mention her initial skepticism about Dawn to Fin? I'm intrigued...maybe we'll get some Finlivia power struggle tension and I have not abandoned hope for a Sergeant Rollins.
2. No Christmas tree?
3. Mariel's Dad...what a punk

Kelli, you so awesome!

Is It Next Wednesday, Yet?

Even though I nearly dozed off a few times  (and, no, not because of the booze), I suppose Pathological's lack of suspense was a needed respite after last week's torture. The episode was more bridge than captivating case--hopefully all this Sheila mess will fade and everyone else can have their turn with drama with Barba apparently next in line for the wringer.


"Some can cooperate...and others prey on each other..."
We'll see how this plays out in the sky next week.

"I don't know what the fuck to do."

Gone Sheila Gone (Finally)

The #42 Minutes

All hands (except Dodds') are on deck for the multi-state Noah-hunt! The detectives' frenzied search begins at the six-floor (but OMB doesn't care if its sixty) Mall of Manhattan and culminates in a rural New Hampshire cabin where sociopath Sheila finally loses it but OMB is there to hug her before leading her out in handcuffs.

In between, Dodds orders Benson to stand down (hahaha) and she and Sheila hang at Sheila's apartment then at the precinct until Carisi visits Awesome Baby and has to inform his Lieutenant that Grandma Sheila was behind this all along. Benson whips around to see Sheila missing from the interrogation room where she was supposed to be looking at sex offender photos. Fin and Liv hurry to Sheila's apartment but find nothing except for Ellie's missing portrait. Carisi and Rollins track the kidnapper's car to a bus station and everything seems really fucked until OMB thinks to involve Sheila's family court lawyer who gives up the name of a PI who leads them to Juan Ortoli, who, like everyone else, was conned by Sheila. Noah saves the day by waking up and running to Mommy only to be shoved safely outside while Benson beats the crap out of Sheila. Oh wait, that's what I wanted to happen. Benson did not beat the crap out of Sheila nor did she snap her neck or perform a police-sanctioned take-down maneuver.

I pity the next perp. Both the empathy and restraint tanks have gotta be about empty.

Assessment

Some (more in the past year than ever before) SVU episodes have such hackneyed, predictable writing that the only saving grace is the acting. The SVU cast has the ability to redeem an entire script due to their sheer talent. Gone Baby Gone doesn't fall into this category, but it came close. (Also...surely someone mentioned the title was not exactly original?)

The people raving about the episode are actually raving about Mariska Hargitay's performance and deservedly so. She was brilliant. It's still early, but if she doesn't get an Emmy nod this summer, something is seriously out of whack in the ATAS. She nailed this episode as both terrified parent and savvy cop. Everyone else was absolutely on point--Barba as devoted yet brutally honest friend, Carisi and Rollins relentlessly pursuing leads, and Fin letting Dodds think he's a loyal soldier.

But THIS WAS NOT A SURPRISE! (Not only had many of us been predicting this outcome since Grandma's arrival, but the opening montage also pretty much let the cat the rest of the way out of the bag) Perhaps  Nooch and Company cared less about keeping her involvement under wraps and wanted the audience to feel Benson's inner turmoil as she realizes and comes to terms with her near-devastating decision to trust Sheila. If that's the case, mission accomplished. I'm still reeling from "I can't breathe" and the Barba hug and gawwwwd I'm giving myself another stress headache. But still...the actual script was disappointingly linear and devoid of genuine suspense (we all knew Noah would be fine and there was nothing more to Sheila's involvement other than...she did it, oh, and maybe that she seduced the lawn guy). 

They could've traded some Sheila-Benson time for more of Dodds running interference or running the investigation and Benson resisting and disagreeing and going rogue.

Or Cassidy could've been involved. 

I hate that asshole.

Re-watch Drinking Game

Drink when Sheila says "I" because remember, this is all about her!

Spoiler: she says "I" 13 times.

Quotable:

"You're not a cop in New Hampshire, just do it." You don't have to ask Rollins twice, Lieu. I loved that scene in the Ortoli house. Well done, detectives.

"You think you've seen emotional, wait 'til I tell her this." Poor Fin. 

#Squad

"You prevent the next mess."

"Maybe you wanted this to work out too much."

I always love Barba, especially when his legal expertise is showcased along with his insight and his genuine (platonic) affection for Benson. He is absolutely right, and, looking back, one has to wonder how this person could not only appear out of nowhere but be subject to so little scrutiny on the part of the Lieutenant who has a wealth of resources at her disposal and could have been alerted to Sheila's nefarious transactions (turning off utilities; draining bank accounts, etc.) earlier. 

I hate to think about Benson's reaction when and if Barba leaves.

My heart...

Wardrobe:

I am chagrined to say I wasn't paying one bit of attention except for Noah complaining once again that something was too big. And was that Ellie's childhood bed he slept in?

Tucker Files

I would take all this family crap a little more seriously if Benson hadn't let Tucker leave or if the breakup was due to an actual reason other than Noah climbing on the counter. Let's face it. At the end of the day the #SVU "family" is but an ephemeral placeholder for the real thing. ALL of those people will eventually leave; they have their own families (even though Fin's seem to have fallen by the wayside). Cute gathering at the end, but that's an every-once-in-a-while occurrence. The Bensons are currently a party of two.

And I will never forgive whoever decided the elephant's name was Eddie.

Unless Tucker returns and "the three of us" live happily ever after. 

Then we're all good. No harm; no foul.

Head Scratchers

1. How did driver's license or passport facial recognition not get a hit on Juan earlier? They had a clear picture of his face.
2. Paid cash for the car but Sheila used a credit card for the car seat? And she also left Noah alone while she bought burgers? And Noah didn't question the black phone screen?
3. Being "in from New Jersey" somehow precludes one from knowing where they were 30 minutes ago?
4. The PI didn't alert anyone when Sheila requested fake passports?
5. OMB went to the cabin alone? I get not wanting to spook Sheila (after all, she had to be getting irritated he wouldn't shut up about Mommy), but, come on. She could've asked for backup on standby without going full on SWAT. That was dumb (and bolstered Dodds' worries she wasn't thinking rationally and I hate when he's right). Carisi and Rollins didn't alert anyone about Juan's cabin BEFORE they went there? OMB didn't clear the perimeter before entering the cabin? Noah didn't wake up at Grandma Sheila's shriek? 
6. And finally...Juan thought he was going to RUN AWAY? LOLOLOLOLOL

Is it Next Wednesday Yet?

Hopefully the Sheila saga is over and we don't have to see her trial or her plea deal or Noah visiting her in prison. 

I don't think the final exchange between "Dick" Dodds and Fin was insignificant. Apparently, the Dodds-Benson Eidteen détente was either short-lived or forgotten (fine with me, I mean, Season 18 doesn't even exist on Hulu so, if it's not there, did it really happen)? I have a hard time believing Dodds wasn't following the squad's movements and had no clue about Benson's whereabouts. And why, when Fin told him she had been at home waiting by the phone...why did Dodds ask if she was alone? I was SO begging and pleading for Fin's response to be "I'm sure Tucker was with her." Yes, I know, I need to let it go.

Anyway...in addition to Benson losing all trust for everyone on Earth when it comes to her son, this Dodds thing could come back to burn Fin and OMB down the line. If, of course, we're doing that whole continuity thing.

For future reference, the only person allowed to call Noah "sweet boy" is his Mommy. 

Winter Finale!

The #42 Minutes

Katy the social media star goes on a date with Andy the fighter and the date ends up with Katy raped and stumbling down a Tribeca street. At the hospital she refuses a rape kit and recants. Suspect Andy himself invites SVU over to his gym, argues the sex was consensual, and shows the detectives evidence of a (paltry considering he's worth millions) extortion attempt. The vic wasn't very vic-ey and the perp wasn't very perp-y (except for the tough-guy MMA fighter persona and, oh, that striated, chewed up and put-back-together ear).

Nobody knows what in the hell is going on, at once Andy and Katy both look guilty and innocent, until all signs point to a double catfish and Mays--something, West Virginia. Carisi and Rollins almost kiss, Rollins sleeps with a random bartender (surprise), Carisi broods, MMA Andy has a heart, and Hillbilly Heather is going to prison for a long time.

Oh, and also, Noah takes a lot of apples to school and he's now missing for the holidays.

Ramblings

Ramblings are a lot better when I have something to bitch and moan about and I do (Sheila) but the actual episode was intense, highly entertaining, and perfectly layered with personal and legal drama. Every character involved in the trial, in one way or another, earned my sympathy. All three of them had fairly harmless initial intents perverted by something beyond their control. Even Heather. I mean, damn, the pressure of being the sole caregiver of a seriously ailing mother? And then, to add insult to serious injury she lives in bumble fuck West Virginia and her wildest dream is doing the Laverne and Shirley thing in New York?

Loved how the characters were written so the audience jumped to assumptions fueled by stereotypes only to have those assumptions challenged and proven wrong

Do we think the writers are familiar with fans? I'd make some crack about the Blue whatever it was shampoo obsession among Katy's followers, but I diiiid kinda whip out the credit card as soon as Mariska tweeted "Terax" and made sure to add express shipping.

I SO hate it when I'm sorta hungover after a night of drinking and almost sleeping with a friend/colleague and considerately buy breakfast and coffee only to witness the one-night-stand leave her hotel room.

Rollins knows THE Monster's stats a little too well which I would disregard except I can't help but wonder if she's gambling again and was I the only one who thought the pain-in-the-ass remark at Carisi as she basically told him to grow the fuck up hinted at a previous sexual rendezvous between the two of them? But then again, if that were the case, why wouldn't they have hooked up in WV? Or maybe they did it once in a moment of weakness and promised to not go there again? But damn writers and actors you're scrambling my brain because "Rafa" and Sonny sure looked happy to see one another. And to circle back for a second, I coulda done without Rollins recalling banging RJ's brains out behind the bar in Loganville and also what's wrong with her mom? Cirrhosis?

Rafa. Ugh.

I love episodes like this. The snark, the banter, the heartache...and the suspense...just really well done.

BUT...

Nobody told me we were playing the Olivia Benson WTF Face Drinking game. Next time, I guess. Except I try to dry out in January. Well, not on Wednesdays I guess.

While we're on the subject of OMB WTF faces, she regarded members of her squad with incredulity multiple times, and it emphasized her isolation...they may have her back but she's not really one of the group anymore. Which is fine. But I don't want her to be alone I want her to be with Tucker because I guaran-fucking-tee you Tucker's retired ass would be tailing Grandma Sheila on her outings with Noah. Lol. Can't you just see him? All cranky and pissed off and disagreeing with OMB's decision but respecting it and...okay I'll stop writing Fan Fiction.

Why didn't Noah SCREAM?

Oh, and for someone who needed translation services (good one, OMB), Carisi sure did have a good eye for where Heather's room was located. 

Quotable:

"We're both new at this." Oh stop it, Olivia. Sheila fucked up. No, she didn't fuck up. That was not an accident. She did it on purpose, selfishly and maliciously, and IDK if she orchestrated the kidnapping or not, but this woman is POISONOUS. While we're on the subject, could the two of them be any more awkward around each other? No joke, I cringe every time they're in a scene together. EVERY TIME.

"Sorry no deal or sorry I hurt you and you'll take the deal?" LOLOLOLOL Andy's doing the right thing (love) but Barba's all like yeah yeah yeah, enough talking let's hammer this out so we can move on.

Noah "ended up in the right ZIP code with the right people." Well, that's all there is to it, right? Except...I gather Sheila's idea of "right people" is her family and I'm 70% leaning toward she orchestrated this whole thing, 20% on the side of it's revenge for something OMB did, and 10% it's Cassidy.

"Nope, not yet, but I still got 10,000 pictures to go through." Oh, shutup Carisi.

"...or he could just move to Hollywood."
"Don't people know porn's free these days..."
Oh, Fin.
And the way OMB looked at him. Surely the actors had to film that scene a few times.

"I'm so glad." Bahahahahaha
I really hope OMB hasn't been spending evenings drinking tea with Sheila when she could be spending them cuddled up with Tucker.

Wardrobe

It's TRENCH COAT SEASON!

Oh, and after Noah is recovered, take that fur-lined hooded coat into evidence and leave it there. Those are gross and the fur gets all matted and encrusted with preschooler crumbs and bits of eraser and glue...it's just disgusting. Thanks.

Tucker Files

This was sunken ship torture in the most serious degree. And I thought "Eddie" and smelling the flowers in the morning were bad.

"Who is the hand?"

OMB struggling to find someone who "has her back" and she can TRUST? (Hint: that person is not B.C. He essentially turned her in to child services FFS. Also, he's a jackass.)

"Looks like there may be a heart somewhere under all those muscles." REMEMBER HOW YOU FOUND A HEART UNDER THAT ornery, rigid, hard-nosed exterior of a certain former IAB investigator? Yeah, me too. Why don't ya give him a call?

Is It Next Wednesday Yet?

Can. Sheila. Just. Go. Away.?

Or die? Sure, Olivia will have to talk to him about death and why Mommy shot Granny and maybe he'll have nightmares but I can handle that. Pleeeeeeeeease can we make a New Year's Resolution that someone else's kid or family can be in peril? It would've made WAY more sense for Jesse to be taken by the people who own Rollins' gambling debt. Isn't it about time for them to get out of prison? Or bring Declan back and out of UC ops and someone takes his kid as payback?

Or, or, or, or....

Happy Holidays, ya'll.

I hope Santa brings each and every one of you a big, red Range Rover.

Or its equivalent.