X.VI--It's Not Always Hudson's Fault

The #42Minutes

SVU is called to a scene where a young woman who later identifies herself as Grace Walker is found beaten and raped. Benson, fresh from a workout (because of course she has time for regular training sessions) joins Carisi and they head to the hospital, gather preliminary details, and fan out across Manhattan to find the rapist. Problems arise quickly, though. Grace gave inaccurate and misleading information, she turns out to be homeless, but not homeless-homeless (right, Sonny?), she uses fancy words...her identity is not adding up. The detectives soon figure out Grace is actually Sophie--a promising young college student--but can't figure out why the fuck she'd trade the sorority house for the streets.

After a second attack, this one at the hands of her shelter boyfriend Tommy, Grace is taken to the hospital again. She doesn't recognize herself in a photo, says her parents are dead but can't remember their names, and recognizes her Dad... Season 20 Dr. Huang interviews Grace and diagnoses dissociative fugue even though, apparently, Benson had already done so.

These two are competent and pretty.

We're all suspicious of the Dad, but it's actually a professor who raped Sophie, sending her spiraling downhill (although I'm still not giving Dad a total pass, he was weird), which we figure out when Benson takes her to campus and plays a SVU-version of hot-and-cold. Sophie describes being violently raped by a professor, and incriminating blue ink stain is still on the sofa cushion, ugh, but the guy is dead so all this healing Benson promised doesn't seem like it's going to pan out but she's Olivia fucking Benson so, in the end, we're led to believe Sophie is in a much better place both geographically and psychologically.

Verdict

I'm not sure what it says about the state of the show when, during the credits, I shrug and mutter "could have been worse."

The writers treated Sophie's mental illness with dignity rather than portraying her as a liar or making her a terroristic killer. Aimee Spring Fortier and Mariska Hargitay were phenomenal on the screen together. For me, the more personal side of Benson is almost always cringe-worthy and uncomfortable, and at the very beginning of the scene I groaned--not this again--but the conversation was not at all awkward (even though y'all coulda thought of a different name for Benson's live-in boyfriend...Billy? Come on).

I was surprised the episode didn't delve deeper into sexual assault at homeless shelters and among the homeless in general. It also didn't make a big deal about Carisi driving Grace/Sophie home. Even though Carisi was professional and did nothing wrong, I thought maybe something more was going to develop with what I thought was an odd decision. Benson let a confused, battered rape victim be driven home by a male detective?

I loved Carisi in this episode because he was back to his original characterization of zealous, no-nonsense, go-get-the-bad-guy detective rather than the whiny, too-angry brat he's become in the past couple of seasons.

The transition from Sophie flipping the table in Benson's office to Sophie at the professor's grave happened too abruptly. I would have liked to see more of how Benson convinced her to go there, but I guess we have to leave room for Stone's on-screen melancholy.

I promised myself I would not devote more than a sentence to Stone so instead of repeating my cycle of complaints about the character, I will reiterate the prediction that his sex-as-coping habit will somehow come back to haunt him either in the courtroom or during an SVU investigation and I really hope that happens and I hope Barba returns to either prosecute him or clean up the mess.

I'm still giggling at Fin snatching himself a pot brownie, gratis.

Quotable:

"I was with a bear claw." We're over the OMB fitness arc, too, Carisi.

"In my experience..." Yeah, we get it, you all have seen some horrible shit but can we start using some different words?

"Every family needs someone with a truck." Stone, this is the most valuable thing you've ever said. 

"If you don't mind stand up and turn your ass around." Fin was on FIRE with the not-taking-any-bullshit sass in this one. Why is he the only one who consistently gets in-character dialogue?

"The past is over and done with."
(OMB) "Sometimes."
I hate these seemingly-insignificant, wistful comments of Benson's because I read too much into them and then twist my mind into a pretzel for days trying to dissect the underlying meaning in One. Fucking. Word.

"Peter." If he absolutely has to be on the show...I'm all for more of OMB scolding Stone. 

"He's dead, but you're not."

Eye Roll Quote of the Night:

"Definitely a college word."
Oh, FFS people.

Oh, and I admire and revere RBG as much as the next person, but now we have an 8 x 10 in the office? What's next? One of those Fat Head life-size cutouts?

Is it Next Thursday, Yet?

Ugh. Are they doing a version of the 2012 UWS nanny murders? I really hope not because that crime still gives me nightmares but it looks like they are because a bunch of blood in a kid's bedroom is never good news.

Until then, Imma go back and rewatch the mug-smashing scene just to make sure Liv didn't sacrifice the RBG one though I got the sense OMB is not entirely unfamiliar with this method of "letting it all out" so she probably has some cheapo generic ones sitting around...

X.V: Who needs detectives when you have a fit tracker?

The #42Minutes

A couple of classic #SVU tropes return in what seemed to be a 42-minute long attempt to prove beyond a reasonable doubt Rollins and Benson can and will be BFFs. As Benson and Rollins whine about physical fitness and single motherhood, the squad investigates a rape homicide, quickly zeroing in on the charismatic con man (trope 1) Arlo who leads a women's empowerment group called Accredo. similar to the most rigidly-structured street gangs, there's only one way to get out, so when one of the women, Vicky, wants to leave, she's killed and the brand (trope 2) signifying she's one of them, is cut out of her flesh.

At first Vicky's old bf, Brad, looks guilty because, after all, he does have Vicky's blood on his clothes, but there's no DNA on his knives, but knives are a dime a dozen, but Brad's on camera with one of the Accredo girls the night of the murder so, duh, he's been framed.

At least Benson gets to read Rollins a story. Poor Noah.

Arlo's wife and a jilted, now-broke, ex-husband give the squad more incriminating evidence, Gina cracks a bit, but the real kicker is Lila's fit tracker data because it soooo proves murder.

Rollins, trying really, really hard in her last week before desk duty, sort of assaults a witness/perp and then gets Arlo's lawyer/sycophant-turned-traitor to turn him in before he can flee the country. Win for #SVU and win for us because...no Stone. Yay!

Except...this was one of the least suspenseful #SVU eps ever. I suppose the only thing better than an ep so controversial it bitterly divides fans is an ep which sparks no conversation at all?

Verdict

The Rollivia shippers must have been bouncing up and down with delight at this one. Stone gets the night off (wonder how he spent it?) and Fin and Carisi sing backup as Benson and Rollins lead the investigation. Sure Rollins is pregnant and they're short staffed and maybe it's what he prefers, but at what point is Fin going to be like, hey? I'm the fucking Sergeant. When am I going to get to pass on moving the furniture? And, Benson, your fit-tracker stalking trainer woulda preferred you get off your ass and go move it, and, btw, we don't need to know he's going to yell at you for not running. This isn't the Benson personal life I was hoping for.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Mariska and Kelli on screen together as friends or as chummy single mothers Does. Not. Work. These actors simply don't have that type of chemistry. Benson demeanor comes off as, "I know I should care and I want to care but I really don't and just fucking deal with it and also do your job, Amanda." And Rollins' is, "I'm so fucking bonkers in the head I don't know which way is up and why is this Arlo guy so good at yanking out my innermost demons and also, I hate my mother and I hate myself for hating her."

This week in Benson desk accessories...WHO TOOK NOAH FISHING? I think you know where I'm going with this...

Rollins seems to come to self-realization of her own at the end, hopefully for good, because goddam she's on my nerves once again.

Noah hanging up on Benson was hilarious. But he's probably mad because he's too old. The real Noah should only be in preschool.  Even if I were to go along with aging the kid and taking away my beloved Jack, Benson went to PRESCHOOL last year to see Ms. Smiley before everyone went all apeshit over Noah's bruises so how he skipped to first grade, IDK, especially since he was all but mute for a while.

Quotable:

Hearing Carisi say "fugly" made me giggle.

"But you're conflicted, aren't you. I can see you're terrified about losing control, about being vulnerable. You've been hurt badly in your life. And I'm sorry about that." You can say that to 90% of people and be spot on or at least conjure some self-doubt.

This week in Fin Sass:
"It's not tough to see why she dropped your ass."
"They got a lotta mashed potatoes up in Sing Sing."
"A foot on her neck?"
"As you were."

This week in Benson wisdom:
"I run my unit."
"Most people in here are in here because they believed a man's lies."
"You can get out by the time you're fifty. And believe me, that's a lot of life left." (Take that, mid-life crisis).


This week in lines hearkening-Tucker:
"plays golf, talks sports, drinks bourbon, smokes cigars..."
"I was scared to be...alone."
"Arraign this prick." (I will forever associate  Benson saying "prick" with her describing Abraham as an "angry prick" to Tucker...that was so hawwwwwt.)

Just call Ed, will ya?

Wardrobe:

Carisi's at his best when standing around clad in polka dots.

Pointless scene/convo of the week goes to:

I thought we'd established long ago Rollins had a crappy home life?

Overacted, overdramatic line of the week goes to:

"the data is uploaded...to the cloud..." Writers, why must you give OMB the eye roll lines?

Is it Next Thursday, Yet?

Well, for me, it's more like is it Friday night or Saturday morning yet?

Will Rollins' cardiologist become Benson's cardiologist? In the doctor-patient sense, I mean. Will Benson become this annoying, fitness-obsessed boss and make everyone do squad health challenges? Damn...that trainer's muscles. I bet Tucker would like her to make dinner and do squats with him.

This is what's running through my mind after the episode. Great.

XX.II: "Just Don't Forget Me"

The #42 Minutes

The episode opens like so many SVU episodes have opened--dark night, unsuspecting cabbie, up-to-no-good white dude visiting from the midwest, and a drugged victim on a gurney. It doesn't take long for the squad to track down the driver, the perp, and the other perp who has in his possession at least half a dozen sex slaves including nine-year-old Gabriela who was separated from her mother when they crossed into Texas from Mexico. Maria, her mother, is in detention and Gabriela had been placed with an (interracial--that's very 2018 of you, show) couple in New Jersey but she ran away in hopes of returning to Texas. The squad's not sure where to house her. Rollins wants to take Gabriela home to which Benson says, no, no, I'm the only one who gets to do stuff like that (and also Stabler, too) and I'm not referring to Noah (remember Calvin and the little boy from "Paternity"? Oh and also the girl who set Beck's couch on fire but Benson wasn't there for that...anyway...why bring up Beck?).

Eventually a federal agent arrives to take Gabriela to kids-taken-from-their-parents lock-up and Benson has him arrested for kidnapping. We all know this is a legal long-shot, but that's not really the point, Benson's playing with her heart more than her head and Stone calls her out on it but then he meets Gabriela, she shows him a drawn picture of her house in Guatemala and Stone's like fiiiiine. After Judge Millbanks predictably sides with the federal government Stone hops on a plane to call in some favors from Jefferies, using some childhood sea turtle metaphor to seal the deal. Gabriela and her mother are reunited and welcomed to America by Benson who remains in the middle of the barracks for a moment staring in disbelief at the kids in cages and she just welcomed the Sosas to America but this can't really be America, right?

Verdict

Man Who? Someone please tell me why this wasn't episode one?

Truth be told, SVU has never made me reach for the tissues. But there I was yesterday afternoon jogging on the treadmill and struggling to breathe as Benson kept repeating "fuerte" to a crying Gabriela.

Benson's outburst was so poignant and brave and badass...you could tell Mariska wasn't merely playing a role in that scene. 

Lately I've been anti-ripped from the headlines episodes because they end up feeling preachy and cheesy and almost diminish the weight of the issue at hand. Zero Tolerance, however, was impeccably written and performed. The script laid bare how the current administration has unconscionably and recklessly abandoned all semblance of morality and humanity in the name of "rule of law", and it did so without over-politicizing debates over the border crisis.

The issues in 30 seconds...well done!

In less important news, Rollins tells Dr. Al she's pregnant (but, I must point out, she doesn't explicitly say he's the father and I'm still not convinced the kid isn't Carisi's) and his first impulse is to suggest abortion which appalls Rollins because...well...what an ass...then again, she's probably kicking herself for thinking a few sweet minutes of reading to Jesse equates to Dr. Al wanting to step up and be a family man.

Poor, left-out Carisi...the last to know.

 By the end of the ep, Rollins (thanks, in part, to Gabriela I suppose), decides she's having the baby and she tells Al to take a hike...hopefully for good because I'm not interested in season-long baby Daddy drama especially since we're not allowed to have #Tuckson drama. 

The Rollins-Gabriela scenes were all great, but this one was my fave. And maybe Jesse would like a little brother?

In the "Stone is Forever on My Nerves' Category..."

Okay, so Peter came through with the connection that eventually freed Maria and Gabriela but does he have to have that pitiful, pensive look on his face all the damn time?

This week in anguished OMB faces...

Oh, and, P.S.--A #Tuckson, at home, on the couch with a glass of wine debrief after that presser woulda been soooooo much better than Dr. Al and Rollins drama. And Benson choking back tears at the end...gawwwwwwwd....

Quotable:

"Stop treating me like a ride along."

(after Carisi suggests a non alcoholic beer) "What's the point?"

Oh, Rollins, I alternately love and hate you, but there was nothing but heart emojis for ya in this episode. 

"You know me, all work and no play." Yeah, right, Peter. 

"I promised Ken and Alejandro I'd babysit tonight." Fin, you are such a liar. 

"Why la Migra take her, Miss Amanda?" GABRIELAAAAAA, you're killing me!

"What are we doing here? The government ripped this little girl out of her mother's arms. Somebody...somewhere needs to stop this!" 

Is it Next Thursday, yet?

Petition to reduce all of Stone's wistful childhood stories that always miraculously dovetail with the case to deleted scenes clips on YouTube!

Other than that...I'm stocking up on salted caramel chocolate chip ice cream and looking forward to trying to stay up until 10 next week.

XX.I: Man Was That Too Long!

#42 Minutes (X2)

SVU Season 20 began as it ended last season with two back-to-back episodes that only needed to be one. Rollins is pregnant, Stone is coping via women, Prosecco, and eggs, Benson's getting old, Fin commiserates, but he's like, ah, fuck it, and Carisi, well, he's still cute and I'm gonna place the long shot bet on him being the baby daddy.

The episode itself was a predictable, not very creative mishmash of relevant, timely topics, but the  combination of toxic masculinity, psychological and sexual abuse, and mass shootings was woven together in a tiresome, predictable plot. Benson's implied abortion revelation did provide the spark I needed to power through until eleven, though.

We can also add rabbits to the previously mundane, innocuous items SVU has rendered taboo.

Verdict

Not sure if Benson is just getting old or if there's more to the weakening lungs and lead legs story. She did look like shit when she and Carisi went to visit Mrs. Conway for the first time. But let's be real, I'm not confident Wonder Woman herself wouldn’t be able to last long sprinting in ninety degree heat clad in blazer and heeled boots. Take a cue from Fin, Benson, and get in the car. You're the boss for Chrissakes.

Rollins being pregnant again is so her, but, you know what? I get really annoyed when she talks about "back home" like it's the freaking Vatican. I give a C+ for hiding the bump from her colleagues; it was obvious when she was standing. Concealment was easier at the interrogation table. Poor Kelli Giddish--the blocking for her lines must have been filled with Rollins leans forward. So, if the doctor is the father she has a dilemma--go it alone again or give the dude a chance to step up...and be a man. We'll see. Rollins might be man enough for both of them.

20:1 he's the father.

I read a tweet this morning speculating Benson's advice about regret wasn't actually meant to be inferred that she had an abortion at some point; rather, it was Benson wishing she could take back or relive past decisions (such as the one where she let Tucker walk out of her life). If it's the former, I'm intrigued, but not as much as I was last night. Actually, the more I type about it the more I'm annoyed at the superfluous bombshell. Lazy.

The actual cases--father raping his son; enraged son becoming suicidal school shooter-- doubled as a vehicle for Carisi and Stone to do battle with daddy issues and baseball issues and metaphysical what-is-all-this-for issues. And I'm no negotiator, but I counted at least five cringe-worthy WTF are you saying moments in Carisi's baseball field talk-down. I also counted at least fifty zillion too many instances of Peter Stone preaching. Note to Nooch: This is Olivia Benson's show.

Finally, Benson's got the parenting blues because she's trying so hard to be a good mother, she's installed an LED peace sign in Noah's room and filled it with toys and antique trucks and what does she get in return? A shove goodnight. Well, that'll probably trigger a whole bunch of "oh, my God, his genes" and that little brat better be contrite in the morning, but, hey, Benson, he's growing up and has a mind of his own and where is Eddie and I'm confident Jack-as-Noah would have never behaved that way.

Ah, the good old  days...

Quotable:

"If they have to suffer to be close to Him..." I get Stone going religion (not that I care), but Benson's heaven comment was weird but then again maybe she's been hitting Unitarian services again, or she will be after that last scene. Love thy mother, Noah you brat.

"Mandatory Reporter..." Yeah, Benson knows all about that, thanks.

"John wasn't preaching strength, he was preaching power over others. That's not being a man. That's criminal." Good one, Stone. See? I don't hate him all the time. Well, yes I do.

"Peter."
"Peter."
"Peter."
SHUT UP WITH THE PETERS!

"Good, I don't want any statements thrown out later." Thanks, Stone, we weren't sure how all this works.

Cynical much, Fin?

Is It Next Thursday Yet?

The previews for next week's episode look decidedly more promising than ManUp/Man Down. Now that I think about it, I was never very excited for this premiere mostly because of the lackluster preseason hype and the knowledge we'd see a lot of Stone wrestling with his guilt (yawn) and Rollins dealing with an unexpected pregnancy (yawn) and Benson getting old (duh). I'm also about done with Noah-related Benson angst. It's overused and boring and also I was blocked by Buggle on Twitter so I harbor some animosity.

Here's your token representation, people!

19.18: For whom do we serve?

Hello all,

I haven't blogged in a while due to:

a) the blahness of the past two episodes

...and...

b) I was hungover the day after Clowns.

The #42Minutes:

Fin and Rollins arrive at the scene where the beaten, bloody, and raped victim was found unconscious and suspiciously dressed with her tights on backwards and sans outerwear. At the hospital she gives her "name" but little else but Detective Sonny "Sherlock" Carisi comes through with boot evidence and narrows the crime scene to one of two fleabag motels where the dissolute manager bumbles and unsuccessfully tries to parry Fin's and Rollins' interrogation. More Carisi sleuthing leads them back to Sky (who had absconded from the hospital and is actually named Sandy), Rollins harangues her, Benson gets her to talk then talk some more, Sandy spills the story, Benson believes her, Stone needs more ammo, baby army boy confesses then recants then lies on the stand, Sgt. Preston stonewalls...for reasons other than military code...

Added episode bonus: Carisi shows us where not to stay when in Manhattan...

Jury of One:

Two questions ticker-taped through my mind during the #42Minutes:

1. What the fuck is up Rollins' ass?

2. Why did SVU have to beat up on the military again? 

Until we learn about the blood, it seemed this was a "classic" SVU case revolving around a reluctant, cynical victim, and a group of dudes covering for each other. Of course there had to be more to the story, but I was rolling my eyes thinking that "story" was similar to all the other times SVU writers have taken a swing at the armed forces. I should've had more faith...but then again, the sting of Eidteen lingers...

Back to the point of the ep in a second...

Rollins' attitude was, at best, distracting. She is a character I can both love and hate, but her incessant rebukes of Sandy flew way out of bounds...

"Saving New York one hooker at a time..." 

"110 lbs. of wasted skin..." 

"Ya missed a couple days' work. I can make that up to you, Sky..."

This week in "WTF (directed at Rollins) Faces."

To have her behavior buttoned up at the end by introducing Dr. Al the Philandering Cardiologist made even less sense. Rollins has a ton of baggage. Instead of using her sister, or Declan, or the gambling, or something from her Atlanta days as the explanation, we get a previously unmentioned (and probably never mentioned again) off-screen character. Rollins is not the most mature person in the world, and her mercurial nature has always gotten her into trouble. Her romantic relationships have not turned out well, and that thread in her background could potentially be explored with some depth and nuance. I don't think her nasty, case-long hissy fit was completely out-of-character, but the context should have been better defined or at least open to further exploration. 

Had the plot been, well, another plot...Dr. Al could've been the perp! Ooooooooooo!

Rollins, it's time for therapy. You're great sweet-talking the young men but you castigate the victim? C'mon, sister. 

Benson's ability to draw out Sandy's story then connect with her exemplified all we love, admire, and cherish about the character. She was pragmatic and empathetic without being sanctimonious or patronizing. She listened to Sandy when she needed to listen and consoled when Sandy needed to be comforted. And holy fucking shit OMB struggling to maintain composure when Sandy finished the mother story then grabbed the iPad...an Emmy-worthy two seconds.

This was just as powerful as "you matter."

That little spineless twerp Shaughnessy surely took lessons from the sniveling kid in the Eidteen ep Mariska directed and that's enough about him. 

I miss Barba, too, OMB.
If looks could kill....

After Stone essentially tells Benson either Sandy or Jim have to be the sacrificial lamb, she's like "no, fuck that" and invites herself into Sgt. Preston's Humvee (which was kinda adorable, btw). The two of them work through their own interpretations of the meaning of "service." Benson acknowledges and respects the risks Sgt. Preston faces if he testifies which he courageously does. While on the stand and under fire from the defense attorney, he declares:

"Gender identity isn't relevant to what I do. Just like whatever is in your pants isn't relevant to what you do."

Retweet, retweet, retweet, retweet, retweet, retweet, retweet, retweet, retweet, retweet, retweet.....

Maybe there is hope after all.

Quotable:

"He was old. Like 40." 

Oh, you young people....(proving, once again, no matter the topic something in each episode always makes me chuckle)

"...After I teed it up for her..."

More Rollins BS. Even Sonny Bunny wasn't having it.

"But only one guy hit in the head with a lamp."

Fin always bringing the salient points.

"Throw a few dollars at some ass..." Really Fin?
But this exchange was more poignant than that. Fin thinks he knows everything about Preston. He doesn't. Good lesson for
us all.

"...by the stroke of a tweet from Air Force One..."

"I don't know what's gonna happen. Do you?"

Expertly and succinctly characterizing the current, precarious, state of affairs in American politics...without being pedantic. Nice.

"But after you people started with me, I looked in the mirror and began to see a piece of someone looking back at me...you know, it felt good."

Even though Sandy goes on to say that feeling disappeared after she was humiliated in court...ushering victims toward moments like this is the very essence of SVU...and at the end of the episode, I felt like Sandy could get back to that place.

Appearances:

Not the most impressive wardrobe collection this week though I do love a Benson in Blue. I guess I'm still in Barba withdrawal...

Preview pics and clips show trenches and OMB in green in the future, so there's that.

Tracking Tucker:

Trust...

They aren't all scum...

"You couldn't imagine not helping people. Believe me, I get it." (my wounds are still raw from Chasing Theo)

Next week MUST have room for some catch-up chit chat with Cabot and how in the hell can Benson omit TUCKERRRRRRRRRRRRR???

Is it Next Wednesday, Yet?

Regarding #NotJustAVictim and the calls for a regular cast member who is a member of the LGBTQ community...

Tweets indicate some members of the fandom saw this episode as an insincere token of representation...

Though I respect these voices, I fervently disagree with what is being demanded. Here's why:

1. In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories.

This show is about the pursuit of justice for victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault. While some things have changed over the course of 19 years (ex: in earlier seasons it was common for the detectives to flippantly use "he-she" and "tranny" and then we fast forward to Transgender Bridge 17 years later and see the subject treated with extreme sensitivity and poignancy), the axes on which SVU rotates are the life-changing (sometimes life-ending), harrowing experiences of people who have suffered, endured, and live with the trauma of rape and sexual assault. Sometimes, SVU is the ONLY entity courageous and savvy enough to shed light on seldom-discussed obstacles facing officers, prosecutors, victims, survivors, and their families.

For someone like me, the character of Olivia Benson, her squad, and the crimes they investigate are a window into a world I hope to never have to experience first hand. However, the show continually reminds me of the horrors so many people have experienced and the inequities in our justice system. Equally important, the show forces viewers to acknowledge the fact that victims walk among us every single day carrying the invisible weight of their trauma. The show exposes the ugly reality that sexual assault victims are less likely to be believed and more likely to be shamed into silence than victims of any other crime. 

For those who have been assaulted (especially those who choose not to publicize what has happened to them), though fictional, Olivia Benson is theirs. She might be their sole source of comfort or the only voice that encourages them to keep moving toward hope and healing. 

Inserting a LGBTQ character will:

2. Fundamentally alter the purpose of the show

...and/or...

3. Become a source of contention that detracts from the purpose of the show

If the new LGBTQ character arrives and is, simply, openly living his or her life with a partner and maybe some kids and possibly a painful backstory...the backlash will be: "this person is not the crusader or the tortured soul or the chip-on-her-shoulder renegade we imagined."

If the character is "the crusader/the tortured soul/the chip-on-her-shoulder renegade," then the show becomes more about them and less about the victims. 

Two Benson lines from Service emphasize these points. 

"My priority is putting away the people who did this to you."
Extrapolation: the show's priority is to reveal the painstaking process of investigating and prosecuting sex crimes.

"Because it matters. Because you matter. And what happened to you matters."
Infuriatingly enough, SVU is still, in 2018, one of the only consistent voices repeating and insisting upon the legitimacy of this mantra. Adding a second mission to the show diminishes and mutes its original, intended message. It is saying to victims: "Yes, you matter, but not as much. Yes, the show seeks change, but it now seeks more important change. Yes, the show 'rips from the headlines' but LGBTQ headlines are so much more relevant than your headlines. Yes, we'll still seek justice for rape victims, but rape victims' stories have become so...mundane."

People demanding regular LGBTQ representation on the show have lost sight of the show's core goals. As the calls for this change grow more numerous and more fervent, they drown out the voices of the men, women, and children for whom the show was intended to speak. 

19.15 Uncle Dom Screwedupis

The #42Minutes

Carisi’s niece Mia accuses classmate Ethan of raping her in a dorm room at the much-maligned Hudson University which, btw, is desperately in need of some positive press. Ethan is found responsible but, big whoop, is suspended for a year but it is kind of a big whoop for Ethan because he’s kinda screwed higher-education wise especially since he actually didn’t do it but then he did do it so back to the courtroom we go. Carisi is torn between family and being a cop and even though Benson gave him a very stern “don’t screw up” he screws up but Stone makes Ethan incriminate himself on the stand so that’s two weeks in a row someone’s had a courtroom outburst only this time the rapist is found guilty. Stone's 1 for 1 but, arguably, we could count last week as a win, too.

This week in Carisi WTF faces...with Heller making an appearance because she's the embodiment of WTF.

 Jury of One: 

I’ve spent the whole damn day trying to figure out whether or not the story was too Eidified for me. Mia lied at first and “creates” a rapist who comes back and actually rapes her…on one hand a case like this was necessary for Stone to truly be baptized into the world of sex crimes and "imperfect victims," but on the other hand the lie resulting in revenge rape sorta rubbed me the wrong way but on the other hand there was no "she deserved it" undertones and on the other hand (yes I know this is four hands), the reality is, many situations like this one, in the hands of callow college kids quickly spiral out of control.

When your kid's photograph is the same size as your laptop screen...

Enraged Carisi has never been appealing to me; it doesn't suit is character and it doesn't align with Scanavino's strengths. The outrage at the beginning in the coffee shop was painfully contrived and the ceaseless zooms made the histrionics even more histrionc-y.

Stone's mission to ingratiate himself with the squad remains cumbersome and awkward, so it felt odd to have him transition from unproven outsider to "good prosecutor" to soulful, searching idealist, to mojo-tastic courtroom maestro. 

Please like me, guys...

I may have overreacted a bit at the last scene with Benson and Stone (or maybe I'm talking myself into thinking that I overreacted). When I watched it again it didn't seem flirty and was more a like a glaring BARBA IS GONE reminder because, well, Stone's name is on the closed door and since when did that office see anyone in play clothes? I'm not here for Benson-as-Cougar, I am here for a mentor-mentee relationship so please tell me that's where this is headed. Maybe it's the bangs, but they have Mariska clearly looking older and more...motherly...and they have zero chemistry together (so far...as I said last week, I'm really hoping that's intentional). But, but, but...there are too many possibilities dangling out there--baseball (OMB can get her own tickets, thank you very much and also Noah likes the Yankees), Stone's troubled relationship with his late father, his willingness to learn and drink, and, well, he's cute.

The episode fell flat and I'm more than a little bummed about that. Maybe it was because Mia hadn't really "existed" on the show before this? Maybe because Stone's presence is clouding everything for me?

...Maybe I need to stop obsessing over this damn show?

Quotable:

"My client's an idiot, he's no rapist." Please invite Heller back anytime. 

"Nobody implies the crime was somehow her fault..." My favorite part of Benson schooling Stone but...um...I know he hasn't done sex crimes before but shouldn't he know this?

"We're not gonna say anything about what happened the first time." Carisiiiiiiiiii. Everyone was so quick to forgive him but he seriously fucked up and I can't believe after inserting himself into the investigation he let Mia handle the apology on her own. The Sonny I know would have arranged a sit down and been present for it. 

"I think he should go back to Chicago."
I'm not arguing, Rollins.

Appearances

I KNOW OMB has worn that brown and black jacket before and it's hell to want to find it and not have time to scrub though the past few seasons. I'm almost positive it was early 17 but if someone can locate it, thanks, because it's realllllllly bothering me and I would hate to have to take a personal day to do it but then again it's supposed to rain this weekend.

Tracking Tucker

Surely Cabot's return will include catch-up girl talk and we'll at least get a mention. I'm sinking into ship despondency. Someone help.

(But OMB couldn't stay for dinner with Stone cuz she had plans with Ed. So there.)

Is It Next Wednesday, Yet?

I was on, like, my sixth drink by the time the promo aired so I don't really know what I'm looking forward to; however it is certainly NOT Barba and Stone bonding over booze.

Don't know about y'all, but I thought I was in trouble when I watched her burst through the doors.

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.