XX.XIV: Part 33

The #42Minutes

In the bowels of the courthouse among furniture discarded from dead judges' offices, the squad agonizes (well, Fin doesn't) about how they'll spin the evidence in the case of NY vs. Annabeth Pearl who shot her husband three times after, according to everyone but Rollins, years of vicious, unrelenting emotional and psychological abuse. The foursome is loosely divided between Fin and Rollins and Carisi and Liv. The latter wrestle with varying degrees of truth and whether or not to twist it during their testimony so the verdict is more likely to swing in Annabeth's favor. Carisi is "creative" to the point that Stone has to object to his own witness' statement and his "treason" stamps a gigantic question mark on what Stone thought was a slam dunk case. Benson, who was on the list as a rebuttal witness, has to testify and, though she tries at first to nuance Annabeth's confession, she admits Annabeth showed no remorse and, in fact, revealed years of premeditation.

The Verdict

Am I the only one who thought it was a little bit hilarious that Stone walked into court that morning all confident and probably a bit smug and had no clue what was boiling beneath the surface?

The format of the episode--placing everyone immediately in the powder keg--was perfection. The complicated case played out through the squad's legal and moral sparring--exchanges that can only take place among people who know and trust one another. Their debates were relevant and raw--what "color" does truth have to be to equate to justice? What happens when the letter of the law doesn't result in a moral, humane outcome? How does one prove "abuse" when there are no physical injuries? How does one describe terror so it becomes real for people who have never experienced it? (FYI--it's Benson's description of her time with Lewis).

On that note--I'm not necessarily sure Benson revealed Lewis raped her. It doesn't quite fit with how the saga played out (even though, in Psycho/Therapist Benson does correct Lewis and say "rape isn't sex). It seems to me that Benson could have been conflating her own terror with that of the hundreds of victims' accounts she's heard in her career.

On the other hand...there is some space in the past arc...and, of course, there's the ambiguous non-verbal reply to the abortion question...we'll see if the writers connect the two. I hope not.

On the other, other hand...I have a sick feeling that all roads lead to Cassidy and the two of them fully disclosing the truth of their pasts...and maybe that's why Benson was feeling pressure when things were getting serious with Tucker. I'd always been under the impression she revealed everything to him, but maybe she didn't, knew he wanted her to, and it ended up driving an emotional wedge between them...I could be riffing wayyyy too much here (and I hope I am), but...it's possible. Still, Cassidy=yuck.

Lastly-WTF Rollins? Look, I go back in forth between loving and hating her, but her skepticism toward victims, her tendency to more often than not assume men are being unfairly accused, and, to quote Tucker, her THIN BLUE LINE CRAP (when she was raped by her former [cop] boss in Atlanta makes me want Liv to boot her ass out of SVU. She needs therapy, quickly, so she doesn't pass down this bullshit to her daughters.

Why didn't they turn on the fan?

Also...Annabeth reminded me of Carisi's sister and I spent way too much time thinking about that.

Quotable

"You and I are done talking." Okay, this was from Manhattan transfer, but the bleeding heart sneer from Stone reminded me of that moment in Barba's office and also reminded me I miss Barba. 

"She saw it...she saw it..." Benson talking about the gun as a threat and she started to get worked up and then she launched into the heart-wrenching description of terror...And. I. Just...GAHHHHHH she's good.

"That's not rape." Peter, your SVU education is not yet over, you ass.

"All it takes is a little love." Too many hints at love, pretty, marriage...and with Cassidy in view, well, see above.

"Believe you me." Nooch, seriously? I HATE that phrase. But, to your credit, it was the only bad one in the ep.

Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom. The main character's "personal curse was his belief that he was too strong to need to be a part of the human family."

Is it Next Thursday, Yet?

One has to wonder if this will create ongoing tension between Stone and the squad. I doubt it because this writing crew doesn't seem to like much continuity from one episode to the next, but one can always hope.

Can Alex Chapple direct every episode, please? Damn those shots were amazing. Can't go wrong beginning an episode with someone walking into a bar and laying a gun and a wedding ring on the table.

So, this was good. Definitely in the top two post-Leight years episodes and maybe sneaking into the top ten of all time but I'm irritated that Nooch has been hiding these writing chops from us for so long.

XX.XIII: Céline Says Goodbye (and rubs salt in my Tuckson wounds)

#42Minutes

SVU is called to a gruesome murder scene in Hamilton Heights and the victim's daughters said they were being attacked when their father walked in, interrupted the assault, and ended up paying with his life. It doesn't take long for the medical examiner and the detectives to conclude the girls' story doesn't jibe with the evidence, and, as the story and initial untruths unravel (Fin was clutch in catching the spelling error!), it turns out that the all-too-helpful and concerned neighbor Greg is the bad guy.

In other news, Rollins has her baby and there's a much appreciated send off for Dr. Al.

Verdict

The episode was semi-interesting, but, even so, I'm not confident SVU will ever again attain Leight Years quality. Even when there aren't any maddening WTF moments, the show lacks the pop it used to have. In this particular episode, there weren't very many paths to go down...the perp was either Dad or Greg (one way or another)...and the girls were either psychotic and evil or lashing out as a result of being victimized. Sigh.

And a few other things...

1. The actors didn't match Britney's and Laura's ages. Laura seemed older than Britney but Laura was only 13.

2. Did CSU get the day off? Why is Carisi inspecting the broken window like he's O'Halloran? Wouldn't someone have already alerted them about the impossibility of someone unlatching the window from outside?

3. Rollins' baby and then Al's proposal got in the way of the main plot. The whole baby daddy, posh apartment drama has been annoying, dull, and I sincerely hope that distraction is over.

4. Too many implied (or maybe I inferred) Tuckson references--Benson doesn't have a ring which Tucker was supposed to give her, Carisi stole Tucker's line in a hospital hallway not identical but similar enough to the one in Heartfelt Passages, and Benson sleeping alone on the bench....rather than on Tucker's shoulder. I. Just.....

I did have to laugh at Liv's reaction to Al's proposal...oh, okay, well, let's move on...like, she and Amanda have a much closer relationship now but even OMB has had it with Rollins' rollercoaster of a personal life.

If Stone has to be on the show, I can accept this amount of screen time.

Quotable

"And the baby." That'll get him every time as any loyal SVU viewer knows. 

"I don't love you." WE ALL KNEW IT, ROLLINS! Good for you. Now, move in with Carisi and move on with your life and get a good nanny because we don't need to see your kids anymore.

"What could possibly go wrong?" I love snarky Benson. 

And these expressions say it all...

Is it Next Wednesday Thursday, Yet?

They aired the perfect teaser because I cannot wait to see how "keep your bleeding heart out of my courtroom" plays out...awww, Stone, you crossed a big fat line there, dude. Put him in his place, OMB!

I live my life constantly worried that "Facing Demons" is the conclusion of "Chasing Demons" and even though it seemed Benson and Cassidy put some (more) closure on their relationship, there's still his abuse and her abortion hanging out there unresolved....can we please be done with this dude on the show? Did he save Dick Wolf's life or something a while back?

Dryuary's over, y'all! Cheers!

XX.XII: Infinite Stone

The #42Minutes

SVU is called to a scene and the detectives quickly recognize the signatures of the Infinity Rapist, a man who terrorized New York City in the 80's and 90's. Carisi discovers Ben Stone's name on the old case files and little Ben Stone becomes obsessed with closing the case once and for all. After locking up a copycat, Carisi uses SVU's version of Ancestry DNA to find a familial match on the sample recovered from the old evidence. They're temporarily stymied when the judge tosses the evidence, but they pick up the perp (Uncle Edgar) on some type of traffic charge or unpaid tickets or something like that (I can't remember, I was dozing off by that time and I want to rewatch about as much as I want to go to the dentist) and Benson and Stone dramatically read and ruminate on letters and cards in front of him until he confesses.

Take a fuckin key, will ya?

On the home front, Noah's all bent out of shape because Jeremy's bugging him about not having a Dad and Benson handles the difficult conversation beautifully...and then, after leaving work early to spend some quality one-on-one time...sends him out to play catch with Stone. Chances are, when they return, she'll be three quarters of the way through a bottle of red because, what else to do?

Bye, Edgar.

Verdict

Oh, let's see...

Since I'm uninterested (to put it mildly) in Stone, watching an entire episode devoted to a case concocted purely to display more of his anguish was close to intolerable. That we were supposed to believe he'd harbored anger at his father all these years for missing baseball stuff because he was chasing down the rapist was...insulting? Annoying? Frustrating? A waste of #42Minutes?

Since the whole Stone thing was invented last season, I guess it would have been challenging to actually make the episode about an old, unsolved SVU case, but it certainly would have made it more appealing. I just cannot buy into his heartache and gloomy, low-key brooding. First of all, Philip Winchester's acting is terribly insincere. Every. Single. Line. is spoken in the same clipped, monotone fashion, so in addition to Chernuchin holding him in front of the audience screaming "LOVE HIM" he's also the most boring character in the history of SVU and maybe television.

This week in InvestigationFaces

You know that song "Dope Show" by Marilyn Manson? I have the chorus in my head except it goes like this: We're all stars now, in the Stone show...

I will say...Stone had a chance to win some legal hearts and minds if he would have anticipated the judge throwing out the DNA evidence (as he should have), but instead his argument is basically "agree with me because I'm me." Oh, but wait! I take that back! If the evidence had not been thrown out we wouldn't have had the pleasure of witnessing the cringeworthy Benson and Stone playacting confession scene...it seems Michael Chernuchin has anointed Stone with a new title--DDA (Detective District Attorney).

Anyway, his legal chops are lacking. Barba wouldn't have done that....especially not on Carisi's assurance. I really miss Barba throwing legal shade his way.

I don't think ANYONE approved of how the final minute of the show turned out but I now have one lingering question...where was Stone planning to change clothes?

CARMEN!!!!

Quotable

"I ain't cuffin this guy." Same, Fin. Same.

"Now I'm asking permission." Classic Carisi--eager to please, a little sycophantic...adorable. 

"...the 5-5..." Ooo! A tiny shred of continuity. Kudos, Julie, you're the best.

Carisi always has such a way with the weirdos.

Is it Next Thursday, Yet?

Whatever the eps are about...they'll go like this:

1. Crime
2. Investigation (preferably led by Stone unless PW has the episode off to try and learn to be less boring)
3. Meet at bar (Stone plus one)
4. Meet at waterside for a heart-to-heart.

Carisi sure cozied up quickly to Uncle Edgar's niece...Annie? Amy? (see above note about remembering and rewatching). Is this the girl?

My whole fan life right now is consumed with dreading the return of Cassidy. I'm fixated on my prediction that Stone is going to reveal Cassidy's abuse to Benson, and, of course, I'm always consumed with constant sadness (fanwise not in general, don't worry) because WHY DOES TUCKER NEVER EVER GET MENTIONED? It's not like he was some random booty call. But, of course, Noah aged so quickly his brain probably never formed those memories. #IMissJack

We're. All. Stars. Now. In the Stone show...

XX.II: A Snoozer of a Start Leaves Much to be Desired for the Rest of #SVU20

The #42Minutes

A rape victim recalls an assault at the hands of a couple who are quickly identified as Heath and Sadie. As the investigation unfolds and almost comes to a halt, Carisi finds a damning video on Heath's computer which leads the squad away from the more recent crimes and to a 14-year-old kidnapping and murder. As it turns out, Heath is a serial predator who used his medical expertise to keep remaking Cece/Sadie into the perfect woman and, in the process, making her a slave to his desires (this was implied more than it was shown and the episode was worse for it).

Verdict

Well, I suppose we wouldn't want to set the bar too high for the rest of the season...there are, after all, thirteen of these episodes left. In addition to being boring...

• None of the actors gave notable performances. Everyone seemed flat and uninterested which, given the story, is not surprising.
• Having Sadie ask Benson if she's ever been with a woman felt like a cheap attempt at baiting fans who wouldn't mind Benson doing just that, but the looks exchanged between Rollins and Benson and Fin and Carisi were classic.
• As if Benson was going to reveal some juicy details to a perp. Ha.
• I know we only had #42Minutes, but the episode unfolded a little too conveniently for me. Sadie/Cece rolled on Heath instantly after Benson made the "hay" connection; for someone who had been brainwashed by her captor (most of her dialogue was robotically delivered) she defected to Team SVU too quickly
• Annoying camera angles...like...a zoom on the teapot to foreshadow Mrs. Kimball dropping the cups later...ugh. I feel almost as bad for her as I did for Mr. Markowitz. 
• I would have traded half of the first #42Minutes for some legal drama, after all Sadie is both victim and perpetrator, but then again, that means Stone shows up so, never mind. 
• Speaking of Stone, he was used perfectly--off screen, on the phone
• The break room conversation between Benson and Rollins was weird although I can't say I'm surprised Rollins would be enticed to sexual experimentation if it involved Botox and cupcakes (or a fancy, free apartment and regular heart screenings?)

Quotable

"There were three people in that room and and two of them are saying that you're lying." What? WhAT? WHAT? Might be the truth but Benson and her tone were way OOC here. Can you imagine if Rollins had said that? Benson would've ripped her head off behind closed doors!

"Not just a perv; he's a pervmurderer." One of many quips that may have looked good on the written script but fell flat during the scene. 

"Beauty fades." Not for you, OMB.

"And Ava was the sweetener." CUE MY EYE ROLL

Is it Next Thursday, Yet?

After sitting this one out, Stone's coming back with a vengeance next week. Oh goodie. And I'm not going to let him ruin my Dryuary streak so...

Almond Milk, no sugar, just like OMB.

XX.IX: Sheesh! Stone, That Was Close!

The #42 Minutes

While out with another potential "distraction," a woman confronts Peter Stone (who has been granted Most Favored Character status) and accuses him of rape. Steadfast in his claims of innocence, Stone instructs Benson and SVU to investigate. It's looking bad for Stone until Benson figures out it haaaad to be the Met not the Cub who raped Sarah while she was falling down drunk because...Peter wouldn't do that? While the pieces are falling into place, Gary takes Stone hostage but the HNT duo of Sarah and Emma Kent save the day and Stone disarms Gary off-screen. The Lieutenant pretends to be a good 'ole boy and gets Reggie (the Met) to essentially admit he did it then she goes to meet Stone who is gazing soulfully at New Jersey and probably wondering what else from his drunken MLB days he doesn't remember.

CARMEN!

In other news, Rollins may or may not move in with Al and Carisi's jealous. Riveting.

Verdict

List of things wrong with this episode:

1. What is it with people conveniently bumping into Stone? An admirer at the hot dog cart, Sarah Kent (the victim and Bushwick wife and mom who shows up at one of Stone's favorite haunts), and Gary Kent at the pub...

2. The shadow case Stone was prosecuting in the first part of the episode being used to emphasize his guilt and uncertainty...as if we needed more of that.

3. Doesn't Stone have an apartment? Why go to Fin's place?

4. Why is the entire squad all Peter's our friend we love him he couldn't have done this blah blah blah...I seem to remember a series-long MO of the squad typically being skeptical of new/outsider ADAs

5. Fin flashes his Sergeant's shield but says "Detective."

6. Why does Stone act all pissy about getting arrested? Certainly, given his job AND THE CASE HE WAS CURRENTLY WORKING, he knew this was a possibility if not a probability.

7. Sarah and Emma take the lead in hostage negotiation when Gary never asked for his wife or daughter but then again Benson Knows Best (insert eye roll) and Peter has a way with desperate, my-world-is-falling-apart men because he acts like he is one.

8. Also, Fin didn't help himself to any "treats"...I thought that was a thing now?

It's Family Day at HNT!

#CecilBHargitay had those cameras all up IN people's faces, did she not? Fine with me for everyone except you, Stone. Mariska can direct, write, edit, produce, costume, makeup, sound, and promote every episode but if they continue to feature Stone...I can't...

Quotable

"Way things are we're all looking at our pasts through a new prism." Fin and Carisi struggling with the accusation could have held some weight and been interesting if they clothed their skepticism in their own personal experiences rather than an almost sycophantic loyalty to Stone. 

"What is that I was happy." LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. Best line of the night and it doesn't even matter.

"I'm gonna get ya a ginger ale. That steak's gonna give you indigestion." Poor Carisi. He's right about Al. He's also the only one who gives a damn about this stupid subplot. 

"If you want someone to make this go away you came to the wrong person." Stone pressuring Benson to make it go away would have been more intriguing than a melodramatic whiny plea for an impartial investigation. 

"I'm really getting sick of men who are not Tucker showing up at my door."

Is It Next Thursday, Yet?

There's more color in Benson's world. Could that be a symbol of something? Midlife crisis? Recommended by a book written by a child psychologist suggesting the palette will soothe stubborn children?

I'm bummed. This season keeps getting worse. I don't know what it is...flimsy plots, OOC writing, lack of continuity from ep to ep and seasons past, emphasis on people who are not Olivia Benson...

When Gary had the gun pointed at Stone, I yelled "SHOOT HIM!" 

I shouldn't be like that...

List of current SVU characters for whom I'm thankful from most to least:

1. Olivia Benson

2. Ed Tucker

3. Fin Tutuola

4. Sonny Carisi

5. Carmen

6. Officer Montero

7. Noah Benson

8. Jesse Rollins

9. Frannie Rollins

10. Amanda Rollins

Have a great holiday, y'all!

XX.VIII: Hell is a plate full of Stone

The #42Minutes

The episode opens at Far Rockaway by Andrew--an upscale seafood restaurant--where intense Chef Leibowitz (he has the restaurant's logo tatted on his hand!) barks out orders and he and right-hand-woman Kayla serve fancy entrees to a pair of overly-jolly journalists. For a split second the audience is led to believe it might be these two men who assault Kayla who is later taken to SVU after an altercation with a not-guilty Uber driver. SVU investigates, but they don't get much other than a consensual wine-cellar sex claim by Andrew and a sip of Montrachet for Fin as a disapproving Carisi looks on. They dig a little deeper and find three accusations against Andrew from Brooklyn and also discover his pattern of keeping panties as trophies. Nevertheless, the problem is they're in Brooklyn and their Peter Stone alleges he couldn't prosecute because the cases had too many weak links and holes and Kayla doesn't want to move forward with the charges because she's raking in six figures. But the good news is...Stone's sister was killed so he gets Kayla to testify and Benson is willing to leak the story to a tabloid to get more victims to come forward, only, the newest accuser, Bethany, points the finger at the seemingly squeaky-clean Chris Hodges rather than Andrew. In an interview lifted almost entirely from the Kavanaugh hearings, she recounts to Benson an assault which occurred in high school with crystal clear detail. When confronted with this info, Hodges gets all pissy and blames Andrew, agrees to wear a wire and participate in a sting, and SVU gets a twofer because the convo gives them enough evidence to arrest both men.

Yeah, the juice sorta looks like the brown stuff Ed drank, right buddy? I'm sad, too.

Also, Noah doesn't like olives.

Verdict

No joke, the only ONLY reason I continue to watch is Mariska Hargitay (did she request some time off or something because the star wasn't exactly featured and I could be wrong but the show sorta lives and dies with her). The "ripped from the headlines" plots feel lazy, the dialogue cheap and corny, and I am so, so, so, so weary of Peter Stone's anguished, pensive face on the fucking screen. Nothing against Philip Winchester, but I also can't stand his clipped, forlorn way he delivers his lines. You don't need to sell Stone's sadness anymore, dude. We get it.

The episode wasn't all that suspenseful, and I must have been the only one not shocked that the #MeToo advocate Hodges ended up being a bad guy, too. It was a convenient way for the writers to neatly denounce rapist chefs and rapist office seekers in only one #42Minute block and also hitch it to next week's Mea Culpa (more about that at the end of the post).

One thing I thought odd about the investigation (or maybe it was the editing) was that after Kayla walked out of SVU providing no leads other than it wasn't the Uber driver, the squad immediately went to the restaurant merely based on the driver's records. Without a willing, complaining victim, would that actually have happened?

When Benson and Stone finally agree they really, really need Kayla to cooperate (duh), Stone, not Benson, goes to see her. WHYYYYYYYYYY? He's not a fucking cop. He's a young-ish, successful, powerful white male with a few months of SVU prosecuting experience and he's the one tasked with convincing Kayla...AND the writers went there and clumsily wove sister Stone's murder into a reason why Kayla should fight back (and she flipped a little too quickly, btw). Give me a fucking break. The sympathy cow has been milked dry.

"But why?" Oh, shut up, Rollins. These writers write like it's freaking Groundhog Day.

Liv's new funky apartment paint job is cute...

I know many fans have been anti-Noah storylines for a long time. Until Sheila, I liked them. However, where are we going with stubborn Noah? Who cares? All kids are brats. Do any kids like salad? Is he acting out because his mother is never there (yawn)....enough already.

Annnnnd of course we must squeeze in a little female bonding scene about yet another ugly moment from Rollins' past....

Benson leaking the deets to the reporter in the dark stairwell was hot...I hope that doesn't come back to bite her but surely she has a fistful of "the ends justify the means" cards to play by now.

I did have to chuckle, though, at the osso buco...thanks, Kayla, another dish Noah can taste and spit out.

Quotable:

This week in "we're trying to be crude and authentic" lines that are actually so obnoxious they're laughable:
"banged her against the Bordeaux"
"three berry shortcake that'll give you both wood"

"Want half of my cinnamon raisin bagel?" Who says the whole name of the bagel? Also, I didn't believe for a second Rollins was bothered by Fin's barb...her retort was spot on "What's my type, Fin? Broke?" Rollins can take it and dish it. 

"NOT ANYMORE!"

Is It Next Thursday, Yet?

Okay, the pot brownie was funny, but, for the second time in a month, Fin crosses a line and takes a sip of Montrachet while in the wine cellar. Fin clearly gives no fucks and maybe feels invincible with that Sergeant's badge and whatever dirt he has on Dodds, but will he go too far at some point and end up with his career in jeopardy?

I'll gladly eat my blog a week from now, but I don't see how this whole Peter Stone sexual assault case ends well. Scenario 1: the accuser is lying. Scenario 2: the accuser may or may not be telling the truth but alcohol was involved and details are fuzzy and Stone gets a pass though, moving forward, he is continually under suspicion and Benson doesn't trust him.

Stone's probably going to get to interrogate his accuser on the stand and how will Benson react considering she knows what that's like and we know a) representing yourself is a boneheaded decision and b) Stone's not leaving so maybe our best hope is a suspension (served for a long time, off screen)

Me when thinking about post-S17 SVU

VII: A Psych Defense Without the Psych Defense

#42Minutes

After mortally wounded Charlie Mill is found by a neighbor, the squad is called to investigate a gruesome crime scene. Two more bodies. Coffee brewing. Cereal bowls out. No evidence of forced entry. The detectives zero in on the Mill's nanny who, admittedly, looks very guilty...bloody clothes and hiding in your brother's closet will do that for ya. The nanny gets a pass, though, because something weird is up with the Mill's financials. Eventually they uncover a scam perpetrated by Mrs. Mill; she's embezzled millions of dollars and her law firm is on to the racket. To "save" her family from the inevitable financial ruin and the consequences of her eventual incarceration, Anne Mill murdered her family and capped the whole thing off with her own suicide after a jury convicted her of one charge.

Verdict

Was the "20 years" of experience Benson claimed a nod to the 20th season? Because, um, her math is off.

And...this was an SVU case because? Not all crimes involving children automatically default to SVU. Wouldn't it go to Homicide?

I was convinced the writers were going to mimic the UWS killer nanny case from 2012--a tragedy that still makes me sick to my stomach, so the nanny in "Caretaker" functioned as a plausible red herring. As soon as the squad caught on to Anne's illegal financial schemes, the plot should have shifted to a shrink-centered case. This was the perfect time to introduce and develop Dr. Abernathy, but the writers gave her a minute or so of screen time, she quickly diagnosed Anne, and then Benson got to play shrink on the stand in the courtroom. I'm all for Benson getting the majority of the screen time, but this choice didn't make much sense, considering the defense's strategy.

Representation!

And hey, no Stone sister connection in this one but, instead of Delaney Williams as Buchanan, O'Boyle shows up to remind us Stone used to work in Chicago. Can you take him back to the Windy City with, ya, dude?

Finally, if we concede Benson has shrugged off most of her former reservations about Rollins, can we stop with the constant single mom angst? We get it. And please stop using the plot to ram their burgeoning BFFness down our throats (even though I'm sure the Rollivia faction went gaga over that hug).

Also--Carisi doesn't know the legacy of the White Horse? I have a hard time believing that...

Quotable

Carisi and Benson ponder Fin's assertion, "wouldn't be the first homewreckin' nanny on the Upper West Side."

Speaking of Fin...here's the rest of this week's FinSass:

"Musta been a helluva poem."

"She's in Rikers, I don't think they're gonna give her the key."

"Look who you're talking to, dude."

"Jesus I can't believe this."

"Mother's don't kill their babies."

WHAT? That scene in the middle of the episode (see pic below) was reminiscent of a cheesy whodunit. Why is anyone in this squad shocked? This is not their first instance of filicide.

This week in OOC OMB dialogue:

"Sometimes life just sucks."

"You should keep those flowers --sometimes we just need a little pretty."

Shouldn't SVU writers be required to watch a few of the past episodes? I mean, there are plenty from which to choose.

Fucking flowers again...

Is it Next Thursday Yet?

The holidays are upon us and OMB needs to reconsider her shopping list...other than that I don't know what I'm looking forward to or not looking forward to. Right now the show feels rudderless and the only consistent threads are elements I care nothing about (Rollins baby drama and Stone).

Adios!