All Photos by NBCUniversal
Warren Leight et al. pulled out another thriller of an episode in “Hunting Ground.” It was a “ripped from the headlines” story reminiscent of the real life Long Island serial killings. The episode opened with a little romance between Benson and EADA Haden. The glow of the weekend ends quickly with the case of a missing girl which evolves rapidly into something much bigger. Benson and Haden’s relationship gets tested when Benson tries to enlist Haden’s support to identify the girl’s abductor by going after a local newspaper and their advertisers. Sadly, it takes a lot more bodies for Haden to see the light. But, did Haden have the press conference to call out the escort services and newspapers out of outrage over the number of victims and the way the newspapers were facilitating prostitution, or did he do it for political motives as it was a high profile case? I would like to think that Benson had something to do with his change of heart, but something in the back of my mind makes me worry that he is not what he seems. (I guess I have trust issues.)
Television has seen its share of serial killer stories over the years, to the point that I think it’s overdone. Still, this episode gave more than a creepy killer, bodies, and detectives working the case; we got to see a little more about how their personal lives can be affected by working these horrific cases.
Was it right for the police and Amaro to leave Benson alone with the victim while they searched the surrounding area for the killer? How did the killer get back into the building without all those police nearby, searching the immediate area? Had they simply left someone stationed at or inside the door while Benson stayed with the victim, she would have likely not been placed in harm’s way.
Here is the recap:
Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Detective Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Richard Belzer – Sergeant John Munch
Dann Florek – Captain Don Cragen
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Guest stars:
Tamara Tunie – Dr. Melinda Warner
Harry Connick Jr. – EADA David Haden
Fred Arsenault – “Brewster”/Graham Winger
Emily Kinney _ Haley
Reyna deCourcy - Lizzy
Josh Mostel – Dylan Roth
Laura Benanti - Maria
Alison Bartlett – Haley’s Mom
Walter Belenky – Miranda’s Husband
Stephanie Pope Caffey – Manager, Escort Service
Mary Ann Urbano – Dr. Jergens
Jimmy Palumbo – Officer Clark
Santo Fazio – Kostas
Shaun Licata – Miranda Galton
Gregory Lay – Andre
Michael Heckler – State Trooper
Kevin Prowse – ESU Sergeant
Yu Lew – MLI Tech
Teleplay by: David Matthews & John P. Roche
Story by; John P. Roche & Warren Leight
Benson and Haden leave a movie theatre and when Haden puts his arm around her, she asks what he is doing. He tells her not to worry, nobody they work with could sit through two hours of black and white with no talking. Benson says she is a little confused by the rules. Haden replies that officially, if this works, they just need to disclose their involvement. Benson asks if “disclose” means to send out a memo. He says yes, one to her boss and one to his. Benson comments she doesn’t know if she is ready for that, and Haden tells her to take some time and back off to take some of the pressure off. She thinks that’s good. He says there is a great bistro down the street and asks if she want to get something to eat, but she counters with an invite to her place for some takeout. He says he likes it...a lot.
As they walk off, a man with his dog standing nearby pulls a newspaper out of a nearby vending box. Later, in his car, he is looking at ads and is on the phone, telling the person on the other end there will be no credit cards, his wife looks at the statements, and he will give cash up front. He tells them to have her wait for him at 14th and 7th, adding “Starbucks, 9PM.”
Elsewhere, a young woman, Haley, who is holding a baby, is on the phone and says “9 PM” and that she can do it. She tells the caller to let her get dressed. When she hangs up the phone her mother walks in and is surprised she is going out, but Haley says she can’t turn down catering stuff, they will start calling other people. Her mother asks who has dinner this late? Haley says rich people, and her mother says that is good, maybe she will meet someone.
Later, at dinner with the man we saw earlier – Haley calls him Brewster – she seems perplexed that he wanted to take her to dinner, saying most men want the experience in bed. He says that the chase is half the fun, and encourages her to get a steak as a woman needs meat on her bones to survive these winters, She says she likes to stay inside, but he likes to be out, walking the beach. The waiter asks “Brewster” if he is done, and he instructs him to wrap up his leftovers for his dog.
Later, he opens the car door and his dog Orion is in there and she hesitates. He tells her that the dog does not bite but Haley says she usually does not get in cars. He asks if she is scared but she asks if the dog has been in there the whole time. He says the dog likes it. She gets in.
Back at Benson’s apartment Benson and Haden are looking over carry out menus and Benson asks if he sees anything he likes. He says yes, and moves in to kiss her. She pauses and asks if that is what he meant by taking is slow and taking the pressure off. He asks her what is wrong and she says nothing. He tells her he understands that this is really hard for her, but whatever it is, he can handle it. He’s not going anywhere, okay? She says okay. He replies, “so come here” and she smiles and kisses him.
Later, “Brewster” is driving in his car with the dog in the front seat, and Haley is in the back seat behind a wire screen, and she tells him please, she will do anything, he doesn’t have to pay her, and she doesn’t want to die. He comments that is up to her, isn’t it? She sobs.
The next morning, Benson and Haden are in bed together, asleep, and they are awakened by a phone call from Cragen. She shuts off the phone and lays back down. He says he guesses the weekend has to end sometime.
