I don’t know if there were exactly “Forty-One Witnesses” in this case, but the point was made: sometimes witnesses to a crime - even when witnesses are large in number - avoid getting involved. Reminiscent of the Kitty Genovese case from 1964, the SVU case showed that, at least in the heavily populated city of New York, it’s easier for people to find excuses why they don’t want to help someone in danger, even if helping only means calling 911. The excuses are many. In the case of Libby Parker, her neighbors showed their worst side - including one person she considered a friend - by turning a blind eye to her assault. But when the detectives chase down the perps, there is no lack of an audience, and the crowd is quick to take photos and video to confirm their witnessing the event. Society's priorities are messed up.
This episode had a few gems of dialog, but for the most part, it was very predictable.
Very late in the episode we find that one of the witnesses, Doug, is eidetic – he has the ability to recall detailed memory of images, objects or sounds. Luckily the fleeting comment Doug made about it in the courtroom hall was not lost on Barba. Barba was able to use Doug’s talent during trial, offsetting the fact that Doug came to court drunk. Whether Doug mentioned it to Carisi during prep is unknown, but I am assuming he did not as Carisi only mentioned when they did the prep, Doug was spot on and never varied in his descriptions. If Carisi knew Doug had this ability, I would think he would have mentioned it right away to Barba. I also have a legal question to which I can’t find the answer: Can an attorney put someone on the stand if the attorney knows that person is drunk or impaired? I know Barba had no other witnesses besides Doug to prop up his case, but I didn’t know if there was anything that legally prevented Barba from putting a drunk witness on the stand. Regardless, it was a risky move on Barba’s part, no matter how much coffee Carisi forced on Doug in an attempt to get him sober. I must admit that I was hoping Doug would not show up so we could all see Barba “vamp” as Barba promised.
There are two characters on SVU who seem to have great chemistry with just about anyone they encounter: Carisi and Barba. Both have no problem saying what’s on their minds, sometimes with a pinch of sarcasm. Both Peter Scanavino and Raúl Esparza have a fantastic presence, stealing any scene they’re in. I credit both the actors who bring the characters to life, and the writers who give these characters the right words to spark them.
Rollins was showing an unusual unsympathetic side during this case. I think it’s because Rollins may see a bit of her past self in Libby, at least relative to Libby’s battling an addiction. I can understand where Rollins is coming from; she is now a mother and knows that she is now responsible for her child, not just herself, and for some people, that can be a real motivator to kick any addiction. For others, an addiction is not so easily conquered. Rollins also seemed cynical at the end of the trial, something that Fin attributed to her just returning to work and being tired. After being on leave for 8 weeks, it was likely a shock to her system to come back into the dark world of the Special Victims Unit.
At the end of the episode, Benson was on the phone with a mystery caller, and while on that call, she quickly consumed a lot of wine. The caller seemed to be offering her a diversion but she decided on a rain check instead, seemingly preferring to spend time with that bottle of wine. Benson has hit the wine in the past so it’s hard to say whether she just guzzled her wine that night because of work stress, or if she has PTSD and is relying on that wine to get her through the night, every night. I raised the issue in the last episode ( ”A Misunderstanding” ) if Benson was really as fine as she insisted to Dr. Lindstrom. She looked a little tired and burned out in this episode and I think she is far from fine.
When will Benson get her Lieutenant’s badge? She’s still wearing the badge of a Sergeant. Inquiring minds want to know! (Update: I've been told Benson wore a Lieutenant's badge in an earlier episode in this season. I found that she did wear a Lieutenant's badge in "Community Policing" from October 2015. I also noticed it in a few other episodes so this may be a one episode error.)
Cast:
Mariska Hargitay - Lieutenant Olivia Benson
Ice-T - Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Peter Scanavino - Detective Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr.
Guest stars:
Andy Karl - Sgt. Mike Dodds
Abby Miller – Libby Parker
Patrick Breen - Doug Nelson
Allyce Beasely – Mrs. Weisman
Daveed Diggs - Counselor Louis Henderson
Yvonna Kopacz-Wright – Dr. Darby Wilder
J. Mallory McCree - Ronnie Ellis
Anthony Ramos - Juan Flores
Jason Genao - Will Reeves
Steve Rosen - Counselor Michael Guthrie
Donnetta Lavinia Grays – Linda Bagley
Michael K. Lee - Craig
Sonia Manzano– Judge Gloria Pepitone
Sandra Berrios – Maria
Fedna Jacquet – Jenna
Shunori Ramanathan – Sara
Joselin Reyes – Paramedic
Adi Hanash – Josh
Aria Shahghasemi – Omar
Alberto Vasquez – Freddy
Mickey Jaiven - Stoned Jock
Genson Blimline – Man
Nicole Lewis – Jury Foreperson
Jack Nawada-Braunwart – Noah Porter Benson
Rollins leaves a small store carrying baby Jesse. She is on the phone with Benson about her return to work the next day after being on maternity leave for 8 weeks. Rollins asks how has Benson been doing after everything she went through. Benson, in her office, says she is fine and not to worry about her. She says they are looking forward to seeing her tomorrow. After hanging up, Rollins sees a man nearby who is arguing on the phone. When he yells at her for staring, Rollins walks away.
Meanwhile, at a café, a woman buys some drugs from a man and takes them immediately. She lays down on a couch in a stupor. Three guys approach her and while they hover over her, a woman nearby takes a cell phone video of their behavior. The guys decide to get her out of there and as they walk her, staggering, out of the coffee shop, the woman continues to record them on her phone.
The three guys take her to her apartment building and as one woman in the area gets out her cell phone, one of the men turns back and glares at her.
Two of the guys try to get into her apartment but a neighbor witnesses this and scares them off, threatening to call the police.
Back in the courtyard, the guys assault the woman and as she screams, people look out their apartment windows, many turning off their lights.
The next day, Benson and Rollins arrive at the courtyard where the woman, Libby Parker, is being tended to by EMTs. She is hypothermic as she has been laying in the courtyard all night. Rollins decides to ride along in the ambulance. Dodds tells Benson that the super found Libby in the courtyard at 7 AM, Fin adds there is no video and no one has come forward. As Carisi approaches, Benson surveys the area and says there are 100 windows up there; someone saw something.
At the hospital, Rollins is on the phone with her baby sitter as Dr. Wilder approaches. Rollins asks if she can speak with Libby now but the doctor explains that Libby has a concussion and two cracked ribs, and with the drugs in her system and hypothermia, they are still trying to stabilize her.
Meanwhile, at the apartment of Libby Parker at 688 East 9th Street on Thursday, January 28, Fin and Dodds search her apartment and it does not appear to have been robbed. They ask Freddy for the names tenants overlooking the courtyard. Dodds sees a photo of Libby with two kids and assumes they are nieces. The neighbor across the hall enters and explains he scared off two guys trying to break in about 1 AM. He yelled at them but did not call police. He heard nothing after that as he had his headphones on.
Carisi speaks with another tenant, Mrs. Weisman, who saw Abby in the courtyard with three men in hoodies. She did not call the police as there were lots of lights on and she figured someone called already.
Fin speaks with two other tenants, Craig and Jenna, who live right above Libby, who heard the screams but it was dark and they couldn’t see a thing.
Afterwards in the courtyard, Dodds, Carisi and Fin discuss the 10 residents that saw something but everyone thought someone else was going to call the police. As Carisi moans that police could have been there in two minutes, a man’s dog runs into the taped crime scene area. Carisi picks up the dog and chats with the owner of the dog, Doug Nelson. He says he didn’t walk through last night and says he wasn’t home, he was at a bar with his boyfriend. Carisi comments to Dodds to say what he wants about Staten Island, but at least people look out for each other. Fin informs them they caught a break; Libby used her debit card in the East Village at 11 PM.
At “The Bean” café at 54 2nd Avenue on Thursday, January 28, Carisi shows Libby’s photo to customers. A worker tells Dodds that the girl was high as a kite. He says there are no drugs here. He also states the security video only saves the last hour as the data slows down the servers which makes the gamers angry. Carisi still tries to get a rise out of the customers but no one admits to seeing her. He recognizes a student from Fordham and she admits to seeing Libby but says if it is about the drugs she doesn’t know anything. He gives her his card and asks that if she saw anything to give him a call. He makes it sound to the others that she didn’t say anything and he sarcastically thanks them for their cooperation and leaves with Dodds.
Back at SVU, Dodds states that the café is a drug den and no one saw a thing. Rollins and Fin mentioned the lack of witnesses at the apartment and Benson calls it the bystander effect, saying sometimes the more witnesses, the less help. Dodds found the ex-husband in Detroit who has the two kids and was quick to say that Libby was a junkie. He didn’t seem too concerned she was in the hospital. Carisi enters, and after apologizing for being late, says he got a video from the girl in the café of Libby with the three guys. Benson sees the video and tells Carisi “great work” and instructs him to try facial recognition and get the video to every TV station in the city.
At the Westway Youth Center at 445 West 25th Street on Friday, January 29, the social worker, Linda, tells Rollins and Dodds she is sure the boys are from her center: Ronnie Ellis, Juan Flores, and William Reeves. Ronnie and Juan are hardcore but Will has been trying to straighten out. They are supposed to be locked in at night but they are having problems with the night guards. Linda told them to wait in the game room but when they enter the room, the boys are not there, apparently having fled out a window.
Later, Dodds speaks with one of the boys’ bunkies, Bobby, who allows them to look around. Linda tells Rollins the boys had old cell phones and as they don’t have data plans for texting, the communicate through Twitter and Facebook. Rollins asks for their account names, and Linda says she will get what she can but they use street names on multiple accounts. The boys don’t have any friends; Ronnie has been kicked out of three shelters, Juan came from an abusive foster family, and Will was rescued from sex trafficking. Rollins asks when the boys are in trouble, where would they hide? Linda thinks Ronnie and Juan would be back on the street dealing and Will was picked up last year for solicitation in Brooklyn.
At 588 Degraw Street in Brooklyn on Friday, January 29, Fin and Carisi spot Will trying to solicit someone in a vehicle. Carisi gets Will into their car. Later, at SVU, they show him the video from the café. He denies hurting Libby. They try to put pressure on him but he thinks they are out hustling and is worried Ronnie will kill him. He won’t DM them.
In Benson’s office with Dodds and Barba, Dodds thinks Will is no thug. Benson states they have Will’s phone and if he won’t contact his friends they will do it for him. Barba says he will get a warrant on the social media accounts for all three. Rollins enters and informs them that Libby’s doctor said she came to. Benson hopes she remembers what happened to her, and Barba says the last thing he wants to do is rely on their “see-no-evil” witnesses.
Later, at Mercy Hospital on 365 West 32nd Street on Saturday, January 30, Benson and Rollins speak to Libby. Libby has no one they can call for her. Everything is fuzzy. She asks them not to tell her husband she had alcohol and ketamine in her system. She remembers pavement on her back and being so cold, floating outside her body. She does not recall her attackers. The last things she recalls was she had a few drinks at the bar and went to the café to sober up and that is when this guy offered her special K. She was stupid. Rollins shows her a photo array and Libby does not recognize them. Rollins explains what happened but Libby does not recall. Benson explains all of what happened at her apartment and the courtyard and Libby remembers nothing but thinks if she was in the courtyard someone must have seen what happened to her. Benson explains they are speaking with the neighbors.
After Benson and Rollins leave Libby’s room, they discuss what they have and don’t have. When Benson tells Rollins to go back to the neighbors, and Rollins comments they don’t care for Libby, Benson says they have to. Rollins says she knows there is no such thing as the perfect vic, but Libby has two little girls and is doing drugs and god knows what else, and comments that Benson knows how hard it is for a woman to lose custody. Benson glares at her and says “Addiction is addiction, Rollins. “ But Rollins counters that Libby has kids, and she doesn’t get to make those kinds of mistakes any more. She adds that it is not her life to ruin, and Benson says she hears her. They step into the elevator and Benson gets a message. She says they have a lead; Ronnie just DM’d Juan and they are moving some weed on Atlantic Avenue.
At Atlantic Avenue and Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn on Saturday, January 30, the detectives work the area. They eventually spot Ronnie and Juan and a chase begins. As Carisi and Dodds chase form one direction, Benson and Rollins cut Ronnie and Juan off from another. Carisi and Dodds subdue the two as Benson and Rollins keep their guns trained on them. As the detectives walk the perps through the crowd nearby, all taking photos or videos, Carisi, his voice dripping with sarcasm, thanks them, saying he applauds the citizens of New York and to give themselves a hand. He then says, “Yeah. Take a picture.”
Later, at SVU, Rollins and Fin speak with Juan and Dodds and Carisi speak with Ronnie. They won't admit to attacking Libby, and Ronnie says he saw the news and knows no one called 911.
Benson speaks with Will being held in a cell, and says the others gave him up. She asks for his side of the story and when he brings up Linda from the shelter, Benson says Linda can’t help him now and to help himself. He says he didn’t do nothing.
Barba knocks on both interrogation room doors to get the detectives out. He tells Benson Ronnie and Juan are lying as they speak. She adds Will wasn’t any help either. Dodds states that Ronnie had a second cell phone on him and the call log was deleted. Rollins suggests they get it to TARU to see what they find. Benson adds in the meantime to get a photo array over to Libby’s building. Barba hopes that one of their good Samaritans can make an ID. Benson sighs.
Fin and Rollins show photos to the neighbor across the hall but he is unsure. Dodds shows the photo to Mrs. Weisman who can’t give a positive ID. Rollins and Fin show the photos Craig and Jenna. Craig is reluctant, saying that people think they don’t care but Rollins suggests he show they DO care and help them now.
At the courthouse, Barba is on the phone, hearing from Rollins that no one can ID all three. Rollins explains that a couple of them made on ID but they didn’t make the other two. Barba thinks this does more harm than good and tells her to try harder. Barba encounters Counselor Henderson who says he is representing Will. Henderson tries to talk Barba into a deal, including having Will implicate the other two, but Barba is not buying it and offers felony assault for sexual misconduct. Henderson says Barba needs Will’s testimony as according to the Daily News, nobody saw anything. Barba questions which is it, Will was there and didn’t participate or he wasn’t there? He asks if his friends will have sob stories too? Henderson counters he gave him the opportunity to wrap this up but if the guilty needs to walk for his client to walk, so be it. He walks off.
Back at SVU, Dodds tells Benson he heard from TARU about Ronnie’s second cell phone. There was a 911 call made from the phone at the time of the rape and it only lasted a few seconds. They realize this is not Ronnie’s phone. Dodds notes that most of the contacts are Hispanic females, and Benson instructs him to call them all and tell them he is trying to return the phone.
At the apartment of Maria Ortiz at 585 West 162nd Street on Saturday, January 30, Benson and Dodds speak with Maria, who has a large bruise on her eye and cheekbone. She eventually admits that she called 911. She saw Libby passed out and the three boys were there and she knew something was wrong. She called 911 and it barely rang before the black boy hit her. She was on the ground and he had her phone and he said he knew who she was and if she called the cops he would kill her. She ran. Dodds asks if she got a good look at their faces.
Later, at SVU, Maria watches three line ups and picks out Ronnie, Juan, and Will. Barba asks one of the attorneys, Mr. Guthrie, if he is ready to talk.
Afterwards, Guthrie is in interrogation with Ronnie and speaks with Benson and Barba. Ronnie says they went back to her building and she was high and horny and said she wanted them all of them all at once. When Benson brings up the fact that Libby was blacked out and could barely walk, Ronnie says this is why they said no. He said she was messed up and wanted it rough, and they are not like that and that is why they bounced. Guthrie thinks their victim went back on the prowl. He asks for a misdemeanor assault on Maria. Barba declines, saying he will see them in court.
At a later date in court, Maria testifies to what she saw and what she did. He said they were dragging Libby and Guthrie makes it sound like they were trying to help her up. The neighbor across the hall testifies but must admit he never saw any of the defendants with the victim. Jenna testifies to what she saw but must admit she did not provide a description of the attackers to the police because it was dark and she was confused at first. Craig states he did not call police as he saw the other tenants watching from the windows and nobody seemed upset. He assumed nothing bad was happening but admits he was wrong, saying Libby was screaming. He them says he wasn’t sure what he heard. Mrs. Weisman states she told the police what she saw, but then says they were wearing hoodies like the ones in the news.
Libby then testifies to what happened, taking the special K and that her memory has not completely come back. She never gave consent to a sexual encounter. Under cross examination, she admits she is familiar with ketamine and knows it causes memory loss. She states it was caught on video but does not recall going back to her building but did not asked to be raped. Henderson states she can’t even recall if those injuries came from rough consensual sex. Barba objects, claiming Henderson is badgering, but the judge overrules. Libby says she doesn’t like rough sex, and she never would have told them that she did. Henderson brings up her lack of memory, and she admits she doesn’t remember anything.
Afterwards in her apartment, Libby tells Rollins and Carisi that it was awful and worries they are going to get off. Carisi thinks the jury heard what she went through and that accounts for something. There is a knock on the door and Doug enters. But when he sees the detectives there he suggests he come back later. When he leaves, Libby said Doug is odd but he has been a friend. They are both single with no family or support and both are going to AA. She admits they both are, they are not good with sobriety but Doug is an old timer and works his program and gets mad when she slips. Carisi makes an excuse to leave and Rollins tells him to take his time.
Outside, Carisi confronts Doug and brings up the conflict in his statements about being at a bar with his boyfriend. He adds that Libby also told him that Libby told him he is single and in AA so that is two lies. Doug says he didn’t see anything and Carisi say but he WAS at home. Carisi tries to appeal to helping Libby but Doug worries that the guys will kill him but Carisi says they can’t do that if they get put away. Carisi says all Doug had to do was call 911, and Doug claims he froze. He is not good in high stress situations, he couldn’t. It was too late, but Carisi counters not for an ambulance. Doug admits he was drunk and screwed up, that’s what he does, his whole life. Carisi says everybody screws up, and Libby got hurt on the stand again today and if Doug doesn’t testify., this case is over.
At the courthouse on 50 Centre Street on Monday, February 1, Barba expresses worry to Benson and Carisi that putting Doug on the stand is a good idea. Carisi asks if he has a better one, and Barba comments Doug is worse than the others, which is no easy task. When Benson chides him, Barba adds at least they admit they were there. Carisi says they are here now, and Doug was the only person close enough to see their faces and what they did to her. Barba says, “And the jury believes him because…” and Carisi replies because he went over his story backwards and forwards and Doug never varied, he had a spot on description of each suspect. Carisi adds maybe Doug is a coward but he is credible. Barba says with sarcasm, “So, good memory, no morality, fantastic!” Benson asks Carisi when he prepped him did he tell him what time to show up, as he is an hour late? Carisi is confident Doug will show but Barba says if he doesn’t, he will just vamp. Doug walks out of the elevator and Barba introduces himself but they all quickly notice that Doug is drunk. He admits he has been drinking butt says he is eidetic. Benson pulls Barba aside and asks if they can get a postponement, but Barba says he has no one else to call. Carisi says he is taking Doug out to get some air, and Barba suggests coffee – gallons of it. Benson looks frustrated.
Later, Doug testifies to what he saw happen to Libby, identifying all the defendants. He went home and should have called the police but didn’t. He started drinking again until he forgot. He adds he will never forgive himself. Under cross examination by Henderson, Doug admits he had had his last drink 5 years ago but is confident the relapse did not affect his memory. He admits he waited too long to come forward. He felt bad when he heard about Libby. Henderson asks Doug if he is intoxicated right now, and Doug says yes he is. Murmurs fill the courtroom. But Barba redirects, and asks why Doug got drunk that night. Doug said what he saw was horrible but he failed to help Libby and he was mad at himself for being a coward. Barba asks why Doug got drunk this morning, and Doug replies he was afraid to testify and was afraid what everyone would think of him. Barba asks Doug if he calls the question Henderson just put to him, and Doug rattles off the previous few questions. Barba asks if Doug can remember what the defendants were wearing that night, and Doug describes their clothing in detail. Barba is then allowed to do an exercise where Doug looks away from the jury and then describes for the court the complete makeup of the jury by race, gender, etc. and asks if Barba want to know which ones are where. But Barba says no, and allows Doug to open his eyes. He ends the questioning.
Afterwards, in the courtroom hall, Henderson races up to Barba and says his client wants to testify against the others. Barba tells him it is too late, he doesn’t need him. Henderson argues that Will was a bystander and tried to stop them, but Barba coldly says “not hard enough” and walks off. Carisi walks out of the courtroom with Doug, and Doug sees Libby and wonders what he would say to her. Carisi suggests trying “I’m sorry.” Doug approaches Libby and says he is so, so sorry, but she looks at him and says, “So am I” and she walks away from him.
In Supreme Court Part 6 on Tuesday, February 2, the verdict is read: all are guilty of criminal sexual acts in the first degree. Libby hugs Benson, waves quickly to Barba and then leaves the courtroom. Dodds comments that maybe Libby can move on now, and Rollins asks if he thinks she is going to change her life? She doesn’t think so, she thinks she will be drinking again by Friday night. Fin suggest to Rollins that she just got back and she is tired and he would drive her home. They all exit the courtroom. Benson waits for Barba and tells him “good job” as he exits.
Back at home, Benson is watching Noah sleep on her tablet baby monitor, and she is drinking wine. She is on the phone with someone, saying Noah is good and sleeping like a baby. She says she is fine as she fills her wine glass. She adds that she took the mandatory time off and yes, she is seeing her shrink. She tells the caller that sounds like more fun. She asks for a rain check. She says okay, and then “Me too. Bye.” She ends the call, smiling, and takes another guzzle of wine. Her glass is now nearly empty and she refills it. She takes another long drink as we fade to black.
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35 comments:
Am I the only one hoping that Benson and Barba will get together?!
Here, here Kat! But you know what else would be great? They're killing it with the Hamilton cast this season (I have tickets in three weeks, so I am super-psyched!). Get Renée Elise Goldsberry to play a defense attorney and go up against Barba. She played a lawyer on the now defunct OLTL and can do the deal.
I really liked this episode. It had an ensemble feel. Carisi and Barba are the men, but Dodds is also fitting in nicely. As for that last scene, I thought that Amaro might be in town. Just no Tucker and Benson (I cannot handle that). Looking forward to next week.
@kat -Sorry but I just cannot swallow Benson and Barba! IMO it would be a total train wreck for the show! I can't imagine her talking to Barba on the phone and telling him that she took the mandatory time off and yes, she is seeing her shrink. That just wouldn't make sense. All tho the wine drinking does make you wonder! ;) Guess we have a cliffhanger in who she was talking to.
@lannes- Yeah, Amaro would make more sense. I would think both Tucker and Dodds senior would know of the time off Benson took.
I think her job and all her abductions are taking a toll on Benson! She probably is under an extreme amount of stress and everyone has their cracking point!
I liked this episode very much. Yes it was predictable but fast paced and the chemistry between the characters, I enjoyed very much!
If there's one think I dislike it's hypocritical characters - it's one of the reasons I've started to dislike Liv as I find her twofaced often - and when my favorite character turns in to one I really dislike it. Not a fan of Amanda's harsh words towards the victim, it leaned towards victim blaming which is not cool either. I don't buy she just turns over a leaf after being a mom and she should know better regarding addiction. It might just be me wanting to defend Amanda but it also felt as though they foreshadowed Liv hitting the bottle with Amanda's dialogue tonight and if that was the case I really dislike them for using her that way.
This is also what I feared most when they wrote KG's preganancy in to the show - that Amanda would become a total bore. Can't wait to see her mess up in the upcoming ep with Craig Beirko.
I saw this ep two days ago, thank you Canada, and I have to say not much more than what mentioned above stuck with me. Barba was good though. Abby Miller did great work with small nuances like biting her nail leaving the courtroom. I do like Carisi but he runs like a cartoon character and that's not a compliment. Dodds Jr didn't bother me but I don't really remember any of his scenes either (I already know his upcoming haircut will bother me so I'm apologizing in advance cause I will rant about that for sure, it is hideous!).
Liv's mystery caller and hitting the bottle bores me as it will obviously lead to something, it always does when it's about Liv. I much rather deal with Barba popping pills. This show needs to do a better job with the rest of their cast. I'm putting all my faith on the new showrunner who can't get here fast enough!
Cragen!
Good episode thanks again Chris for recap, I normally pay attention to small stuff like the dates of episode been taken place but I didn't notice liv's Sargent badge thanks for bringing that up. A quick thing with the final scene and things been brought up in the episode I wonder if Benson was drinking cause there might be a story to Noah we don't know about, by the way I agree with Petra on her Rollins comment since Rollins has an addiction of her own or knows what it is to be an addict and also I agree % 100 with you on carisi his becoming a favorite of mine and I can't wait for next week's crossover been a fan of both shows even though every bad guy escaping prison is getting out of hand but that's for next week's comments.
To west Virginia rebel I'm not going to say where I heard in respect to person saying spoiler alert but there is a strong rumor elliot is coming for an episode this season I hope is true.
I don't think Benson drinking so much wine has a story to it, I think it's just to show that the job is stressful :D
I thought the episode was okay, Amanda's behavior was kinda weird and I don't like it when TV characters change that much after having children, so let's just see if she goes back to normal soon.
I'm really excited for next week though *.*
In regards to Benson's drinking the wine, she may or may not have a drinking problem and often times if someone does have a problem they don't even realize they do. I don't think her drinking one bottle of wine on one show justifies a real drinking problem but it looks like the show is making us wonder anyway. As far as Amanda and her addiction she may think that she doesn't have a problem any more, but we'll have to wait and see if the stress of the job and single motherhood takes its toll on her character. I don't think her comment was out of character as people with addictions can have a real self loathing and can become critical/judgmental of others with an addiction when they think they are "cured".
I am also excited for next weeks show! :)
Sonny and Rafael made this episode for me. Sonny being irritated at people was really fun to watch since his sarcastic side seem to come out. Plus him and Rafi going at it in the court hallway. Peter and Raúl nailed it. I loved Rafi's 'oh shit' face when they relished Doug was drunk. I also loved Rafi's quip about drinking gallons of coffee to sober up. I wonder if that's why he drinks so much of it lol.
Now could anyone tell me what Rafi meant when he said he just might vamp if Doug doesn't show up?
Lannes- Renee Elise Goldsberry has played a defense attorney on SVU. She played the lawyer working with Lewis on his trial and was in at least one more episode, I believe.
First of all, thanks for the recap! Awesome job.
Second, could someone help me out here, I'm not from the US so I didn't get that 'vamp' comment, but I'm sensing it was something awesome ('cuz, let's face it, it's Barba, it's always awesome). I tried googling it, but they just give you a million and one meanings of it, so, no help really...
Thanks again!
2Abby- Vamp means to put together, fabricate or improvise. So if Doug didn't show up as a witness, Barba would have to use what he had and make it look good to the jury. ;)
FYI - I put this update in the review regarding Benson's badge:
Update: I've been told Benson wore a Lieutenant's badge in an earlier episode in this season. I found that she did wear a Lieutenant's badge in "Community Policing" from October 2015. I also noticed it in a few other episodes so this may be a one episode error.
I must admit I don't look at the badges every week but I got so many questions on her badge in the episode when the episode pics came out that I had to address it!
Why are they giving Liv a drinking problem but I agree drinking a bottle of wine at one sitting does not a alcoholic make. But still after all they have turned Liv into she not only keeps her badge she gets promoted now she is a alky please.
As for the Stabler return it was never a firm thing and it's been scraped.
I think she was talking to Tucker
@Nancy R - I had forgotten that. Probably because the Lewis arc is not something that I like to revisit in the reruns! Maybe bring her back as a different character. It certainly wouldn't be the first time the show made that move!
This episode was okay. Not fantastic, just okay. The writers are doing nice work with Carisi and Barba. Chris you are right, they are scene stealers. I would love it if they did more backstories on these characters rather than Rollins. Rollins is sounding jaded and as someone else commented, she's self-loathing. I just can't get into caring about her.
Benson and her drinking: wine is her medicine of choice and while she may not be an alcoholic, my opinion is she's drinking to cope which can lead to alcoholism. Benson can't be held captive again after they've done it twice so alcoholism is the next logical dramatic frontier for her. I would love to see Benson in a less-than-perfect role.
The thing with the mystery caller? My opinion is it is they put in in there in case this was their last season and they could swing bringing Meloni in for an episode and make it appear he had kept in touch with her. Now that - according to the Hollywood Reporter - their plans to bring back Stabler was scrapped as this is not their final season, they have the freedom to make this caller ANYBODY. I would think that Tucker would already know about the things she said on the phone, but Cassidy, Amaro, Cragen, or Munch may not. What ever happened to that DA she was seeing that Harry Connick played? Benson has had too many guys in her life, it's hard to pick one. . I think they purposely want people to stew on this. Me, I don't really want to dwell on it any more than I have right now.
Thanks for the info on the badge. I know it was a question when the episode pictures were first posted. I wonder why they would make such a mistake? Someone got sloppy.
I think it wasn´t Tucker too. Exactly because being IAB Captain, he would know about everything Olivia said on the phone. Dodds Senior and Barba either; it wouldn´t make sense.
I can't see Benson and Barba together. It would ruin the working relationship and be a real conflict of interests. They would hate each other within a few weeks if they did. Too strong willed and with different agendas and careers. Anyone notice how Carisi is starting to dress like Barba - at least, a poor man's version - 3 piece suits and the caramel coloured coat?
Benson has no one to make guardian of Noah and I think that realisation hit home when she was a hostage. It is adding to her stress.
Love Barba in court, especially when things aren't going his way and he has to find a solution. He was harsh with the kid and could have got him to testify. Not sure he likes Henderson after he went to the press with the video of the police shooting rather than show it to Barba. Perhaps there will be more of them in the future.
'But when the detectives chase down the perps, there is no lack of an audience, and the crowd is quick to take photos and video to confirm their witnessing the event. Society's priorities are messed up.'
This is so true!
Great episode- Barba as usual was outstanding. Looking forward to Dallas Roberts return as Yates- SVU has some of the most freaky villians like Roberts and Pablo before him.
I was worried someone would mention the Kitty Genovese case. Unfortunately, it has become a bit of a folk myth. Despite the (debunked) newspaper article from the time that claimed no one did anything, in fact, the police were called during the first part of the (three-part) attack. They failed to respond. A resident of the building also attempted to help her. Over the years, the myth of no assistance has grown, and it has become the go-to example of the "bystander effect." At least for SVU, they were smart not to directly compare it, although the inspiration is clear.
More here: http://nypost.com/2014/02/16/book-reveals-real-story-behind-the-kitty-genovese-murder/
Like Chris said, the episode was predictable. But solid.
Now this whole ambiguous bait about whom Olivia was talking on the phone with--most will probably guess it's Tucker--is completely annoying.
Renee Elise Goldsberry already went up against Barba, and won, sort of. She was one of William Lewis' attorneys, and it was inferred that he had murdered her off.
Chris - I believe that the only mention of Doug having an eidetic memory was after he had just gotten off of the elevator, and was asked if he had been drinking, and his response was yes, but I am still eidetic.
Have you noticed that the juror from the Lewis case (whose butt should be in jail for bringing drugs to him in jail), has shown up several times on SVU (wihout dialog and sometimes nodding her head), and has this season, at SVU trials? Why? What is she up to? She reminds me of that kid in Rigby.
Major annoyances about SVU: not one of the principals is from New York -- only Richard Belzer; most of the Law and Order cases take place at Supreme, New York, where NO ONE, not visitors or police, are allowed to have guns or cell phones, with the exception of the court officers, and in certain instances, the judge, yet everyone from SVU seems to have theirs; spelling errors, in instances like Lennox Avenue, instead of Lenox Avenue, a major Manhattan thoroughfare.
While "41 Witnesses" is reminiscent of Kitty Genovese, it is closer to the case, which has not yet come up for trial (it generally takes a year and a half to two years before a case goes to trial), of the three teenagers (one white, one black, one Asian), who escaped from the Boy's Town facility in Brooklyn, came into Manhattan, and grabbed, raped, and robbed a woman, later takng her keys and attempting to rob her apartment. The irony here, is while Manhattan has its own share of felons, when you hear of something this heinous, it is often from outside of tbe city who comes here thinking that the city is so large that no one will find them, and not realizing that Manhattan is really a small town.
May I submit, that rather than Stabler, "Olivia's" brother Simon Marsden was given a three year sentence, and that time should be up by now?
The Lewis arc is not completely over. If you scan the audience in SVU trials, the forewoman from the Lewis trial has been in attendance at least three times over the past two or three seasons. Why? She makes no comment. If you see her, she is generally on the left side of your screen, toward the back, and seemingly wearing the same dress.
Carissi is beginning to dress more like a New York law school/business student, in the business attire/uniform that every downtown New York City worker wears. Even messengers wear a dress shirt, tie, dress slacks, shoes eith laces, and a sweater if they cannot afford a jacket. The carmel coat is usually cashmere, camels hair if you do not want to seem pretentious (I had one as a kid -- my Sunday/dress coat); then the hems of the men's pants start to get a little higher, showing wing tipped shoes. In Spring, the dress begins to be beige raincoats, sometimes black. Total standard issue and pretty much the style working in that area -- here SVU is near the courts, and city hall. In real life, Manhattan SVU is in East Harlem. That style of clothing is for both men and women, and is so ingrained, that I once came to cladz wearing sweats, and people actually gasped. It's kind of funny when you see a student change out of jeans, and start with the suits.
@Theuresamaven - yes, the only mention Doug made about being eidetic was in the courthouse hall. We can only assume he didn't mention it to Carisi. As I commented in my review, it was a good thing Barba picked up on Doug's fleeting comment about it.
And yes, the juror - Bronwyn Freed - has been obvious, especially in the two episode SVU "Devil’s Dissections/Criminal Pathology". I think she is showing up again in a future episode, stay tuned!
Benson's brother has been mentioned by some as the possible caller, as has Munch, Cragen, Cassidy< Amaro, David Haden (Harry Connick Jr). The list grows every day!
I've been an attorney in NC for 17 years. There is no law or professional rule of conduct that would prevent me from putting a drunk witness on the stand. I am prohibited from asking a witness questions when I have reason to believe they intend to lie, that's suborning perjury, which is a crime under state and federal law. (If you are not an attorney, suborning perjury requires that you convince a witness to lie in a legal proceeding, if you are an attorney, just knowing the witness is going to lie is enough). That said, putting a drunk witness on the stand could subject me to a claim of malpractice since its logical to presume that a drunk witness would be lacking in both predictability and credibility since most witnesses do not have an eidetic memory even when sober.
As for who the caller is, Mariska posted a teaser about it on her instagram the other day. Go check it out!
@Ray Charles Garter - thanks for the interesting insight!
Was that Mia khalifa at the beginning filming the perves picking up ol girl at the coffee shop?! I need answers
Am I the only one who got worried watching the last scene with Olivia drinking wine that way?Giving all she has been through(expecially Lewis)and giving the fact that her mother was an alcoholic...:-(
One thing about SVU… minorities are always guilty and DAs and all the SVU detectives go hard at them while white people are usually found not guilty and every single character tries so hard to either justify, excuse or advocate for the white perps.
If anything it definitely mirrors reality.
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