Promo: SVU New Year’s Day Marathon

Here’s the promo for the Law & Order SVU marathon on USA Network which begins on the morning of New Year’s Day. (The NCIS portion of the marathon begins on New Year’s Eve.)




Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Official Story” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & order SVU “Official Story”:

Law & Order SVU “Official Story” Air Date January 18, 2012 (10 PM ET/9C Wednesday NBC)

WHEN THE CEO OF A PRIVATE MILITARY CONTRACTOR IS FOUND ASSAULTED, THE DA’S OFFICE JOINS THE SVU DETECTIVES TO INVESTIGATE A MOTIVE WITH INTERNATIONAL TIES

The powerful CEO of a private military contractor is confronted by protesters and later found drugged and sexually assaulted in a park. Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Amaro (Danny Pino) begin their investigation but find the victim unwilling to cooperate. As the SVU squad and the district attorney’s office explore the motives behind the attack, a much larger crime and conspiracy in Iraq is unveiled. Also starring Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen) and Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins.) Laura Benanti (Maria Grazie) guest stars.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Official Story" can be found at this link.




Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Theatre Tricks” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & order SVU “Theatre Tricks”:

Law & Order SVU “Theatre Tricks” Air Date January 11, 2012 (10 PM ET/9C Wednesday NBC)

WHEN AN ACTRESS IS RAPED ON STAGE DURING A PERFORMANCE, THE SVU SQUAD DISCOVERS THE ATTACKER WAS SET UP TO COMMIT THE CRIME

An actress in an interactive theater production is raped on stage, while the audience believes it to be part of the show. The SVU detectives hit a dead end in their investigation when they learn the show’s passionate director (guest star Fisher Stevens) gave the audience, including the assailant, masks to wear during the performance. Detectives Rollins (Kelli Giddish) and Tutuola (Ice-T) track down an obsessed fan of the young actress who recorded the assault while stalking her, which leads Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Amaro (Danny Pino) to a respected judge (guest star Kevin Pollak.) With the judge’s reputation on the line, the SVU squad explores the underbelly of the New York theater world to uncover who really orchestrated the public attack. Also starring Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen) with special appearances by Stephanie March (ADA Alex Cabot), Gilbert Gottfried (TARU Tech Leo Gerber.) Grant Shaud guest stars.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Theatre Tricks" can be found at this link.



Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “True Believers” Behind the Scenes Interviews

From Wolf Films, here are behind the scenes interviews from Law & Order SVU "True Believers featuring director Courtney Hunt and guest star Sofia Vasselieva.





Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino on Location for SVU

Here are a few photos of Mariska Hargitay and Danny Pino filming on location for Law & Order SVU on December 15, 2011 in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Photos by WireImage

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

NBCUNIVERSAL AND VIP FAN AUCTIONS OFFER OFFICIAL 'LAW & ORDER' MEMORABILIA (Press Release)

NBC UNIVERSAL TV CONSUMER PRODUCTS GROUP - PRESS RELEASE
December 14, 2011

NBCUNIVERSAL AND VIP FAN AUCTIONS OFFER OFFICIAL 'LAW & ORDER' MEMORABILIA

Auctions Now Run Weekly – Tuesdays Through Sundays – at www.nbcuauctions.com.


UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – December 14, 2011 – NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products has partnered with VIP Fan Auctions to offer props and wardrobe from the popular television franchise “Law & Order.” The official "Law & Order" Auctions commenced earlier this month and will run weekly, beginning on Tuesdays and ending on Sundays – with new items added every Tuesday. Fans can find the auctions at www.nbcuauctions.com.

“NBCUniversal pays tribute to this iconic franchise by offering key pieces of memorabilia to the fan base,” said VIP Managing Partner Mark Kaminky. “The auctions will offer items from ‘Law & Order,’ ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent’ and ‘Law & Order: Los Angeles.’ Expect items from main cast members, as well as a few amazing surprises.”

Some of the upcoming auction items include a director’s chair back belonging to “Law & Order” guest star Julia Roberts; a suit, tie and shirt worn by Alfred Molina, who starred as Deputy District Attorney Ricardo Morales in “Law & Order: Los Angeles;” and a sport coat worn by Jerry Orbach, who starred as Detective Lennie Briscoe in “Law & Order.”

"Law & Order" is television’s longest-running crime drama. Filmed entirely on location in New York, the realistic program looked at crime and justice from a dual perspective. In the series' most recent format, in the first half-hour, Detective Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and his new partner, Detective Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson), investigate crimes and apprehend suspects under the supervision of their precinct lieutenant, Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson). In the second half-hour, the focus shifts to the criminal courts as Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter (Linus Roache) and the Executive Assistant District Attorney Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) work within a complicated justice system to prosecute the accused under the guidance of the newly appointed District Attorney Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston).

“Law & Order: Criminal Intent” followed Major Case Squad Detectives Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) and Alex Eames (Kathryn Erbe) as they tackled the most challenging criminal cases in New York City. Under the supervision of Captain James Deakins (Jamey Sheridan) and with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver (Courtney B. Vance), Goren and Eames pursued the city's most devious offenders in a cat-and-mouse game filled with treachery and surprising twists.

“Law & Order: Los Angeles” followed Detectives Ricardo Morales (Molina) and Tomas "TJ" Jaruszalski (Corey Stoll) as they pursue cases as members of the Los Angeles Police Department's elite Robbery Homicide Division. The series also starred Lieutenant Arleen Gonzales, (Rachel Ticotin), Deputy District Attorney Jonah "Joe" Dekker (Terrence Howard) and Deputy District Attorney Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza).

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Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

New “Law & Order Legacies” Video Game Preview

Here’s a first look at the new “Law & Order Legacies” video game from TV Guide.. They report that “The upcoming video game Law & Order: Legacies brings together an all-star lineup of cops and lawyers, including NYPD detectives Lennie Briscoe, Mike Logan and Rey Curtis, Lt. Anita Van Buren, district attorneys Jack McCoy, Abbie Carmichael and Michael Cutter as well as L&O: SVU detective Olivia Benson.”

Watch the video below and read the full story here: TV Guide: First Look: Law & Order: Legacies Video Game




Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order UK Begins Series 6 in UK in January 2012 (press release)

Here is an ITV press release for the start of series 6 airing in the UK on ITV. (These episodes have already aired in the US on BBC America).

ITV Press Release
Thursday, 8 December 2011  
Law & Order: UK
Episode: 1 of 7  
Friday, 6 January 2012, 9:00PM - 10:00PM
Production house: Kudos Film & Television

Survivor's Guilt:

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two groups. The police who investigate the crime, and the Crown prosecutors who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories…

Paul Nicholls joins the cast of ITV's successful, long-running drama Law & Order: UK for series six which begins with an emotional cliff-hanger.

Nicholls (Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Harley Street) is DS Sam Casey, a headstrong young officer with a strong sense of justice brought in to investigate the shooting of DS Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber).

Nicholls joins a critically acclaimed cast, including Bradley Walsh, Harriet Walter, Freema Agyeman, Peter Davison and Dominic Rowan who achieved an average audience of 5.6 million and a 21% share during series five Law & Order: UK which was shown in summer 2011.

This seven part series sees the police and legal teams facing a shocking crime captured on video, up against the clock in the search for a hostage, and exposing a tragic, medical cover-up. Cases are reopened, the past threatens to catch up with Ronnie (Walsh) and careers are on the line…

Quality guest stars join the cast for series six including Colin Salmon, Tamzin Outhwaite, Toby Stephens, Eva Pope, Luke Roberts and Tim McInnerny.

New boy Paul Nicholls admits he had to run to keep up with a fast moving production…

Law & Order SVU “Spiraling Down” Recap & Review

If I was doing a one word review for “Spiraling Down” it would be as follows: exceptional. As there are so many good things to say about this episode, I thought I should still take the time and outline what made it so good.

The story was compelling and was well scripted. Both the lead and supporting cast made it seem like I was a fly on the wall, watching a real life drama take place. Andre Braugher was his usual superb self, and I found myself wondering if Braugher had been cast as the lead prosecutor for Law & Order LA I think that series would still be on the air. I also found myself wishing that they would bring the original Law & Order back and somehow get Bayard Ellis to find his way into working for the DA’s office.

Treat Williams was perfect in the role of the ex-football star Jake Stanton who shows signs of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a progressive brain disease that is found in athletes who have experienced repeated head trauma. Sadly, the disease can only be diagnosed after death.  Jake was able to shield the disease from the public as it's not an illness that makes a person look obviously ill.   One can’t ignore, though,  that his wife was covering up Jake’s problem and clearly taking her eyes off him, which allowed him the chance to get into trouble more than once.  In a way, she should bear some responsibility for what happened to the victim, 14 year old Vicki.   It was tragic to see Jake come to the realization that they will only know for sure that he had the disease only after he is dead, which is likely one reason why he decided to end it all. (A side note: after his performance in this episode, I now officially forgive Treat Williams for his appearance in the films “The Ritz” and “1941.”) One nitpick – I thought all officers/detectives who carry a gun are supposed to have them in a locking holster.  It should not have been that easy for Jake to grab the officer’s gun. I have lost count as to the number of deaths which have occurred at 60 Centre Street, which may be one  of the deadliest places in the Law & Order universe.

I usually don’t care for too much focus on the characters’ personal lives, but they worked in the short scene with Amaro and his wife very well.

After Jake falls apart on the stand, Cabot expresses her displeasure with Benson, arguing that Benson wants justice for the victim AND compassion for Jake, and Benson can’t have it both ways because the world does not work that way. I don’t agree with Cabot. Vicki hopefully got plenty of justice from the SVU team nabbing all those other johns and her pimp, and I assume they were all (or will be) successfully prosecuted.  "Spiraling Down"  may have been one of those cases where someone like Dr. Huang  could have stepped in and helped to determine if Jake was competent at the time of the crimes or whether he was even competent to stand trial.  I also wonder why Ellis also didn’t move for some sort of competency hearing. Maybe I missed something here.

All in all, this was a flawless episode  and the best of the season so far.  Hopefully, it will be an episode that will bring some Emmy nominations.

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:
Stephanie March - ADA Alex Cabot
Andre Braugher – Bayard Ellis
Treat Williams - Jake Stanton
Beth Chamberlin – Georgia Stanton
Laura Benanti – Maria
Kay Panabaker – Vicki Harris
Dominic Fumusa – Jason Harris
Jon Michael Hill - Tre
Ned Eisenberg – Roger Kressler
Tonye Patano – Judge Maskin
Linda Emond - Dr. Emily Sopher
David Pittu – Jake’s (first) Lawyer
Jerry Rice - himself
Warren Sapp – himself


A young girl walking around the city is being followed by a man. When another man stops her and asks her for money, the guy following her stops her and asks her if she made it. She plays along and the guy asking for money walks off. The guy who was following her tells her she has to be careful, there are a lot of crazy people in New York, and he introduces himself as Tre. She says her name is Vicki. They walk off together.

At a later time, the two are in bed together and Tre gives her a necklace. She wonders why he is being so nice to her, adding the guys in her school are jerks. He says they are punks who don’t know how to treat a lady and he will take care of her.

Later, Marcus arrives and tells Vicki she is getting prettier every day. Marcus has a box with him with red platform shoes in it, but when Tre indicates he can’t afford them, Marcus says maybe they can work something out. Marcus sits down next to her and puts his arm around her, and Tre tells her “c’mon girl, it’s just Marcus.” She looks less than thrilled.

At another time, a man storms out of Tre’s room and tells Tre he wants his money as the girl is crying. Tre tells him to wait there, he’s got this. Tre storms in the room and asks Vicki what is going on, and she is crying and begging that she does not want to do this anymore. He says he has guys lined up and he punches her. She slaps him back and tells him to stop it. He goes into the bathroom to check his injury, and she picks up her cell phone and dials her father and tells him she is sorry. He asks who she is talking to and he slaps the phone out of her hand.

At SVU, Benson is telling Amaro that someone – a date? - doesn’t share food, they split the check, and they missed the opening number. Amaro describes the person as having receding hair, an academic, with a checkered shirt. Benson says all of the above, adding that Amaro is good. A man approaches Amaro and says his daughter Vicki is in trouble, he drove from Philly, and says he is Captain Jason Harris who was deployed I Baghdad with Amaro's wife and she told him about his transfer to Special Victims. He says his daughter is in New York and got a call and he heard a man threatening her. He thinks his daughter ran away, she lived with her ex and he just got back from deployment. The call came from a blocked number but New York is all Vicki ever talked about. He gives Benson his cell phone to trace the call. He explains to Amaro that is daughter is only 14 and knows Amaro has a daughter and adds Amaro was lucky to marry Maria as she is a good person and grounded. He says Amaro has to find his daughter, and Amaro says his wife sent him to the right place. Jason adds that he came back from Iraq last week and his ex said Vicki was on a school trip. She never mentioned knowing anyone in New York. Jason’s wife enters and asks where is Victoria. Jason and she begin to argue and place blame over Vicki, and Cragen enters and asks her to come with him. Fin tells Amaro they have something on the phone.

Law & Order SVU “Spiraling Down” Preview Clip and Treat Williams Interview

Here is a preview clip plus an interview with guest star Treat Williams for Law & Order SVU “Spiraling Down” which will air on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 10 PM ET/9C on NBC. The preview features Kelli Giddish, Dann Florek, and guest star Treat Williams.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Spiraling Down" can be found at this link.

Please note: The preview clip is available for a limited time only and must be removed shortly after the episode originally airs, so catch it while you can!







Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Lost Traveler” Recap & Review

Law & Order SVU “Lost Traveler” was one of those episodes that had me changing my opinion about it all the way through. I hated it – then loved it – then hated it – you get the idea. The story was solid and the supporting cast members were all very convincing in their roles; particularly creepy was the psycho in training, Courtney.

The seriousness of the episode was broken by the appearance of TARU Tech Leo Gerber, played by Gilbert Gottfried. While I find Gottfried a humorous person,  this was a casting misstep, one that rivals the casting of Noel Fisher as the equally annoying TARU Tech and murderer Dale Stuckey. Gottfried’s voice is grating (it works very well when he is doing humor) and it made his acting abilities even worse. This is one character that I am not looking forward to seeing again. In Gottfried’s defense, he gave them what they seemed to have wanted; he can’t help it that someone tried to write in a lame comedy interlude into this otherwise serious episode. Casting does get extra points for bringing in former cast member Dean Winters’ brother Scott to play a smarmy detective.

I was also disappointed in the 4 minute opening set up to the crime. This was one of those episode where I did not like the “Law & Order Criminal Intent” style opening. I don’t want to waste 4 minutes on minor guest stars or a set up to the crime; I tune in to Law & Order SVU to see the lead characters. I don’t mind a short introduction to the crime, but 4 minutes is just too long for me.

And is it just me or is it some rite of passage that when any female lead character is added to the cast of any Law & Order brand show that at some point some guy has to say something like “oh, she’s pretty AND smart too!” In this case, it was a comment a detective made to Fin about Rollins. While I am on the subject of Rollins, I have some issues with Kelli Giddish – or maybe it is how she is playing Rollins – and she just doesn’t quite fit. One thing that may help – get rid of her constant use of “Lookee here.” I know that Rollins is supposed to be from Georgia, but seriously now, “lookee here” makes her sound as thick as a brick. I also felt that the argument between Rollins and Amaro seemed too forced.  It is as if they are trying to put a square peg into a round hole with Giddish.

It was nice to see Linus Roache and Stephanie March, but was hoping that they would have a little more screen time and there would have been a little more legal maneuvering. (I guess I still miss Law & Order.) And it never ceases to amaze me how many people are dumb enough to bring their kids in to a police precinct for questioning and don’t have the brains to bring legal representation. Don’t these people watch TV?  If they did, they would know that one never submits to questioning at a police station without having legal representation, much less have their kids questioned separately as in this situation. This should be a warning to everyone – if you are asked to bring in your minor children for questioning by the police, refuse to do it without a lawyer present.  The police are not always your friend when it comes to a murder case.

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
Stephanie March - ADA Alex Cabot
Linus Roache – Bureau Chief Michael Cutter
Tamara Tunie – Dr. Melinda Warner
Gilbert Gottfried – TARU Tech Leo Gerber
Mark Margolis – The Rom-Baro
Ron Rifkin – Marvin Exley
Donnie Keshawarz – Tomas Grey
Alexandra Silber - Nadia Grey
Michael Barra – Mark Rajic
Scott William Winters – Detective Dumas
Gavin Lee – Mr. Griscomb
Quinn Shephard - Emma Butler
Lili Reinhart - Courtney Lane
Gary Lindeman – Chris Lane
Lucas Near-Verbrugghe – Greg Kandel
Tamir – Ana Rajic
Cameron Ocasio – Nico Grey
Wai Ching Ho _ Gladys Tang
George Feaster – Alonso Hearne
Laura Pruden – Sandra Butler
Sammuel Soifer – Ryan
Jason Gladstone – State Trooper Levon Davis
Nic Pagano – Little boy


A young boy, Nico Grey, and his mother Nadia go over instructions before his first walk to school alone. A neighbor boy, Mark,  waves to him and Nico walks away looking uncomfortable. As Nico races to school, someone follows him. Nico isn’t paying attention and he almost gets hit by a car. His phone rings and when he answers it, he turns to see his father is the one following him. His father chides him about how to properly cross the street, and Nico insists he can do it. His father allows him to go on alone. As Nico walks off, his father waves and then two young girls standing on the corner seem to follow Nico. He makes it to school and a snobby boy comes up and asks Nico to tell him his fortune. The boy grabs Nico’s hand and says he can tell his fortune, saying he sees a long life line and a mansion and then spits in his hand, saying he sees a swimming pool. A teacher, Mr. Kandel, sees this and tells the boy – Ryan - that he will see him after class, and he hands Nico a tissue to wipe his hands and tells him to get to class. One of the girls who followed Nico to school comments to Nico that Ryan can be a jerk sometimes.

Afterward, Nico leaves school and Mr. Kandel asks if he is flying solo today. Nico tells him that he practiced and he knows the way. Nico gets to the subway station to find it blocked off and then looks to his phone. He also drops a glove. He looks around, confused, and after a bus passes him by, Nico is no longer on the street corner.

Later, Detectives Benson and Amaro are outside the Grey home, speaking with Detective Dumas. He explains about Nico going missing after never making it home from Caswell Academy. The last time he was seen was at 3:30 at school. The detective does not think “these people” in the neighborhood trust their own police precinct. Benson tells him maybe they don’t like being called “these people” or “gypsies”. The detective does not think the kid is missing and thinks it is a con. The media arrives and Benson tells the detective to take the media and she and Amaro will take the parents.

Amaro speaks with Nico’s father Tomas who explained Nico wanted to be a man and go to school on his own for the first time. They practiced for a week. Amaro asks why they did not get a call until 7:00 and Tomas says he told his wife to call right away but she said the police probably would not care because of who they are.

Meanwhile, Benson speaks with Nico's mother Nadia who describes what Nico was last wearing. He had a rabbit’s foot which was his good luck charm. They also bought him a cell phone but he does not answer/ The last person to see him was his teacher, Mr. Kandel. She explains Nico does not have a lot of friends and that he is bullied at school.

Tomas tells Amaro that Nico is a smart kid and he got a partial scholarship to the school and he wanted Nico to meet all different kinds of kids, not just Romani. He adds that Nico is a good and happy kid. When Amaro asks if Nico has a place to hang out or a happy place to go, Tomas says Amaro is in it.

At Caswell Academy, Rollins speaks with Mr. Kandel who says he saw him as he left school alone and that Nico is teased for being Romani. He says the parents keep to themselves and Nico just wants to fit in but he is caught between two worlds. Fin speaks with the two girls, Courtney and Emma, who are classmates and says they live on the same block. They tell him Nico is weird. Ryan makes a comment that Nico should have seen this coming, and Fin stops him. The girls says they didn’t see him on the train on the way home as the J was down and they took a taxi. Ryan says he was in detention.

Law & Order SVU “Spiraling Down” Advance Photos

Here are advance photos from Law & Order SVU “Spiraling Down” which will air on December 7, 2011 at 10 PM ET/9C on NBC. The photos feature Danny Pino, Kelli Giddish, and guest stars are Andre Braugher and Treat Williams.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Spiraling Down" can be found at this link.

Photos by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC © NBCUniversal, Inc.

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Spiraling Down” Promo

Here is the promo for Law & Order SVU “Spiraling Down”which will air on December 7, 2011 at 10 PM ET/9C on NBC. Guest stars are Andre Braugher, Treat Williams, and Laura Benanti, with special appearances by Jerry Rice and Warren Sapp.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Spiraling Down" can be found at this link.




Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Lost Traveler” Sneak Peeks

Here are two sneak peeks from Law & Order SVU “Lost Traveler” which will air on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 10 PM ET on NBC. The clips feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Danny Pino, and Kelli Giddish.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Lost Traveler" can be found at this link.


Please note: These video clips are available for a limited time only and must be removed shortly after the episode originally airs, so please catch them while you can!







Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU Interviews With Andre Braugher, Lisa Joyce, Cedric Sanders

From Wolf Films, here are three Law & Order SVU video interviews. The first is of Andre Braugher discussing his (recurring) character Bayard Ellis in "True Believers"; the second is of Lisa Joyce on her role in “Missing Pieces”; the third is Cedric Sanders from "True Believers."








Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU "Lost Traveler” Advance Photos

Here are some advance photos from Law & Order SVU “Lost Traveler” which will air on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 10 PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, Kelli Giddish, and guest stars Scott Winters (as Det. Joe "Doom" Dumas) and Alexandra Silber (as Nadia Grey).


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Lost Traveler" can be found at this link.

Photos by: Will Hart/NBC © NBCUniversal

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Spiraling Down” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Spiraling Down”:


Law & Order SVU “Spiraling Down” Air Date December 7, 2011 (10 PM ET/9C Wednesday NBC)

WHEN A LEGENDARY FOOTBALL STAR (GUEST STAR TREAT WILLIAMS) IS ARRESTED ON PROSTITUTION CHARGES, ATTORNEY BAYARD ELLIS (GUEST STAR ANDRE BRAUGHER) CENTERS THE DEFENSE ON HIS CLIENT’S MENTAL STATE, CAUSING A MEDIA FIRESTORM. SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY JERRY RICE AND WARREN SAPP.

A military colleague (guest star Dominic Fumusa) of Detective Amaro’s (Danny Pino) wife reports his 14-year-old daughter missing. The detectives find the girl (guest star Kay Panabaker) working as a prostitute under a possessive pimp (guest star Jon Michael Hill). They quickly set up a sting operation to entrap Johns on rape charges with a minor, and arrest aging pro quarterback Jake Stanton (guest star Williams.) Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and ADA Cabot (Stephanie March) seek to make an example out of the football legend, but the case is thrown into chaos with the return of defense attorney Bayard Ellis (guest star Braugher), who questions Stanton’s mental capacity after years of injuries on the field. Also starring Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen) and Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins). Beth Chamberlin and Laura Benanti also guest star.

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My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Spiraling Down" can be found at this link.


Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Educated Guess” Recap & Review

Law & Order SVU “Educated Guess” was an episode without a lot of action or frills, yet it told a very compelling story. It’s a case where someone who has questionable mental health has been abused by a relative for years – and no one believes her. When another person who also has mental stability issues of his own witnesses an attack, the abuse comes out into the open (thanks to a judge who forces the investigation with SVU). Even more sickening than the girl’s mother dismissing her daughter’s claims of abuse because she felt her daughter was crazy was her Aunt Bella’s apparent denial and cover up of her husband’s dirty little secret. Bella seems to want control over every situation, unfortunately for her the secret can’t stay hidden under the bed forever.

Again, SVU is making good use of the entire cast, giving everybody (except for Captain Cragen) a hand in working the case. I can’t explain why, but this episode seemed to have a heavy Law & Order Criminal Intent vibe to it; I suspect that it is from the opening scenes where we are given a view into the crime as it happens. I missed having a presence from the DA’s office,  but based on how the case was worked, it didn’t seem necessary to have one. The story was also a bit predictable, especially when it was established that the two sisters are living in a duplex. Still, the acting on the part of the guest stars – especially Carrie Preston who was perfect as the over-controlling Bella – was very enjoyable and helped to tell a very intense and believable story.

We also find that “something” happened to Rollins on her previous job which triggered her to leave, but we don’t find out exactly what. There were also instances where the team members complemented each other for a nice job; this shows that the detectives are beginning to behave as a real team working towards a single goal. It was a nice touch having Benson reassure Amaro that her old partner had similar feelings as Amaro was experiencing,  and also give him insight into how she has learned to cope working special victims cases. All in all, this was a fine episode and I believe this is one of the best seasons we’ve seen from SVU in many years.

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:
Carrie Preston - Bella Zane
Natasha Lyonne - Gia Eskas
Tim Guinee - George Zane
J. Smith Cameron - Diane Eskas
Karen Young – Dr. Meg Whitmere
Gavin-Keith Umeh – Charles Lee
David Pittu – George’s Lawyer

A guy is running in the park and calls out to Amber, who is standing off the trail.  She takes off her clothes and he follows her into the brush. Elsewhere in the park, Rollins is jogging and comes up to Fin, who is sitting on a park bench. She asks if he has seen anything and he tells her it is late and he doesn’t think the guy is going to show. Rollins comments that the man groped 10 women in the last 6 weeks and she doesn’t think he will stop now. Fin thinks it is getting too cold. They hear a man call out asking where did you go, and he runs out of the bushes just wearing his shorts. He seems to be talking nonsense. As Rollins and Fin try to control the building crowd, the man collapses. He looks up and Rollins and Fin and sees the girl standing behind them wearing just her underwear. She is laughing at him. He says she is just a bitch, and Fin looks around and asks who is he talking to? He says it is his girlfriend Amber and she is right there. He asks them to make her stop. Rollins notices the man is burning up and Fin calls for a bus to the pysch ward.

At LaGuardia Psychiatric Hospital, Rollins tells Fin the guys Is not nuts, he’s just having a bad trip. She says she can tell the difference as she grew up around both and her sister had it rough. Fin says they all come from something.

Inside the hospital, they speak with the security police Captain Lee, who said he just saw them pinch the “naked fish” on YouTube. They also speak with the doctor and Rollins tells him she thinks it is PCP. The doctor says the patient is his for now and he will run tests, and the police captain says there is no need to baby sit and the police captain suggests they go home. They leave.

Later, the patient is being watched by a security officer, and he complains he is sick. But when a hospital alarm goes off, the office leaves the patient to check it out and she tells the man to stay there. He makes a quick exit out of the room and as he tried to find a place to hide, he hears a woman crying out and when he opens a door, he sees a woman being raped and a man yells for him to shut the door. He does. He calls out of help, saying “Rape! Rape!”

Later, in the hospital, there is a hearing for Darren Bickford, the almost naked crazy man from the park. He claims he saw a girl get raped last night. As he insists about what he saw, Rollins and Fin give each other a glance of disbelief. He says he told the doctor and the guard. The judge asks Fin and Rollins to investigate but Rollins protests, saying that the suspect was caught masturbating while in a drug-induced hallucination. The judge asks if he was seeing things when he witnessed the rape and Rollins says she would have no way of knowing. The judge tells Rollins “Then don’t speculate.” She tells them they will reconvene in two weeks and she expects to hear from them on Darren’s complaint.

Back at SVU in interrogation, Fin and Rollins question Darren. He explains what he saw at the hospital, saying he saw the man raping a woman and her also being choked. He could not see the man’s face. He also adds the woman was wearing a hospital bracelet and she had a big scar on her arm. He says she was in ward 6 and she is real. The detectives hear a knock on the interrogation room window and Fin and Rollins walk out of the room to a waiting Munch, Benson, and Amaro. Munch asks if they can farm this out but Rollins tells him not according to the judge. Benson doesn’t know why the man would lie. Munch says they have a description, they should go to LaGuardia and find her.

Law & Order UK “Fault Lines” Recap & Review

The season finale of Law & Order UK “Fault” is based on the original Law & Order episode “Just a Girl in the World”
from season 20. In that episode, Detective Lupo compromises a case when he becomes involved with a witness who turns out to be involved in the crime.

In "Fault Lines," Sam Casey gets caught thinking with another part of his body that is not his brain. As a result, he enters into an intimate relationship with a woman who claims to be a victim of a crime. The problem is she’s the victimizer, not the victim. Because of her deception, the detectives and the CPS pursue and prosecute the wrong man. Despite the fact that Sam made a huge error in judgment, I find myself liking him more and more with every episode, even though I am sure that DI Natalie Chandler must be wondering what she got herself into with him.

Ronnie also attempts to dish out some sage advice, and Sam quickly shuts the door on him, saying he doesn’t need a father. Hopefully Sam has now learned that Ronnie wasn’t lecturing just for the sake of hearing himself talk.

I wondered why the forensics lab where the murder victim worked was even allowed to touch evidence dealing with this case. I saw this as a huge conflict of interest. I suppose for purposes of the story, it allowed them to write in a nice twist with the blood evidence.  I also thought Sam remained too involved in the case, even after his lapse in judgement in the ID parade and after Ronnie had concerns that Sam had become intimate with the witness.

This was the last episode in this current season for Law & Order UK. As of this writing, I haven’t seen anything regarding the renewal of the series. These last 7 episodes that just aired on BBC America are scheduled to begin running in the UK in January 2012 so hopefully we will get renewal news soon afterwards. I certainly hope Law & Order UK continues on as I thoroughly enjoy the characters, the actors, the stories, the writing, the staging of scenes and location shots, the camera work - everything about the show. And I want more!

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Bradley Walsh: DS Ronnie Brooks
Paul Nicholls: DS Sam Casey
Harriet Walter: DI Natalie Chandler
Freema Agyeman: CP Alesha Phillips
Dominic Rowan: Senior CP Jake Thorne
Peter Davison: Director CPS

Guest stars:
Lydia Leonard: Lucy Kennard
Patricia Potter: Yvette Dyer
Jessica Gunning: Angela
Nicola Sanderson: Joy Ackroyd
Jennifer James: Chloe Abbot
Alexander Perkins: Pete
Ariyon Bakare: Carl Lucas
Luke Roberts: Tom Hartson
Ranjit Kirshnamma: Judge Gunner
Benedict Wong: Eli Smart
Jordan Young: Jeremy Barton


Joy Ackroyd and Chloe Abbot are out drinking and stop at their friend Kelly’s house. Chloe gets out of the car and Kelly’s front door is open so she walks in. She finds Kelly dead on the floor laying in a pool of blood.

Later, DS Ronnie Brooks and DS Sam Casey are on the scene. Kelly Mahon worked in forensics, in the same department as her two friends, Joy and Chloe, and she was supposed to be on a night out with Chloe and Joy. Pete from the lab says she was stabbed six times in the chest. The dishwasher was running when Chloe got there and a large knife was in it. The dishwasher buttons were wiped clean. She has defensive wounds on both hands. When Sam comments that it looks like she put up a good fight, Ronnie says it was not good enough.

At MIU. Ronnie and Sam speak with Chloe who said they were supposed to be out for Teddy’s birthday but Kelly never showed. She was finishing up some blood work and Chloe called her at about 8:30 and Kelly told them she was on her way home in a cab. They all use Kwik Kall Kabs. When the others left, she and Joy went to check. Kelly was supposed to be getting married next month to Tom Hartson.

Ronnie and Sam tell DI Natalie Chandler that the cab checks out. She tells them to check if the driver saw anyone hanging around outside the flat.

At Kwik Kall Kabs, they speak with the driver and he said he watched Kelly go in the house. He’s driven her before. He didn’t see anyone outside her flat and he went on to his next call in Gramercy. They tell her that Kelly is dead. Sam says they might need to speak to him again. Afterwards, Ronnie tells Sam they should have Ange run some background on the driver just in case, and also speak to her fiancé.

Law & Order SVU “Lost Traveler” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Lost Traveler”:


Law & Order SVU “Lost Traveler” Air Date November 30, 2011 (10 PM ET/9C Wednesday NBC)

WHEN A ROMANI BOY VANISHES ON HIS WAY HOME FROM SCHOOL, THE SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT MUST PENETRATE HIS INSULAR COMMUNITY TO FIND THE UNLIKELY ABDUCTORS. GILBERT GOTTFRIED, RON RIFKIN AND GAVIN LEE GUEST STAR.

A Romani child disappears on his way home from school. Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Amaro (Danny Pino) interview the distraught parents, who are distrustful of the police. The initial investigation leads Fin (Ice-T) and Rollins (Kelli Giddish) to the powerful leader of the Romani community, but he denies any involvement. The family remains hopeful their boy will be found, especially when they discover his cell phone is still active. With the help of their TARU tech (guest star Gottfried) and a meddling newspaper reporter, the detectives narrow the perpetrators to a mentally challenged neighbor, throwing the tight-knit Romani community into turmoil. Also guest starring Ron Rifkin and Gavin Lee. Also starring Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen) and Richard Belzer (Sergeant John Munch.) Special appearances by Stephanie March (ADA Alex Cabot), Tamara Tunie (M.E. Melinda Warner), and Linus Roache (Bureau Chief Mike Cutter.)

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Lost Traveler" can be found at this link.




Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

SVU on Location With Mariska, Danny Pino, Treat Williams

Here are a few pictures of Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, and guest star Treat Williams filming on location in Manhattan for Law & Order SVU on November 9, 2011.

Photos by Getty Images North America

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Russian Brides” Recap & Review

Law & Order SVU “Russian Brides” was about one Russian bride who was part of an extortion scheme which included murder as a part of the plot. It was probably one of the most action packed SVU episodes that I can recall. It also was an excellent feature for Dann Florek, who, for too many times in years past, has been virtually ignored. In this episode, Captain Cragen goes undercover to convincingly play a lonely man with lots of money in order to snag the murderers, and Cragen fits the bill perfectly. We also get a glimpse into Cragen’s story with his late wife, Marge and how he worries for his SVU team. I’ve always believed that Cragen had a deep inner sadness, and this episode made me feel even more sorry for him. One can only hope that someday Don Cragen will be able to find happiness.

Timothy Busfield was perfect as the man who felt his wife had been kidnapped and murdered, only to find he was just one of many who had been duped.

SVU seems to be opening more episodes with a “Law & Order Criminal Intent” feel, which gives viewers a look – without giving too much away in this case – of the crime at hand. This episode skillfully used almost everyone in the main cast - except for Munch, the only guy who I think knows some Russian. This likely would have saved them a lot of trouble, especially at the end where they rely on Lena to read back a text message in Russian, which she seems to be making up as she goes along. While I give this episode very high marks and feel it offered a fantastic story, I thought that the case was handled sloppily at times and there were some plot holes. Not having someone who reads or can interpret Russian on hand when they are clearly dealing with the Russian mob is a huge mistake. The officer getting shot in his squad car with his own gun – aren’t they supposed to use holsters that lock? – another mistake. (I would like to know exactly how Lena got the gun from him.) And why would Lena shove the gun through the fence and then crawl through it…she couldn’t hold on to the gun and crawl through the hole at the same time?  If they were able to verify Lena had a daughter, why couldn’t they also verify that she was dead? I could go on and on but I don’t want anyone to think that I didn’t like this episode. On the contrary – I loved it.

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:
Stephanie March - ADA Alex Cabot
Tamara Tunie – Dr. Melinda Warner
Timothy Busfield – Daniel Carter
Izabella Miko – Lena


A woman walking down the street sees a car pull up and a man calls out to her. He tells her stop, then to come back and to get in the car, and she runs. The driver chases her in the car and then on foot, catching up with her. She is trapped when another man cuts off her escape route. When she turns back she is captured. Another man gets out of the back seat of the car with a large duffel bag and walks toward her as we hear her scream.

The next morning, two busboys taking out the trash find her body next to the trash dumpster.

Later, Detectives Benson and Amaro are on the scene with ME Warner. The girl has no purse and no ID but has a butterfly tattoo on her back. The busboys said the body was not there an hour ago, no one heard any screams or saw anything. Warner confirms she was raped by noting the bruising on the thighs and blood on the panties, and blunt force trauma to the head. They flip the body and see that the girl’s face is totally obliterated. Amaro comments that her face is gone, and ME Warner observes that it looks mechanical, not chemical, and that the teeth were pulled, roots and all. Benson notices there are no fingertips either, adding that these butchers knew their business. Amaro notices there is another tat that has Cyrillic writing, and asks if any of them know how to read Russian. Benson replies “I wish.” Amaro comments there are no dental records and no face and fingertips but they left the tattoos. Benson thinks they didn’t want them to know who she was but wanted to be sure somebody got the message.

Back at SVU, Captain Cragen walks in and asks the detectives what they have, Benson replies that the Jane Doe is a female, white, late 20s-early 30’s, raped and murdered. Rollins said they canvassed the neighborhood and no one saw or heard a thing, Fin adding it is like the body materialized out of thin air. Amaro had a buddy in the gang unit look at the tattoos and the butterfly is generic and could have been done by anyone, but the one tat is specific to the Russian mafia, most likely done in the motherland. Benson adds it is the mark of a prostitute and the words mean “Mother, forgive me.” Cragen comments they are getting an idea of who they are dealing with here. Rollins gives them the results from the preliminary autopsy report – sand was found in the victims vagina and rectum and there were cuts from bits of glass and debris. The time of death is 8-10 hours before discovery. Cragen adds she was murdered on a beach and dumped at the restaurant, and usually it is the other way around. Fin thinks they wanted the body found.. Benson recalls the ME collecting sand samples after the Gilgo Beach murders, and Cragen says yes, they wanted to see if the victims had been moved from other sites. Rollins adds the sand was made up of fine particle and white mason, indicating it is from a repaired beach – meaning the city spread the sand. There are only three repaired beaches in the area: Rockaway, Brighton, or Coney Island. Amaro says Coney Island is almost exclusively Russian and they call it “Odessa by the Sea.” Cragen says if this is Russian mob it will scare people off so he tells them to start with the butterfly and maybe they can find out who this poor woman was.

At Brighton Beach, Fin and Amaro show the photo of the tattoo around and come up with nothing. Fin thinks most of the people are illegal and don’t want to talk to cops and a girl who disappears is not their problem. Amaro adds especially if they don’t know who wanted her gone. Fin says witnesses are like children; they respond to bribes and threats. Amaro adds they are easy to trick. They walk into a restaurant and Fin goes to look for the manager while Amaro looks at a wall of photos. He sees a photo of a girl with the butterfly tattoo on her back with a man. Fin shows the tattoo photo to a woman who is barking orders to others, and asks if any of her customers have that tattoo. She says no. Amaro shows her the photo that was posted on the wall and she says she does not speak English. Fin suggests to Amaro to call INS for some translators and Amaro comments they will have to shut the place down until they get there. The woman can suddenly speak English. saying they have a big party coming in. She identifies the woman as Lena and the man is Daniel. They had their engagement party there last Friday. Amaro asks if they paid with a credit card.

Later, Warner is in the morgue while Benson waits. Amaro enters and tells her they have a first name for the girl – Lena. She had a fiancé, Daniel Carter, 48, widowed with two kids in college, and runs a nonprofit NYC habitation and he lives in Kips Bay and Fin and Rollins are headed there. There is no connection to the Russian mob – on paper. Amaro says Benson is a not a romantic but they just got engaged. Benson replies Amaro knows the stats, when a woman is murdered – and Amaro finishes the sentence that you start with the man in their life and that is why he is a firm believer in divorce. He adds when you feel that thing building you just have to get out. Benson asks if Amaro’s parents got divorced, and he says yes, and his pop liked to bounce his mom off the walls. The day he left they had a party and it was one of the happiest moments of his life. Benson asks if he ever talks to him, and Amaro replies the last thing he heard is he got in trouble and went back down to Miami. He asks Benson if this was TMI and she says no. He asks about her father and Benson is momentarily taken aback and then says it is a long story.

Warner comes out with the autopsy results and tells them the woman was worked over and raped vaginally and anally. They used power tools to sand off her face and saw off her fingertips and dead before the worst of it. Benson comments, “small favors”. As Benson and Amaro leave, she asks him again what Lena’s finance did and Amaro says he runs a nonprofit, building houses for the homeless. Benson comments this would give him access to power tools.

At the apartment of Daniel Carter, Fin and Rollins go to his apartment with the super – Luis - and when there is no answer to the knock on the door,  Fin reminds him he has keys and they can knock down the door but it is up to him. Luis unlocks the door and Fin and Rollins enter with guns drawn but no one is there. Rollins waves Luis in and he identifies Lena from a photo in the apartment, saying her last name was Russian. He tells them Daniel was not the jealous type and Lena was his sunshine. When Luis asks of something happened to her, Rollins asks him to call Daniel on his cell phone and that Daniel may be in trouble and running scared and thinks Daniel will talk to him. Luis calls him and Fin tells him to put him on speaker. Daniel answers the phone and asks Luis why he is calling him and Luis says he has a package for him and UPS won’t let him sign for it. Despite Luis begging, Daniel won’t tell him where he is and he hangs up. They hear music in the background and Fin takes Luis’ phone to have TARU trace the number.

Elsewhere, Amaro tells Benson there was no GPS on the phone and the call triangulated from a too-wide area. When Amaro tells Benson that Rollins heard kids and music, Benson notes there is a carousel at the pier and they found a body there last fall. Amaro radios for everyone to converge on the Chelsea Piers Park carousel area.

Amaro and Benson approach the carousel and Amaro radios that they have him, at 12 o’clock and they are moving in. Benson calls out to Daniel Carter, who is standing by the carousel. He frantically tells them to go away, adding that he didn’t call them and they will kill her. Benson asks kill who, asking if he means Lena. He says yes, and they have to go away. Benson looks at him and says nothing, and Daniel asks where is she, and then asks is she dead. He sobs and adds they said they’d bring her here, and that was the deal, he paid. He continues to sob and cry out, “I paid” as he falls to his knees.

Later, Benson lead Daniel to the interview room with his lawyer. His lawyer pulls Benson aside and says Daniel is a friend and asks her to go easy on him. She reminds him they are investigating a murder, and he says he understands but Daniel’s wife died 3 years ago from cancer and Lena brought him back to life and Daniel is not prepared for this. Benson asks if his a criminal attorney and he says he is primarily tax law. She suggests he go in and tell his client to tell the truth

In the interview room, Amaro shows Danny the photos of the tattoos and ask if he recognizes them. He identifies where the tattoos were on her body. He asks to ID the body and Benson says later. Benson asks how did he meet her, and Daniel's lawyer urges him to tell them everything. Daniel thinks it will sound cheap – we went on a Russian Bride web site - yourczarina.com. Benson comments they’ve seen scams on sites like that, but Daniel says this was not like them. He said a friend would go to Russian on business and meet 8-10 girls from the site, sleep with them all and marry none. He was divorced and it was like a sex trip for him. When Benson asks Daniel what about him, his lawyer reminds Benson this was his fiancée. Daniel said he was going through a lonely time and started trolling, nothing serious, and then he saw Lena’s profile and there was just something about her right away. Amaro asks if they Skyped, and Daniel said that was not allowed. They chatted a few times on line IM-ing. He had to fly to Moscow to meet here and she took him everywhere, even to St. Petersburg where her family was originally from. He shows them a photo of the two of them in St. Petersburg. She wanted to know everything about her. Amaro asks if this was all platonic, and Daniel says no, he didn’t want them to think…he adds they had a real soul connection. Benson asks if it went both ways and if Lena introduced him to her friends and family, and Daniel says no, she was careful . She had been in an abusive relationship and was scared of her ex, he was stalking her. Amaro questions if that is what Lena told him, and Daniel informs him that he saw him and he was following them. One night he made a big scene in front of the hotel. About how he wanted her back and he could see how terrified she was. Benson asks if that is when he convinced Lena to move to New York City. He says yes, it was like a fairy tale and he was getting a second chance. Benson asks how long they lived together before she disappeared, and he replies 2 months, the night after the engagement call he got a call from the kidnappers asking for $100,000 and all he had was $80,000 but that was his life savings but he never hesitated. Benson wonders why he didn’t call the police, and the attorney says Daniel was told not to call anyone, that they would kill her. Amaro asks where he dropped the money, and Daniel told him it was in a garbage can at Brighton Beach, and they were supposed to bring Leno to the carousel. He says he gave them everything he had and they still killed her. Amaro asks if he has any other photos from his Russian trip on his cell phone, and he says hundreds, and video.

Later, in the bullpen, all the detectives and Cragen watch the video with Daniel and Benson asks him to focus on the people in the background. In a video from the party they spot a man in the background taking pictures of Lena. Daniel says that is Lena’s ex. Cragen pulls the detectives aside and tells them to get the image to real time facial recognition database, NCIC, and Interpol. Rollins says she got something on yourczarina.com which is hosted by a rogue provider which has an office in Manhattan. They claim to do internet security with the company name of Quicksecure. Cragen asks what are they waiting for?

At the office of Quicksecure, when Rollins asks for details on the web site, one of the guys refuses to give it to her, telling her to come back with a search warrant. Rollins says she doesn’t think he understands. Fin gets in the guy’s face and says to get something straight, telling him to spit out the lollipop before he smacks it out his mouth. As the guy takes it out of his mouth, Fin tells him he is not a 5 year old, and Rollins threatens to call the Feds. The guy says they aren’t doing anything illegal. Rollins says their business is a front and their server is illegal and they are going to hold him responsible for all of the crime on all of the sites. Fin says they will shut his little toilet down and put his ass in jail, adding, “You understand me? Jail, where you’re gonna be sucking on something else.” The guy agrees to help him out and gives him he information, and asks them if they are cool. Rollins, as she makes a phone call, says yeah they are done here. As Fin and Rollins walk out, the FBI walks in. The guys gets pissed that they lied, and Rollins replies, “Ain’t life a bitch!”

Later, Fin and Amaro speak with a woman and accuse her of having yourczarina.com run off their computers. She says this is a travel agency and they have to find a bride themselves. She offers to let them check her computer and records, saying she runs a legitimate business. While she agrees to everything Amaro notices a man who appears to be deleting information on one of the computers. As he tries to run out the door Amaro nabs him. Fin asks him what he is running from as Amaro cuffs him. The man looks back at three men watching from the boardwalk.

In SVU interrogation, Cragen, along with Fin, question the travel agent guy who says he just books flights. Cragen asks him to identify the man in the photo form Daniel’s phone, and the guy says they do not know why they are dealing with. Cragen asks him to tell them. He says the man is a killer but this one lives by the code – he is Russian Mafia and if he talks they will kill his family and friends and his dog. Fin says he is scared of the wrong people, and as Cragen says to release him, Fin adding that everyone in Brighton Beach saw him picked up and talking to the cops. They will drop him off on the same boardwalk, Cragen adding that everyone will know he cooperated. He says he is screwed no matter what. When Cragen says if he helps them, they will help him.

Later, Cragen tells Benson and Amaro that they have a name - Liev Bodrov “The Butcher” who is wanted on multiple charges of murder, prostitution, and racketeering. He did 10 years in Vorkuta Gulag in Siberia in the 90s and escaped and they haven’t caught him. Benson says she heard back from Interpol – 4 other murders fit the MO in Moscow, Johannesburg, Vancouver, and Munich. Cragen comments if The Butcher is running an international prostitution and kidnapping ring, saying that is just great, Benson adds that each victim was found with no face, the teeth removed, and the fingertips cut off with no way for them to trace. Amaro mentions that they all had the “Mother forgive me” tattoo. Cragen thinks he is branding them so the mark knows his czarina is dead. Cragen lets out a sigh.

Later, Benson walks into a diner where Daniel is waiting at a table in the corner. He thanks her for meeting him there. He tells her he did his own search on line and shows her a page with a photo of a woman named Irene. He says it is a different name and haircut but that woman is Lena. He thinks she is alive but Benson says they do not know when the photo was taken. He says it was taken after she was kidnapped, he gave her the necklace she is wearing at the engagement party and she disappeared the next morning. He thinks she was playing him the whole time. He says those people faked everything but Benson reminds him there is no fake body in the morgue. Benson asks him to show him how to set up a date on a web site like this.

Later, while walking outside, Cragen tells Cabot that they want to wire up an undercover and send him out on a date with Lena – AKA Irene. Amaro says the UC needs to be her type – lonely, mature, and with money. Cabot asks Cragen if he is sure he needs the wire, as the suspect can say something exculpatory and she has seen it backfire. Amaro says these are dangerous people, adding if the UC gets lured somewhere they need to be able to protect him. When she asks how quickly they need the wire, Cragen says yesterday, these are career criminals with a global network. Cabot agrees and adds she will see if any of the DA’s investigator fit the profile. But Cragen tells her they have it covered – he is going to take it. Cabot asks him when was the last time he was undercover, and Cragen quips probably before she or Amaro were born. She smiles and reminds him that no matter how tempting it might be, he can’t get intimate with a suspect – it would undermine his credibility at trial. He looks at her closely and say he will try to control himself.

Back at SVU, Fin tells Cragen that TARU set up a laptop in his office so he can IM Lena and it won’t trace back here. Fin asks if he wants to come in there with him, and Cragen says not a chance. Amaro starts to suggest how to handle it, but Cragen finishes the sentence to chose an identity that is close to his own. When Cragen says he knows the drill, Amaro teases him that he didn’t know they had tape recorders when he graduated the academy. Fin adds at least they didn’t have to inflate his bank account because he hasn’t spent a dollar of his pay on his wardrobe. “Thank you very much for your help fellas but I’ve gotta prepare for my cyber date.” Fin says, “Knock it out, killer” and Cragen replies, “I heard that.”

At the Duchess Hotel, Cragen is at the bar and Rollins walks up to him and whispers that Lena is getting out of the cab and she arrived alone but they made two guys at the end of the bar. She suggests he get Lena up to his room and they will move in once they are there. She says he will do fine and he looks good, and she walk off. Lena arrive and approaches Cragen, who is using the name Michael. He flatters her and she says he is handsome. Cragen says he has a face for radio, and she tells him his eyes are kind. They sit at the bar for a drink, and he tells her he is having a club soda, admitting he is not a drinking man any more. He says that should not spoil her fun. She says a man that doesn’t drunk – she is new for him already.

At dinner, Cragen and Lena talk about his work with the Children’s Rights Coalition while Benson and Fin watch and listen nearby. He says he stands up for victims that have no voice and worries more about his staff as it takes a toll on them. She asks who worries about him. She asks if he has been married and says he is a widower, and Marge, his wife, died a long time ago. She had a miscarriage and they tried to adopt but he thinks he was too busy all the time and that was his biggest regret. She says he is a man and it is not too late. He laughs and says enough of his violence, he wants to know about her. He asks if she has been married or has children, and asks who are you. She says he hears sad stories every day and tonight she just wants to enjoy and she hope he is enjoying it too. He replies that she knows he is.

Cragen picks up the check, and says his favorite bartender said they don’t have to go home but they can’t stay here. She touches his hand and says she does not want to go home and he says he was a room upstairs with a beautiful view.

They head up to the room and when she kisses him in the hall he balks. He explains that he is old fashioned. When she comments that he got a room, he says he promises to be a gentleman. She asks that maybe they should wait for a second date and when she begins to walk off he tries to pull her back. When she starts to run, Cragen radios she is on the run and Rollins stops her in the hallway at gunpoint and Fin comes in to cover. Rollins moves to cuff her and Lena says they can’t arrest her and they don’t understand, and begs Cragen to help her.

In the hotel room. Fin tells Cragen not to have a drink, he knows he wants one. Cragen is upset that Lena made him. Fin says he did a good job. In the other room, Benson tells Lena she is not the one they really want, it’s Liev, but they need her help. Fin hands her a glass of water, and understands she is scared but says they can relocate her and put her in witness protection. As Cragen walks in Lena says she only has one daughter and Liev already has her. She is worried that they will kill her if they find out she is with the police. She cries and says this is how he controls people and she doesn’t really want to do these things. Benson tells her to tell them everything. She says Liev runs a mail order bride site here and in Russia. Benson says it is just a front for his blackmail operation. Lena adds prostitution. She meets wealthy men through the site and makes them fall for her. She pretends to have a jealous ex and she gets kidnapped and Liev takes all their money. Fin tells her she left out the part about them killing and disfiguring a girl that looks like her. She admits yes, and says at first she did not know he was killing the girls. When Benson asks her to tell them who are the bodies, she says they are prostitutes who work for Liev who have no family and are illegal and no one will miss them. Benson mentions no mothers to forgive them, and she asks what does that mean. Fin explains the tattoos and she says the Russian one is his brand and the butterfly is hers, she had that tattooed before she met Liev. He said it made her special. Benson says she is special, she dies and they live. Lena cries that she begged to stop but he won’t let her and he says she is the best at the job and she is trapped because of her daughter. He moves her from country to country and she never knows where she is. She sees her every once in a while for a few hours in a safe house. She asks for her phone so she can show them. Benson gives her the phone and shows her a photo, saying her name is Anna. Benson hands Cragen the phone and while he looks at the photo, there is a knock on the door.

Cragen walks into the other room and Rollins, who is there with Cabot. Rollins says she checked out Lena’s ID. She is there on an expired work visa but she does not have a criminal record in Russia. She does have a daughter 4 years old. Cabot says they will use Lena to get to Liev, and Amaro says that is if he is not already spooked. Rollins comments that as far as Liev knows, Lena is still in the room hooking her mark. Cabot asks how will they draw him out, and Amaro says Lena will know. When Amaro says they have it, Cragen says he will handle it. He tells Amaro and Rollins to leave the room and asks for Lena to be sent in.

With Cabot and Benson, Cragen tells Lena that right now they have to consider her as part of a conspiracy to commit extortion and murder. She says she is in big trouble and to help herself by helping them get Liev. She wants to get her daughter back. Benson says they will do what they can be she has to cooperate. Cabot says if she wants a deal she must tell them about Liev’s operation – co-conspirator, names, date, victims, places, and she will have to testify. She say no. Cragen says OK, and then says after their date, what was to be the next step with him. She says she would call Liev and tell him she had a big fish on the hook and then she would set up another date and Liev would be watching. Cragen tells her to set it up.

The next morning, at the Frying Pan Restaurant, Cragen and Lena wait at a table and Rollins and Amaro are close by. Lena tells Cragen she knows what he thinks of her but they need to look like they are lovers. She tells him to come closer and smile and kiss him. Otherwise he will know. She kisses him and thanks him for helping her get her Anna back. As Liev approaches, Cragen and Len continue to look affectionate. Liev looks around and seems suspicious of Amaro and Rollins and they both get up. He turns to walk out and Benson is there blocking his way. He looks for an exit but when Amaro announces “police, drop your weapon” Liev fires at him and Rollins shoots back, hitting him in the chest. He drops to the ground. Benson disarms him and Lena rushed to him and screams where is she? Amaro tells Lena that Liev is gone. She screams that they will never find her and the soldiers will kill her. Liev’s phone rings and Benson looks at a text message on the phone which is in Russian. Benson asks Lena what it means and she replies it is one of Liev’s people asking where to meet them after and that they have Anna. She says one of the safe houses is in Brighton Beach.

The detectives arrive at the house with armed backup and Lena waits in the back of the car with Cragen, saying she is scared. He says it will be OK. They hear someone shout on the radio that they are NYPD, and shots are fired from automatic weapons from inside the house. Benson calls on the radio that there is an officer down. Cragen exits the car and tells Lena to stay there. Amaro sticks his head out the door and tells Cragen they are clear, the others are down. Fin got shot but the vest stopped the bullet. Benson races out and says that all the rooms where checked and the daughter is not there. Suddenly, there is gunfire from outside. They race outside and see the police officer that was in the car with Lena is shot dead and Lena is running off. Amaro chases her and Cragen warns him that Lena has his gun. Benson gets on the radio to alert the others and then says “I want this bitch caught now.”

Lena races thought the allies with Amaro chasing her. She gets cut off by a fence and throws the gun underneath and begins to climb through a hole. Amaro calls out to her and, with his gun drawn, tells her not to move or he will blow her damn head off right now. She reaches for the gun but Benson and Cragen come up on the other side and Cragen tells her to freeze, and he secures the gun. She smiles at him and gives him a eerily happy look. As Cragen walks off, Benson tells Lena to get up and then cuffs her. Lena laughs.

Back at SVU, Daniel says that the DA wants him to testify and he asks if he has to, he will look like a fool. Benson says this woman is very good at what she does, and that any man would fall for her.  Daniel says the newspapers said she walked into a trap and she said she had a daughter. Benson confirms that she did have a daughter but 4 years ago the child was abducted and murdered in St. Petersburg and Liev found the killers and took them out. Since then, Lena has been in his debt and they worked together as a team. Daniel thinks maybe he made her do these things. Cragen shakes his head. Benson tells Daniel that Lena shot a 22 year old officer at point blank range and that Liev may have brought Lena into his world but she has since crossed over. Daniel says there is another side of her and he knows they don’t believe him but there really is. Cragen says he believes him. Daniel says OK, he will do what they want. Cragen shakes Daniel’s hand and Daniel, along with Benson, move to exit Cragen’s office. But Cragen calls Benson back. He says “About that stuff I said on the wire…” and Benson asks, “What stuff?” She turns and walks out and he nods his head and says, “OK.” As Cragen sits at his desk. Looking out to the squad room, we fade to black.



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