Law & Order SVU “Beast’s Obsession” Promo

Here is the promo for Law & Order SVU “Beast’s Obsession which will air on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Beast’s Obsession” 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 “Downloaded Child” Advance Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU, “Downloaded Child” which will air on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Kelli Giddish, Meghann Fahy (as Jenny Aschler), Ella Anderson (as Maddie), and Bill Irwin (as Dr. Peter Lindstrom).


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Downloaded Child” can be found at this link.

Photos by: Michael Parmelee/NBC © NBC Universal, 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 “Beast’s Obsession” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Beast’s Obsession”; Pablo Schreiber returns.



Law & Order SVU “Beast’s Obsession” Air Date April 9, 2014 (9 PM ET/8C Wednesday NBC)

SERGEANT BENSON’S (MARISKA HARGITAY) NIGHTMARE CONTINUES WHEN WILLIAM LEWIS (GUEST STAR PABLO SCHREIBER) ESCAPES FROM PRISON

The sadistic William Lewis (Schreiber) escapes from prison, arbitrarily killing as he goes. Concerned for Benson’s safety, a security detail is assigned to her 24/7, but it doesn’t take long for Lewis to get her back where he left off. With time running out, Benson must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to save the life of a child. Also starring Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro) and Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins). Also guest starring Natalie Racoosin (Lauren Cole), Nikki Estridge (Detective Delano), Curt Bouril (Detective Carlson) and Lily Pilblad (Amelia Cole).


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Beast’s Obsession” 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 UK “I Predict A Riot” Recap & Review

I don’t think there are enough superlatives to describe Law & Order UK “I Predict A Riot.” This was an expertly written story that delivered the drama,  both on the investigative side and the legal side.  The episode was based on the original Law & Order episode “Ramparts” (season 9 episode 11) and I think it was a big improvement on the original. The case begins with Ronnie and Joe working on a stakeout to catch a drug dealer, and in working that case, a car is found in the river with a body in the boot. Not only did they dredge up a car with a dead body, they also dredged up a decades old cover-up by some in law enforcement. A long time friend of Ronnie’s is in the mix, and CPS Director Henry Sharpe’s trust in Jake Thorne is hanging by a thread. Jake takes a big gamble with some creative legal maneuvering and, had it not been for Ronnie’s help, Jake would have lost big. At least Jake was willing to take the big risk in order to expose any corruption.

Not only was the story about the possibility of police corruption, it also addressed the racism that occurred in the 1980s, both inside and outside the police force. Joe gets a taste of present day racism while questioning Darren Grady when Grady mentions, staring right at Joe, that it was too dark to see the victim, who was also black. Grady also seems to have a similar problem with Wes.   Wes has difficulty impressing with Henry Sharpe the need to stay with the case, with Henry thinking this is just a crusade of Wes’. Henry was right to be cautious at first.  Winning the case OR losing it would likely mean trouble for the police or for the CPS. But Henry was also likely hiding these fears by claiming Wes had his own motives to pursue the case.

This episode included some great locations, staging of scenes, use of color and lighting, plus some fantastic camera work. I was amazed at the long scene in the courthouse where Jake, Kate, and Phillip walked quickly through the halls and up stairwells while the camera preceded their every step. It made me feel like I was right there. Visually, this episode was a pleasure to watch.

It was also nice to see Jessica Gunning, as the hard working Angela, return for this episode, even though it was only for a brief moment.

The episode was dedicated to the memory of Roger Lloyd Pack, an accomplished actor who portrayed Alex Greene, and who passed away shortly after this episode was filmed.

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Bradley Walsh - DS Ronnie Brooks
Ben Bailey Smith – DS Joe Hawkins
Paterson Joseph - DI Wes Leyton
Dominic Rowan - Jacob Thorne
Georgia Taylor - Kate Barker
Peter Davison - Henry Sharpe

Guest cast:
Roger Lloyd Pack - Alex Greene
Ralph Brown - DS Darren Grady
Craige Els – Dave Simmons
Lace Akpojaro – Frank
Pasha Bocarie – River Police Officer
Annabel Mullion – Eleanor
Ellen Thomas – Rebecca Houghton
Jenny Jules - Nikki Carroll
Antony Byrne - DS Pete Langham
Michael Cronin – Maurice Bennett
Graham Cole – Terry Wilson
Pip Torrens - Philip Nevins
Paul Darrow – Justice Prentice
Jessica Gunning – Angela
Don Warrington – Eamonn Callaghan
Chereen Buckley – Journalist


At Brentford Park on Tuesday, 18th March, DS Ronnie Brooks and DS Joe Hawkins are on a stake out at the park. They see their target and as they watch and hear a drug deal going down,  it appears their target has a gun. Joe radios that information to the others in the team as the other man gives the target the money. When the other guy moves to pick up the rucksack with the product, the target kicks him, grabs his rucksack back and runs. Joe radios to the others what is happening and Joe gets out of the car and chases the target. Joe and the others chase the target under a bridge and to the river, and the target – Dave Simmons – throws the rucksack in and Joe catches up to him and arrests him and reads him his rights. As others take Simmons off,  an officer asks Joe if Simmons had the heroin, and Joe explains if it was in the rucksack it’s in the river now and to call the divers to hopefully find it.

Later, with more officers and equipment on the scene, they are pulling out a car from the river. Ronnie complains to one of the officers he is supposed to be looking for a rucksack. They open the boot of the car and find a body inside.

Back at MIU, Joe, along with DI Wes Leyton, explain that Simmons squealed as soon as they found the rucksack full of heroin and admitted to everything. Ronnie is happy they can say goodbye to the drug squad, saying sitting around in cars all day is a waste of their time. Wes says the body in the boot is there so wrap it up as quick as they can.

At the forensics lab on March 19, they find from Eleanor that the body is a male between his late teens and thirty. Eleanor is not sure of the ethnicity but it is probably not Caucasian. He broke his collarbone at least 10 years before he died. She can’t say if the head wound is the cause of death and thinks the skull fracture happened before he was dumped. When Ronnie asks how long she thinks he’s been down there, she explains that the body has near compete decomposition, anything between 25 and 30 years.

Back at MIU, Ronnie and Joe explain to Wes that the last registered keeper of the car was Rebecca Connor in 1984 and after that there are no more records. They are trying to track her down now and also looking for missing persons around that time and this may take a while. Wes reminds him he told him to make this quick, and  he instructs them to give the grunt work to someone else and instead help him out and clear it off their desks.

At Houghton’s Hairdressers the same day, they speak with Rebecca (now Houghton)  about the car and she said she sold it for cash. She needed the money so she sold it to Nikki Carroll. She said they were in Manchester at the time.

Back at MIU, Joe finds on the computer there were no missing reports during that timeline, and Ronnie reminds him that up to 1988, everything at that time was hard copy or on paper and if you wanted a file, you had to literally get it yourself. As Ronnie holds on the phone to get an address for Nikki Carroll, Joe seems surprised they didn’t upload it into computers. Ronnie explains they started but ran out of money. Ronnie gets the address and says Nikki is in the database but not in Manchester. The known charges are breach of the peace, all outside police stations. Ronnie thinks she was an activist.

On the same day, Ronnie and Joe are at the Redway Community Center where Nikki appears to be holding a group session. She tells them she does not know who they’ve come to see, but nobody talks without a lawyer, she just got those kids to trust her. Ronnie and Joe explain they are there to see her and ask about the car. She asks of they’ve found it, and then looks panicked. She sits down and then comments after all this time, and then asks if they found him. Joe asks who is it she thinks they found, and Nikki, looking more distraught, thinks they found her brother.

Later, she explains her brother broke his collarbone going over the handlebars of his chopper. She lent him the car. His name was Taylor Kane. He came to London for his job, and Ronnie recognizes the name as a police officer, saying she is Nicky Kane’s daughter. Ronnie recalls her mother campaigning to find her brother. She said it was the summer of 1985, they didn’t know exactly when. She explains how they tried to find him and they got people to support them. But the death ate at her mother like cancer and she died . They set up trust and got charitable status but over time, support went away. Everyone gave up on him except her and her mother, Joe says they believe he was murdered and they won’t give up on him.

Back at MIU, Wes recalls the Kane Trust and it started and ended with the mother and daughter, but at its peak they got press coverage and they were lobbying Parliament fighting for the rights of ethnic minorities. They were a force for good but the establishment didn’t think so. This is why the family was angry – the police line was always there was nothing they can do. Joe says Nikki is the last one left, she has no kids or siblings and her mum is dead. Wes recalls meeting Nikki’s mother and says she was a formidable woman but you could see the strain in her eyes. They owe her a conviction. He tells them to go back to the beginning and this time they will do it properly.

At the General Registry Office on the same day, they find Taylor completed his training in 1982 in Manchester and he went to London in 1984. Joe says Taylor had a handler, and thinks he was undercover. Ronnie comments there weren’t many black undercovers in those days, there weren’t even many black officers. Joe thinks this explains why he was out of contact with his family and others. Ronnie says being under the radar is part of the job and maybe that is why Maggie Kane could not get support from the force. Joe finds and end of service form signed and dated in July 1987. Ronnie wonders why they would have done that without a body. Joe says it was signed off by the Chief of London, Alexander Greene, and for the Northwest Police, Maurice Bennett. Ronnie knows them both. Ronnie says Bennett was a great copper and great teacher and his reward was getting Manchester. The handler’s name was Pete Langham.

At the Chiswick Police Station on March 20, they speak with Peter Langham who says he lost touch with Taylor Kane, Taylor was UC and he couldn’t just knock on his door and he explained all this at the time, even to Taylor’s family. He last saw him the night after the Brixton riots kicked off. They met at a copper’s pub in Lamberth, The Singing Sparrow, they didn’t want to meet there were there could be careless talk so they met down the road. Taylor said he was scared, and who could blame him? They thought they had lost control of the street. Joe asks if anyone can corroborate that meeting, and Pete says no, they just have to take his word for it. Ronnie asks who Pete was drinking with and when Pete tells him he does not know, it was long time ago, Ronnie counters that if he went back to the archive and found his little blue diary that may jog his memory. Pete says if it was anyone it would have been Darren Grady, they trained the guy.

Law & Order SVU “Downloaded Child” & Coming Soon Promo

Here is the promo for Law & Order SVU, “Downloaded Child” which will air on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC. The promo also features a tease on what’s coming up on April 9th on SVU (the details for the April 9 episode, "Beast's Obsession",  have not been released by NBC as of yet).


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Downloaded Child” 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 UK “Pride” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order UK, “Pride.”


Law & Order UK “Pride” Air Date April 2, 2014 (9 PM ET/8C Wednesday ITV)

The death of a seemingly innocent family man leads Ronnie (Bradley Walsh) and Joe (Ben Bailey Smith) to go on the hunt for the murderer. But what they find is that the accused is Eddie Stewart (Martin Jarvis), a man in his 70s who just so happens to be Ex-DI Natalie Chandler’s (Harriet Walter) father. It is a tough day for Ronnie as he has to deliver the news to his old friend.

No one can understand why Eddie would commit murder, least of all Natalie who argues with Jake (Dominic Rowan) when she confronts him over the charge against her father. Jake is sympathetic but there’s nothing he can do without Eddie’s cooperation. Natalie wastes no time in getting Ronnie to go above and beyond to help her find the real killer, even if that means getting him into trouble with a frustrated Wes (Paterson Joseph). But, how far is Ronnie willing to go in order to help his friend? Guest starring Roy Hudd.

Cast:
DS Ronnie Brooks - Bradley Walsh
DS Joe Hawkins - Ben Bailey Smith
DI Wes Leyton - Paterson Joseph
Jacob Thorne - Dominic Rowan
Kate Barker - Georgia Taylor
Henry Sharpe - Peter Davison

Guest cast:
Natalie Chandler- Harriet Walter
Eddie Stewart - Martin Jarvis
Felix Hargreaves - Roy Hudd


My recap and review of Law & Order UK “Pride” 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 UK “Safe From Harm” Recap & Review

Law & Order UK “Safe From Harm” was based on the original episode Law & Order “Betrayal” (season 18 episode 11).  I didn’t recall the original episode right off the bat but it came to me rather quickly as the episode progressed. But even knowing generally how the original story played out didn’t affect my enjoyment of “Safe From Harm” one bit.

This is only the second episode with Ronnie and Joe as partners, and I think this match works well. With both actors being experienced with comedy, they both bring their talent with comedic timing which makes each scene, serious or not, seem very real and comfortable. Ronnie clearly has the experience as a detective, but Joe is bringing a fresh look to working the case. Of course, Joe thinks that he has the magic touch with getting information from the younger crowd, but he quickly finds out that Ronnie’s matter-of-fact approach is one step ahead. Ronnie is smart enough to let Joe do the running when having to chase after a possible suspect.

Henry Sharpe – played by Peter Davison – has an influence on the case that is outside the boundaries of his position. I wouldn’t call it playing dirty; sometimes one has to pull out all the legal stops to help win a case. In this instance, he reveals to Jake and Kate that he has a past relationship with a female doctor who is giving evidence as an expert witness. She thinks it’s a low blow on his part to reveal she had an inappropriate relationship, but Henry is just using the facts to discredit her sanctimonious opinion which risked damage the CPS’s case. Henry Sharpe is one of those characters where I would like to see a little more back story,  maybe because Peter Davison is so likable.

Jake and Kate are now working as a solid team and they seem very comfortable together. It was amusing to see Jake, at the end of the case, realize that he and Kate were giving credit to others for the win. That’s a sure sign that they feel good about working together.

I thoroughly enjoy Law & Order UK. It doesn’t matter that the stories are based on previous Law & Order episodes. It’s all about having a solid cast that fits well together, great writing and storytelling, and the actors' ability to portray believable character in a believable story. They get high marks in all these categories.

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Bradley Walsh - DS Ronnie Brooks
Ben Bailey Smith – DS Joe Hawkins
Paterson Joseph - DI Wes Leyton
Dominic Rowan - Jacob Thorne
Georgia Taylor - Kate Barker
Peter Davison - Henry Sharpe

Guest Cast
Hattie Morahan – Alison Gardner
Mark Frost – Doctor Philip Gardner
Nicola Sanderson – SOCO Joy
Jude White – Riley Gardner
Holly Earl - Lisa Gardner
Clive Hayward – Jonathan Shale
Antonia Clarke – Anna Sands
Emma Davies – Mary Sands
Greg Patmore – Barry Downing
Scarlet Milburn-Smith – Heather Downing
Ted Reilly – Paul Downing
Mandana Jones – Dr. Antonia Carey
Ramon Tikaram – Vijay Prasad
Carolyn Pickles – Maureen Riley
Adelayd Adedayo – Kayla
Cyril Nri – Judge DeMarco
Damian Kell – Willima Farmer


Dr. Philip Gardner is speaking to someone unseen, saying he could have left, and he could have walked away, but he didn’t, even though it was wrong. He wants this person;  he doesn’t care what the law says, “I’ve always wanted you.”

Later, Philip Gardner, a child psychiatrist, 50 years old, is dead on the floor of his office. He is married with 2 kids and lives just around the corner. DS Ronnie Brooks and DS Joe Hawkins are at the crime scene with SOCO Joy. They learn that Gardner was found by the cleaner, there were multiple stab wounds and the wounds are deep from a large blade with possibly a serrated edge. Joe calls Ronnie over and shows him a secret room off the office with a small bed in it. Ronnie wonders if it is a place to sleep – and Joe wonders if it is a place for sex.

At the home of Dr. Gardner on February 13, Ronnie and Joe speak with his wife Alison and she explains his hours are erratic. Sometimes he sleeps in the office on the couch, she supposes. She explains this morning she had to get the kids to school and walk the dog at Regent’s Park. Joe says they need to speak with his children to confirm that, and Alison explains she hasn’t told them yet and she asks for time so they can adjust.  She goes on to say that after she walked the dog, she came back and now they are here. Her kids walk in the room and her son says they let them home early, and seeing the detectives there, her daughter looks concerned.

At MIU Central Headquarters that same day, Wes introduces Ronnie to Jonathan Shale, who will be examining Gardner’s patient files and can answer any questions without breaching patient/doctor confidentiality. Ronnie asks that Jonathan can look through the file but they can’t?, asking what is in there? Jonathan says he will help the best he can. Jonathan says Gardener worked with kids 13 and upwards, in children with deep emotional issues, and if that is what they are looking for, they will have their hands full. Joe tells Ronnie that in some of the stuff they pulled from the hidden room, they have a loyalty card from a café, a face cream that cost 200 quid, and skateboard wax. The café is next to THE skate park. Joe thinks this is a good lead, that the cream indicates a rich girl with emotional issues who hangs out with the skater boys. If Ronnie is worried, Joe can hang back and Ronnie can go it and dazzle the kids with his skating skills. Ronnie agrees.

At the Southbank Undercroft on February 13, Ronnie and Joe question a few kids and some who point out Anna for Ronnie. But Joe isn’t having much luck and Ronnie jokes at Joe about how Joe was going to charm the kids with his cool talk. As Ronnie walks over to where Anna was standing, and Joe moans he doesn’t know where to start, Ronnie says that’s OK, Anna does. Anna hears her name and bolts, and Ronnie tells Joe not to just stand there. Joe chases after her, calling out that he is police. She eventually runs into a fenced off area and tells Joe to get away from her, he can’t make her go back. He explains he is not going to hurt her but she reiterates he can’t make her go back – to her.

Back at MIU, Anna is in interrogation while Ronnie and her mother Mary watches from the video room. Mary says Anna has been staying with a friend all week, she doesn’t like her boyfriend – any of her boyfriends. Anna won’t pick up her phone if she knows it is her mother. She sees Dr. Gardner and is fine with him but when you’re throwing bricks through pub windows and burning the curtains you need all the help you can get. She sees him twice a week and costs her a small fortune and somehow she is still a bloody bitch.

In interrogation, Lisa tells Joe she doesn’t know why she is here. Ronnie enters the room and explains he has been talking to her mother, and she was telling him about Dr. Gardner. He asks what he is like, and she says he is the best. Joe mentions the things of hers they found in her office, and she asks is this about her staying at Phillip’s? Joe comments he thought she was staying with her boyfriend, and she says wow, you got me. He told her not to tell anyone. He didn’t do anything, saying they have a dirty mind. He had strict rules about behavior and a curfew and asks if he is in trouble about this, it is unfair. Ronnie and Joe are silent, then Ronnie explain Gardner died last night, he was murdered. She looks shocked. She thinks they are lying. They try to get her to help them to find out who did this and Joe asks her to think. She explains there was this boy, one of his patients, who was going to bring a knife to school, Philip was sorted it out. She can’t believe he is dead.

Later, at the home of Paul Downing on February 13, Paul’s father knocks on Paul’s bedroom door while Ronnie and Joe stand by. Paul doesn’t respond so Joe tries and says he knows Paul had a real shock but they need to talk to him about Dr. Gardner. Paul’s sister calls out to her father, saying Paul is on his web cam. They go into another room and see Paul on his web cam, telling viewers that the police are here and they say Gardner has been murdered. He trusted the doctor who said everything would be OK but now he feels like everything has gone black again. He takes a knife and slices it at his own neck, and Joe and Ronnie and Paul’s day race to the bedroom. Joe breaks down the door after a few tries and moves in to assist Paul. Joe puts pressure on Joe’s neck and urges him to stay calm. Paul says he does not want to live or do it anymore.

At the psychiatric wing on St. Thomas Hospital on Friday, February 14, Ronnie speaks with Paul’s father, asking if Paul was with him the whole night Dr. Gardner died. His father says no, since he was taken off the medication, he goes out at night to clear his head. Dr. Gardner took him off the meds and it scared him, which is why he stopped the sessions, Paul went ape about it. Joe enters and explains they are transferring Paul to the psychiatric ward now. His father walks off. Joe tells Ronnie that Paul seemed very upset when they told him Gardner was dead, and Ronnie agrees, and doesn’t know why t hose kids love the doctor so much. Joe wonders if he was abusing Paul, and Ronnie thinks maybe; Paul has no alibi and you take a mentally unstable lad and mess with his pills, what happens then?

Law & Order SVU “Criminal Stories” Recap & Review

“Criminal Stories” had everything going for it; an interesting story, a big guest star, and Mariska Hargitay’s directorial debut. It was a great episode that fans of the show AND new viewers who may have dropped in to see Alec Baldwin would have enjoyed.

First and foremost, Alec Baldwin made everything in this episode work. He was perfect as the newspaper reporter with the ego – and apparently the balls – the size of Jupiter. The writers did an excellent job in capturing the spirit of “Jimmy Mac” with dialog that fit Baldwin and his SVU alter ego like a glove. I don’t think this episode would have worked as well with someone else in that role. Baldwin brought some much needed chemistry to SVU and I could see Jimmy Mac and Benson developing a relationship - that is, if his drinking doesn’t kill him first.

The case itself was a little dull, with a call out to the Tawana Brawley case from the late 1980s. But I didn’t mind; this episode was more about how the media sometimes sensationalize crimes and interject their own opinions, which sometimes has an adverse affect on public opinion. This is not the first time that Benson had a problem with a reporter interfering in a case. It was interesting to see how, as Sergeant, Benson held her own in standing up to Jimmy, even though he out-maneuvered her and her team more than once. Clearly,  Benson has her hands full in her new position but each week she seems more and more confident.  Let's hope that is for real; she admits she's having nightmares about Lewis and one would think this would have some affect on her stress level.

In “Criminal Stories”, Jimmy used his connections to get the inside scoop; he did uncover some of the truth but once he got HIS big story, he never followed through to get the WHOLE story. As a result, the jury pool is tainted more than once, and the trial ends with a mistrial.

By the way, is it odd to anyone else that there would be a courthouse newsstand? It seems that the courts wouldn’t want any news readily available for people who are potentially at the courthouse to serve as a juror. Granted, it’s probably hard to avoid a newsstand in New York City, but having one at the courthouse is like begging for trouble. But in this day and age of readily accessible news from various sources, I don’t know how anyone can be completely objective when serving as a juror on a high profile case.

The speed in which this case came to trial was completely unrealistic. I can’t imagine the defense or prosecution being ready so quickly, even if the case could move through the courts that fast. If I was the DA, I would want to wait for the negative press to die down a bit before I took my case to court.

This episode may hold the record for the most displays of a front page of The Ledger being shown in one episode. I am too busy (and too lazy) to verify!

A review of this episode must include a review of the director, Mariska Hargitay, in her directorial debut. There were a few wonky camera angles and one or two shots where I thought the scene wasn’t framed at its best. But overall, she did a fine job, and gave what I felt was a new and fresh look to the show. It’s even more amazing that she served as director AND had many scenes in the episode. She should be very proud of her work here.

(A minor annoyance of mine, not just a problem with SVU but I seem to see it on SVU more than anywhere else: will someone please do something to make the doorway floor of the elevators look more realistic? A simple strip of black tape or duct tape on the floor in the opening of the doorway can go a long way to make the elevator look real. When the door opens and a solid floor is visible, it highlights the fact that it’s just a set. I guess I am a stickler for realism.)

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Sergeant Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba

Guest stars:
Tamara Tunie - ME Melinda Warner
Alec Baldwin – Jimmy MacArthur
Summer Bishil – Heba Salim
Samrat Chakrabarti – Heba’s father
Manish Dayal - Fareed
Ami Brabson – Judge Karyn Blake
Delaney Williams - Counselor John Buchanan
Leslie Odom Jr. - Reverend Curtis Scott
Josh Pais - Hank Abraham
Nick Mennell - Elias Kemp Jr.
Nils Lawton - Mike Sullivan
Katie Couric - herself
Jacqueline Antaramian – Sakina Salim
Samantha Tuffarelli - Janelle Hahn
Sal Inzerillo – Lucius
John Kinsella – Juror # 3
Questlove – Dead body in morgue (uncredited)


Benson, on the elevator, is waiting for her floor when Deputy Commissioner Hank Abraham enters. She asks which one of her detectives did what now, and he tells her not to be so cynical. He adds that today is her lucky day; legendary Jimmy MacArthur wants to interview her squad. Benson refers to him as “Jimmy Mac” saying he is the legend in his own mind. Hank replies he is the last of the great columnists and has two big shiny Pulitzers to prove it. He wants to do the story on SVU, and Benson asks why, because he smells blood in the water? As they step off the elevator to SVU. Hank comments about her cynicism and replies it is better to get him on her side – OUR side – than not. Benson questions the “our side” comment. Hank explains that Jimmy called his friend the commissioner, and Benson concludes that this is an order. Hank thinks it is an opportunity and Benson comments she will think about it.

As they walk into SVU, they hear laughter and Benson stops dead in her tracks. Benson and Hand see Jimmy MacArthur is there, telling stories and laughing with the other detectives and officers. Rollins and Fin are at their desks and they appear amused. Benson comments to Abraham “thank you for the advance notice” as Jimmy notices her and calls her out as the “woman of the hour.” Hank tells Benson he had no idea Jimmy would be there, he was supposed to call ahead. Jimmy tells Benson that he can tell Hank is lying because he’s breathing. Jimmy tells Benson she looks fantastic and she counters it must be a slow news day if he’s trolling for a sex crimes store. Jimmy explains he is profiling HER. Benson looks surprised, and looks to Hank, saying he left that part out. Jimmy tells her the city needs heroes and her surviving that ordeal, the crucible of the trial, the head of Manhattan SVU – he corrects him to acting commander.. Hank says those tow are all caught up so he will leave them to it, telling Jimmy he can’t wait to read it. Jimmy asks Hank what happened to his hair? Hank gives him a look and walks off. Benson tells Jimmy there must be somebody interesting he can interview, but Jimmy tells her she “made good, kid” and it’s time for the world to take notice. He asks if she wants to do her first interview in her office, and Benson asks now? She says no, and as people hand her files, she says she has 4 open investigations, she has a meeting with the DA in an hour. He asks if she wants to meet him after work, and she informs him she is working until 1AM. Jimmy counters he can sit and talk with her detectives all day long or they can have a late night supper at D’Apolitos, he’ll just be hitting his stride. She sighs and he says he will take that as a yes and then says it’s been great chatting with her. As he walks away, he comments to Fin about his name, saying there are two Ts and two U’s, and Fin adds “one ola.”

As Jimmy leaves, Benson asks the detectives if anyone wants to be her for the day. Rollins asks if Benson is OK with them talking to Jimmy, and Benson comments not really. Amaro explains that Jimmy did most of the talking, and Fin adds that Jimmy is working them looking for dirt. Benson notes that she does not know what Jimmy has heard, and Amaro asks if this means no. Benson explains Jimmy is there at the request of One PP so he’s going to write the story either way and if they shine him on, he is just going to dig deeper. Rollins asks if this means yes, and Benson replies Jimmy is probably going to nose around about Amaro’s shooting and Rollin’s gambling…operation. She cautions them that anything they say can and will be used against them. She asks if that is understood, and they all nod and leave her office.

Later, Benson and Jimmy are at dinner and she explains that she’s spent 15 years counseling women who have been assaulted and who she’s pushed to testify, telling them they are not alone, it’s not their fault, and they are strong. Until you go through it yourself…Jimmy says he was there for some of it and it was harrowing to watch. She explains it is over now. He asks if she feels she has …Benson says closure, and he nods yes. She explains some of it you can put behind you but they do change you, it is a process. The good news is she doesn’t have as many nightmares now. Jimmy writes down on his note pad commenting “nightmares about Lewis” and Benson puts her hand on his to stop him from writing, and then comments she is sorry, asking if they can keep the nightmares off the record? He chuckles and says she knows she is supposed to say “off the record” beforehand but that is okay, he doesn’t want to give Lewis the satisfaction. Benson thanks him, saying she owes him, and Jimmy adds her and everybody else in the world. She gets a message and then excuses herself, saying duty calls. He says if she caught a case he will ride along and when she comments that is not a good idea, he explains the commissioner and Hank granted him full access. She asks “did they?” and Jimmy tells her she won’t even know he is there.

At the scene, Fin tells Benson that a couple tourists said they heard moaning on the other side of the wall around 2AM. Amaro informs her the victim’s name is Heba Salim, 24, her clothes bloody and torn with scratches on her face and bruising on her body. Jimmy is also there taking notes. Benson asks Rollins if she got a statement, and Rollins explains the victim was out of it, she told the two responding unis that she had been raped by two male whites. Benson asks if they set up a grid search, and Amaro says from the park entrance and they are canvassing hotel doormen at Central Park south, so far no witnesses. Fin sees Jimmy talking to an officer and taking notes, and asks Benson what he is doing down here. Benson tells him not to even start; One PP gave him full access, there is nothing they can do. Rollins explains the victim is Muslim and they tore her head scarf and they taunted her with racial slurs while assaulting her. Benson asks them to keep that between us for the moment. Jimmy calls out to Benson and ask if her guys told her they are looking at a hate crime here? They all turn around and look at Jimmy and say nothing.

Back at SVU and in Benson’s office, Heba is in the interview room and Reverend Curtis argues with Benson about this being a hate crime but Benson tries to keep them focused on the case. Barba, Amaro and Rollins are also in the office and Curtis explains that Heba’s brother Fareed is on the way. Barba asks the detectives if they have interview Heba yet, and Rollins informs him Heba was completely out of it at the scene, she was freezing and she spent the night in the ER, this is the first chance they had. Amaro adds they can’t talk to her in front of her parents or the Reverend. Curtis thinks this is more than just a rape, and she was singled out because she wore a hijab. Amaro and Curtis argue the issues of a hate crime, Curtis saying she was called a Muslim bitch, asking if he is misinterpreting that. Benson jumps in and says no one is saying that he is, and Curtis counters even so, this community doesn’t trust the NYPD. Amaro retorts that they trust Curtis, and Curtis says they reached out to him as advocate. Barba interjects that is what the DA’s office is. Curtis says Heba’s parents are concerned with her honor and reputation. Benson sends Rollins and Amaro in to talk with Heba and gets everyone else out of there, then tells Barba and Curtis to work together in reassuring the family.

Law & Order SVU "Downloaded Child” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Downloaded Child.”


Law & Order SVU “Downloaded Child” Air Date April 2. 2014 (9 PM ET/8C Wednesday NBC)

A TROUBLED YOUNG WOMAN TRYING TO PROTECT HER DAUGHTER IS CONFRONTED BY THE HARSH REALITY OF HER OWN CHILDHOOD

Single mom Jenny Aschler (guest star Meghann Fahy) is arrested for child endangerment. Not trusting anyone to take care of her young daughter Maddie (guest star Ella Anderson), she instead leaves her home alone for days. Jenny’s fierce motherly instincts and fear of men leads Sergeant Benson (Mariska Hargitay) to suspect she may have been a victim of child abuse. With help from Dr. Lindstrom (guest star Bill Irwin), Jenny recovers deeply repressed memories of violence, rape and neglect. Also starring Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro), Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins) and Raúl Esparza (Rafael Barba). Also guest starring Dean Winters (Detective Brian Cassidy) and Daniel Stewart Sherman (Gary Aschler).


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Downloaded Child” can be found at this link.

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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,

Law & Order UK “I Predict A Riot” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order UK, “I Predict A Riot.”

Law & Order UK “I Predict A Riot” Air Date Wednesday, March 26, 2014 9:00 PM on ITV

Whilst helping out the drugs squad on a bust, Ronnie (Bradley Walsh) and Joe (Ben Bailey Smith) stumble upon a body that has been hidden inside the boot of a car in the River Thames. It turns out that the man was Taylor Kane, a black undercover policeman who went missing in the 80s, at the time of the Brixton riots. Through clever detection, unsettling evidence is unearthed as Ronnie, Wes and Joe raise issues that the police would rather forget. Wes (Paterson Joseph) finds himself personally putting his head above the parapet when he gets an unexpected visit from the Commissioner (Don Warrington).

Jake (Dominic Rowan) takes up the cause with Ronnie, Joe and Wes as defence barrister Philip Nevins (Pip Torrens), argues the case for his defendant DS Darren Grady (Ralph Brown). Accusations of are thrown around as our heroes get in deeper and deeper when the case hits the headlines and Kane’s sister, Nikki Carroll (Jenny Jules), comes knocking at their door. It is time to pick a side as friendships and loyalties are tested and careers are put on the line for justice. Guest starring the late Roger Lloyd Pack and Graham Cole.


Regular cast:
DS Ronnie Brooks - Bradley Walsh
DS Joe Hawkins - Ben Bailey Smith
DI Wes Leyton - Paterson Joseph
Jacob Thorne - Dominic Rowan
Kate Barker - Georgia Taylor
Henry Sharpe - Peter Davison

Guest cast:
Police Commissioner - Don Warrington
Philip Nevins - Pip Torrens
DS Darren Grady - Ralph Brown
Alex Greene - Roger Lloyd Pack
Nikki Carroll - Jenny Joules


My recap and review of Law & Order UK “I Predict a Riot” can be found at this link.

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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.

Law & Order UK “Flaw” Recap & Review

Law & Order UK began series 8 with Ronnie getting a new partner, Joe Hawkins, and the CPS trying a murder case for the third time. The story was based on the original Law & Order episode “Refuge Part 1” (season 9, episode 23). Law & Order fans should be very familiar with that episode; it's where an ADA is brutally murdered by the Russian mob as she protects a witness, a young boy traumatized from seeing a murder. Lucky for Law & Order UK viewers that this episode did not have a similar ending.

DS Joe Hawkins, who replaced DS Sam Casey, dropped into the MIU without much fanfare and it feels like he’s been there all along. Despite one small misstep on Joe’s part early on, he and Ronnie seem to be working very well together by the episode’s end. Ben Bailey Smith is a great addition to the cast and I felt immediately comfortable with him.

Bradley Walsh again plays Ronnie Brooks with realism, and he remains a character that brings much depth to the investigative segment of the show. Like his American counterpart Lennie Briscoe, it is hard to imagine Law & Order UK without Ronnie Brooks. In this episode, Ronnie also gets some time on the stand, and much to his dismay, things don’t go the way he hoped.

Jake Thorne and Kate Barker seemed to have the kinks ironed out of their working relationship, at least for now. Jake now appears comfortable with Kate’s past experience working for the defense; using that to help prep Ronnie for what could be a tough session of giving evidence.

One point that seemed off was allowing the juror who had come to MIU with the intimidating message – along with severed hands - to continue to sit on the jury after she talked to the police. I would have thought that Ronnie or Wes would have contacted the CPS immediately in order to address the issue prior to the trial starting up again that day. How could the other jurors not see, or be influence by, that juror visibly crying during the testimony, if that juror would have been dismissed later? Even though the entire jury was eventually relinquished of their duty in lieu of a trial by judge, it seemed that it could have fanned the flames for a mistrial.

The end of the episode was very satisfying. Despite the setbacks, Joe finds a way to reach the critical witness to the murder which finally leads to justice being served. It was a nice introduction for a new character, and a happy ending for Ronnie and the CPS. No flaws here!

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Bradley Walsh - DS Ronnie Brooks
Ben Bailey Smith – DS Joe Hawkins
Paterson Joseph - DI Wes Leyton
Dominic Rowan - Jacob Thorne
Georgia Taylor - Kate Barker
Peter Davison - Henry Sharpe


Guest stars:
Helen Baxendale - Eleanor Richmond
Christopher Fulford - Mickey Belker
Michael Culkin - Justice Lockwood
Nikesh Patel – Tom
Jenny Rainsford – Beth
Alexander Perkins – SOCO Pete
Eric Kofi-Abrefa – Kris Akron
Nicholas Blane – Oswald Spear
Tracy Brabin - Lyndsey Bernstein
Ray Edwards MBE – Harry Bernstein
Duncan Pow – David Winkleman
Sidney Kean – Frank
Adelayo Adedayo – Kayla
Nicola Sanderson – SOCO Joy
Elly Fairman – Julie Taylor
Sonny Serkis – Danny Taylor
Habib Nasib Nader – Wilkeman’s Solicitor
Isabel Pollen – Rebecca Waldman
Rosalyn Wright – Miranda Jones
Peter Barrett – Dale Horgan
Diana Quick – Judge Hall
Jack Beale - Clerk

In the course of the police stopping a car for crashing a red light, rather than stopping, the car flees and a wild chase ensues. But the car being chased is hit by a truck while it cut through an intersection. The driver is dead, and a bloodied body is in the trunk of the car.

Later DS Ronnie Brooks is on scene. He’s told by SOCO Pete that the driver was a male in his twenties and the man in the trunk in his 60s and by the amount of blood, he was dead when he was put in there. Ronnie introduces Pete to his new partner, DS Joe Hawkins. Joe says the car was nicked this afternoon . Pete says there are no phones or wallets on the dead men, and the man in the trunk has no teeth and his hands have been cut off. Joe comments there are no fingerprints or dental information, and Ronnie quips that it’s a nice easy one to start him off with.

Back at the MIU, Ronnie informs DI Wes Leyton that there is nothing from missing persons about the man in the trunk. They did find traces of blood and oil in the blood on the driver’s shoes. Wes wonders if it is from a lock up or garage, There was a partial footprint in the passenger well with the same blood and oil, so they think the driver had a friend. Wes asks Ronnie how Joe is doing and as they watch,  Joe fumble at his desk and pull a drawer completely out and to the floor, Wes says Joe is lucky to have Ronnie to show him the ropes. Ronnie whines he doesn’t have time to show people ropes, and Wes grins and says “your job."  Joe tells Wes and Ronnie that they got a match on the driver, he’s Billy Knowles. Ronnie knew Billy is hired muscle. Joe also has the list of Knowles known associates. Wes grabs the coffee Ronnie just poured for himself and tells Ronnie maybe Joe can show him a thing or two.

At the Automotive Technical Institute, Ronnie and Joe question Kris who is working a car and who was a former associate of Billy nicking cars. Kris said that was his old life. He chooses not to go that way any more. The assault charges from 5 months ago were dropped, it was a case of mistaken identity. Kris studies and wants to be smart and a success and a pillar of the community. He tells Joe it is easy for him, Joe is higher up in the pigment-ocracy and shade-ism has its benefits. Kris says he was studying last night. He can’t remember when he last saw Billy, saying they’d have to ask him. Kris seems shocked when they tell him Billy is dead.

Afterwards, Ronnie asks Joe about shade-ism, and Joe says the theory is basically the closer to white you are, the better. Ronnie gets a call

At the forensics lab, the medical examiner tells them the other man was killed by blunt force trauma in the back of the head with a single blow. He thinks they used the same thing to know his teeth out. A hacksaw was used on his hands. But the doctor found a radio-cephalic fistula which is evidence of dialysis and says there are 27 dialysis centers in greater London and that particular kind of fistula is a surgical procedure. Ronnie mentions 27 centers, and Joe thinks about it and asks how may do surgical procedures? Ronnie quips they will make a detective of Joe yet.

At the home of Harry Bernstein, they speak to his wife Lyndsey who thought Harry was at the hospital last night. Harry had no enemies. She last saw him yesterday and he went to work. He never talked about work, he said to leave it at the front door. She suggests they talk to David Winkleman, his partner. Harry took him on as an apprentice, taught him everything, and trusted him, like a son.

At Bernstein & Winkleman, a jewelry store, Ronnie and Joe speak with David Winkleman who says business is good. They stopped cutting and polishing rough diamonds years ago, the Indians do it cheaper. Harry taught him to stay away from stolen goods, telling him not to look at the rocks, look at the face. Ronnie comments they do pretty much the same thing. David last spoke to Harry last night around 7, he was going to meet someone. He did not say, but at that time of night, he would have met them at Frank’s Noshery.

At Frank’s Noshery, Ronnie and Joe speak with Frank, who shows them the corner table where Harry met a Mickey Belker. Things were getting pretty heated; three times he went to take their dessert order and Harry wasn’t interested. Whatever Mickey was selling, Harry wasn’t buying.

Law & Order SVU “Criminal Stories” Cast Interviews, Previews, & B-Roll

Here are cast interviews, preview clips,  and behind the scenes videos  for Law & Order SVU “Criminal Stories” which will air on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC. This is Mariska Hargitay’s directorial debut. The videos feature Mariska Hargitay, Kelli Giddish, Ice-T, Alec Baldwin, and Katie Couric.

Update: 4 preview clips have been added. These preview clips have a limited life and may be removed at any time, so catch them while you can!















Preview clips have a limited life!

















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 “Safe From Harm” Promo

Here is the promo for Law & Order UK, “Safe From Harm” which will air on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 9 PM on ITV.

My recap and review of Law & Order UK “Safe From Harm” 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 “Gambler’s Fallacy” Recap & Review

“Gambler’s Fallacy” moved Law & Order SVU even further away from the usual procedural format with a story that has Amanda Rollins’s gambling addiction getting her into a career-jeopardizing situation. As there was no word that Kelli Giddish was leaving the series, most viewers knew going into this episode that somehow Rollins would not lose her job over her error in judgment. To counter that lack of suspense, the writers had the tough job of making her fall from grace - and still keeping her job - into something that viewers would believe. In this case, they did a fine job in weaving an interesting, complex story which gave Kelli Giddish a chance to shine.

The episode was made even more compelling with guest star Donal Logue, a fantastic actor who played both sides of the creepy club manager and undercover Lieutenant with amazing believability. His presence alone took the sting out of the obvious plot twist that he was not who he seemed. Law & Order SVU would really move up a notch in my mind if Donal was a regular.

Something clearly is happening to our beloved SVU team, however. They seem to be slowly losing their sense of good judgment as far as dealing with personal matters. The biggest loss of brains is with Rollins, for the obvious reasons. Addictions can make one take risks and also makes them think they can get away with anything. It’s bad enough Rollins gets behind on her gambling debts, but when she is recognized by a previous underage “special victim” working the club (and who also apparently has fallen back on old bad habits), Rollins is outed as a cop. Instead of biting the bullet and turn herself in, she agrees to do their bidding at first. She later offers sexual favors to one of the club managers, Declan O'Rourke,  in order to save her skin. We are given the impression that she gives him what he wants. Lucky for her we find later that she doesn’t have to go through with it. He’s working undercover and he tells Rollins now she’s got to play along with Sondra, the top manager at the club. This ultimately leads to Rollins getting evidence – a gun - out of the evidence room for a previous crime for one of the club guys, and later, to a rape. Already deep in a hole she can’t escape, Rollins uses questionable judgment when she obtains the evidence using the name of retired Detective Megan Wheeler (Julianne Nicholson’s character on Law & Order Criminal Intent) and then stupidly thinks that she can disguise herself from surveillance cameras just by covering her head with a cap. Desperate people do desperate things, and frequently desperate people, like Rollins, get caught.

Benson, as Sergeant and in charge of the SVU squad, is still trying to find the right balance in working with her detectives. She clearly is getting a little uncomfortable - is it jealousy? - with what she perceived as a brewing “thing” between Amaro and Rollins, telling Fin that “those two, I wish they’d just get a room already.” Granted, we don’t see every waking moment of these character’s lives, but I just don’t see any chemistry at all of that nature with Amaro and Rollins. At what point was Benson made aware of Rollins’ work undercover? Benson admits she lied to Fin and Amaro but when did the lying start? She seemed to know what was going on at the time Rollins was spotted by Amaro and Fin on the video at the Brazilian consulate. Did she know earlier, when Rollins first called in with the flu and Amaro and Fin questioned Benson about it? If so, what was Benson thinking by agreeing to allow a person with a serious gambling problem to get further involved in an undercover operation? I also question Benson’s decision to keep Rollins on the squad because of staffing issues. Rollins truly is a dirty cop and should be moved out. The fact that Declan was undercover changes nothing in my mind; Rollins was willing to go as far as she could to get out of her mess. It was only luck that Declan explained who he was before she had to actually service him. In my own real world experience, when I had an employee who was discovered to be doing something unethical, they were suspended immediately pending investigation, and then fired. It didn’t matter to me that we were short staffed at the time; the company's integrity had to be upheld.  In a job such as law enforcement where your staff is expected to uphold the law, one can’t keep an officer on staff who breaks it. Benson should not have allowed Rollins to stay.

Amaro appears to have delusions of a continued relationship with his wife. Benson drops the bomb on him that Maria, who is worried for Amaro, has been calling her. I’m not sure if I agree with Benson’s timing on bringing this up, and Amaro’s reaction was a little unsettling. Amaro also is mistrusting of Rollins, showing stalkerish behavior toward her. What Benson may have initially worried was a relationship developing with Amaro and Rollins was likely Amaro trying to find out what Rollins was really up to. Amaro’s mistrust is causing him to inappropriately investigate Rollins and it is making him out to be a control freak. His issues with his wife make him seem unstable. This may be the next personal problem to implode.

Fin, meanwhile, the only person who seems to have a stable and happy life, hands a wad of cash to Rollins to help pay down her debt. He should know better that one never gives a wad of cash to a person who has a gambling addiction as usually it will be used to gamble again.

The bottom line is now, nobody trusts Rollins, including the viewers of this episode. Only time will tell whether Rollins can redeem herself.

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Sergeant Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba

Guest stars:
Donal Logue - Lt. Declan Murphy/Declan O’Rourke
Stefanie Scott - Clare Wilson
Sherri Saum - Sondra Vaughn
Lothaire Bluteau - Anton Nadari
Federico Dordei - Marcelo Guarana
Michael Potts - Sergeant Cole Draper
Fernando Andrade – Beatriz Amarante
Benny Nieves – Calos Riva
John Mondin - Evidence Officer
Karen Tsen Lee – DNA Tech Susan Chung
Jacqui\eline Hendy – Attorney Crane
Caris Vujcec - Detective


Rollins gets ready to leave the SVU squad for the day. When Amaro comments she is leaving a little early, she tells him she is going to Niagara Falls and wants to get a head start. Fin tells her to check out the Canadian side, they have some wild clubs. She tells Fin it is more of a nature trip. Amaro asks if she is going by herself, and Rollins quickly states she is going with her dog Frannie, sarcastically adding  it is really romantic. Amaro asks that she knows she needs papers to take the dog across the border, and Rollins says she’s got it taken care of, calling Amaro “dad.” Amaro then says he will walk her out, he wants to catch the train to DC to see Zara. As he leaves with Rollins, Benson walks out of her office and comments to Fin “those two, I wish they’d just get a room already.” Fin laughs and says he will pretend he didn’t just hear her say that. Benson looks on with some apparent concern.

Later, Rollins pretties up and then heads to a more local secret gambling club. She is playing blackjack and another man also at the table, Marcelo, begins to touch the cocktail waitress who looks at Rollins. Rollins looks back at her and they recognize each other as cop and Clare Wilson, an underage girl part of a previous special victims case. Rollins declines the man’s offer of a drink, saying she should call it a night.

Clare walks into the office and tells one of the managers, Declan O’Rourke, that the blond woman is a cop. Soon afterwards, Declan and one of his muscle guys, Carlos, approaches Rollins as she is cashing out and asks if she is leaving early. She says she is quitting while she is behind. He orders her to come with him. Rollins comments she is not counting cards, if she was, she wouldn’t be down $15,000. But Declan won’t take no for an answer.

He, along with the Carlos, force Rollins into the office where the other manager, Sondra, is waiting. Declan and Carlos pull guns on her and then Declan motions for her to be silent, then rips open Rollins' shirt to check for a wire. He sees there is none, but Rollins looks worried.

As Sondra looks at Rollins' badge and notices she is a detective,  Rollins explains she is there off duty – no gun, no wires, no worries. Declan reminds her she is the one down 15 grand and is also the one standing there half naked with a gun to her head. He introduces himself and says he is pleased to meet her, and Rollins counters that he does not want to threaten a cop. He asks why not, she’s manky. she’s dirty. He thinks she in investigating them but she insists she is there off duty and it has nothing to do with her job. Sondra says it does now. Rollins claims she is making good on it, she has OT. Sondra wants her to prove she is not an informer. Declan says he has a test for her and if she passes, they can discuss how she can work off her debt. Rollins asks if she can do it with her shirt on so Declan hands her back her shirt.

The next day, back at SVU, Rollins is at her desk on her computer and Amaro arrives noticing Rollins’ hairstyle from the night before and he asks about it. She explains it is au naturale. He comments she is in early, asking if Niagara Falls was that bad. She tells him she didn’t make it, saying Frannie got carsick. Amaro sees she is in the DMV database and she says a friend of hers keeps getting tickets even though he parks in a garage and she is just checking it out for him. Amaro cautions her to be careful with favors, she knows how IA can be, whispering that they track everything.

Amaro walks into the men’s restroom where Fin is standing over a sink. Amaro asks if he had a rough weekend, and Fin says no, it was dope. Amaro asks him if he’s noticed anything off with Rollins, saying that Rollins never made it to Niagara Falls and now she is in early looking at some guy’s parking tickets. Fin says she met a dude, good for her. But Amaro comments that she is already checking tickers for him? Fin wonders why Amaro is so interested, asking if he has something going for Rollins. Amaro says of course not. Benson knocks on the door and then opens it, calling them gossip girls and tells them that they caught a suspect on those push in rapes, it is a juice delivery guy. She motions them out.

Later, Rollins is back at the club. Declan tells Rollins there were a dozen more last night. Rollins exclaims is not her precinct but she did find out when they do their blitzes. Declan says that’s brilliant but he needs the tickets to go away. Rollins objects, saying you can’t fix tickets anymore, they will track it right to her. Sondra tells her she has one more chance. Declan shows Rollins a file and explains that the woman in the photo has been selected by the state of New York to serve as a juror. Sondra adds that it is a victimless crime – insurance fraud - and they want to help her come to the right decision. Rollins is immediately concerned and Sondra tells Rollins that her boss needs her address. Rollins raises her voice and questions that they want the home address of a juror? Sondra motions yes. Rollins continues to raise her voice and states that of she gets caught, she loses EVERYTHING. Declan reminds her they have footage of her gambling in an illegal club – she’s lost everything. He orders Rollins to find her and when she does, to text him a picture and the address, holding out a cell phone for her to take. Rollins reluctantly takes it.

At New York City Civil Court, Rollins tracks the juror from there all the way home, but when she sees that the woman has a disabled son, she deletes the photos she’s taken.

Law & Order SVU “Criminal Stories” Promo

Here is the promo for Law & Order SVU “Criminal Stories” which will air on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC. This is Mariska Hargitay’s directorial debut; the episode also stars Alec Baldwin.






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.