It was an action packed season 18 premiere of Law & Order SVU with a story that involved terrorism, rape, locked phones, and feuding in the workplace. It gave viewers plenty to absorb and to talk about.
Benson is still stinging over the death of Sergeant Mike Dodds and the guilt is weighing heavy on her. Her boss, Chief Dodds, is clearly blaming her for his son’s death, and Benson thinks he’s not wrong in doing so. Benson seems to be trying to move on from the ordeal, but Dodds clearly has a long way to go. During an argument about the direction they should take with the case, Dodds explodes with anger and blurts out his true feelings that he blames Benson for his son’s death. After the words come out of his mouth, he seems to regret them. Maybe hearing and realizing the ugliness of his own words is his first step in acceptance and forgiveness?
Benson has always taken her job seriously, including her advocacy for the victims. One has to question if she took it a little too far in this case. Did Benson make an error by interjecting herself in proving the defense’s allegation of rape? Benson’s continuing to pursue the case after being told not to could create a rift between her and the DA’s office and with her superiors at One PP. The question that is asked throughout the episode: Is Ana a victim or is she playing them? Benson only sees Ana as a victim, while Barba and Chief Dodds are either highly skeptical or are willing to look past her rape claims and the evidence because of the terror threat and the murders. I found myself agreeing more with Dodds and Barba's approach than I did with Benson's on this one. It’s not that I didn’t think Ana was assaulted, but I think it was up to Calhoun, not Benson, to prove this point as part of her affirmative defense.
It’s unclear to me as to why Barba was prosecuting the murder case as I thought his focus was special victims. Also, it appeared that SVU was running point on tracking down the terrorists, something I don’t think would happen in the real world, considering the amount of weaponry found in Luka and Ana’s apartment and the potential threat to the public.
Did Carisi make a mistake by taking Armin’s phone and attempting a phone call to Luka with Armin present, allowing Armin to tip off Luka?
Fin is now not only responsible for the comic relief (“Oh, your people came here on the Mayflower, huh?”) but he also serves as the muscle, breaking into an apartment door using his shoulder. Every time I see how easy it is to break down a New York City apartment door, I wonder how anyone can feel safe in their own homes.
The relationship between Benson and Tucker is going strong and they both seem to be very happy with how things are progressing. Tucker is now working for the Conviction Integrity Unit, and I suspect he will have an opportunity in the future to work with SVU.
Should Benson have taken Noah with her to check on the boy in the park when the call first came in? It initially sounded like a simple case of a lost boy but it turned bad quick.
A possible continuity error or an odd scene transition: At the park with Noah, Benson was sleeveless when her phone started ringing; she moves to answer it and is now wearing a jacket.
All in all, a great start to season 18!
Here is the recap:
Cast:
Mariska Hargitay - Lieutenant Olivia Benson
Ice-T - Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Peter Scanavino - Detective Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr.
Guest stars:
Elizabeth Marvel - Counselor Rita Calhoun
Robert John Burke - Captain Ed Tucker
Peter Gallagher - Chief William Dodds
Thom Bishops – Armin Sidran
Yvonna Kopacz-Wright - Dr. Darby Wilder
Natia Dune - Ana Kapic
Sharon Washington – Judge Hayes
Max Von Essen – Mr. Gilman
Robert Kirk - Brian O’Malley
Marc Damon Johnson - Agent Dan Conley
Taso Mikroullis – Sam Kariakis
Joel Brady – Officer Nolan
Mark Jacoby – Judge Stephen Kerry
Barbara Miluski – Judge Lisa Peck
Tino Tsutras – Luka Terzik
Eileen Weisinger – Rahima Babic
Edelen McWilliams – CSU Tech Martin
Tara Lynn Wagner – Reporter
Jack Nawada-Braunwart - Noah Porter-Benson.
Azhy Robertson – Ali
Dave Adams – ESU
Danny Schoch – Off Duty Officer
A woman is walking in a park with a young boy. As the boy runs off toward a group of people with balloons, the woman is hit by a bicyclist. The boy is drawn in by the balloons and does not see this.
Meanwhile, in another park, Benson is playing with Noah, spinning him around, commenting that he wants her to fly him like the plane they took to Paris. He laughs and she puts him down and as he runs off to play, Benson takes the last sip of her coffer and then pitches the cup in a trash bin. She notices that the cup is now resting on the top of a newspaper which features a large photo of the slain Sergeant Mike Dodds. She looks away and her phone rings and she moves to answer it. It is Carisi and she asks him what’s up. She tells him she will take care of it, adding she is in the park right now with Noah. She comments “Playground at 84 Street, Office Nolan? Got it.” She tells Noah to come on.
Later, at that playground, Benson watches a young boy playing, and Office Nolan explains he found the kid about 20 minutes ago. (It is Ali, the boy who was separated from his caretaker when she was hit by the bike.) The boy didn’t seem to speak English and his sergeant told him to call SVU. She tells him she has it from here. Benson approaches the boy playing in a sandbox and cheerfully says she is Olivia and introduces Noah. She asks where is his mommy, asking if she came to the park with him, or maybe his daddy, grandma, or nanny. The boy begins to speak in another language, hitting his pile of sand and saying “boom!” Olivia repeats “boom!” and laughs, trying to make a connection with the boy. She asks if his mamma or dadda is her, pointing around the park. The boy says nothing, and, motioning. she then asks the boy to come with her and she will help him find his mamma and dadda. The boy moves back and reaches for a backpack, pulling out a gun. Benson, stunned, moves Noah behind her, telling him to get down. Trying to be calm, she asks the boy to put it down, and when Officer Nolan moves in closer with his gun drawn, Benson tells Nolan it is okay, she has this. She calls out to the watching crowd that she has this, and, raising her hands and showing her badge, she asks them to step back. As the crowd moves away, the boy raises his gun, looking as if he is aiming for Benson. She tells the boy it is okay and to look, dropping her badge, saying she is not going to hurt him. She asks him to put it down, trying to explain it is okay and she is not going to hurt him. The boy appears to be taking aim. Benson, trying to speak in a calm and reassuring voice, moves in closer to the boy, grabbing the gun and disarming it. She breathes heavily as she relaxes and Officer Nolan moves in and takes the weapon. Benson moves towards Ali and then tries to reassure Noah, hugging him and telling him it is okay.
Later, at the hospital where the boy has been taken, Benson speaks with Dr. Wilder who says the boy is fine, he has a few bruises but there is no sign of sexual abuse. She adds there are some signs of psychological trauma. He said a few words in English but his native language may be Russian or eastern European. Benson explains social services is trying to locate a translator and they are trying to track down any family. Wilder asks about the loaded gun, saying he is lucky to be alive. Carisi, Rollins, and Fin arrive. Carisi explains the woman in the bike accident didn’t make it, and Rollins adds that the police found witnesses in the park who put her and the boy together. The woman is Rahima Babic, but they can’t establish her relationship with the boy. Fin states the Glock is unregistered, they are tracking the serial number. When Rollins asks if they should turn this over to the precinct, Benson replies she wants to keep it for now – the kid got the gun from somebody. She tells them to run prints, touch DNA, and go to Rahima’s address and see what they can find.
The detectives arrive at the apartment of Rahima Babic, 25-72 18th Street in Astoria Queens on Wednesday, July 27. Carisi and Rollins find no other weapons and but see signs the kid was staying there. Fin is checking with the neighbors. Rollins finds luggage which has the boy’s name as Ali with a photo of a woman who is likely his mother. There is a detailed schedule of what to do with Ali. There was a note for the boy where the writer - presumably his mother - tells Rahima to tell Ali that no matter what happens, she loves him more than anything in the world. Carisi thinks it sounds like she did not know when and if she was coming back. Fin arrives with a neighbor = Brian O’Malley – and he knows Mrs. Babic and has also seen the woman in the photo. He assumed Babic was a relation and there was a lot of arguing. When he says there is always something with these people, When Fin questions “these people?” Brian answers, :Immigrants.” Fin comments, “Oh, and your people came here on the Mayflower, huh?” Rollins explains they need to find the boy’s mother, and he thinks she worked as a waitress but doesn’t know where. As Brian leaves, Rollins notices the leftovers in the fridge are all from the same place – a diner, The Parthenon.
Later, at the Parthenon Diner at 29-23 30th Avenue in Astoria, Queens on Wednesday. July 27, Carisi, with Rollins, speak with the manager who identifies the woman as Ana Kapic, one of his waitresses. She hasn’t shown up for three days, saying she comes and goes. He didn’t know she had a son, calling him a poor thing, explaining that a lot of times Ana would show up with a black eye or bruises, he guesses from a boyfriend. Carisi asks for her address and phone number, and the manager has it. He asks if she is in trouble, and Rollins says yes, he can say that.
Afterwards, Carisi and Rollins are at the address – 2792 Broadway - and it is for Crown Services, a repair business, and there is no residence there. The store owner does not recognize Ana or her name. Her phone looks like a burner. Carisi summarizes they have a fake address, a burner cell, and a boy with a loaded gun, and a goodbye note from the mother; he thinks she is either involved with a dealer or is a prostitute. Rollins wonders if her son is better off with social services. Carisi thinks the note she left means she loves her son, and Rollins comments dryly that sometimes that is not enough.
Outside the precinct, Benson speaks with Tucker, telling him it has been 10 hours and they are no closer to finding the boy’s parents. She says she feels so…Tucker finishes the line, saying “Responsible? Because you found him?” He reminds her Ali held a loaded gun on her and she says he didn’t know what he was doing. Tucker thinks this is even more dangerous. Benson gets misty eyed and says all she could think about was Noah, and Tucker stops her, asking if she is alright. But she says it is okay, and ask they continue to walk on, she comments about Tucker’s new job at the Conviction Integrity Unit, saying it is impressive. He thinks it could be interesting working with the DA’s office, kicking the tires on cases, like an in-house innocence project. Benson gets a phone call and before she answers it, she tells Tucker it sounds great. She tells the caller she is on her way up, and she tells Tucker that Fin has a lead. She gives him a peck on the check and says bye, racing up the stairs. Tucker sighs.
