Saturday, October 27, 2018

Law & Order SVU “Caretaker” Sneak Peeks

Here are two preview clips from Law & Order SVU “Caretaker” which will air on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 10 PM ET on NBC. The videos feature Mariska Hargtay, Kelli Giddish, Ice-T, Peter Scanavino, and Sasha Alexander.


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


Please note – these videos may have a limited life so 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.

Friday, October 26, 2018

Law & Order SVU “Exile” Recap & Review


Law & Order SVU “Exile” was one of those episodes that annoyed me most of the way through.  I almost didn't want to waste my time to recap it.

What first set me off was the way they shoehorned in Peter Stone's issues with the death of his sister.  Carisi made an insensitive comment to Stone, complaining about his own sister, Gina, which makes Stone get in a "mood."  Stone, who seems to need sex to drown his sorrows, has a momentary struggle with having sex with a woman he just picked up at a bar. I admit I laughed when the woman commented that he was old and would only have to climb two flights of stairs – OUCH! Later, Stone tells Benson his sister was also homeless at one time, and soon after that, Stone gets agitated at the victim’s parents, blaming them for the victim being homeless. We also hear that his sister went missing before being institutionalized, and she was living on the street with a junkie doing meth. I wonder what other problems they will dump on this dead woman in order to advance a backstory for Peter Stone?  Why must we continually have Peter Stone’s struggle with his sister’s death thrown in our faces? Don’t get me wrong, I really like Philip Winchester and am glad he’s on SVU. If these tidbits made for an interesting backstory I would buy into them but frankly, the way his struggle is being presented is like poorly written fanfic. (Full disclosure: I dislike fanfic and rarely read it.)  The dialog was cringe-worthy at times (example: “I’m just using you…to forget”).

Along that line, we hear about Benson’s college life and college boyfriend in her attempt to help the victim recover her memories. I know fans love to hear tidbits about Benson but again, they were shoehorned in under the guise of making a connection with the victim.  It felt forced.  A side note: Benson calls the cereal she ate in college Captain Crunch (the captioning also listed it as that) but any cereal connoisseur, or anyone who ever ate that stuff, knows it is Cap’n Crunch (wink).

The pacing of the episode was good when Fin and Carisi worked the investigation. Fin’s reaction to his shoes getting soiled was classic Fin. But as Benson became increasingly involved, the episode dragged. Which brings me to my biggest issue: the doctor’s evaluation and Benson’s ensuing involvement with the victim’s recovery of memory. My first issue is with the quick examination of Sophie in the SVU interview room. We’re not talking about a doctor observing an interrogation of a perp to get a general take on a perp’s mental state, we’re talking about a doctor examining a victim who they suspect has been traumatized. Wouldn’t a doctor’s office environment have been a better, more calming place for the evaluation? Then, after Dr. Abernathy confirms a diagnosis that Benson had already suspected, shouldn’t the doctor have taken the lead to help Sophie recover those memories, not Benson? I can’t see where an NYPD lieutenant would be the proper person, or have the time, to facilitate the recovery of a victim in such a fragile mental state, regardless of her job experience. We see how that went for Benson: things went sideways and we got an enraged and even more traumatized victim.  I was thrilled to see Sophie call out Benson on her hollow platitudes.  I did not agree with Benson encouraging an already enraged Sophie to throw something and break it to make things all better.  I think this method works only on TV.  Luckily for Benson, Carisi’s almost inappropriate comment gave her a brainstorm to help Sophie recover from her trauma. It gave the victim a chance for closure, and again, Benson saves the day. I would have found it more interesting had Carisi, who seemed to be making a connection with the victim early on, been the one to help her through her recovery.

On the plus side, Aimee Spring Fortier was very convincing as Grace Walker/Sophie.



Here is the recap:

Grace walks the street in the rain and looks into a bar window and then enters. Meanwhile, Carisi is at a bar with Stone and explains he has to get going otherwise he will get an earful from his sister, Gina. He’s only had his truck for a month and she thinks it’s her personal U-Haul. Carisi says he loves his sister but sometimes he wishes she would just go away, a comment which hits Stone the wrong way because of his own sister’s recent death. Carisi apologizes. Carisi pays the tab and leaves. Stone stays and makes eye contact with a woman nearby.

Grace dries up in the rest room and puts on makeup. Meanwhile, two guys talk about a “peegasm”. One of the guys strikes up a conversation with Grace.

Elsewhere, Stone is in a cab with the woman from the bar and they are kissing. He says he can’t, and she says she knows he is old but he’d only have to climb two flights [ouch!]. He explains he is just using her to forget. She counters she is using him for sex, no biggie. She opens the door and asks if he is coming.

The next day, Carisi and Benson are on the scene of an alley by a bar where a girl who has been injured is being removed by EMTs. She has no cell or personal ID. It is not just a mugging, the perp took her panties. But – he left her Prada.

Later, Benson and Carisi hear about the victim’s injuries from the doctor at the hospital. The rape kit tested positive. Her name is Grace Walker and she has no family. She had a high BAC and THC was in her system so the doctor doubts there was consent. Benson and Carisi speak with Grace. She doesn’t remember the attack. She remembers it was raining and she was on her way home. She ducked into a bar to wait it out. Guys brought her a few drinks and she woke up here. She can’t quite recall their names. Benson explains she may have been sexually assaulted and this upsets Grace. Benson says she will be okay and will get through this and asks if there is anyone they can call. She mentions Tommy but she doesn’t want them to call him, she will tell him. Benson suggests Carisi drive her home. Carisi says he will wait for her outside.

At the Black Bunny Bar on Wednesday, October 17, Fin speaks with the bartender who says Grace seemed to have no intention of paying for a drink. She flirted with him and he gave her a shot on the house as girls like her are good for business. She found two suckers, one is a regular, he thinks his name is Drew, who brings him medical marijuana. He usually parks his truck on 52nd between 1st and 2nd.

Fin locates Drew at his truck and speaks with him about Grace. He denies doing anything to Grace, the last he left her she was with his buddy, Silas. Fin says his experience is somebody who throws their friend under the bus are lying. Drew shows Fin he took an Uber home, alone, at 11 and he can ask the driver. Fin says he will and picks an item off the guys counter and says he will need Silas’s name and address.


As Carisi drives her home, Grace says she appreciates this, and Carisi jokes to wait until she gets his bill. She points out where to drop her off, telling her to pull past Freddie, the nosey doorman. Carisi complies. She asks if he’s seen a lot of girls that have been…she pauses and Carisi says way too many. She asks how did their boyfriends take it, and Carisi asks if she is worried about telling Tommy. She admits she is the one who got drunk, suggesting they not tell him about the other stuff. Carisi tries to convince her to get support of a loved one, or a therapist, and asks if she doesn’t want to go to work he can call her boss. She explains she is between jobs, she does medical research, and Tommy doesn’t care that she is not contributing financially. Tommy is a thoracic surgeon. Carisi comments that is impressive. She says she should let him catch the bad guys, and he gives her his business card, saying if she remembers anything or just wants to talk to not hesitate. She exits the car and walks to the entrance of the building. She passes the doorman who glances in Carisi’s direction. Carisi gets a call and says he will be right there.


At Sharp Data, Inc. on Wednesday, October 17, Fin and Carisi enter Silas’ office. He dismisses the rape accusation, countering that she attacked him. Carisi says Grace is 90 pounds soaking wet. Silas says when she came at him with that steel rod she was like Wonder Woman on bath salts. He admits he “whacked” her in self defense as she went after his money clip. Fin questions if that was before or after he took her wallet. He states Grace didn’t have two nickels to rub together. Fin asks about her panties, and Silas states like any good slut, she wasn’t wearing any when he got there. Carisi asks if they do a DNA test on the semen on her body it won’t match his, and Silas admits they had sex and it was consensual. He then says if they don’t mind, he has work to do, to which Fin states if he doesn’t mind, to stand up and turn his ass around. Silas says Harvey can go to friggin’ hell, and when Fin asks “Harvey who?”. Silas rants about “Me too this, times up that”, adding you can’t even pick up a broad in a bar these days. Fin moves Silas to the door, sarcastically commenting “What is this world coming to.”

Law & Order SVU “Caretaker” Promo

Here is the promo for Law & Order SVU “Caretaker” which will air on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 10 PM ET on NBC.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Caretaker” 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.




Monday, October 22, 2018

Law & Order SVU “Exile” Sneak Peeks

Here are preview clips from Law & Order SVU “Exile” which will air on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 10 PM ET on NBC. The videos feature Ice-T and Peter Scananvino.

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




Please note: these videos have a limited life and may be removed at any time, so 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 “Hell’s Kitchen” Episode Information


Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Hell’s Kitchen.”


Law & Order SVU “Hell’s Kitchen” Air Date November 8, 2018 (10 PM ET/9C Thursday NBC)

A waitress from a trendy New York restaurant is sexually assaulted at an after-hours VIP party. Starring Mariska Hargitay, Ice T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino and Philip Winchester. Guest starring Luke Kirby (Andrew Liebowitz), Genevieve Angelson (Kayla Morgan), Jacob Pitts (ADA Hodges), Tiffany Villarin (Lizzy Walczak) and Anthony Chatmon (Darius Moore). Directed by Monica Raymund.

# # #

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Hell’s Kitchen” 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.

Friday, October 19, 2018

Law & Order SVU “Accredo” Recap & Review


Law & Order SVU “Accredo” was ripped-from-the-headlines, drawing from the news story of a group called “NXIVM” which  was charged with trafficking women and using them as slaves. (The episode also had a dash of influence from the series “The Handmaid’s Tale.”) They couldn’t have picked a better person to play Arlo Beck, the leader of the group: Law & Order “repeat offender” Sebastian Roché. (He previously appeared in Law & Order “Patsy” (season 10 episode 7) - one of my favorites – and Law & Order “Discord” (season 4 episode 3).)  It was a given that he’d be the one at the head of the problem, but that didn’t make the episode any less enjoyable. It was predictable that he’d be controlling women under the guise of making them think they were the ones being empowered;  he played that role perfectly which made this a worthwhile watch. 

One of the women in the group -  Lilah -  seems to think that being empowered and in control means having her own business and hiring only women. This is not empowerment; if she can’t even have a man work for her, she’s admitting she still isn’t confident in herself. She also had no problem killing for a man.  She was a perfect patsy for Arlo and she'll be working out her issues in prison.

This episode had a balanced blend of detective work and personal issues; sorry, no Philip Winchester. Whatever legal work was needed from the DAs office happened outside of our view, but that did not detract from the story.

Arlo did have the perfect read on Rollins, but Rollins wasn’t allowing that to slow her down. If anything, it only strengthened Rollins' resolve to hold Arlo accountable. While on the subject of Rollins, I hope she doesn’t have to notify anyone in person at One PP that she is pregnant. If this was the case, there is NO WAY anyone would believe Rollins saying Benson didn’t know about it, seeing that Rollins already looks well into her pregnancy.  (She also admits to Benson that Dr. Al Pollack is the baby's father, the "doctor" part impressing Benson.)  Rollins also got violent with a suspect and  later gives Benson a story about violence in her own home when she was younger.  Benson chastises Rollins for her behavior in interrogation but it's not a harsh reprimand, likely cutting Rollins some slack due to her pregnancy.  Carisi and Fin also seemed frozen in place when Rollins acted out,  as if they didn't think there was anything wrong with it.  I don't like it when there doesn't seem to be any repercussions to a detective becoming violent.

Benson is working hard to get herself into shape; she is now exercising with a trainer. I could have done without the mental image of her doing squats while cooking dinner, however (wink). She’s also wearing a fitness tracker. Her next problem will be Noah. I’m still not sure if he’s just being bratty or he is showing tendencies of going full psycho. It’s possible that he is lashing out because Benson spends more time on the job than with him. Seeing that his biological mother was an addict, he could develop all kinds of mental/behavioral problems from that – or he could be completely normal. They are setting the stage for something, and I’m not sure which direction I would find more interesting. Being normal wouldn’t give them a very meaty story.

Benson gets in wrong,  in my opinion,  when she tells Arlo he is the worst kind of predator. They’ve shown far worse in previous episodes, and any predator dealing with kids is probably the most heinous.  I can only assume that Benson said this to try to rattle Arlo,  but he didn’t seem to take her words very seriously. At least Benson’s speech worked on his lawyer, Claudia;  I don't think that was Benson's  initial intent.

The 10 PM air time has allowed the show to provide more adult story lines with slightly more adult language and more gruesome crimes. Granted, the language doesn’t come anywhere near what one can hear on streaming shows or on cable, but for SVU it may seem a shock to some fans. I think it’s a welcome change and fits the type of work done by the SVU and the environment in which they work.

One question – Carisi mentions that TARU got Lilah’s GPS information from her fitness tracker. After last week’s episode – “Revenge” – made such an issue about a law saying that a warrant is required to get GPS information from a person’s phone, how did they get the warrant for Lilah’s tracker, especially when her phone GPS placed her away from the crime scene? Once they get the phone, does that give them full access to any apps on the phone and the data that is stored in the cloud from those apps? I was also curious as to how they even got her phone in the first place; I don't recall them getting a warrant for it or Lilah giving her phone to them.  With Stone having so many issues in “Revenge” getting the GPS data, it simply seemed way too easy for them to get their hands on her phone in this episode and I don't know what justification they used to get it.    Did I miss something?

I’m really liking what I’m seeing from the writers and production team as of late. It’s not just the interesting stories and well written dialog, but it’s also the location shots and the pacing of each scene. I enjoy episodes that are visually interesting, and spending less time confined in the 4 walls of the interrogation room or in the courtroom is a plus for me. This episode hit all the right buttons for me.

Update October 23, 2018 - a deleted scene from NBC has been added after the recap.





Here is the recap:

Benson is exercising with a trainer, but can’t come the next day as she has a parent-teacher conference. She can’t come at 7 PM as she spends time with her son. She jokingly suggests the trainer move in with her and make her do squats while she cooks Noah dinner. She says she will text time.

Meanwhile, Lilah Finch begins speaking at the Accredo Female Entrepreneurs Workshop. Claudia is the hostess and she explains how the group gave her power. Lilah asks a woman – we later find she is named Vicki - to share her story, and she says how it helped her make her stronger. Later, Lilah suggests to Vicki that they go to lunch but she can’t, saying she is busy. At home, Vicki tells someone on the phone to stop calling her and that she is hanging up. As she is getting ready for a bath, she hears a knock on the door and looks to see who it is.

At SVU, Benson is in her office sitting at her desk and comments to Rollins she did 12,251 steps today, then tells Rollins not to ask her about her pulse. Rollins explains that Fin and Carisi both have Knicks tickets but if she is more than happy to stay if Benson needs her. Benson tells her to go; Benson promises to be out of there shortly as she promised Noah she would have dessert with him. Rollins states she doesn’t want any special consideration. Benson replies Rollins is pregnant and can hide it with clothes but…and Rollins says they will have to notify One PP. Benson explains she can give her a week, max. Benson gets a phone call and asks the caller if homicide was notified. She says she is on her way. She tells Rollins it is a rape/homicide in SoHo and it sounds brutal. Rollins says she will come with her and Benson tells her no. But Rollins reminds her she said she had a week, and Benson sighs.


At 93 Thompson Street on Thursday, October 11, Benson and Rollins are on the scene at Vicki’s home. Her bathtub overflowed and alerted the neighbors. She was mutilated, her ribcage cut out. The scene is gruesome and Benson tells Rollins to get back but Rollins pushes forward, saying she is fine, but she quickly looks like she is going to throw up and she quickly moves off.


Later, Fin is on the scene as Benson explains that Vicki was stabbed multiple times in the chest and torso and sexually assaulted with a table leg. They don’t know who she is, there is no ID, cell, or computer in the loft and no mail in the mailbox. With the sexual component, homicide wants the SVU to take the lead. Fin says he will check the traffic cams and canvas the area. Carisi asks Rollins if she is okay; she says it is just hormones. She thinks the attack was personal, describing it to Carisi. She got something on the address; the owners of the house are Richard and Laura Shane with a Connecticut area code. Benson tells her to have them meet them at the morgue.

At the office of the Chief ME on Friday, October 12, Laura and Richard speak with Benson and Rollins. Their daughter Abby lives there when she is working out of town. They asks her to make an ID by a photo but Laura wants to see her. It is not Abby. They do not know who she is. Laura tries to call Abby again but is going straight to voice mail. Abby is doing one of those dystopian horror stories in Pennsylvania where women lose all rights and get hung from trees. Rollins asks where.

At 2551 Long Pond Road in Poconos, Pennsylvania on Friday October 12, on the filming scene, a woman speaking with Fin and Carisi identifies the victim as Vicki Parson. She moved in a week ago after breaking up with her boyfriend Brad who was stalking her. She says her mom ran off when she was five and her dad died last year, she was messed up. She seemed better lately, confident and happier. She joined a women’s empowerment group.

Law & Order SVU “Exile” Promo

Here is the promo for > Law & Order SVU “Exile” which will air on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 10 PM ET on NBC.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Exile” 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.


Monday, October 15, 2018

Law & Order SVU “Accredo” Photos & Promo

Here are advance photos and promo for Law & Order SVU “Accredo” which will air on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 10PM ET on NBC.  The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino,  Sebastian Roché as Arlo Beck, Sarah Carter as Lilah Finch, Alice Hamid as Nanette, and Chase Burnett as Tyler Goodrich.


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


Photos by: Barbara Nitke/NBC 2018 NBCUniversal Media, LLC





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 “Accredo” Sneak Peeks

Here are preview clips from Law & Order SVU “Accredo” which will air on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 10PM ET on NBC. The videos feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kellie Giddish, and Peter Scanavino.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Accredo” 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.


Friday, October 12, 2018

Law & Order SVU “Revenge” Recap & Review



Law & Order SVU “Revenge” depicted the incel (“involuntarily celibate”) version of “Strangers on a Train”, with members of an incel group thinking they could exact revenge via getting revenge for others in their group. By doing it under the guise of not having a connection with the victims, they think they can get away with it. Unfortunately, one of them does have a solid connection, and this is his undoing.

Despite the fact that the case was solved almost too easily and the story itself not too compelling, I was surprised that I liked this episode. I don’t know why. Sometimes when I view the NBC promo clip for an upcoming episode, or even read the description, I get turned off. But in this case, my instincts were wrong. I liked the pacing of the episode and the writing. It felt comfortable, like one of the older Law & Order SVU episodes, maybe because there wasn’t any personal drama for the lead characters. This kept the focus on the case.  There was a nice balance of detective work and legal wrangling and the hour moved quickly.

The legal case hits a bump when the detectives use GPS information received by accident from the phone company. Carisi is kicking himself for using the GPS data, saying he should have known better. Benson gives him a pass on this, reminding him he is a cop, not a lawyer, despite his law degree. I would not have been so forgiving. First: they got a memo from Stone saying that data like this can’t be obtained without a warrant due to a recent Supreme Court ruling. Second: they knew it was data they weren’t supposed to have, even if the phone company sent it in error. Third: how hard would it have been for Carisi, knowing the new law and having a legal education, to ask Benson in advance about using the information during interrogation? Benson could have conferred with Stone first,  allowing Stone to go for the warrant - maybe the judge would have granted it. If I were Benson, I would have been harder on Carisi.  He SHOULD have known better.




Here is the recap:

Rick and Ann are having intimate time in bed when a knock comes at the door. Rick answers it to find a man with a pizza, wearing a motorcycle helmet, who forces his way in and attacks them both at gunpoint. Later, with police on the scene, Benson and Fin question Ann and Rick about the incident. During questioning, they find that Rick and Ann didn’t order a pizza and that the attacker kept calling Ann “Stacy” and Rick “Chad”. The detectives wonder if the guy hit the wrong apartment

Carisi and Rollins speak with the doorman who was away from his post as he had to pee. There are no “Chad” or “Stacy” named tenants. Carisi looks at the tenant list and sees the name Chad Moore, but the doorman says Chad’s wife is Brianna. Benson and Fin confer with Carisi and Rollins; Benson tells Fin and Carisi to check pizza joints within 30 blocks and Benson and Rollins go to speak with Chad.

The discuss the situation with Chad and Brianna. They say they don’t know Ann or Rick. Rick knows nothing but Brianna seems unsettled. Benson gives her her card.

Back at SVU, Rollins explains they have the pizza guy on security camera but his face is covered. Fin got nothing from pizza joints. Brianna arrives at SVU and speaks with Benson and explains that she had an affair a year ago, his name was Jake Sanders and he taught her spin class. She broke it off and Jake did not take it well. Jake has a gun,

At Pro Cycle on Friday, October 5, Carisi and Rollins arrive and Jake, on a bike, tries to flee. They chase Jake in their car and quickly apprehend him. Carisi finds a gun on him and they arrest him. At SVU in interrogation, Jake says the gun is legal but he denies attacking Chad. Benson observes and Fin says Jake is not the attacker; video shows him teaching a spin class at the time of the attack. Benson gets a phone call and tells Fin they have another rape, same MO.

At the apartment of Paolo Ricci and Beth Palmer on Friday October 5, Fin speaks with Paolo who does not know a Chad. He did not buzz the man in. Beth explains how the attacker called her Stacy. The man was short and shoved her face into the couch and pulled her hair and screamed at her like he hated her. Benson wants to get her and Paolo to the hospital. Beth says she opened the door and didn’t ask who it was. Fin enters and tells Benson they have yet another Chad and Stacy.


Back at SVU, the detectives discuss what they know so far. Carisi put the names Chad and Stacy through RTC, Accurint and TLO and got nothing. But he tried the Dark Web and found that Stacy is not a specific person. A Stacy is any woman that an incel wants but cannot get because of guys called Chads. They mention a guy in Toronto who drove his van through a crowd of people because he wasn’t getting any. Fin states there is no reason for anybody to be involuntarily celibate, this is why god invented hookers. Carisi counters that sex workers are part of the problem; these guys think they should not have to pay for sex and woman should want to please a man at any time. Rollins comments “Welcome to the 17th century.” Carisi says there are 6000 guys willing to write about this stuff on line.

Benson speaks with Ann but she doesn’t know anyone who would do this. Rollins speaks with Beth about the same issue and she mentions a time before Paolo a year ago she wanted to meet people. She went to Tudor Mansion where they throw parties so people can hook up. They vet everyone and she met a creepy guy outside there who they wouldn’t let in. . He said that “Riley’s cool” in the third person and then saw him in other places later as if he was following her. He had red curly hair and was weird. She gives Rollins information on Tate Brightman who runs the place.

At the Brooklyn Heights Promenade on Saturday, October 6, Tate tells Carisi and Fin it is like a traveling party. People pay him to make sure they are mingling with the right sort of people. He maxes out at 200 people out of 1000 applicants. He says his applicant list is confidential, and Fin counters he has never heard of pimp/john confidentiality. Narcotics are forbidden. Carisi suggests they show up to make sure that is the case, and Tate decides to cooperate. He finds a Riley Porter on his list, who applied five times. He shows them Riley’s address.


Later, Riley is in SVU interrogation with Fin and Carisi. He explains his line of work. They speak about women in derogatory manner to get Riley to start talking, saying that their boss Olivia has buffalo nuts and too good for mortal men and that somebody needs to give it to her good, like Riley gave it to Beth Palmer. Riley plays dumb but they continue to press him and denies raping Beth as there is no such thing as rape. He says it is in the Constitution; all men are created equal and entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Sex makes them happy and taking it is a fundamental right. Carisi tells him they will check his cell phone and security cameras and if he was anywhere near Beth Palmer’s apartment last Tuesday he will be pursuing happiness in Ossining for the rest of his life. As Benson observes, Rollins enters and tells her they have another one, this time he shot the boyfriend.

Monday, October 8, 2018

Law & Order SVU “Revenge” Photos

Here are advance photos from Law & Order SVU, “Revenge” which will air on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at 10PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino, Eric Freeman as Rick Karsch, Sarah Rich as Anne Whitman, Kyle Decker as Tate Brightman, and Peterson Townsend as Jake Sanders.

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















Photos by: Barbara Nitke/NBC 2018 NBCUniversal Media, LLC






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 “Caretaker” Episode Information



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


Law & Order SVU “Caretaker” Air Date November 1, 2018 (10 PM ET/9C Thursday NBC)

The cops wrestle with an unthinkable crime when a family is murdered in their sleep. Starring Mariska Hargitay, Ice T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino and Philip Winchester. Guest starring Sasha Alexander (Anne Mill), Sandrine Holt (Lisa Abernathy), Soleidy Mendez (Delores Alverez), Gary Basaraba (Billy O'Boyle), Johanna Tolentino (Ximena) and Scott Bryce (Bill Schwartz).

# # #


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Caretaker” 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 “Exile” Episode Information



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

Law & Order SVU “Exile” Air Date October 25, 2018 (10 PM ET/9C Thursday NBC)

A young woman wakes up in the hospital with no memory of her assault, and Carisi's (Peter Scanavino) investigation stalls when she disappears. Also starring Mariska Hargitay, Ice T, Kelli Giddish and Philip Winchester. Guest starring Sandrine Holt (Lisa Abernathy), Aimee Spring Fortier (Grace Walker), Jake Robinson (Silas Perry) and Mat Vairo (Drew Brogan).


# # #


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Exile” 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.



Saturday, October 6, 2018

Law & Order SVU “Accredo” Episode Information



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

Law & Order SVU “Accredo” Air Date October 18, 2018 (10 PM ET/9C Thursday NBC)

A member of a women's empowerment group is found murdered, leading the cops to the group's charismatic male leader. Meanwhile, Rollins (Kelli Giddish) keeps her pregnancy under wraps to avoid going on desk duty. Also starring Mariska Hargitay, Ice T and Peter Scanavino. Guest starring Sara Carter (Lilah Finch), America Olivo (Claudia Bell), Lexi Lapp (Vicky Parson), Lili Simmons (Gina Goodrich) and Sebastian Roche (Arlo Beck).



# # #



My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Accredo” 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.



Friday, October 5, 2018

Law & Order SVU “Zero Tolerance” Recap & Review



Law & Order SVU “Zero Tolerance” was a ripped-from-the-headlines story based upon immigration policies which caused parents and children - crossing the U.S./Mexican border without proper documentation - to be separated and detained, with no meaningful procedures in place to properly reunite them. The Trump administration’s one-size-fits-all policy of zero tolerance when it comes to the treatment of undocumented immigrants created not only an administrative hairball, but it also has likely traumatized many children who were separated from their families. It was inhumane treatment.

We heard the detectives voice their opinions on this issue. Carisi seems to have a “let anybody in who wants to come in” attitude; Rollins is of the opinion that these people want jobs that Americans don’t want. Fin questions whether Maria really fits the political asylum mold, and things like public housing, food stamps, and Medicaid were not available to immigrants coming in at the time of Carisi’s grandfather. Fin is correct in that regard; my grandparents came in legally in the late 1890s – early 1900s and they needed to have sponsors and they had no public assistance available.  Fin is also correct when he describes how his ancestors came in, and their decedents are still fighting for freedom and all the benefits this country can provide.  Immigration is a tough issue, but this episode only glosses over it by taking one child and one instance and fixing one problem. At the end of the episode, they hint to the magnitude of the problem. Sadly, we really don’t get a feel for the real administrative nightmare and the trauma of the families that the zero tolerance policy has caused. It seems Maria has a lawyer, she could easily do a video call,  and Stone and Jefferies pull strings to work the system for a happy ending for Maria and Gabriella.  The drama was lacking. For once, it would have been interesting to see Benson and the team fail.

Benson remains too emotionally involved in the case, to the point that she has an outburst in the courtroom. That happens after she arrests a government worker for doing his job,  without consulting Stone before doing so. Yet again she ropes him into her crusade. I appreciate her passion to right the wrongs of this world, but she’s not a detective anymore, she’s management. She can still fight these battles but she needs to do it in a manner that is respectful of her colleagues and the system that others are forced to work with. Yes, the system is broken, and yes, helping one person is better than helping none. It left me wondering if it would have been easier for Benson to work WITH the agent from the Office of Refugee Resettlement rather than arrest him. Should Benson have called in a psychiatrist to talk with Gabriella to see if she should have been placed elsewhere first because of psychological trauma? Possibly that would have kept her out of the ORR system.

The moral of the story: if you have connections in this world, use them to get your own priorities addressed. Without Stone and Jefferies, Benson wouldn’t have succeeded in reuniting Gabriella and Maria.  Now Benson must live with the fact that her efforts did nothing to help all the others trapped in the system.

Rollins seems on the fence with her relationship with her doctor friend and father of her baby, Al. He seems good with Jesse. But when she tells him that she is pregnant, he goes right to thinking about being there for her if she chose an abortion. I suspect this is what helped Rollins to decide to keep the baby. Of course, we know there was no way it would be anything else as Kelli is pregnant in real life, so there was no drama here as far as Rollins' choice.  Rollins finally tells Carisi about her pregnancy,  saying she tried to tell him before but “didn’t know how.” I know they are friends but why would it be so hard for Rollins, an adult woman, to tell a friend and colleague? Are we supposed to think that he felt the relationship was more than friendship and he would be upset?

I did enjoy the line when Benson tells the detectives to take the government rep and give him his phone call…and a baloney sandwich. It was also great to see Carl Weathers reprising his role from “Chicago Justice.” (They really didn’t give that series much of a chance.)

The immigration issue is a continuing problem and there are varying, often conflicting opinions. Part of the problem is that immigration isn’t a “one-size-fits all” issue.   The U.S. is a wonderful country with opportunities for all. Some countries are hell to live in and I can understand why some want to escape from those places for a chance for a better life.  On the flip side, border agents must be cautious when children are crossing illegally with adults to be sure that these children are not being trafficked.  Some states close to the Mexican border are feeling the strain from undocumented immigrants on their support systems and finances.  Illegal immigration has been a problem for decades and will continue to be so until our elected representatives and government officials can find a system that works.  But it is not an issue that some bureaucrat can solve with cookie-cutter rules, so I don't expect quick changes.


Here is the recap:

Rollins and Jesse are at home. Dr. Al Pollack comes for a visit, with “apology flowers”. Rollins is annoyed and Pollack tries to connect with Jesse. Rollins has an uncertain but somewhat contented look.

On Thursday, September 27, a man has someone drive him to the hospital with a sick child. The passenger dumps the child off at the emergency entrance and orders the driver to leave.

Later, Benson and Carisi are at the hospital and they speak with the girl, Delilah. She doesn’t recall how she got there, she says uncle Luke, who is not really her uncle, gave her pills. She says he sent her on a date with one of her friends. He never makes her go back if she doesn’t want to and he loves her. She asks that they not take him away.

Back at SVU, the detectives discuss what they know and look at the camera footage of Delilah being dumped. They work to find the driver who seems to be from Uber or a car service.

At Rumarque Car & Limo on Friday September 28, Fin and Rollins speak with the driver. He wanted to call the police but he admits he is illegal. He got robbed previously. He describes the man who he picked up and from where.


As they leave the car service, Fin starts to handle the issue and Rollins takes offense that he is treating her like a ride-along.  Fin wants Carisi to meet them there. At an apartment building, Fin, Carisi, and Rollins ask the residents about the man they are trying to find,  and one points them to a man, Vince, in 4B, an Air bnb rental. They knock on the door and then when Vince opens it, they barge their way in and find a shoe that looks like it would belong to a young girl. Rollins takes a photo of Vince. They arrest him. As they take him out of the room, Rollins bumps Vince into a doorway on purpose and says “Oops.” Carisi picks up Vince’s phone.

At SVU, in interrogation with Fin and Rollins, Vince's phone, now on the table, begins to buzz. He says it is his wife Karen. They question him about Delilah. The caller now shows as Billy, his son. He apologizes and says he didn’t know Delilah was on something and when she started zoning out, her took her to the hospital. They continue to pressure him and he admits he called a man named Luke he got while at an auto show. They tell him to call Luke and say he is hanging on to Delilah for an extra day and has another person who is interested.


Later, Benson and Carisi wait at a location in a car while Fin waits outside. Carisi asks Benson what is going on with Rollins and she suggests he ask Rollins. He guesses she is pregnant. A man approaches Fin and arranges for Fin to come up and see the girls. The man has several young girls and one is in a cage. Luke says she is not on the menu yet. Benson and Carisi exit the car, and as Fin tells Luke he is under arrest, the others burst in. As they reassure the girl, Benson tries to calm the frightened girl in the cage.

Back at SVU, Peter Stone arrives as the detectives speak with the girls. Stone and Benson confer. Luke found these girls in vulnerable situations and he has them utterly manipulated except the one they found in the cage. She is afraid of the guy they arrested and afraid of them. Carisi takes Stone in to meet Luke Frances. He tries to give them a line of BS but they aren’t buying it. He asks for a lawyer.

Meanwhile, Rollins speaks with the terrified girl, Gabriella Sosa. She says she took a bus to the Port Authority. Rollins tries to connect with her, but she says she wants her mommy and she cries.

Rollins later explains she will try talking to her later. Two of the girls will go to ACS and their local precincts, the other three are on the way back to their families. Benson suggests they put Gabriella through NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children), and the find a missing persons alert from the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. She was in foster care.

Law & Order SVU “Revenge” Promo

Here is the promo for Law & Order SVU “Revenge” which will air on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at 10PM ET on NBC.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Revenge” 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.



Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Law & Order SVU Promos From UniversalTVUK

Here are two promos featuring Law & Order SVU from Universal TV UK. Enjoy! (They do great promos, by the way.)








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.

Monday, October 1, 2018

Law & Order SVU “Zero Tolerance” Photos

Here are advance photos from Law & Order SVU “Zero Tolerance” which will air on Thursday, October 4, 2018 at 10PM ET on NBC.  The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino, Philip Winchester, Scarlet Daisy Lopez as Gabriela Sosa, Andy Powers as Jeff Philips, Patrick Kearns as Luke Frances, Jennifer Regan as Kim Caldwell, and Meg Gibson as Judge Edith Milbanks.


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



















Photos by: Barbara Nitke/NBC 2018 NBCUniversal Media, LLC


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.