Friday, February 15, 2019

Law & Order SVU “Brothel” Recap & Review


“Brothel” was an interesting, fast-paced episode featuring some personal drama for Fin. He enlists the help of a past girlfriend/colleague to solve a case, later suspecting she’s a dirty cop. It was refreshing to have a case that put the spotlight on Fin, and to watch him mentally struggle with suspecting that his friend was the mole behind the leaks.  I felt sad for him at the end when I saw his hope for rekindling their relationship flame out in his eyes.

Before I get into the case, I’d like to bring up the elephant in the room: Apparently everything is now back to normal with the SVU despite their huge "blow up" in “Part 33” (which aired last week). This didn't feel right. The timeline shows “Brothel” occurred only one day later (February 8) from “Part 33” (February 7), yet Benson and the detectives act like nothing has happened. NOTHING. I find it hard to believe there would be such a huge disagreement with work colleagues and not see any evidence on the next day that it occurred. There was no palpable tension remaining between them. There should have been some evidence of either the disagreement or that they’ve moved on, even if it was one line thrown in to bring some closure. It’s a missed opportunity to create an entire episode around the team arguing and then not continue to capitalize on it in the next episode.  It's a gaping continuity hole.

Fin’s girlfriend from many years ago, Phoebe Baker, was wonderfully portrayed by Law & Order and SVU “repeat offender” Jennifer Esposito. She previously appeared in the excellent season 1 Munch-centric episode “Remorse”, plus two episodes of Law & Order (season 7 - “Good Girl” and season 17 – “In Vino Veritas”). She was perfectly believable in this role, playing someone who was willing to support Fin and the SVU, and then someone who was both insulted and hurt at Fin’s accusations.

This is not the first time in the Law & Order universe that a judge has been dirty, but it was still a bit of a surprise when we find that Judge Kofax (John Rothman), who has appeared in quite a few SVU episodes, is “helping” addicts by NOT helping them. His idea of help is far from it; it gets them in deeper with addiction and a life that can, and does, get them killed. Even though he’s driven to this action because of the death of his own daughter from addiction, it makes no sense he’d be driving girls back into the same environment that encourages their drug use. It was a head-scratcher to say the least. It was a nice touch bringing in Judge Barth (Jenna Stern), first putting her in a relationship with Kofax, and then helping to bring him down.

Rollins had her baby on (or about) January 18, but apparently she’s back to work on February 8, a 3 week maternity leave. (She was in court the day before in "Part 33", but I don’t think appearing as a witness in court would count as a return to work.)  With Rollins already having a young child at home and now an infant, I was surprised she needed - or wanted - so little time away from work, considering she detached herself from Dr. Al during the same time.

While I am on the subject of Rollins, I get this sense that the writers are trying to make her appear insensitive to special victims or that the job is getting to her. Her comment that the SVU was “wasting their time” because the victim was a relapsed junkie/prostitute felt out of place for someone who routinely deals with special victims. If Rollins can’t muster a glimmer of care or concern for someone that was clearly brutalized, she has no place in the job. I have no issue with her raising the issue about the victim’s life circumstances, it was the coldness of her prefacing it as “wasting their time” as if she was ignoring the physical abuse the victim appeared to have suffered.

A tidbit of trivia: Next week’s episode, “Facing Demons” will be SVU’s 450th aired episode. I specify “aired” as, technically “Brothel” may have been the 450th filmed episode. The episode “Unstoppable” from Season 18 was produced but never aired. I don’t know the specific filming sequence for this season, but in my mind, “Brothel” could be the 450th as far as episodes filmed and produced, “Facing Demons” will be the 450th “aired.”  It's my way of saying that I will never forget "Unstoppable", the episode we will likely never actually see.





Here is the recap:
A man arrives at a building and tells another man, Devon, waiting outside he is there to play. He gains entrance. At the door to the room, he tells another waiting man he is a friend of the house, and he is told to enjoy his night, and is allowed into the room. As music plays, a woman approaches the man and says he must he the world-famous Collum. She asks if he had trouble finding them. He says no and thanks her for getting back to him, adding that Corey mentioned they don’t always take referrals. She said the screening process is just for his first time. She checks to make sure he is not a cop, then welcomes him to the Doll House. As more women appear, she explains that it’s 55 for 15 minutes and an hour starts at 200; tips are between him and the girls. He picks Torie.

Later, Torie screams that it hurts and to stop it. The host woman tells the others to get Carlos, who enters the room. He sees Collum tied up on the bed and is quickly hit over the head with a bottle by Torie who takes his gun and points it at the host woman and runs upstairs to the roof. Devon gets to the roof and points a gun at her. She tells him she will be good but he says he is not asking again, telling her to put the gun on the ground. She continues to hold the gun on him, crying.

In the morning, Benson and Rollins walk down an alley and an officer states the victim is in her 20s, no ID, they thought it was a jumper but it looked like somebody roughed her up. Benson asks if she was sexually assaulted, and he replies she is half undressed, thumb marks on her biceps, bruises on her thighs – he made a judgment call. It is Torie’s body. Rollins sees cuts on the woman’s right hand, thinking defensive wounds, The officer states there was a handgun near the body, blood on the pistol grip. She fell/jumped from the roof of the building and the roof access door alarm was going off and there were a couple of bloody handprints up top. Benson tells him nobody goes in or out. As they walk away from the body, he says his partner has already secured the building.

A second officer approaches and says they will both want to see this. Inside the building, he explains to  Benson and Rollins that when he got there, the front door was wide open. No one was home and whoever lived there left in a hurry. Benson and Rollins continue to walk through the apartment. Rollins sees a mess of toiletries, lingerie, and other items at the bathroom sink. Benson looks in another room and sees what looks like clothing and accessories for sex play. The bedroom looks similarly outfitted. Rollins suspects she knows what the vic was running from. When the other officer doesn’t understand what she means, Benson asks “First time in a brothel, fellas?” Benson and Rollins walk out of the apartment and the two officers give each other a look and follow them out.


Back at the SVU squad room, Benson says the Jane Doe looks like a sex worker who had jumped or fallen to her death. Fin wonders if she got pushed, saying she would not be the first hooker to get thrown off a roof. Benson thinks it could be as sexual assault or murder. Carisi says the prints identify her as Torie Meeks. Rollins says she was popped twice for heroin possession and once for breaking and entering. Carisi said she had heroin in her system, Rollins explaining after the b&e, she qualified for drug court, pleaded guilty and entered the program. Benson tells them to talk to whoever handled the case.

At Manhattan Treatment Court Part 43 on Friday, February 8, Judge Kofax is hearing a case for a Mr. Perillo, with his case manager Mr. Morris, as Carisi and Rollins arrive. He passes sentence and breaks for lunch. Carisi and Rollins stop the judge, who is there his one day a month at drug court. They explain about Torie’s death and he thought she was on the road to recovery. His case manager was just there with Mr. Perillo so they race off to catch him.

They speak with Morris who lost track of Torie a few months back and she went off the grid. She tried hard to save her. She has no next of kin; she was in foster care her whole life, drinking young and was sexually abused in one of the homes and was on the streets at 16. When Carisi thinks he is saying this is inevitable, Morris explains you can’t save them all.

Back at SVU, Rollins explains Torie’s relapse. Benson asks if they can track down who ran the brothel. Fin explains the building owner is a slumlord. All he can recall is the tenants offered to pay twice his asking fee. Carisi says they are waiting for ballistics on the gun and there was no usable DNA at the scene, no prints, nothing on the cameras. Rollins wonders if they are wasting their time, Torie was a relapsed junkie, turning tricks, high and on the run, saying she might have just jumped. Benson counters whether she jumped or was pushed, she was still brutalized and just left in the middle of the night. Fin questions or she knew how to get away, saying all they left was magazines, some junk, and a random shoe. Carisi looks at the shoe and says it is not random, it’s a $2500 Paretto. He’s dreamed of owning a pair of them for years, they are custom made. Benson says the store would have a record of who bought them.

At Paretto’s Custom Shoes at 329 East 84th Street on Saturday, February 9, Fin and Carisi speak with Mr. Paretto and when he balks at giving them information, Fin comments “I don’t know anything about cobbler/client confidentiality.” Paretto is able to match it to the correct mold.


Later, Fin and Carisi speak with Collum O’Connor who admits it is his shoe. They show him the photo of a dead Torie and he says they killed her. Fin says, “Time to take a ride, Cinderella.”

At the SVU in interrogation, Benson and Rollins speak with O’Connor who thought what happened was a game. He explained what he saw and thinks one of them threw her off the roof. He was tied up. They later untied him; they were in full panic. Rollins sounds as if they don’t believe his story, and he denies killing her. He explains he heard about the brothel one night when it was snowing and there were no cabs so he hit the bar. The guy next to him gave him the number for The Doll House. As the detectives leave the room. He asks if he can go. Rollins says sure, asking if they can have his wife pick him up.

Afterwards, Carisi asks that they believe the guy; Fin does. Rollins says TARU ran the number he called and it is a burner. Benson says Torie said she’d rather go to jail, he attacked her pimp and tried to escape; they may be looking at trafficking. Carisi wonders if Doll House is in the database, but Fin suggests they go to the source – he has a friend in Vice that may be able to help. Benson tells them to check it out.



At Manhattan South Vice on Monday, February 11, Sgt. Phoebe Baker states to Fin and Carisi that the internet moved traditional street trade indoors so now they target more obvious fronts. Fin calls them as the “Thai rub-tug” joints, and Phoebe asks if there is something he wants to confess. Carisi asks her if she and Fin go way back, and she replies yes, to Fin’s narco days when he had to work for a living. Fin comments she’s been busting his balls for over 20 years. She laughs, then asks what did the john call this place. Fin replies “Doll House”. Phoebe comments that these operations are getting wise; the pop-up brothels are the new frontiers. Carisi adds they open for a few days, maybe a week, constantly changing locations. Phoebe agrees, stating that the Feds, in their infinite wisdom, decided to shut down Backpage, they became even tougher to track. Carisi questions that they could have kept the site open, saying it facilitates prostitution. Money laundering, and sex trafficking. Phoebe counters they call it the oldest profession for a reason – they went on line, now you have to know where to look, and lucky for them, she does. She brings up the web site for the Doll House and Fin asks her to blow up the image. He sees the picture of Torie, and Carisi says they could have changed the ad. Phoebe suggests they do a sting and use her team and Fin says they need to get a warrant ASAP. Carisi says he thinks he knows just the guy.


Fin, Carisi and Phoebe meet with Judge Kofax, who is dining with Judge Barth. Judge Barth explains they are just two colleagues grabbing an after-work cocktail. Kofax signs the warrant and tells them to nail the bastards. As Fin and Carisi walk off, Phoebe comments to Fin it reminds her of their “after-work” drinks.


Later, Phoebe, with Fin explains the no-knock warrant to a team of ESU officers. Fin says they are hitting apartment 4E and there is most likely muscle inside. Rollins arrives and explains the super unlocked the back door, and Carisi asks if they are good to proceed, Fin says “Let’s go ruin their night.” The enter the building and quietly go up the stairs. They break down the door but find the apartment empty. Fin thinks they knew they were coming.

Back at SVU, the detectives are in Benson’s office; Carisi thinks they have a mole. Phoebe tells him to watch who he blames, SVU knew about the raid too. As Carisi and Phoebe begin to argue, Benson tells them not to jump to conclusions. Fin tells Fin the operation was run through her squad, but she reminds him that he came to her and maybe they made him for a cop off his texts, wonder how his UC skills are working these days. Rollins tells her to calm down, and Phoebe tells her to calm down; cops don’t railroad other cops. Fin says, “Up goes the blue wall of silence” and Benson intervenes, telling them to stop. She states either they knew they were coming or they got a bad feeling and changed things up just to be safe. She says they are on to them now. Rollins thinks they will go underground. Carisi hears from ballistics; the gun next to Torie’s body belonged to a heroin dealer that was killed in a drug bust. When Fin says “Salt meet wound”, Carisi counters that gun was bagged and tagged to evidence and is supposed to be sitting in the property clerk’s office. Phoebe says the only one who would have access to it…Benson finishes that it would be a cop.


Carisi and Rollins speak with the property clerk who thinks ballistics screwed up. He looks at his records who says that gun is on a box on a shelf in the back. Rollins asks him to humor them and look, and the clerk brings out the box, but there is no gun, just a brick in the evidence bag.


Meanwhile, Fin speaks with Phoebe about this and shows her the letter of transmittal where the bust was made by her squad on November 12. She says he is saying one of her cops made the switch, and he says it is her move. She asks for him to give her a second. She walks around her squad room and approaches Officer Gujjar to ask who went into lockup on November 12. He says it was Bromland, Fisher, and Ramirez. She calls them the Mensa Society of Midtown Manhattan. She explains this to Fin and says they are all good cops. He counters one of them isn’t. She asks for a second and Fin states he has to report to his Lieutenant. She gets it but asks to hold off calling IAB. He nods.

Back at SVU, Benson tells Fin they have to let IAB handle it, but he says not yet. He doesn’t think Phoebe is involved but if her people are she wants to clean her own house. They have history and he owes her that. Benson states as long as they stay on top of it; she wants surveillance on all three cops.


As Carisi and Fin watch Ramirez, Fin doesn’t like it. Rollins is watching Bromland who seems to be having a dinner party. Carisi wonders if the cops were set up. Phoebe enters the car and says she trailed Fisher, he went from his place to the precinct and he is on night shift, thinking there is no way he’s doing the dirty on the clock. Fin wonders about Ramirez but Phoebe thinks he is a good cop. The see him leave the building and he stops at the top step. A van pulls up and Ramirez helps a girls out of the van. Carisi says they found their dirty cop, and Phoebe says “son of a bitch.” She says they need to get a warrant, and when Carisi says that Kofax knows the case, Phoebe says she parked around the block and she will text Carisi. She gets out of the car. Fin calls Rollins and then she says the lights are out at Bromland’s apartment, he is not going anywhere and she is on her way.

Carisi says to Fin that she senses there is some history with him and Phoebe Baker. He says there is. Carisi prods for more and Fin says after his divorce, she was the first and was good to him. But dealing with his wife and kid, he wasn’t ready for anything serious and it ended up messy. Carisi says that was then, this is now, she’s seems pretty great. Fin asks how long does it take to get a warrant, and Carisi knows Fin has just ended the discussion. Fin gets on his phone and comments for Phoebe to answer the phone. Carisi sees something going on at the apartment and Fin calls that it is going down, telling the others via radio to move. Other squad cars race in and Rollins asks Carisi what happened and he replies no idea. As Fin, Carisi and Rollins enter the building and race up the stairs, Carisi radios for backup. The apartment door is unlocked and Fin enters, announcing they are NYPD. The find only a girl laying on a bed, unconscious, Rollins thinks she is too high to run. Fin says Phoebe is downstairs, and Rollins calls for a bus as she tries to wake up the girl.


Outside the building, Phoebe asks what happened, and Fin tells her to tell them. Carisi thinks someone tipped off Ramirez again. Fin asks where has she been, and Phoebe says she was getting a warrant. He asks why she didn’t answer her cell. She asks if he thinks she had something to do with it. He replies that they need to talk and she is upset he thinks this. He says, “right now” as he walks off. She has a look of incredulity as she follows him.


They sit down in a restaurant and he asks if she is telling the truth. She says yes and reminds him he used to call her Phoebe. He asks if she thinks this is funny; she thinks he is out of his mind if he thinks she had anything to do with this. She denies tipping off Ramirez and says she was with Kofax in Maxwells in the back where she doesn’t have cell service. She says, “screw you, you know me” and he counters he used to. She gets up to walk off and he explains one of the girls was left behind, a blond in her 20s on the nod. She says she doesn’t know anything about any girls. Fin replies that’s good, because when she comes to, they will show Phoebe’s picture. She tells him to do that and then go screw himself – again. She leaves.

Back at SVU, Benson hears Ramirez is the dirty cop, and when Fin says maybe not the only one, Rollins says they are not sure yet. Fin wonders that Phoebe is the mole. Benson comments that is not what he said yesterday. Fin hopes he is wrong, she denies it. Benson is shocked he talked to her alone, without IAB or backup. Fin insists he knows what he is doing. Rollins says Anne Kuzmin, the girl, was left behind, 25, with a record for solicitation and possession and Fin says they need to see if she can ID Baker. If she can, he will call IAB himself.

Benson enters the interview room where Rollins is waiting with Anne. They know she needs a fix. They show her photos and she says she can’t. Benson assures her that will help and protect her and she identifies Carlos, who they call Poppy. He runs Doll House and gets them drugs and she just does what he says, he has a gun. She is from Massachusetts, she ran away to New York when she was 15. She met Carlos a year ago on the streets and tried to get clean after she got busted. She went to NA and met a cop who said she was in recovery. Benson and Rollins give each other a look. Anne says the cop’s nickname was Fee, and she introduced her to Carlos. She adds that at first it wasn’t bad but then when you needed another fix they made you work for it and if you didn’t want to they would threaten to call the cops on you and bust you for parole violation. A few nights ago one of the girls tried to get away and they pushed her off the roof and he would do the same to them if they tried to run. She identifies Torie from her photo. They show her more photos to try to ID the cop, but she couldn’t ID any of them, including Phoebe’s photo, even when Benson presses her hard on Phoebe’s photo.

Afterwards, Fin and Carisi join Rollins and Benson in her office, and Fin hears it was not Phoebe. Benson says they could be looking at another female cop, asking who were the officers on Anne’s last arrest. Rollins states it was Darla Davis and Mack O’Bannon, patrol officers at the 21st. Carisi volunteers to check to see if there is any connection between Ramirez and Vice. Benson says they know Ramirez is involved so he is ground zero and asks Fin if he is on speaking terms with Baker. He replies not yet. She tells him it is time to apologize.

Fin and Carisi meet with Phoebe who is annoyed that now they want her help. She asks why should she trust her, especially Fin. Fin says because of their history he held her to a higher standard and he should have known - that is not who she is, and he apologizes. He says they have to nail the bastards.

Carisi and Phoebe have a discussion standing right by Ramirez as he gets coffee. They speak loudly about Stone offering a deal so the girl can name names, and she is at Rikers. Carisi says he just wanted to give her the heads up. Phoebe comments to Ramirez about the bad coffee and he suggests he go make a run for some.

As Ramirez leaves, Carisi and Fin tail him. Fin wonders where he is going, and Carisi thinks to meet his handler. Ramirez walks up to a car and Judge Kofax steps out. Fin is stunned.

Back at SVU, Benson says she’s never heard a hint of impropriety with Judge Kofax, asking if he is sure.  Carisi  and Rollins cite cases where the Judge has supervised in drug court. Fin says Vice asked for warrants of over 100 pop-up brothels in the past year and 14 raids were tipped off, all of those, Kofax signed the warrants. Carisi adds when they fed Ramirez the fake info, he went straight to Kofax. Benson says they will deny it and claim a coincidence, saying it is all circumstantial. She states if they are going to after a sitting judge, they cannot afford to miss.

In the chambers of Judge Elana Barth at 60 Center Street on Thursday, February 14, she speaks with Kofax about Anne Kuzmin. He thinks she can be saved, and asks her for one last chance. She says he knows she can’t do that. He says her arraignment is today and it will not do her any good to be behind bars. He says he wouldn’t ask her this if he didn’t believe this was the right thing to do. She looks at him with love and says she can never say no to him. He gives her a peck on the cheek and kisses her hand, and leaves. She looks less than thrilled.


At the courthouse in the hall, Fin and Carisi stop Kofax and ask him to come with them. He asks what the hell is this, and Carisi plays a recording on his phone of what he just said to Judge Barth. Kofax says whatever they are thinking, they are wrong. Barth approaches and says no, they’re not. She tells the detectives whatever else they need to let her know. He walks off with them with some reluctance.

Later, Fin and Phoebe watch a group of people being taken to jail and watch as Ramirez is taken out of the van. She glares at him and turns away.


In SVU interrogation, Kofax, there with his attorney, says they have no evidence, and Carisi counters to trust him, they have plenty, otherwise he wouldn’t be sitting there. Benson shows him the photos of Ramirez, Officer Felicia Taggart, and Devon Jones, who are all being arraigned as they speak. Carisi adds they all told IAB that Kofax was the mastermind of the whole operation. He says that is ridiculous, but Carisi says they gave every detail on how he hand-picked vulnerable girls and got the cops to do his dirty work. He calls it testimony of co-conspirators, they don’t know the real story. Benson states that Judge Barth is cooperating, and so is his wife. He testily states his wife doesn’t know anything. Carisi says they will find the money, it’s over. The attorney, Diane, suggests it’s time to call in the ADA, and Kofax tells her to be quiet. He states there is no money, he didn’t take a dime, he was helping those girls. Benson questions he did it by trafficking them and using their addiction as a weapon. He angrily states they wanted a fix, he just gave them what they wanted. He took care of them. Benson shows him a photo of a dead Torie, and Anne, who survived by the skin of her teeth and there are four others under his care and protection and his courtroom. He states he protected all of them, and when Benson questions how, he says like they were his own daughters. He angrily mentions four names, saying they were all dead already. Benson and Carisi look disgusted, and Carisi asks what is he talking about? Kofax says their souls were dead. The minute they walked into his courtroom – junkies, addicts, thieves – stealing their own lives and futures from their parents who loved them. He shouts that he kept them safe and made sure they had good clean doses, no ODs and kept them alive. His attorney tells him that’s enough, but he goes on, screaming it is never enough, they are dead inside. Their eyes are dead, if they’re still breathing. Benson looks on with shock and Kofax goes on, saying if their heart was beating there was still a chance. Carisi shoots Benson a look as Kofax rants about giving Delia that chance, and when Carisi asks about Delia, Kofax says she was 16 when she overdosed. It did not have to end that way with her body in the ground, cold, alone. His little girl. He cries.


Later, Fin gets off the phone and tells the others that Kofax took a deal and will get 25 years. Carisi comments at his age, that’s life. Fin states with what he did, he deserves it, daughter or no daughter. Rollins says that speaking of, she had to get the sitter off the clock, and gets up to leave. She says it will be pizza night tonight at the Rollins house. Carisi gets up to leave and says there is nothing wrong with pizza, and she says she’d love to see him if he doesn’t have other plans. He says later he does but first he can come by and say hello. She asks Fin along but he says he is meeting somebody. He looks at his watch.

Meanwhile, Benson waits for Anne at an NA meeting, who says she is starting her program again. Benson says she is proud of her. The other girls are in recovery and they went to Torie’s funeral. One of her foster brothers said he is working to clear her drug charges, and Benson says she can help with that. Anne thanks her for checking up on her, and Benson says she will get through this, and she is sorry for everything that has happened to her. She adds that the system is far from perfect but it can work. She says Anne can make whatever life for herself that she wants. Anne asks Benson if she really believes that, and Benson replies she does. Anne nods and thanks her and walks off.


Fin and Phoebe have drinks at a bar, and Phoebe makes a toast to teamwork. He asks if she is going to be okay, and she replies that seeing Ramirez go down was like a gut punch and she has a lot of explaining to do to her captain, but yeah. He apologizes for how he treated her, and she said he (already) apologized. He said he means how he treated her 20 years ago. She say, “Oh THAT.” He explains he was getting over his marriage, it wasn’t fair and it became her problem. She calls it water under the bridge, and he says he is not that same guy any more. She says “Good. I’m not that same girl, either.” He says he was thinking – if she is into it – maybe they can try again. She looks surprised, saying she is flattered but she is seeing someone now. Fin, awkwardly laughs and says he is sorry. She says she is not sure he is the one but they are good together and she is supposed to meet him now, asking if he wants to come. He declines. She smiles and says it was good to see him, and he replies “you too.” She tells him to take care, and she leaves. Fin sits alone, looking away blankly, as we fade to black.


Cast:
Mariska Hargitay - Lieutenant Olivia Benson
Ice-T - Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Peter Scanavino - Detective Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr.
Philip Winchester – ADA Peter Stone


Guest stars:
Jennifer Esposito - Sgt. Phoebe Baker
John Rothman - Judge Kofax
Jenna Stern - Judge Barth
Rebecca Forsyth - Anne Kuzmin
Baylen Thomas – Collum O’Connor
Suzette Gunn - Felicia Taggert
Robert LuPone – Mr. Paretto
Joanne Baron - Counselor Diane Schwartz
Adrian Alvarado - Carlos Ramirez.
Dwelvan David - Devon Jones
Patrick Halley – Case Manager Morris
David Bachman – Leon Larue
Sophie Lee Morris – Torie Meeks
Paul Bomba – Bobby Nardone
William Oliver Watkins – Mido Hamid
Misha Whalen – ADA Alice Schultz
Michael Quattrone – Jimmy Perillo
Michael Bernardi – Host
Giuseppe Ardizzone - Shaan Gujjar
Dave Adams – Point ESU




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12 comments:

Carrie Long said...

I thought this episode was pretty good, but I agree with you on every one of your counts: The timeline between last week's episode and this week, which is 24 hours apart, made Part 33 a WASTE of time if they weren't going to go through with it.

I also found myself angered by Rollins, who not only took just 3 weeks away, but also was so cold about the case. Such comments shouldn't belong on a show like this.

And leave it to the writers to give Fin a whole episode for once (which was great and refreshing) and then break his heart at the very end. He deserves better, damnit! I want to see him be loved by someone before the series ends.

It was refreshing as well to see Judge Barth outside the courtroom. The last episode like that I can recall seeing was from Season 1.

Jennifer Esposito did great! I'm frankly not surprised. She added a layer of intrigue to the episode and made it better.

I was also surprised that Stone missed out on this episode! Isn't that one of the first times this season?

All in all, this was a good episode and I can't wait for next week's "450th" (you know why i put 450 in air quotes) episode with Cassidy!!

Na said...

I am not big fan of Rollins at all. she just screw up person day one when she came to SVU. She just mess up person that SVU doesn't deserve. She doesn't care. She is mean and hateful person. Look her now, two kids with two different fathers.
Miss stone.
Congratulations for Philip Winchester and his family. New baby girl.

Sonny Honey said...

Count me in when it comes to the disparity between episodes (this week vs. last). I too felt that there should have been a loose end that was addressed before the beginning of this episode - even if it was only a line or two. I did enjoy the pairing of Fin & Esposito; her acting as a former cop working with Fin in the past was believable... not so sure I bought into the storyline of then having a "thing" right after his divorce; I found that a little harder to believe. Like many posts on this site, I have issues with the Rollins character, at least the way she is being portrayed. I'm NOT dissing Kelli Giddish. Her character on CHASE was a strong-willed, determined, self-sufficient likeable female, so we know she is capable of playing one. I'm having a hard time figuring out what it is the writers want her portrayed as? Across storylines, she comes across as a woman with little regard to herself or her future. She sleeps around and seems ok with one-night stands without protection, has a gambling \ drinking addiction, doesn't seem to be in a hurry to get home to her (2) kids and goes off the deep end at work fairly regularly. If someone like that worked where I do she'd be referred to as your typical 'trainwreck'. Really not sure where the writers are going with this. I can see a future episode with Dr Al kidnapping either baby Billie, Rollins or both but Please, Please, PLEASE don't put Carisi in the middle of her drama playing the savior. The fact that he was willing to stop by to see the new baby in last night's episode and then "had someone to see" left me hope that there might be some separation of these two characters - for the better, IMO. Bottom line for last night's show - wasn't the best - wasn't the worst. Still would prefer they stick with writers' creativity for story lines and stay away from the 'ripped from the headlines' episodes.

Laurie F said...

I liked the episode. It's been so long since Fin/Ice-T got an episode that put him in the spotlight. The end, though. Poor Fin. He looked so encouraged that he connected with Phoebe again and then WHAM, there was no chance. We can hope maybe down the road things will change. I wouldn't mind seeing Jennifer Esposito again, Phoebe and Fin had decent chemistry.

That judge, what a crazy nut. Turning young women over to people that can give them better quality drugs? How wacko is that? Could he have claimed he had a mental breakdown because of the way his daughter died? He deserved the 25 years, I was just shocked that he couldn't have claimed some mental impairment to get less.

Good catch on the time stamps on the two episodes. It was weird everything was back to normal with no mention of the conflict and when you mentioned there was only one day in time between episodes, it makes it even weirder, like if the fighting never happened. Why have a big fight and make all the drama if you aren't going to use it again in the next episode. Who's fault is that, the showrunner (who also wrote Part 33) or one of the producers who helped write this episode? Don't they talk to each other or plan out what will happen with the characters between episodes for continuity? Sloppy.

That photo array that Benson showed to Anne, it's wrong for her to point out one person out of the array. Benson should know better.

Sonny Honey said...

Can someone please tell Mariska to stop whispering when she is trying to make a point, like at the end of last night's episode. SO ANNOYING!

gayle said...

Reminded me of some of the "classic" Stabler era episodes. Emphasis on the crime.less on the soap opera. I sensed that Phoebe was faking it about having another guy. She just needs to sort out her feelings about Fin before resuming any non-professional partnership.

SVUFAN#1 said...

It was a decent episode for season 20, but I still just felt it wasn't in the same league as seasons 1-15. All the same, not bad.
A couple things
1. I'm glad I'm not the only one bothered by the continuity errors. I was looking forward to seeing some tension after the trial, but they all just acted like nothing was wrong.
2. I have to admit I was surprised that the judge was the one behind it. Knowing how SVU works I should have realized he was behind it, but I never suspected him.
3. YES TO FINN-FOCUSED EPISODES! But I really hope they continue the Phoebe story line, not just because I like Jennifer Esposito, but because Finn deserves love.
4. Nice to see judge Barth again. As I always say, seeing recurring/ old characters always improves the episode, I only wish we could have seen a bit more of her.
5. Speaking of recurring characters, very excited to see Dean Winters guest starring. But does anyone else suspect that as he's clearly involved with this case (as he was molested when he was a kid) that he's going to be the suspect. Cassidy has already been the suspect in one rape and one murder case, so I hope they don't do it. Also, please BENSIDY! I do love Olivia being portrayed as a strong, independent female character, but she deserves someone just as Finn does

BensonFan said...

When you have to write like 22 episodes a year, I guess some are not going to be that great. "Brothel" was one of those episodes where it felt like the writers were running out of ideas.

It was obvious to me from the beginning that the judge was involved because there was more focus on him rather than just the standard courtroom "Overuled" or "One more word and I'll find you in contempt."

Rollins has always bristled at caring about prostitutes as victims, and I must say it's really off-putting. Especially in this #MeToo era, I have little patience for shaming or not caring about victims of sexual assault no matter who they are. It's really beneath Amanda, in my opinion. She knows better. Are we gearing up for more revelations about her past or do the writers and producers feel they have to offer some "both sides" bs, considering some people might not think prostitutes worthy of compassion or even a police investigation into their death.

Eric and Jennifer said...

Am I the only one who noticed that Fin had a wedding ring on while asking the lady out at the end? I know he’s married in real life but not on the show. I’m confused.

Chris Zimmer said...

@Eric and Jennifer - he's worn that ring in many episodes. I think it is his real wedding ring. Not sure but they look similar based on the few photos I've seen.

Tommy Belhasen said...

This would be, hopefully, Kofax's wife's response to him when she hears about his motivation (this is copied from a famous movie; points to whoever gets the reference): Delia is dead, Edward! For the first time in my life, you know, I'm glad! If she could see what you've become, I think she'd probably overdose all over again!

nikcrown said...

Lieutenant Rollis is a great woman and a great cop! She is not the classic stereotype either as a woman or as a policewoman of the Special Victims Unit (because sometimes she says what she thinks about certain "victims", who are, but who also often "choose" a certain type of life...). She is not the 'typical stereotype', but precisely for this reason 'unique'! And then she's beautiful too, which doesn't hurt...😉.