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Friday, May 10, 2019

Law & Order SVU “Assumptions” Recap & Review


Law & Order SVU “Assumptions” had everyone making assumptions, but that’s somewhat normal for every case. Most investigations start with few facts and the detectives often get to the truth using assumptions to fill in the blanks. In this case,  there are more assumptions than normal, some which steer them in the wrong direction.  There's been an apparent sexual assault (Stone states the rape kit was inconclusive) against a Muslim New York City councilwoman which occurred in a synagogue, allegedly perpetrated by two Jewish teens.  That sounds like enough right there, but wait, there's more!   The boys ran from the scene as they assumed they would be found guilty. A witness assumed a red cap one of them wore was a MAGA cap and that they shouted a slur at her, both of which were incorrect. The councilwoman hides key pieces of information as she assumes it would destroy her family and career (we know it doesn’t destroy her family). The detectives look at a section of video evidence and assume that the boys were the instigators in a conflict at a protest outside the councilwoman’s office. The whole video reveals the facts regarding the boys and later helps to prove that the councilwoman’s ex-husband is a liar and a rapist.

The victim wasn’t exactly sympathetic once it became clear that she took advantage of the protest to further her own agenda. It was made worse when it’s revealed she’s hiding that she is a lesbian for fear of losing her position and family. It seemed Stone was having some difficulty with the councilwoman's story but once the facts became clear regarding her assault, he was zealous in getting her justice.

Overall, this was a solid, well-written episode with MUCH visual interest. The latter is one thing that I think Michael Chernuchin and the production team have brought to SVU this season and I hope we continue to see this in season 21 when under "new management".

I enjoy seeing Peter Gallagher as Chief Dodds; he brings great energy to every episode and I wish we’d see him more often. Along that line, the more interesting parts of the episode involved the release of Rob Miller from jail, and then his later appearance at a restaurant where Benson and Noah are dining. Titus Welliver plays creepy like no one else can.  His return in this episode is a sizzling tease for the season finale!




Here is the recap:

Two teen boys run out of a synagogue and a woman stops them, saying she saw them running out. She asks what they were doing there, saying she is calling the cops. They run off, but not before one of the boys knocks the woman over.

Benson, at home, is watching the news on TV and hears, to her surprise, that Rob Miller, the disgraced NYPD attorney, has been released on bail. She hears his lawyer proclaim his innocence, hoping for a favorable ruling. Benson says, “Son of a bitch” and Noah calls out “Mom! Mom!” to her to get her attention. He asks if she is mad at him and she is not, be he knows she is mad. She admits it, but not at him. She asks what is up. He asks for help on how to spell “believe” as she watches Rob seemingly stare at her through the TV screen. She shakes her head.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Meyers, who saw the two white boys, one wearing a MAGA hat, makes a statement to police. She mentions anti-Semitic incidents that recently occurred at the synagogue. At first the police see nothing inside the synagogue but soon find a woman unconscious on the floor and they call for a bus and SVU.

Later, Rollins and Carisi are on the scene and hear the woman was a Muslim and her name is Nahla Nasar. Carisi recognizes the name as a councilwoman. Rollins comments she’s been in the news a lot lately, Carisi adding it was for making anti-Semitic remarks. Rollins wonders what she was doing in a temple. As she is been wheeled out by the EMT, Carisi asks Nahla what happened. She explains she was set up, by “those people”, motioning to the synagogue.


In the morning, Benson arrives to meet Chief Dodds, who is just stepping out of his car. He asks that Nahla was set up by Jews. Benson explains that’s what she told the detectives, and an eyewitness saw two boys fleeing the scene, one wearing a MAGA hat. Dodds says it gets better and better. Reporters outside pepper them with questions about it being a hate crime and the asking for details, one mentioning Nasar is an anti-Semite. Dodds says rest assured the NYPD does not tolerate bigotry or hate motivated violence of any kind. He and Benson move inside the building.


As they walk in the door, Dodds tells Benson to fasten their seat belts. He adds they haven’t even discussed Rob Miller yet, asking if she heard. Benson says yes - that he is out on bail – stating she would have appreciated a heads up. Dodds comments he only saw it on the news himself. Rollins and Carisi are waiting inside, and Benson asks how is Miss Nasar. Rollins explains she is being treated for a concussion and they are doing a rape kit. Dodds wonders if they have any idea of why she was in that synagogue, and Carisi replies not yet, but her chief of staff just got there, her name is Aida Galanis. Benson tells them to find out what she knows, and Dodds tells them to ask her not to make any statements to the press, they don’t need this blowing up any more that it already has. Dodds and Benson get in the elevator,

Rollins and Carisi speak with Aida Galanis who explains Nahla is passionate about her beliefs and is exercising her rights to criticize Israel, saying she is not anti-Semitic. Carisi says his understanding people got offended by her choice of words, and Rollins says that aside, they need to find out why she was at that synagogue. Aida does not know. Carisi reminds her she is chief of staff, and Aida says Nahla can be a very private person and she respects her boundaries. Rollins asks about recent threats, and Aida explains their office is besieged by protesters and they get dozens of hate-spewing calls a day. No one said they want to rape her. Rollins asks for phone and email records and any threats made on social media. Aida comments she hopes they need the overtime. She is sick about what happened but the only upside is that everyone will realize she is the true victim here.

Meanwhile, Nahla enters the hospital room where Benson and Dodds are waiting. They offer their apologies but she explains her parents are from Syria and she knows what woman and girls have endured in the wars zones and she won’t feel sorry for herself. Benson offers help and Nahla says to catch who did this. When Benson asks what she remembers from the attack, Nahla says she was alone in the sanctuary looking at the cabinet for the Torah scrolls. It felt like a place of reverence on godliness. Then she was struck violently on the back of the head and she fell to the ground. She pauses and cries, saying he pinned her down, he was rough and he tore off her hijab and pulled up her skirt and forced himself inside her. He did not say anything, she did not see his face or know when he left. She must have passed out. Benson comments she told her detectives she was set up and asks why was she in the synagogue, and Nahla says she was lured there by a man pretending to want peace. She was lied to by a Zionist.



At the Holocaust Exhibit Room at Amsterdam Ave. Synagogue at 350 West 89th Street on Friday, April 26, Fin and Carisi hear from Ezra Zuckerman that some members of the congregation had an issue with the congresswoman and he asked her to walk through the exhibit. He thought if she could see these images she would understand how hurtful her words are. She said she would be there at 8PM and they were supposed to meet in the front office and she never showed. He waited until 8:20-8:25 and he called her office several times, no answer, so he went home. Carisi mentions the witness and the teens and asks if he’s had a vandalism problem. He said two weeks ago someone spray painted bigoted symbols and messages and they were working on putting a security system but not soon enough. The facilities manager unlocked the room and there was a youth group meeting, and recalls he saw two boys in the bathroom before he left. Carisi explains they will need their names. He says what happened to Nahla was horrible but what she was saying - repeating tropes and normalizing anti-Semitism – that’s how it started in Germany.

Later, Fin and Carisi are outside a brownstone, and Fin asks Carisi why can’t she say what she wants? Carisi replies she can, that is the First Amendment, but imagine if she said these things about African-Americans. Fin counters he doesn’t pay attention to ignorant people. Carisi says that’s fine, the world doesn’t work that way, words have consequences. Fin continues to knock on the door, and adds then it is free speech until you piss off somebody, then it’s hate speech. Carisi gets a sheepish look. The door opens and a man asks if he can help them. Carisi introduces themselves and say they are looking for Ari Kaplan. He says this is his son and calls out for him. When Ari gets there Carisi asks that he and another boy were are the synagogue and Ari says they didn’t touch her. Fin and Carisi tell him he needs to come with them – right now. Ari and his father look concerned.

Benson steps off the 5th floor elevator at SVU and Rollins is waiting, apologizing for dragging her back in. Rollins shows her the info on Ari Kaplan and Michael Schwartz, who were caught on the security cam and are members of the synagogue. They were there for a meeting about their birthright trip to Israel. It is not a MAGA cap, it is a high school logo red cap and Esther Meyers said she may have misunderstood the name Mike for a slur. Benson and Rollins walk into her office and Benson asks if they have anything to do with Nahla Nasar’s assault. Rollins replies they claim she was already laying unconscious on the floor when they walked through the sanctuary. Benson wonders why didn’t they call the police. She turns on the speaking to the interrogation room. Air is telling Carisi that they freaked out and the thought they’d blame them. Carisi asks why would she blame him, and Ari claims it’s because she’s an anti-Semite. Ari’s father says he has no great love for Nahla, but his son didn’t rape her. He claims he is a good boy. Carisi asks then who left her bleeding on the temple floor, saying he’s not sure god would agree with him. Ari raises his voice and wonders what was she even doing in there, adding it’s like she was deliberately trying to…his father stops him from saying any more. But Carisi suggest he can finish, that he’s a big boy. He prompts him by asking “Deliberately trying to what?” and Ari finished “To provoke us.” Carisi questions if she did, because he sees a lot of anger, and, raising his voice, says she had her skull SMASHED IN and her hijab was torn off. Ari denies doing this, and Carisi suggests it was his buddy, Michael. He tries to encourage him to come clean before his buddy gives him up. Ari sits back in the chair with a look of resignation.

Meanwhile, Fin speaks with Michael and his mother and he denies everything. His mother implies that Nahla is a terrorist and then says her son isn’t answering any more questions without a lawyer.

Afterward, in her office, Benson asks Rollins what are they looking at. Rollins mentions they have motive an opportunity and their social media pages are full of anti- Nahla posts. Carisi adds not advocating violence, saying they are straight A students with no records. Rollins adds there is nothing on security cams or DNA evidence. She asks Fin where is he on all this, and he replies he sees racism all around. Benson tells them to release them back into the custody of their parents and see if Nahla can make an ID.

At the Office of City Councilwoman Nahla Nasar at New York City Hall in City Hall Park on Monday, April 29, Aida tells Rollins and Carisi this was a hate-rape and asks if the NYPD is afraid of being accused of anti-Semitism Nahla is speaking to another woman about legislation about an eviction and when the woman leaves, Rollins and Carisi move to have Nahla make a photo ID. Aida says Nahla told them she didn’t see anyone but Nahla cooperates, but saying she didn’t see his face. She stops on the faces of Ari and Michael, mentioning he was protesting outside her office the same day with a group of students. Ari grabbed her hijab and spat in her face, saying they are islamophobes, it is in their blood. She thinks one of those body must have raped her.


Back at SVU, Benson hears this new information and comments to Carisi and Fin that the boys neglected to mention it. Fin says they said it would make them look guilty, and Benson says it does. Carisi said they said Nahla was the one who started the confrontation. When Benson asks if anyone can confirm what happened, Rollins explains they are canvassing the neighborhood and maybe somebody saw the incident. Dodds rushes in and says someone definitely saw, telling them to go to MetroBuzz web site. They see a recording of the event posted a hour before. Ari touched her hijab and Nahla accuses him of trying to rip it off and then she tries to incite the crowd. The news post also said SVU arrested two Jewish teenagers. Benson says they’ve made no arrests. Dodds says someone leaked that they did. He comments it was Jewish students planning a trip to Israel and things would have been a lot easier if it weren’t for some alt-right thugs. Benson and the detectives look at each other, surprised and silent.

At the office of MetroBuzz at 29 East 12th Street on Monday, April 29, the reporter states he doesn’t know who raped Nahla Nasar. Carisi counters that his news feed reported that they arrested two Jewish teenagers. When the reporter says “So?”, Fin says it wasn’t true, asking who told him that. The reporter explains he can’t give up his sources. Fin comments that his sources are liars. The reporter knows they are pissed, saying the NYPD likes to control the narrative. Carisi thinks that it’s when somebody is deliberately trying to manipulate that narrative. The reporter says this is not his problem. But Carisi disagrees, saying he is a news organization and supposed to be interested in the truth, or at least pretend that they are. But the reporter thinks there are a lot of different truths out there. He asks them if they have any more questions, adding he’s got work to do. He turns and walks away but Carisi, annoyed, follows him, along with Fin. Carisi does have a question about the video he took outside the city councilwoman’s office and Fin wonders that those two teens just happened to be front and center. The reporter explains they spit in her face and tried to tear off her hijab, saying that is newsworthy. Carisi asks how did he happen to be right there when it all went down, and he says he just got lucky. When Fin questions it was lucky, he explains he’s been covering the councilwoman’s story and knew things would get ugly eventually as people always show their true colors. Carisi comments that the reporter would be right there with his news crew. Fin and Carisi leave.

Later, Stone is in a bar having a drink with Benson and they are watching the video, Stone says it doesn’t look good for the boys. Benson comments that the boys claim she started the whole thing. The news story shows someone interviewing Nahla and Stone asks to turn the volume up. Nahla comments she is angry as half the media is portraying her as an anti-Semite but she was the one who was target, saying the men descended on her office and she tried to diffuse the situation. She went to their synagogue in good faith and that is where she was sexually assaulted. Carisi walks in as Stone says Nahla is pouring gas on the fire. Carisi says maybe more than that; he has been looking at Nahla’s office phone records and he found an outgoing call to MetroBuzz from her desk line at 3:30. He shows a photo from the protest with the clock tower showing that the confrontation with the boys happened at 4:15 and it would take somebody about 20 minutes to get from MetroBuzz to Nahla’s office and a few minutes for the whole thing to develop. Benson thinks Nahla called MetroBuzz, alerts them to what will go down, thinking she orchestrated the whole thing, calling it a hoax. Stone wonders if that is not the only hoax.

Benson and Stone arrive at Nahla’s office and bring up the phone call from Nahla’s office to MetroBuzz and that they think she set this up. She said she didn’t know the students would be there and Stone said she exploited the situation. Nahla comments that everybody is so worried about the Jews. Benson says they are trying to make sense of things, asking why would she call MetroBuzz before it happened. Nahla mentions others have access to her office and Stone says they would also be motivated to further her political career. She gets indignant, seeing where this is going, saying they think she is lying about her sexual assault. Benson states absolutely not. Stone comments she could not describe her attacker and the rape kit was inconclusive. Benson shoots Stone a look. Nahla raises her voice and says this is an outrageous accusation and wonders if her head scarf has something to do with it. Benson says let’s not go there, saying that is just not true. She says what would help is if she gave their techs access to her phone records. Nahla says she will do no such thing, adding she thought the days of police calling rape victims liars were over, and guesses she was mistaken.

As they exit the office, Benson and Stone are met by reporters shouting questions. Stone says their investigation is on-going. As they walk off, Benson says this has taken on a life all its own and Stone replies mix rape and religion. Benson comments Nahla could be hiding something on her cell phone, and Stone says he will get a subpoena. Benson thinks this will play into Nahla’s account that she is the one being persecuted. He says to grab whatever records she can from her service provider and in the meantime he will go after MetroBuzz.

Back at SVU, Carisi asks Stone how he got MetroBuzz to give him the whole tape. Stone says the judge agreed it was a staged publicity stunt and not a protected act of journalism. They watch the video and Fin notices Nahla headed straight into the hornet’s nest. It appears Nahla is taunting Ari. Stone says it’s no wonder they only posted the second half, and Carisi says this is overt provocation. Rollins adds MetroBuzz is making Nahla look like the victim. Carisi wonders why Ari would retaliate by raping her, and Rollins counters he looked enraged. Fin wonders if she hired someone to stage the assault. Stone states if that is the case, she will be the one in handcuffs.

Later, Dodds is in Benson’s office, and she mentions that Rob Miller’s attorney served her with a subpoena last night – at home. She hands it to Dodds who says Miller is trying to intimidate her. Benson questions trying, he had a state trooper pull her over with Noah in the car; Nikki Staines is terrified and she won’t testify; he raped her and he’s going to get away with it. Dodds tells her to let him worry about Rob Miller, right now the man needs to know they are making progress on Nahla Nasar. Benson explains they are working on it, and he tells her to work faster. He comments he hasn’t had a chance to ask her before, asking if she read the memo. She says she did. He asks that he assumes if she had an issue with it she would let him know, and Benson replies yes, she would have. He nods and moves to leave, acknowledging Rollins who is standing at the door. Rollins asks Benson if she is okay, and Benson says to just tell her they have something on Nahla’s case. Rollins explains Verizon turned over the call logs and there’s nothing on the day in question but the night before there are a lot of calls to a certain 917 number. Benson wonders if the story is fabricated this could be her accomplice.

At Meow Mix 2.0 Lounge at 89 Perry Street on Wednesday, May 1, Carisi comments to Fin that the phone is registered to a Tracy Lawson. Fin asks that Carisi knows what this place is, and Carisi thinks a pet store. Fin says far from it. Inside the lesbian bar, Fin asks the bartender to talk to Tracy Lawson and she tells him Tracy is the owner and she is not there now. Carisi asks where can they find her, and is asked what is this about. Fin says it is police business, and she comments that is vague. Carisi comments he’s thirsty and they decide to just sit there to wait and ask for drinks and the bartender comments if she knew where Tracy was she would tell them. They are surprised to see Nahla step up to the bar and ask for a drink and then she spots them looking at her. She looks uncomfortable.

Outside the bar, she begs them not to out her and if they do her professional life is over. As she puts on her hijab, Fin asks that the whole hijab Muslim thing is for show. She explains it didn’t start out that way but then she met Tracy and everything changed. They’ve been together for a year. She says she trusts the women here. She asks them to promise she will do the same. If her parents were to ever find out…Fin says her sexual orientation is none of their business, and Carisi says unless it affects her case. Nahla swears to them it doesn’t. She walks off.

Back at SVU at the coffee machine, Rollins comments Nahla is gay and an observant Muslim. Benson asks why can’t she be both, and Rollins says just don’t run for office and lie about who you are. Carisi says this is not just political; growing up unconventional in a devout family can be tough in any religion. Fin adds if they were in Iraq they would throw her off a roof. Benson asks where are they with the family, and Carisi says they had no reason to do a full court press, they were locked on the political angle. Benson tells him to get on it. Fin asks that they are just going to drop the ball on Ari Kaplan, and Benson says they have a new piece of the puzzle – she’s a devout Muslim by day and lives a completely different life at night, and see how the pieces fit.

At the Nasar Family Residence at 374 80th Street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn on Thursday May 2, Nahla’s father said he and his wife came from Syria 40 years ago and Nahla was born a few years after they arrived. Her mother says they are proud of her and mention her accomplishments. Her father says she stayed in the faith. But she has not always been religious, mentioning events at high school in Brooklyn about fitting in, and an ex-husband, Masud. They have been divorced 2 years and it was amicable. He wanted a large family and she was not ready and wanted to focus on her career. When Carisi mentions they want to talk to Masud, Nahla’s father asks if that is appropriate as they are no longer married. Carisi says they will be very discreet.

Later, Carisi and Rollins speak with Masud at a florist shop, who says he read what happened to Nahla in the papers. He says what happened was terrible, wondering how Nahla is holding up. Rollins replies these things can be difficult. He admits he wanted to reach out to her but didn’t know what to say and he didn’t think she would want to hear from him. Carisi mentions the reason for their separation and Masud says that’s what they told them. He says they grew apart, they weren’t on the same page romantically. He admits he still loves her but in his heart he knew it was best to let her move on. Carisi asks where he was the night of the attack, and Masud was at the shop, all day. He closed at 8 and walked home.


Outside, Carisi walks out quickly and Rollins asks what’s up. Carisi says Masud is a stone-cold liar, not believing his alibi. He explains he clocked him as one of the by-standers on the MetroBuzz video. When he was there he saw the whole thing go down.

Back at SVU, Carisi points out to the others where Masud is on the video. He is having TARU track his cell phone but it was at the flower shop all night. Fin says he was smart enough to not have it on him. Benson tells them to canvass the neighborhood around the synagogue and she will talk to Nahla.

In Nahla’s office, she tells Benson and Fin she hasn’t seen Masud since she moved out two years ago and he has not tried to contact her. Aida interjects that is not true and explains that he’s been here three times in the ;last few months and she made him leave. She didn’t tell Nahla as she didn’t want to upset her. He stopped coming after she told him she would call the cops. She is pretty sure she saw him waiting outside one day last week. Nahla thinks he was stalking her. Benson explains they have a older woman coming home from grocery shopping that puts Masud outside the synagogue the night she was attacked. Fin asks if there is anywhere else he could have followed her. Nahla replies where? Benson asks Aida to leave the room and Nahla agrees. Benson asks if he could have followed her to the bar. She wonders why he would go…then says about a month ago a man walked into the bar and realized what it was and spat on the floor and left. She didn’t say what he looked like but there is a DOT camera near the intersection of the bar. Benson thanks her and she and Fin exit.

Soon after, Carisi and Rollins are back at the flower shop and when he sees them Masud grabs a huge pair of shears. Carisi tells him whatever he is thinking that is a big mistake. They move the customer out of the store and Masud puts the shears back as the detectives order him out from the counter. As Rollins cuffs him, he asks why, and Rollins explains he is being arrested for rape. He asked if Nahla accused him, and Carisi asks if he is surprised. Masud says not in the least, she hates men. As they take him away, Rollins comments she doesn’t know about that but she hates him.


Later, in a car outside the courthouse where protesters are present, Nahla tells Benson everyone despises her or thinks she is a liar. Her family will be in the courtroom and she could lose them, her job, and doesn’t know if this is worth it. Benson reminds her she was raped and she deserves justice, no matter how many mistakes she made along the way. She worries people will lose faith in her, but Benson counters it’s because they don’t know her and t his is her chance to tell them who she is and her truth. She thinks she can do this and she will be right behind her. They get out of the car and face the crowd and walk up the courthouse steps.

In court, Nahla testifies about the assault. She told the police at the time she did not see the attacker’s face but now knows it was Masud. She mentions he found out she was a lesbian and knows he assaulted her because she violated his honor. They hadn’t been intimate in years but knows it was him as the rapist grabbed her hair with his right hand and pulled it hard as he was assaulting her. It was the same thing he used to do when they had sex and now knows it was him.

Under cross examination, she admits she did not recall the hair grabbing. The defense attorney continues to poke holes in her initial story and mentions baiting the boys in the confrontation that was a hoax. She mentions Nahla lying to police several times, accusing the whole thing of being a hoax to gain sympathy. Stone objects and it is sustained. Nahla admits she thought she had to hide that part of her life and was afraid…the attorney cuts her off and says nothing further, Nahla goes on and says he is her at risk of losing her family and her career – everything – but she is not afraid any more. Benson looks on.

In his defense, Masud testifies he was not stalking her, he was worried for her safety. He was not at the synagogue. He knew she was a lesbian and it was painful at first but he loves her and would never hurt her. Under cross, Stone brings up that Nahla never asked for protection and it sounds like stalking. Stone mentions the spitting at the bar and he says she was his wife. Stone reminds him she was his ex-wife and that Sharia law doesn’t recognize divorce, not under the American legal system. Stone thinks this was difficult to accept and brings up Nahla’s behavior. Masud admits he follows Sharia law which says homosexuality is immoral. He reads the rules out loud and gets Masud to angrily say that it is until “death do claim them.” He said she should have killed her, and Stone says instead of assaulting her and raping her, asking why didn’t he kill her. Masud leaps up from his chair and says it’s because she is his wife. He realizes what he has just said, and Stone says nothing further, Masud sits down, upset.

In Supreme Court Part 32 on Monday, May 6, the defense attorney makes her closing statement. She talks about making assumptions, saying they were dead wrong. She tries to tie the Sharia law to those same assumptions. In Stone’s close, he mentions those are not assumptions, those are hate-filled stereotypes. He outlines the facts that Nahla is a lesbian and how Masud’s religion views that. They know he was at the scene of the crime at the time is was committed and Nahla ID’d him as her rapist. He tells them to look at those facts and we assume he raped her, adding that is okay and that is the way our system works.

Afterward, the verdict is read – guilty of rape in the second degree, Nahla looks relieved and looks to Benson, and then to her parents.

In the hall outside the courtroom, Nahla thanks Benson and Stone. Stone shakes her hand and wishes her the best of luck and he exits. Benson asks how Nahla is doing, and Nahla, standing with Aida, says she is wondering if she can find the strength to come back from this. Benson states she already has it, adding no more secrets, she is free now. Nahla looks to her parents and excuses herself. Her mother says they are still proud of her and she is wrong – she hasn’t lost her family’s love. Her father embraces her as Nahla cries. But the moment is broken up by a man who throws stones at them and says they are a disgrace. He is restrained and Nahla’s father asks how dare her? Nahla is pulled aside, hit in the head and bleeding. As the man is held back, her mother says he had not right, and she and her husband turn to see Nahla is bleeding.


At Follia at 179 Third Avenue on Tuesday, May 7, Noah closes the menu and tells Benson he wants spaghetti. She says he always wants spaghetti. He says he likes it. Benson sighs. He asks if she should order something else, and Benson says no, he should have whatever makes him happy. He looks away and sees a man staring in their direction.  Noah says “Mom?” and she says “Yeah, you see a waiter?” He replies, “No, but there’s a man watching us.” Benson takes off her glasses and looks to see no one in that direction. She asks, “What man?” as Rob Miller walks up from behind her. He makes a comment that it is nice to see her, and he touches her shoulder. She recoils and asks what is he doing here. He comments this must be her son Noah, and Noah asks if he is a friend of his mom. He replies, “I am. A good friend. I’m Rob. Nice to meet you.” He extends his hand to shake Noah’s. Benson looks like she is fuming. She looks back at Rob with a look of concern 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:
Titus Welliver - Rob Miller
Richard Kind - William Biegel
Peter Gallagher - Deputy Chief William Dodds
Nazneen Contractor - Nahla Nasar
Hadi Tabbal - Masud Faraj
Ami Brabson – Judge Karyn Blake
Meredith Holzman – Naomi Zeigler
Ted Sutherland - Ari Kaplan
Jacqueline Antaramian – Nahla’s Mother
Bob Ari - Ezra Zuckerman
Kelly Lester – Mrs. Meyers
Erica Camarano - Rachel Ortiz
Elise Hudson - Aida Galanis
Amir El-Bayoumi – Bashir Nasar
Ryan Buggle - Noah Porter-Benson
Jonas Cohen - Stephen Kaplan
Adam Green - Carter Anderson
Whitney Anne St. Ours - Bartender
Brandon Engman - Michael Schwartz
Adam Gagan – Chris Usmani
Hilary Greer - Devora Schwartz
Jann Ellis – Regina Cole
Chantal Georges – Jury Forewoman
Anthony Mecca – Muslim Man
Dawn Yanek – Reporter #1
Bill Kocis – Reporter #2
Jeannette Eng – Reporter #3
Michelle Park – News Host



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14 comments:

  1. Yet another all-over-the-map mashup that didn't even have any interesting "twists" like in the last few years of the Stabler era. I hope the writers for next year's scripts can find some of the sparks that kept this show compelling for the last 2 decades.

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  2. I'M confused as I do not remember Rob Miller (Titus Welliver) being accused of murder as shown in the coming Next Week preview? I think the alleged rape case against him was flimsy at best like many of the cases on this show are and they'd never get a conviction.

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  3. Is it me or did they just decided to take all the "Ripped From the Headlines" incidents that were left over and mix them together into one hodgepodge episode? I guess they thought all this political and social drama would cover up the weak illconceived courtroom scene. How can Stone let Nahla Nasar testify that she couldn't identify the defendant, but she knows it was him "by the way he pulled her hair"? And how could the defense attorney let her client testify, just after she proved Nahla lied on numerous occasions, thereby discrediting her entire testimony? Do the writers and producers expect us to believe every absurd thing they put out there? I have a feeling in the near future,they will be contacting us (the viewers) individually in order to try and sell us swamp land.

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  4. www.2009HDTV.com - the synopsis for next week mentioned Benson thinking Miller is behind the death of a teenager. My guess it's part of that.

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  5. @dttruman - it's not you (wink).

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  6. Of course we're being set up for a Noah-centric season finale because of the closing scene with Miller - Noah to be kidnapped for the second time in his short life?

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  8. I groaned at the confrontation video scene. As well as feeling plain silly, that kind of thing destroys any credibility in the show: if they're ready to take any part of a real incident and grossly falsify it for their own purposes, how can their dealing with issues be trusted? And then there was Olivia's pep talk and her nauseating little nods of encouragement as Nahla gave evidence. Would a defence counsel not draw attention to a police officer doing that in court?

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  9. I liked the pacing of the episode and the varied location shots. The ripped from the headlines story with the teenagers felt forced and the acting awful. I was more interested in the Rob Miller angle. I would have preferred the Rob Miller story be a two parter rather than this story about the councilwoman. She was annoying as hell. Bring on the season finale!

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  10. They should've had a better plot twist ,than he raped her because she was gay I think it should've been something unforeseeable. The because their gay card has been over played in svu to many times and it needs to stop. 🤷🤷🤷

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  11. I think there should have been a Better plot than he raped her because she is gay. And frankly I think their gay card has been played over way too many times by this season. I think whatever the reason he raped her should've been unforeseeable like a double cross or something. Her being gay wasn't unforeseeable considering I thought the woman Aida was her wife or girlfriend in the beginning of the episode.

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  12. And now we're hearing of a threat of a lawsuit by the lawyer for the "Covington Kids" over the way SVU presented the confrontation scene.

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  13. Goodness surely little Noah is going to be harmed again? Hope that kid gets hazard pay! He would be better off in Foster care than left with Benson!

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  14. I'd like to see Liv send the brat off to "summer camp" in order to keep him away from the bad guys. Then he can return in September as a teenager - a male version of Stabler's insufferable daughters. Hey, they do it all the time on the daytime soap operas!

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