Friday, October 11, 2019

Law & Order SVU “Down Low In Hell’s Kitchen” Recap & Review


This episode was a ripped from the headlines story based on the Jussie Smollett incident where he claimed he was a victim of a hate crime which later appeared to have been staged. While the SVU story wasn’t exactly the same, the equivalent character in question, Mathis Brooks, also appears to have faked a sex crime and then uses this for publicity. I was somewhat disappointed in this episode as it was a rare episode where a male victim – who was also a minority victim - was involved, yet SVU seemed too quick to back away from him the second things smelled slightly fishy. Usually Benson advocates to the point obsession.  It’s as if they had a hard time thinking of him as a victim right off the bat. I wonder had the victim been a white, female celebrity if the SVU would have been so quick to disbelieve the victim?    At least this episode did have other male, also minority, victims who they could advocate for. Oddly had Mathis not faked the story, these other victims would have never received justice.

Benson has a new boss – Deputy Chief Garland – and there seems to be tension right off the bat. They appear to resolve this tension quickly as Garland finds himself helping them to work the case as bait for the serial predator. Garland and Benson and her team seem to have established a good working relationship quickly and I hope it lasts. Garland is also getting Benson some help – a “white shield”, meaning they are not a detective.

Hadid and Benson butt heads, and I sense a minor power struggle going on, with Carisi in the middle. For someone who is Bureau Chief for special victims, Hadid seems overly cold and insensitive. Benson tries to remind Hadid that things are different than from where Hadid came, but I don’t see Hadid warming up any time soon. Carisi seems to have hit his stride quickly and, with SVU’s help acquiring a compromising picture, gets a win. What I didn’t understand was Hadid’s reluctance to go after the suspect at first, at least for the obvious parole violation. This would have at least gotten him behind bars while they continue to work the case. But Carisi had to wait to pull that one out during arraignment. It’s like no one thought of it before that point.

Sandwiching the story of black men having sex on the “down low” was a wholesome story about Noah deciding he doesn’t want to play baseball – EVER – but want to dance. It felt awkward having a child's backstory tidbit bookending a sex crime episode like this. I’m glad that Noah is finding something that will make him happy and a story that made use of his real-life counterpart’s talent - but I don't want to see more dancing on SVU any time soon.

Note: A deleted scene has been added after the recap - catch it while it's available!



Here is the recap:

Benson is walking with Noah, who is dressed for baseball, and she is on the phone. She hears it is another one and he waited 3 days to go to the ER and he won’t report. She understands it is confidentiality. Benson hangs up the phone calls Fin. She explains what she just heard from a nurse at Mercy about another attack in Hell’s Kitchen – black, male, tased. At SVU, Fin hears he is not filing a complaint, and when Benson says no, he asks what are they supposed to do. Benson asks that Fin’s son still works at the Gay Men’s Crisis Center, and Fin correct it is LGBTQ as Ken reminds him. She suggests he talk to him as she suspects he is hearing about this. She hangs up the phone and walks over to Noah. She wants them to go, but he says he doesn’t want to go to practice. She asks why not, wondering if he is feeling okay. He clarifies he doesn’t want to go EVER, adding he doesn’t like baseball. She asks since when, reminding him that he loved playing with Peter [Stone] and loved being on the team. But now he thinks it’s boring. Benson looks surprised. Noah points to another store front where people are seem dancing. He says that looks fun. Benson smiles.


At the LGBTQ Heath Crisis Center at 389 West 48th Street on Friday, September 6, as Ken Randall tells a client to hang in there and they can call any time, Fin walks in. Ken asks what’s up, and Fin asks can’t he just stop by? Ken replies of course, and asks Fin to have a seat. He comments that Jaden was just talking about him, and Fin wonders if Jaden liked that shirt I got him. Ken replies that he’ll grow into it. Fin laughs, and Ken asks why he is there. Fin explains there is a rumor about a serial predator working the gay bars. Ken comments it is in Hell’s Kitchen. Fin adds that the victims are all black, professional, and everybody’s talking about it. Ken counters that no one wants to talk, he knows. Fin wants Ken to get somebody to file a police report, but Ken states he can’t, explaining that these men have wives, kids. Fin confirms it’s on the low, adding that’s why the predator is targeting them, he knows they don’t want to speak up. He suggests Ken tell them they’ll do our best to keep their case confidential. But Ken reminds Fin he is THEIR advocate, not Fin’s. Fin counters that if nobody says anything, the predator has no reason to stop. Ken sighs.

Elsewhere, Mathis Brooks walks out to a large group of fans and his manager, Robert Fischer, tries to get everyone to move along. They get in the car and Robert’s – “Fish” - phone rings. When he shows Mathis the phone, and Mathis says not now. Fish, Mathis and his brother argue about it and Mathis tells him to go home and tells the driver to pull over, he needs some air and needs to walk. He gets out of the car, and doesn’t say where he is going. He heads into a bar and someone recognizes him but he says he is not who they think he is. A fan gets pushy and Mathis backs away as the fan yells at him and calls him out to the crowd. Mathis leaves and walks out into a dark street in an area where there is some construction scaffolding. Suddenly he is surprised by something.

Later, two officers walk the street looking for a semi-conscious man in the scaffolding area, and find a traumatized Mathis there, shaking and asking for help.

Benson and Fin are in Deputy Chief Christian Garland’s office and Benson is telling him about a serial rapist in Hell’s Kitchen. She explains the victims are male, and they are being tased and sodomized with a bottle. Garland comments they need to establish more of a pattern. Garland asks when did he start, and how many assaults? Benson explains they don’t know. Garland, looking annoyed, saying he’ll try again, and asks how many reports have been filed. Fin says none, adding they think he picks his vics on the down low so he knows they don’t want to report it. Garland asks if they are divining it, and Benson quickly says no, they are not divining it; EMS calls, advocacy groups, and rumors are out there in gay bars. Garland blankly says he can’t take rumors to Comstat. Benson agrees, saying she knows he just got here and he doesn’t want to report a spike in assaults two weeks in, but…Garland cuts her off and says that would never be his concern. He says stats go up, good - that means people trust them enough to disclose. He asks what does she need? She replies manpower, for a wider canvas, security cam checks, and she’d like to augment with detectives from Hate Crimes. Garland, acting distracted, states they are spread thinner than SVU and if they’d heard about this, they’d loop him in. Fin asks what do they do, just wait for him to strike again? Garland counters no, they can be proactive. Benson’s phone buzzes and she checks for a message as Garland instructs them to increase uniform patrols and work their contacts. He asks Benson if everything is okay, and she says Rollins says there is another vic at Mercy Hospital.

Afterward, Benson and Fin walk outside, Fin asks what is the new Chief’s deal. Benson states he is methodical, and he’s thoughtful and Ivy League educated. Fin asks why is he a cop?

At Mercy Hospital at 365 West 32nd Street on Saturday, September 7, Benson, Fin, and Rollins push past reporters and photographers to get through. Rollins explains the vic is a celebrity – Mathis Brooks – and it’s the same pattern. Mathis is straight and has a gay following. Benson thinks the perp assumed and the hospital called SVU, asking Rollins if there is any chance he will report. Rollins says she is not sure, he is still in the ER, and his brother and manager are being protective.

Inside, Rollins speak with Fish and said he needed air and Mathis went home. He thinks maybe Mathis went into a gay bar as he is friendly with all types but says he is not gay, talking about other women and saying Mathis gets more ass than a toilet seat. Benson and Fin speak with Mathis’ brother and the diver, Vlad. He says Mathis got out early and he went out for a walk. The doctor comes out and tells Benson that Mathis is ready to talk to her but too traumatized for a rape kit. He told Mathis that Benson and Fin will respect his privacy and Fin confirms they will. The doctor introduces Benson and Fin who is clearly shaken. They try to get him to give some details. He explains what happened and felt a jolt, likely from the taser. He explains the assault and how horrible, racist things were also yelled at him. He thinks it was a big, scary looking white guy, long hair and a beard, maybe in a hoodie. Benson and Fin explain this may be a serial predator and Mathis says he is not gay. He says he didn’t stop anywhere on his walk, and looks more distressed. He says he is getting really tired and asks to do this later. Benson agrees and Fin gives Mathis is card, in case he recalls something later. They leave.

Outside the hospital where reporters still wait, Benson tells Rollins that Mathis is crashing and doesn’t remember much. Rollins found social media information showing that Mathis stopped at a bar last night and someone took a selfie. Mathis did not look happy, and Rollins says Mathis didn’t go straight home.

At K Rico Steakhouse at 772 9th Avenue on Saturday, September 7, Rollins speaks with selfies guy who says the threat she heard he made was just drama. He comments he doesn’t like “tourists”, explaining Mathis is so deep in the closet he want past Narnia. He says he didn’t follow him and met someone else he met on Grindr.

Meanwhile, Benson and Fin explain this suspect to Garland that Mathis saw in the bar. Garland says it’s not unusual for victims to leave out information that might make them look…Fin finishes saying “Gay?” and Garland says “Despite their claims to be.” Fin thinks Mathis will not cave on that any time soon. Garland tells Benson that Mathis is high profile and has a civic obligation. Benson, surprised, asks if he wants her to shame a celebrity into coming out of the closet so Garland can publicize the case? Garland says he didn’t say shame, he meant motivate. He walks off.

Back at the hospital, Mathis is posting a video to fans on social media. Benson and Fin walk in. Benson and Fin try to get him to come forward but Fish is reluctant. Mathis is open to it, saying this is “bigger than Mathis” now.



Later, Mathis comes out with a message to his fans about the serial predator targeting “our community.” Back at SVU as they watch, they are surprised that Mathis outed himself. In another video he also explains like many gay black men, he felt compelled to live a lie. In a third video he explains the experience was horrible. Ken walks in and introduced Devonn Thompson, saying he told him anything he said would be kept confidential.

Later, in the interview room, Devonn explains to Benson and Fin how he was tased and assaulted. He did not see his attacker. He goes to the bar on Tuesdays and his family thinks he is going to choir. A month before a drunk white guy have him a hard time about his menthol cigarettes, asking if his wife knows he smokes those, and he got a bad vibe. Rollins enter the room and whispers to Benson they have another victim who says he can come down and talk if he pretends to be a client. Benson thinks he is on the low too, and asks Rollins to ask him if anyone asked anything about his wife.

At Keenan & Spahn Brokerage at 68 Broad Street on Monday, September 9, Rollins speaks with Jordan Marcus who says he asked about his wife and kids and if they would be up when he got home. It was July 23, a Tuesday, he came back into the city. The man was blue collar, rough and dirty looking, reddish hair. He didn’t see him tase him.

Another victim, Wayne Talbot, speaks with Fin, who said the attacker didn’t say a word, but he could see the toes of his boots covered with paint. It was 6 days ago. Tuesday he visited his mother and got a beer on the way home. A tall guy, white and thuggish, tried to pry and he shut that down. He says his two worlds must run on separate tracks. Fin understands, they are just trying to catch the guy.


Benson, Fin, Rollins and Garland meet with Carisi and Bureau Chief Vanessa Hadid and they explain what they know so far. When Hadid asks why it hasn’t gone to the grand jury, Benson explains the victims won’t testify. Hadid says they will testify if they subpoena them. Garland explains these men lead double lives and they shouldn’t force them to reveal but they are helping them to find a pattern. Rollins explains the first three assaults were on Tuesday nights and Mathis’ was last Friday. Benson adds that Mathis is the only one who saw his assaulter and came forward, and the other three only recall a tense interaction with a big red-haired man at their bars. Rollins shows the sketches on the assailants.  Hadid says the sketches diverge and Fin says the MO’s too. Mathis saw the guys and heard gay and racist slurs. Rollins comments the perp could be escalating – Benson says or devolving – and Rollins adds or both. Garland says they can’t have another assault; today is Tuesday and they flood the zone tonight. Benson comments she doesn’t have the manpower. He says she will now, he will borrow UCs from street crime for every bar on the list. Carisi asks black UCs that will read as upper middle class, late 30s, sophisticated? Benson adds there are not a lot of those in street crime. Fin tells him to not take this the wrong way, but the Chief is the type. The Chief gives him a look.

At No Inhibitions at 391 West 52nd Street on Tuesday, September 10, Garland drinks a beer at the bar and another guy gives him a look. Meanwhile, Fin and Carisi watch from a nearby table, saying that is the fifth guy in a hour. Fin comments the Chief can pull. Another man approaches Garland and comes on to him. Meanwhile, Benson and Rollins watch from their vehicle. Inside, Carisi says they should call it a night, and Fin says there is nothing from the UCs in other bars and he will text Benson. The guy continues to come on to Garland, who says he is waiting for a friend. Another guy makes a move and it is a white guy with red hair. As Garland picks up his phone, the guy asks if he has to get hold of his wife. Garland says he really should go and moves to leave. The man says “Safe home, Cinderella. What happens after midnight? You turn straight?” Garland looks back at him, laughs, and turns to leave. Fin sees the guy put a beer bottle in his back pocket and follows Garland out. Fin and Carisi also move to leave but Fin tells Carisi to stay put and get the guy’s napkin for DNA. Rollins gets out of the vehicle and Benson radios that the suspect is following the Chief and he is wearing a denim shirt, jeans, and work boots. As Garland walks through the scaffolding, the man catches up with him and says “Word for you, prince, got something” and pulls out a taser. Rollins comes around the corner and draws her gun, announcing she is NYPD and tells him to drop his weapon and put his hands up. He complies. Fin pushes him against the wall and the man says he was just going for a walk. Garland says he’s glad they made it before he was tased. He pulls the beer bottle out of the guy’s pocket, and the guy says it was for his protection, he did nothing wrong. Fin tells him to keep talking, calling him Prince Charming, saying he is under arrest. Garland looks relieved.

Later, Moran is in interrogation with Rollins, along with his lawyer. He admits he is a regular on Tuesdays as he sees his parole officer then and has a few beers after. The lawyer says the urine test he has is for narcotics, not alcohol. Benson observes with Carisi and Hadid and says Moran was released from Greenhaven four months ago after a three year bit on assault. He has a rap sheet going back to his childhood. Hadid asks if they were assault or hate crimes, and Benson says neither, but he fits the profile. Carisi says that Moran obviously has a problem with gay and blacks, they found him following Garland with a stun gun and a beer bottle. Hadid says she knows the attorney, and he will find the holes. She tells them to call the victims and do a line-up. Benson says the first three can only put him at the bar, but Hadid comments that Mathis did and to bring him in.

At the apartment of Mathis Brooks at 532 Broome Street on Wednesday, September 11, Mathis brother says this is not a god time but Fin, there with Rollins, says it will have to be. Mathis is there with Fish and Rollins comments he is looking better. He says the love of his fans is helping, pointing to the crowd below his apartment. Fish says creatively it has opened him up, and his brother adds it has opened Mathis up. Fin explains they have a suspect and when they bring up the line-up Mathis seems reluctant.

At SVU, Mathis seems confused about who to ID and then says he knows what wrong. When he turned he got a glimpse, and he recreates what happened and quickly picks out number 2, then says number 4. Moran’s lawyer ends it and Carisi says tomorrow is another day. Carisi storms out of the room and Rollins asks to walk him out. She ask how did it go and he replies not great. Rollins says that doesn’t surprise her; on the drive over here, Mathis kept asking what number the perp was going to be.

Later, Carisi is at the courthouse and tells Hadid that Rollins said she never had a victim ask that before. Hadid says he was nervous and facial IDs are difficult, adding the caught Moran with a stun gun. Carisi says none of the other victims will testify so that puts Mathis front and center. Moran has an alibi for Friday night, saying he was at a Mets game with his ex-girlfriend. She comments it is an ex-con’s ex-girlfriend and thinks they can find a way to deal with that. He reminds her that she was the one that said D’Angelo finds holes, and she tells him to fill them up after the arraignment; the press knows they have a suspect and the train has left the station.

At arraignment, Moran pleads not guilty. Carisi mentions a parole violation, and the judge remands Moran. Afterward. D’Angelo tells Carisi that his star witness is lying and says that will come out before trial. Right now he is trying to decide between CNN and Fox, asking if Carisi has a preference.

Back at SVU, in Benson’s office, she, Fin, Rollins, and Carisi watch a news story with footage of Mathis’ brother Aygon purchasing a stun gun. Fin comments the dumb ass used his corporate credit card. Benson thinks D’Angelo was tipped off, and Rollins says Moran told him he didn’t do Mathis. Moran’s alibi checked out as his ex took a selfie and their kids at the game. Rollins sees it all over Twitter - #MathisMadeItUp. Benson thinks even if Moran is good for the other three assaults, Mathis poisoned the well.

Later, Carisi and Fin speak with Mathis and his lawyer who thinks everyone thinks he made it up and the NYPD is trying to make him look like a liar. He says his brother likes gadgets and has a drone too. The lawyer says tasers are legal in New York State. Fin asks if he knows where his brother was at the time of the attack and Mathis says he is not his brother’s keeper. Carisi explains Mora’s alibi and Mathis comments they picked up the wrong guy so now they are trying to make him carry the weight. Mathis suggests a copy cat or that there are two guys, and his lawyer tells him to stop talking. She adds they came in to cooperate but asking if Mathis is now a suspect. When Carisi says that remains to be seen, the lawyer says they are done. Fin says they are just trying to get to the truth, but Mathis shouts the truth is that he was attacked, and gets upset, saying what that guy took from him he can never get back and why would he make something like that up? There is a knock and Carisi and Fin exit to the other room to Benson, Garland, and Hadid, who are observing. Fin comments Mathis really believes it now, and Garland says Mathis is doubling down. Carisi says you have to give him credit for the copycat theory, but Benson thinks it is likely Mathis copied the crime, hearing about the other assault and he piggy-backed. Garland suggests they grill him until he admits it. Fin counters that is not going to happen, and Hadid says he didn’t tase himself. Benson comments that is a good point. Benson suggests they talk to Aygon who bought the stun gun and to ask him why.

At Virtual Reality Gaming Emporium at 243 West 37th Street on Thursday, September 12, Rollins speaks with Aygon who is playing a game. She asks about the taser and he said Mathis knew about the guy doing the attack. She asks if they will find his prints on the beer bottle at the scene. Vlad approaches and interrupts. He won’t allow her to ask questions.

Later, Fin and Rollins speak with Fish who did not know Mathis was gay. He admits he loves Mathis like a son, but they accuse Mathis of staging the attack. He says he didn’t know and thought he’d been attacked. He didn’t believe Mathis was gay but TMZ threatened to out him. Rollins thinks they made a plan, asking why didn’t TMZ break the story anyway, and Fish says he threw them some dirt on a former client. He adds if he would have found the actual guy, this would have worked. Fin and Rollins look perplexed.

At the Bureau with Benson, Fin, Rollins, Carisi, Garland, and Hadid, they watch a video of Mathis speaking out against the allegations he faked the assault and that he came out to help the NYPD at a cost to himself. Now NYPD is calling him a liar, and as the crowd boos the NYPD, he says they still see black men as criminals and not victims. Garland, upset, asks what the hell is this kid thinking? Rollins says he knew he was going to be outed and is getting in front of it. Fin thinks Mathis figured he could get more sympathy as a victim. Garland says not from him – he wants him in cuffs. Benson counters that their other actual victims are afraid, so if they go after Mathis, then nobody comes forward, Hadid says it is too late for that, if their other victims had been willing to testify in the first place they wouldn’t be here. Benson tells Hadid she is new to SVU – they don’t blame victims here. She adds human sexuality and criminal behavior are a hell of a lot different than securities fraud. Hadid sarcastically thanks her, saying what she does know is if t his stays in the news cycle, the longer they are standing there with their junk in their hands. Benson says, “Excuse me?” and Hadid says, “Oh I’m sorry. Egg on our faces.” Bensons reminds Hadid that she was the one that pushed Carisi in the first place. Carisi tries to halt the arguing, saying this feels like a circular firing squad. He tells Hadid that all Benson is saying is that they have an obligation in this case and tells Benson that Hadid is saying that the clock is ticking, quickly and loudly. Hadid says the clock isn’t ticking, it’s blown up, adding D’Angelo got the judge to drop the charges on Moran for the Mathis assault and she doesn’t seen a path to indictment on the other three. Fin calmly says it’s there, they just need to keep working the case. Hadid says she will see if she can get them 24 hours before the DA says they have to drop the case. After Hadid and Carisi leave, Benson tells Garland that Hadid is not her boss, he is. Garland says he is, but Hadid calls her boss and he calls his boss, and the two of them are out doing traffic stops in Staten Island with Dodds. Benson counters she doesn’t care about her exploding clock, and tells the detectives to talk to the other victims, find more – she is not letting this go. Benson storms out of his office.

Back at SVU, Fin says Ken tried to get Devonn Thompson to come in, no dice. Rollins says Marcus and Talbot won’t return her phone calls. Benson adds they can’t run the rape kits without their permission. At the crime scene, the only bottle CSU found was Mathis’ and it will have his DNA and Aygon’s prints on it. She asked if they rechecked security cams, and Rollins says yes, but Moran grew up there and heard of the cams like a guy staying dry in the rain. Benson reminds them Hadid gave them until the end of the day so go back to 9th Avenue and see if any of the bartenders or patrons can put Moran with the other vics. Rollins says they can try but after Mathis, their walls are up. A voice from the other room says, “Can you blame us?” They see it is Devonn, who says he came to them because of Mathis and now because of him, even if he did testify, who would believe him?

In the interview room. Devonn tells Fin that Ken left out something that could be helpful. As Benson and Rollins observe, Devonn explains after meeting Moran while having a smoke, Moran followed him back into the bar in the bathroom and got down on his knees and unzipped his pants. Fin asked if that was consensual and he replies very. He adds he knows he is repressed but once Moran started he really let go. As he cries, he says he went back to the bar and took a picture of them and it was like Jekyll and Hyde, Moran just snapped, and Devonn got out of there fast. He did not assault him then but he ran into him at the bar a month later and he got out of there but he must have followed him. Rollins tells Benson that explains a lot but unless Devonn testifies, the photo is inadmissible. Benson says she will call Carisi and maybe this is a way this gives him some leverage.

At the Rikers Island Meeting Room on Friday, September 13, Carisi meets with Moran and D’Angelo and D’Angelo laughs at a plea bargain because Mathis has been outed. Carisi tells him to forget Mathis. D’Angelo says none of the other victims saw his face, and Carisi counters that he has one who did, very clearly and has evidence he is entitled to see. He shows him the selfie of Devonn and Moran and explains where and when. Moran gets testy but D’Angelo says the photo is probative of nothing and Carisi said the interaction was consensual. Carisi admits he did and a jury would be told that, but they will also hear the next time Moran saw his lover he followed him, demanded his phone, and sodomized him in rage. Moran looks like he is going to explode but Carisi continues to press and says maybe a trial wouldn’t go his way, mentioning how the story might carry into prison. Moran says he is not gay and D’Angelo says Carisi is bluffing. But Carisi says if Moran goes to trial as a straight man who assaults gays and if they hear he is a self-loathing homosexual who gets angry after he services black men in bars…He adds as D’Angelo said once said to him, what’s your preference? Moran looks rattled but stays silent.

Later, Garland enters Benson’s office and Fin is already there. He says he has good news and better news: He heard her about being short handed and is getting them a white shield. Benson asks “A white shield?” and Fin says he means it’s somebody who is not a detective. Garland says they will both be great mentors. He adds that Hadid just called him to thank him - Jeffrey Moran took a plea. He will do 7 years for sexual abuse 1. Benson says nobody has to testify, adding that IS great news. He asks if they have any thoughts on what changed his mind, and Fin looks at Benson and says “Ummm, It’s kind of a “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”” Garland says he will take the win, but next they need to proceed on charging Mathis and when Fin balks, Garland says they have to send a message. Benson asks what message is that? Garland looks at her and she clarifies that false reporting is extremely rare and they keep this in the news, and survivors are going to be afraid they won’t be believed. Garland asks that Mathis never pays for the damage he caused, and Fin says he is paying, plenty.

Later, Fin speaks with Mathis and explains his Deputy Chief wanted to put him in jail but they talked him out of it. Mathis asks if he is supposed to thank them, and says he didn’t make this up. Fin says he doesn’t know why he did but he did, and it’s coming from a bad place. Mathis thinks they are disappointed him in him and he screwed everything up, and Fin says not everything, Fin said his captain said had he not come forward they would have never caught Moran. Mathis says that is true but nobody remembers that. The whole world is laughing at him, and there is a cover on the New York Ledger saying “Ayg-on Mathis’ Face”. Fin says not him; he knows something was done to him and it isn’t about this time or this thing but from his past and he needs to deal with whatever brought him here. That is on him.


Elsewhere, Benson leads Noah into a dance class. Noah says he wants to dance and Benson  announces he is here for his first dance class. The instructor welcomes him in. As the class fills up, and Noah begins the session, Benson looks on as Noah smiles, and she smiles back as we fade to black.



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


Guest stars:
Demore Barnes - Deputy Chief Christian Garland
Ernest Waddell - Ken Randall
Curtis Armstrong - Robert Fischer
Zuleikha Robinson - Bureau Chief Vanessa Hadid
Joseph Lyle Taylor - Mickey D'Angelo
L. Steven Taylor - Mathis Brooks
William Popp – Jeffrey Moran
Curt Morlaye – Aygon
Stephen Wallem – Rudy Syndergaard
Rafael Jordan – Devonn Thompson
Erica Camarano – Rachel Ortiz
Garret Lee Hendricks – Jordan Marcus
James Harkness – Wayne Talbot
Kathleen Choe – Counselor Jullie Kang
Ryan Buggle - Noah Porter Benson
Stephen Bradburu – Judge Colin McNamara
Joshua Morgan – Seth Thomas
Ryam Raftery – Roger
Whit K. Lee – Uni
Radu Spinghel – Vlad
Ally Taylor Sacks – Dance Instructor
Johnny Michaels – Dancer #1
Clara Leyba – Dancer # 2
Kimberlee Murray – Dancer # 3
Micah Houston – Dancer # 4


Deleted scene added October 15, 2019



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5 comments:

Laurie F said...

I was expecting something different. Something along the lines of SVU not believing Mathis at first but then finding out the assault really happened. There was something wrong with the episode about how SVU handled the case. We didn't see Benson the advocate like we normally do. She let Fin do most of the interviewing with Mathis and was that because Benson's magical powers don't work the same on men? If Mathis was assaulted by a man, wouldn't being interviewed by a woman be less threatening? Was it because only a black detective can relate to a black victim? I had this vague feeling that I was being fed stereotypes in this episode. @WestVirginiaRebel hit on another issue - the "down low" story line is dated and was this the best they could think of for a sex crime against a man?

Hadid better watch her language. The comment she made about their "junk in their hands" could have been offensive to Carisi. I'm not joking here. She should know better. They are purposely trying to make us not like her and not trust her and that's nagging at me because it feels too forced.

It's fine that Noah wants to dance but please please please don't give us any more of this. Sure Ryan Buggle is a dancer but that doesn't mean Noah has to be. That felt like a paid placement ad. It was weird to put in this episode considering the subject matter. It would fit better in an episode about a crime involving a child, not gay men on the down low.

The viewing numbers continue to drop.

Carrie Long said...

It was nice to see this story about Noah, but like others have said, it was weirdly sandwiched in and felt quite out of place in an episode about sex crimes against gay men. That's not to say I didn't still cry at the end of the episode during that last scene, XD!

It was also nice to see Ken again. I feel like at some point we could've seen Fin's grandson, because we haven't seen him since Season 19 (or 20? or have we seen him at all?) but I'll gladly take any anount of Fin backstory breadcrumbs that this show decides to give us.

If I was Liv, I would have gotten into a major catfight with Hadid on the spot--in front of everybody. I was apalled by that vulgar comment which, as Laurie F pointed out, might have been offensive to Carisi. I hope that either Hadid backs off or gets fired. I really can't stand her.

Unknown said...

HADID HAS GOT TO GO - I don't recall any other ADA constantly having a babysitter with them while they were handling a case. I mean I get it that ADA's have a "Boss" to report to, but that boss is NOT always glued to their side as they do or try to do their jobs. GET RID OF HADID NOW or else this show is going to lose even loyal 21 year fans like me

dttruman said...

That Noah portion was so forced. Why does Noah, after trying to catch up with his baseball buddies does he suddenly have an epiphany to tell Benson he doesn't like baseball, wants to drop it immediately, and take up dance? Trying to catch up with his friends, suggest to me he stills enjoys the camaraderie of the game.
I like the investigation part of this episode, but why does Fin suggest they put the new boss of SVU in a dangerous position as a decoy right off the bat? I thought Fin was the one with common sense.
The way the writers (and producers) maneuvered the plot to show that this "hate crime hoax" helped capture the serial predator, Benson condoning what Mathis did, and Fin stating that Mathis is already paying for the hoax, shows they had an agenda for this episode. It's OK to fake a hate crime, as long it's for a good reason. I guess the writers (and producers) forgot that staging a fake (hate) crime is a felony. They failed to address the true ramifications. A lot of manpower and hours are wasted on that investigation, while real crimes that are committed are put on hold. I wish they had added the lawsuit to the plot to reinforce the severity of staging a fake crime.

Will Carisi final take a case to court or will it be another plea deal? I am betting on "plea deal", because 3's a charm.

Chris Zimmer said...

UPDATE! A deleted scene has been added after the recap. Catch it while it's available!