Law & Order Organized Crime “What Happens In Puglia” Recap, Review, Discussion

“In the nation’s largest city, the vicious and violent members of the underworld 

are hunted by the detectives of the Organized Crime Control Bureau. 

These are their stories. ” 

So begins a new chapter in the Law & Order story, this one involving organized crime. And it brought Elliot Stabler – Chris Meloni – back into the Law & Order universe. His return began in the episode which aired immediately before: Law & Order SVU episode “Return Of The Prodigal Son”.

It’s a new style of Law & Order, one which involves a multi-episode story arc.  Fans who expect a crime to be solved in one episode will have to adjust.  In the normal Law & Order (and its other spin-offs) style,  crimes were solved and criminals brought to trial with lightning speed and, in almost all cases, in one episode.  That won’t work for organized crime. Its multiple members and business connections can mean that solving those crimes and getting to top bosses can be a complex, drawn-out matter.

It’s also a new style of Law & Order as it doesn’t feature the traditional Law & Order sound (the dun-dun, doink-doink, the chung-chung, whatever you choose to call it).    This is not a deal breaker and again, viewers will have to adjust. The opening credits, very slick and glossy with a new version of the usual theme, feature only Meloni’s photo.   This makes some sense as the players connected to the criminal enterprise will likely change over time (if this gets more than one season).  

It’s hard for me to judge a premiere episode of any new series because it can take time to understand all the players.   In the series premiere of  Law & Order Organized Crime “What Happens In Puglia”, we are immediately dropped in to an investigation in progress.   I find myself confused right out of the gate.  Too much happened too fast before I could absorb who everyone was and how they were connected.  People were introduced too quickly with little to no explanation.  I still don’t know who Stabler’s boss was or who were  those other people that appeared in that office.   Throughout the episode, I kept asking myself,  “Who ARE these people?”   It didn’t help that Richard Wheatley’s father had a different last name because Richard decided to take the last name of his first wife Angela, and she was in a relationship before that which produced a child that Richard adopted and…well, you get the idea.  I fully understand the reason that Richard changed his name to agitate his father, but I see that as a totally unnecessary move that only caused confusion in establishing relationships. 

To help sort this out, I thought I’d list the people introduced in this episode.  First – the top-billed characters:

Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) – no explanation needed

Sergeant Ayanna Bell (Danielle Moné Truitt) – Stabler makes a bad impression with her with his behavior at the courthouse holding cells and she ends up leading a task force with Stabler added to her team.

Richard Wheatley (Dylan McDermott) – your standard unhinged, angry, power hungry organized crime guy 

Angela Wheatley (Tamara Taylor) – Richard Wheatley’s first wife, a professor

Jett Slootmaekers (Ainsley Seiger) – the stereotypical quirky computer hacker-type with the appropriate quirky name. 

Others players seen or mentioned in this episode: 

 

Manfredi Sinatra -  Richard Wheatley’s father, also involved in an organization, in a short-lived role (pun intended).  It was obvious he wouldn't be around too long. 

Rafiq “Raffi The Poet”  Wheatley – Angela’s son from a previous relationship, adopted by Richard, already deceased

Richie Wheatley –Richard’s and Angela’s son

Dana Wheatley –Richard’s and Angela’s daughter (mentioned but not seen in this episode)

Pilar Wheatley – Richard’s wife #2?

Ryan Wheatley – Richard’s  son, assume Pilar is his mother but not sure.

I hope I got all that right.  The fact that I had to watch segments of this episode multiple times and STILL not be sure about who is who is a real problem with this episode. 

Besides working the organized crime, we all know Stabler is driven to avenge his wife’s murder.  His task force boss Sgt. Bell reminds him, though, that this is not the focus of the investigation.  I suspect that besides the multi-episode crime story arc, finding Kathy’s killer will be peppered throughout the season.  One thing I hope for is that we don’t have to be subjected to Stabler’s annoying kids any more.  I never cared for the kids when they were involved in SVU episodes and I don’t like the idea of  being distracted by them in this series either. 

Did Stabler make a huge mistake by not wearing gloves when he touched the scene where Manfredi was found killed?  He also touched his body with ungloved hands.  Now his fingerprints and maybe his DNA will be at that scene.   Whose phone did he use to call in that a body was found - was it Manfredi's phone that he found on the scene and what did he do with that phone after he made the call?

I wonder if we will ever learn what Stabler wrote in that letter to Benson.  Benson wanted so badly to reconnect and to discuss it with Stabler. She looked so dejected when she saw he was distracted with what she thought was his work.  It’s  like she had the feeling she was going to be ghosted again.   I felt sorry for her, and for viewers who still want their relationship to go somewhere. 

As far as episode style, I liked the bright, high-contrast looking visuals.  I didn’t like what felt like constant music over many scenes.  This is a problem with a lot of network shows these days. I don’t need the constant music to tell me what’s happening or going to happen.  One day I would love to watch an episode – this one or any SVU or Chicago Fire/PD episode -  with NO music to see how I feel watching it.   My take is that if music is needed to convey what’s going on, the writing isn’t good enough. 

All in all, this was a decent start and I believe this series has possibilities.   Yes, it’s not your father’s Law & Order.  It’s not even your younger sibling’s Law & Order.  Sometimes change can be a good thing.  But I’m not going to lie, I would have preferred  for the original Law & Order to return.  Episodes from that series, which started in 1990,   are  still as relevant and as interesting as they were when the series started.   After this initial episode, I’m not sure if I would feel the same about Law & Order OC 20-30 years later.

Here is the recap:

Stabler loses his cool right away at the courthouse holding cells, when he questions a  man about Sacha Lenski’s death, warning they are all dead men.  This is witnessed by Sergeant Ayanna Bell, so Stabler has already made a bad impression. 

Later, with someone who appears to be his boss, Stabler says he just wanted to see their reaction to Lenski’s death. Stabler is told this isn’t his house any more, but Stabler feels the connection to Lenski is the first concrete evidence to his case.  

Stabler and Benson meet in the park where she gives him the Lenski evidence folder. It includes a burner cell phone found at  Lenski’s apartment.  SVU tech couldn’t crack it but she things Stabler knows someone who can.  Stabler also tells Benson that when he RSVP'd for her award ceremony, they asked him to say a few words, he doesn’t  like public speaking.  He hands Benson an envelope that he was going to give her that evening and tells her to take it and read it – or don’t read it or throw it away, whatever she decides.  Noah is there and he runs up to them and Benson exits.

This leads Stabler and a team to Securico Storage on Brighton Street, registered to Hart LLC, an International Business Corp,   a place that had  been under surveillance. It’s where Rafiq Aaron Wheatley - AKA Raffi The Poet,  operated and where Stabler and a team later  find many stolen and counterfeit certificates and identifications, including one for Stabler himself.  He later hears that similar IDs and certificated has been found in Puglia and were being used to move substandard face masks and PPE across international borders. Organized crime has been making a lot of money  off the pandemic. Stabler wants to meet with Manfredi Sinatra but is directed to Pat Sharkey,  a mob lawyer, locked up at Green Haven and who was on Sinatra's payroll, if Stabler wanted to get a meet with Sinatra.  As Raffi is described as a Black, small time drug dealer, they don’t think the Mafia is involved, but realize the Mafia is not as white as it used to be.  The issue is that Sinatra is a notorious racist, though. Stabler wonders if Raffi has any living relatives.

Later, Stabler is at a lecture, lead by Professor Angela Wheatley, Raffi’s mother.  She states she knows who murdered him and Stabler thinks it was another woman’s son. She wonders why would they put two mothers in pain?  When Stabler explains his wife was just murdered, he manages to get her to talk.  When he explains the IDs she has no idea about it.  She explains Raffi’s father was an addict and she made a choice to get out.  Stabler asks to meet her ex- husband, and she says they were never married and he died in 1997 of an overdose.  He pauses and then asks “How long does it take?” 

Back in his car, Stabler looks at  photos of Kathy. He gets a call back and says he is on his way. 

Later, Stabler meets with Pat Sharkey in Green Haven and tells him to arrange a meet and tell Manfredi “what happened in Puglia didn't stay in Puglia.” 

Stabler and his family attend the graveside services for Kathy. Benson is there. Eli is taking it the hardest.  Afterward, Benson says goodbye to the kids and Stabler thanks her for coming.  She walks off,  Stabler gets a call and tells the kids he has to make a stop and he leaves alone. 

At a different location by the river, someone pats down Stabler and Manfredi Sinatra approaches, asking what he is doing there.  He insists he doesn’t know Stabler. Stabler confronts him on the fake ID and asks about Raffi. They discuss the Puglia issue and Stabler thinks Manfredi was trying to take him out.  Stabler says he took his wife from  him, and Manfredi says he doesn’t make  mistakes like that.   If he wanted him in the dead he’d be the one in the ground right now. 

Meanwhile, Richard Wheatley is at home, talking his security system and wine with his son Richie.  Richie wants to do a startup, Another kid, Ryan,  walks in and knows his wine.  Manfredi arrives and he and Richard discuss Raffi, who Manfredi calls a “low-life.”  Pilar also arrives, makes small talk, and exits. Richard explains that Rafiq was working for him at Contrapos while Manfredi was in prison.  He said it was a legitimate business.  Manfredi says Richard likes to throw it in his face that he is a legitimate businessman, saying he knows what is going on in Puglia.  Richard feigns ignorance. Manfredi says anybody that does business in Puglia comes to him first to ask permission.  Richard scoffs at this.  Manfredi tells Richard that being smart doesn’t make up for him being a meatball, calling him stupid.  Her also mention’s Stabler’s wife being killed  and evidence being found in his warehouse in Raffi’s safe.  Richard tells Manfredi to let himself out. 

Back at headquarters, Stabler hears that the certificates of conformity may have to do with the COVID vaccine.  Stabler explains he didn’t get anything from Manfredi.  His boss says that upstairs is giving the, the task force and tells Stabler he is not in charge of it.  Stabler finds his boss is Sergeant Ayanna Bell – who witnessed his bad behavior at the courthouse. 

They later discuss that first impression and how Stabler threatened a witness essential to her case.  Stabler thinks she is profiling him. She says he doesn’t know a damn thing about being profiled.  She knows he spoke to Angela Wheatley and says she will need to know all about it. He asks if that means he is on her task force and says they will meet at the met tomorrow to talk about it. 

At the Met museum,  Stabler asks why she is taking a chance on him, and Bell explains she has  been looking into Manfredi Sinatra's son for almost two years. He started one of the first online pharmacies back when Sinatra was making his way up as a capo. The company is Contrapos RX.  She adds Sinatra tries to pass off as a respectable businessman, but, he's one of the world's biggest distributors of illegal narcotics.  She just can’t prove it yet.  He also goes by a different name and endowed the exhibit they are in – Richard Wheatley. 

Afterward, Stabler meets Angela and he comments she didn’t tell him she was married. She says “And divorced.”   She didn’t know Richard’s dad was a Mafia don when she married him.  Richard loathes him and Stabler asks if that is why he changed his name.  Angela explains Wheatley is actually her name and he did it because he knew how much it would piss off his father – marry a black woman AND take her last  name.  Richie and Dana chose him and she got Rafiq. While they are talking, Stabler sees suspicious people on a motorcycle and he makes a quick move to protect Angela. Gunfire erupts. They get away and Stabler doesn’t have a clear shot at them. Angela is shaken.

Later, Stabler arrives at the office for the task force and Bell is setting up.  They discuss the drive-by.  He thinks the hit could have been on either of them. He thinks Angela knows more than she is saying.  Bell explains she is after Wheatley but they may get Kathy’s killer but their charge is to bust an international drug cartel that has skated under the radar for two decades. Stabler understands.  He sets up his work area with a photo of Kathy.  Stabler is the only one on the task force and she is vetting others. Stabler suggests the hacker woman Jet Slootmaekers.  When Bell asks him to spell the name, Stabler is distracted by a message on his computer.   It says “9pm. wonder wheel, I know who killed your wife.”  

Later, Stabler is on his way to the wonder wheel.  But Manfredi is also there and he and Richard go up into the wonder wheel.  After a tense talk between both of them in the wheel,  Manfredi makes a lame attempt to apologize for his racism but Richard doesn’t seem to be in a forgiving mood. 

Stabler arrives at the wonder wheel and finds Manfredi in a wheel car, dead from a shot in the head.  Stabler touches him and many surfaces with no protective gloves.  He finds Manfredi's phone,  opens Manfredi’s eyes to use facial recognition to open the phone.  He leaves.

Elsewhere, Richard steps out of his car and walks into his house.  Pilar is there and mentions she thought they were going to Babula, and he explains they are keeping it open for them.  She asks what about this bitch – Angela is there.  He asks Angela if she is alright and she asks what does he think?  She told him she could handle it, he didn’t need to send his goons.  She explains how they opened fire and that it was reckless – he’s still reckless.  It is not so cute anymore.  He says she can’t talk to him like that in his own house, and she states it used to be her house.  She asks where is Florinda, she wants her to make her something. He says that’s why he divorced her.

Meanwhile, Stabler makes a call, trying to muffle his voice (I assume that was Manfredi's phone), to report the body at the wonder wheel.  He arrives at a residence and Benson is there in the lobby.  She calls out to him and he is rattled. He asks what is she doing there and she asks what just happened? He asks what does she mean, and asks if he is okay.  He says he is fine and asks why is she here? She explains she was just out at Hunt’s Point and she read his letter and thought they’d talk about it.   He wants to but can’t right now. He looks wound tight and his phone chimes.  It is Bell.  Benson asks if he is working and he says he has to go.   He takes the call and says he will meet her (Bell) out front in 20. He steps into the elevator and leave Benson standing there, wondering what just happened as we fade to black.