Thursday, May 27, 2021

Law & Order Organized Crime “Everybody Takes A Beating Sometime” Recap, Review, Discussion



The fast-paced penultimate season 1 episode “Everybody Takes A Beating Sometime” answered a few questions and moved us closer to shutting down Richard Wheatley's operation and have him answer for his crimes.  The episode was directed by Jean de Segonzac, who usually delivers some great action. He does not disappoint here, with plenty of tight, tension filled scenes.

I don’t have much time to recap the episode this week but here are the high points:

To answer the question of whether Gina is dead: Yes, she’s deader than dead - they find her buried body. (There goes the theory that her death was faked!)  Needless to say, Sgt. Bell is rocked by the news. 

Izak is also killed by one of Richard Wheatley’s new security crew. Wheatley likely never knew that Izak had turned on him,  explaining he had him killed as he witnessed Richie killing Gina and Izak would always hold that over Richie’s head. 

The OC group gets the sting in full swing, and there are a few problems.  Silvano finds he can’t take along his bodyguard to the meet with Wheatley and they take his phone.  Captain Chambliss pulls the plug on supporting the operation, getting bent out of shape over Bell’s wife’s lawsuit against the police department.  Wheatley finds that Joey Raven has installed an obvious camera outside the meeting place and he moves the meet location again and cuts Joey out of the deal.  Silvano is still wearing his  hidden earpiece so the OC can monitor him, and he speaks out loud to the drivers of the car so the OC squad can help track where he’s being taken. 

The deal goes down in a subway station. Luckily, Bell enlists the help of the transit police with an undercover officer already there. Jet also helps to get a directional microphone to that UC officer so they can continue to track when the deal is made.  They hear the deal take place and move in to make the arrests.  While they are rounding up Wheatley’s gang, along with Richie, Richard Wheatley slips into one of the subway cars in order to make an escape.  Stabler sees this and jumps in another subway car to follow.  (There is a scene reminiscent of The French Connection when Bell sees Wheatley move off in the subway.)  Wheatley takes hostages and just when it appears he has the upper hand, the train stops and Wheatley jumps out. Stabler follows and Wheatley jumps into another train, as does Stabler.  Stabler gets Wheatley to drop his gun, and as Stabler is getting ready to cuff him, Wheatley fights back and they scuffle,  but Stabler is victorious.  Bell later reads Wheatley his rights. 

At the Contrapos headquarters,  Dana is arrested. Elsewhere, Joey Raven is also arrested.  After Angela hears that Wheatley is in custody, she signs her statement, while her attorney looks on. 

While being taken to holding, Wheatley tells Richie and Dana they won’t be there long.  Stabler and Bell turn on the heat with Richie about Gina.  Richie freaks out and Dana tries to get him to shut up and wait for his lawyer.  But Richie can’t handle the pressure. Bell says she doesn’t think it was his gun, asking if it was Izak’s.  Stabler tells Richie they know he was there. Bell explains Gina wanted to protect him and that he was messed up because of his father but was a good kid and was incapable of hurting anyone.  She adds that Richie did not deserve Gina’s kindness.  Richie is inconsolable and likely scared. 

Angela arrives to talk to Wheatley, wanting Stabler present.  In this discussion, Wheatley thinks Stabler fell for Angela’s performance, adding he has a recording of Angela arranging the hit on Kathy, conspiring with Izak to plant the bomb, and to make sure that Stabler was distracted by a phone call so  he would be standing right there to witness her gruesome demise.  Wheatley calls Stabler a good god-fearing Catholic but tells Angela that Stabler has someone else – another woman who is the one true love of his life. (He likely means Benson.) Angela walks out of the meeting as does Stabler, leaving Wheately to mumble they are both a hot mess and making a pouting expression as we cut to black. 

Law & Order SVU “What Can Happen In The Dark” Recap, Review, Discussion

 


This is one of those times where I have little time to do a detailed recap.   It’s a shame that it’s for an episode which featured a man, Andy Richards, as the victim of sexual assault, a rarity for Law & Order SVU, or any show for that matter.  The one thing I was left with after watching this episode: there didn’t seem to be very harsh punishment for someone who could do something so horrific to another human being, man or woman.  I’m surprised that Carisi agreed to the deal. Is the stain of being on the sex offender registry considered harsh punishment?  If a man assaulted a woman in this manner, would he have gotten off so easy? 

We got a glimpse of Deputy Chief Garland’s home and his family, which helps make him seem less the stern boss and more like a normal family man who is  very in-tune to the needs of special victims.

It was surprising that Andy was allowed to continue to testify despite the fact that he had just passed out in court after having too much to drink, plus requiring help from EMTs.    I didn’t think someone was allowed to testify if there is evidence the person is impaired. 

The episode features Michael Gladis,  a Law & Order SVU and Criminal Intent “repeat offender”, plus Lee Tergeson, a Law & Order, Criminal Intent, L&O LA and SVU “repeat offender”.


Here is the recap: 

Andy Richards initially looks to be a husband with a drinking problem, along with having problems with co-workers on a construction job.  He requires medical care for injuries that appear to be from a beating but on close examination by doctors, there is evidence he has also been sexually assaulted.  Andy is in denial and reluctant to discuss it, and at first his wife doesn’t appear suspect. 

As the SVU investigates, they find that it IS his wife Diana who has assaulted him.  Along with Carisi, the SVU works to get Andy to admit it was Diana who did this to  him and to get him to testify against her in court, along with Benson, the nurse who  treated him,  and the house maid.  At one point Andy hits the booze during the trial, causing him to pass out.  Despite the best efforts of  Diana’s attorney Erik Garrison to clear her of wrongdoing,  Diana eventually can’t escape what Andy states that she’s done. Garrison cuts a deal with Carisi.  Diana pleads guilty to misdemeanor sexual assault and assault in the third degree.  She’s put on the sex offender registry until her son is 18.  After the trial, she suggests she and Andy work things out, saying she didn’t realize she hurt him and doesn’t want to hurt their son Charlie.  But Andy smartly says while he won’t keep Charlie from seeing her,  Andy will not be in Diana’s life.  Andy thanks Carisi and Benson, and also thanks Garland.  As they all file out of the courtroom, we fade to black. 


Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Law & Order SVU “What Can Happen In The Dark” Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU “What Can Happen In The Dark” which will air on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 9PM ET on NBC. 

The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kellie Giddish, Peter Scanavino, Jamie Gray Hyder, Demore Barnes, Lee Tergesen as Counselor Erik Garrison, Anna Wood as Diana, Michael Gladis as Andy Richards, and Amy Brabson as Judge Karyn Blake. 



















Photos by: Heidi Gutman/NBC 2021 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Law & Order Organized Crime “Everybody Takes A Beating Sometime” Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order Organized Crime “Everybody Takes A Beating Sometime” which will air on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 10PM ET on NBC. 

The photos feature Chris Meloni, Danielle Moné Truitt, Dylan McDermott, Michael Rivera, Ainsley Seiger, Ben Chase as Detective Freddie Washburn, Nick Creegan as Richie Wheatley, and Ivo Nandi as Gianluca Silvano. 





















 Photos by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC 2021 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Law & Order Organized Crime “I Got This Rat” Recap, Review, Discussion



A lot happened in Law & Order Organized Crime “I Got This Rat”, making for an interesting, fast-paced hour. Last week, in the episode “An Inferior Product”, Stabler heard from Izak Behker that it was Angela Wheatley that ordered the hit on Kathy Stabler. Clearly this rocked Stabler’s world, and one had to know that the fallout would be swift. “I Got This Rat” did not disappoint. This was a tightly-written episode that moved the story along with lightning speed. While the episode involves setting up a sting in which to trap Richard Wheatley, I find myself wondering if the viewers are being roped into a different kind of sting as well. Let’s be frank: everyone expected Gina to be killed at some point. But since viewers are also trained to expect a twist, is it possible that Gina is not really dead? If Izak is working with the OC team, and as he was the one who acquired the gun that Richie has to use to shoot Gina, could that shooting have been staged with blanks and blood packets for Richie’s benefit? As Izak volunteers to take care of the cleanup, it is highly possible that his only clean up is to make it look like Gina’s body has been disposed of.

The other suspicious character is Angela.  Wheatley tells Stabler not to trust her as she is still in love with him. Angela says that’s how they know Wheatley is lying.  But who knows at this point whether Angela’s motives are as pure as she says?  These suspicious are what makes this series more interesting every week.  One really doesn’t know what is true and what are lies and who to trust.   There are only two more episodes this season so we won’t have long to wait to find out.

I'm not sure how the situation with Bell's wife's nephew will play out, but it only seems a distraction at this point. 


Here is the recap:

Stabler is at Mass with his family and he appears to be having an internal struggle. 

Angela  seems to be getting reading for Stabler's arrival at her place for some intimate time. But she gets a big surprise when Stabler arrives and promptly arrests her. 

Izak tells Stabler that Wheatley is expanding his operation with Joey Raven’s crew with a new piece of business that will be a game changer.

Meanwhile, Wheatley discussed with his  daughter Dana, along with Richie, that Izak found a bug but that Dana’s team should have located it.  She’s bringing in a new team and Wheatley wants her to have the office AND house searched.   They also see Wheatley’s new,  ramped-up technological  operation with Joey Raven. Dana is the point person. Raven will be meeting with a new Russian friend.  Wheatley explains that a year from now, the COVID pandemic will have run its course and things will be getting back to normal but for the next several months only a fraction of the world will have access to the vaccine. The developing world is desperate to get a share and they can make billions. 

Back at the OC squad room,  Stabler briefs the  team on Stepan Komarov, who is Brighton Beach mafia.  He is an arms dealer and Wheatley wants to use him to peddle the vaccine.  Bell says they have a pile of evidence on Wheatley but it is all one step removed so he can evade charged. If they get him in the act making the deal he can’t get out of it.  They want to remove Komarov and replace him with another buyer – them, or someone who works for them who will wear a listening device, once that Jet can make for this occasion.

Bell speaks with Angela who is still in holding and Bell suggests she get a lawyer. Angela wants to talk to her kids.   Bell won’t let her call the kids and Bell says they have her phone and can make it look normal if Wheatley looks, to keep him from getting suspicious.  Bell also wonders, with Angela’s credentials,  why?  Angela says if Bell had children she’s realize you do whatever you can to protect your kids. 

Stabler meets with Angela and asks her why.  She  replies she was insane and inconsolable with rage and grief. She admits that Wheatley led her to believe that her son Rafiq was killed in a targeted hit led by Stabler, a faceless detective.  Wheatley asked Angela if she wanted him to die and she said no, she wanted him to suffer like she was suffering and wanted him to feel a pain worse than death. She said they were just words spoke in despair and didn’t want someone else to die.  Stabler said someone did die – someone who didn’t hurt a soul in her life.  Stabler brings  up the moment they met and he said he’d find who killed Rafiq and the whole time she thought it was him – the irony.  Stabler informs her that the truth is  Rafiq handled the illegal side of Wheatley’s business with Purple Magic. Rafiq was double dipping, taking paychecks from Angela’s ex and also making his own inferior product to compete.  Rafiq got caught by Wheatley and he had Rafiq shot. 

Bell and Stabler discuss getting Komarov off the street so they can work their op.  Bell also hears from her wife Denise that Denise’s nephew has permanent nerve damage in hand and Denise will be going forward with a lawsuit against the NYPD.   Denise knows it is complicated but she wants Bell’s support. 

Meanwhile, Angela confers with Ellsworth Lee (Stabler calls him a TV talking head law professor but Lee explains he spend year with the Brooklyn DA’s office) to help her. She wants to speak with Stabler first and explains she wants to cooperate to put Wheatley away.  Lee tells her to follow his lead,  and when Bell and Stabler enter, Lee proposes “Queen for a day” which is a bargaining chip – a proffer letter and the arresting officers don’t have to commit to anything up front and agree not to use anything they hear against her.  If the info is of value, then they discuss a cooperative arrangement.  Lee gives them 3 hours to discuss it with their ADA but Angela is impatient and just says “his ego.”  She explains that 
the only way to get Wheatley to fall for their sting is to appeal to his ego.  While Detective Morales was talking her to the bathroom she overhead them talk about their sting and she knows how Wheatley’s mind works and how to get him to drop his guard.   She asks them if they know what an oloid is, then explains it is a 3-dimensional curved geometrical object comprised of two linked congruent circles on perpendicular planes.  Wheatley was so enchanted by it he made it his first company’s logo.  She wants to help them put “Richard Sinatra” in a cell for the rest of his life. 

Back at the Wheatley home, Dana has her people sweep Wheatley’s wine cellar but if they find something not to tip anyone off. 

Stabler get a call telling him the location of Stepan Komarov.  Bell and Stabler go to a bathhouse and arrest him, but after a fight ensues. 

Back at the OC squad, they discuss the sting with Moennig and they need  him to sign off on the expenses. Stabler explains they have their best CI out of Rome – Gianluca Silvano– lined up and they have to fly him here.  They want to make it look good and they want him to fly private.  

Arrangements are made in Rome  with Silvano. 

Meanwhile, Wheatley hears from Raven that Komarov has  been arrested and they have another buy that is bigger than Komarov – Silvano.  Silvano approached them and Wheatley is reluctant.  Raven gives him an oloid from Silvano. 

Back at the OC, Jet explains to Bell how she created a beefier background for Silvano and believes it cannot be detected as a deep fake.  Jet also designed a recording device that can fit in his messed up ear that will look like a hearing aid. 

Wheatley proudly shows the oloid to Izak and says this gift means Silvano is intelligent enough to speak to him in a language that few others would  understand and thorough enough to be worth of his trust. Meanwhile they are listening to this conversation in the OC squad room and think Wheatley is buying it.  Stabler gets a call from a blocked number and says he will play, asking when and where.  He tells Bell that Wheatley wants to buy him a cup of coffee to discuss Angela. 

Stabler meets with Wheatley, who orders coffee for Stabler which he pushes away.  Wheatley brings up Angela who he says refuses to talk to him. He also mentions that Rafiq was killed in a police raid, and thinks Stabler is using Angela to get to  him and he doesn’t want any casualties. Stabler asks “Like my wife?” and Wheatley admits his comment was insensitive.  Wheatley says Stabler can’t trust what Angela says as she is still in love with him. Stabler asks why did he just kill him as he was a nuisance and he exacts revenge and gets rid of people.  Stabler shows him a photo of Kathy and says she was not a vengeful person but she will be the end of Wheatley. Wheatley says he is sorry for his loss but stay away from his wife.  Stabler retorts “Ex-wife” and leaves. Wheatley fumes.

Stabler speaks in Italian on the phone and tells them Silvano is on his way. He sees Angela returning to her cell, and he walks off. Angela asks about the oloid and Bell says it was very effective. 

Back at home, Dana tells Wheatley she needs to show him something.  While outside, Richie practices shooting Champaign bottles with Gina. He lets Gina take a shot and she misses but with a tip from him she manages to hit it.   Wheatley hears from Dana that they found from video surveillance that Gina planted a bug in the wine cellar. 

Outside, Wheatley and Dana pull Richie aside and tell him Gina planted a bug and she is a rat – a cop. Richie is in denial at first and they explains what she did with the bug.   Wheatley wants him to lure in Gina with a weekend at the family compound in Montauk but Gina will never get there.  Richie says he is not doing that but Wheatley says he has to clean it up.  Dana says he can’t do it, but Wheatley intimidates Richie and he says he will do it.  Wheatley says Izak will set him up with a clean weapon and Richie needs to disable Gina's phone and make sure she doesn’t have a chance to call in so no one tails them.  

Back at the OC,  Bell and Stabler explain the operation and that Bekher is with them.   Their buyer will make a large purchase of illegal COVID product and they have to catch Wheatley making the transaction. Jet will catch him as it is made.  They discuss support and hardware.  Captain Chambliss wants to go in hard but Bell says no.  Stabler later tells Bell she is sure Chambliss will do his job.

Richie and Gina are on their way but Richie is very subdued. 

Stabler is at the squad room and looks at a photo of Kathy and says he is sorry.  He speaks with Angela about having coffee with Wheatley and Wheatley does not know she is there.  Wheatley told him that he can’t trust Angela as Angela still loves him, and Angela says then Stabler knows Wheatley is lying.  Stabler says he knows that,  but doesn’t know she is not. He walks off. 

Richie and Gina make a stop as she wanted to see a lighthouse.  As they walk off, Gina seems to get uncomfortable and he quickly pulls a gun on her.  He confronts her about being a rat and asks her real name. She says her name is the same and she has been undercover since she was 21;  at first it was just work but she has feelings for him and is not pretending.  He explains seeing her plant the bug and she moves in closely as he looks uncomfortable. When he  hesitates, she hits him and gets the gun and points it at him.  She says she knows his father is a bad guy but knows he is not. Izak calls out and says good thing HE is, distracting Gina.  Richie goes for the gun and gets it, knocking Gina to the ground.  Izak says he will take care of her but Richie is angry and when she says she was just doing her job, he says he has to do his, and he shoots her and then shoots her again.  She lays back and dies.  Izak says Richie made his bones, he didn’t think he had it in him. He tells Richie he will clean this up.  As Richie walks off, blood streams off Gina. 

Meanwhile, a helicopter hands and Silvano steps out.  He gets in another vehicle and meets with Stabler who asks if he is ready to make a deal as we cut to black. 








Law & Order SVU “Post-Graduate Psychopath” Recap, Review, Discussion



“Post-Graduate Psychopath” is a follow up to the Law & Order SVU episode “Born Psychopath” from season 14. In that episode, Henry Mesner is a monster of a child, whose psycho tendencies lands him in a juvenile facility where he can get help. Or so they think!

This follow up was predictable, but it was no funhouse by any means.  Even though it was a foregone conclusion Henry would be apprehended,  it provided many tense moments getting to that point.  The Funhouse scene – inspired by the Orson Welles “The Lady from Shanghai” playbook – wasn’t all that suspenseful,  yet it was visually enjoyable.  I liked that this episode gave Rollins some much needed focus that didn’t involve her family drama.   I was a little worried when Jesse was out of sight for those few minutes;  I was in no mood for a kidnapped child episode.  (I am never in the mood for those episodes.)

For the last several years in a psychiatric facility, Henry has been working on The Big Bamboozle: learning what to do and how to act so he appears sane, allowing for his release.  Once released, he exacts revenge on all of those who he perceived have harmed him.   It’s like the long con, but with “shrinks”.  Sadly, it’s the doctors and therapists themselves who have been giving Henry the playbook on how to behave so he can act normal and get released.   I find myself wondering how often something like this happens, and suspect it happens more than we'd like to know.  People do this all the time with their parents, their bosses; one learns what gets them in good graces and what gets them in the dog house. For psychopath who is highly motivated to get out, it’s probably easy.   Who knows - Henry's could just repeat the cycle. 


Here is the recap:

The episode opens with a flashback to March 2013 with Henry’s parents hearing he will have to go into a juvenile facility for treatment. 

In Family Court on December 17, 2020, Henry goes through a review process and is able to fool everyone into allowing his release.  

Several months later, Henry wastes no time in killing his father, step-mother, and half brother.  He also takes the time to stalk Rollins in order to present her daughter Jesse with a stuffed dog named Snowball that Rollins traced back to Libby Blandon, a recent victim of a vicious attack.  (In Born Psychopath, Henry drowned a dog named Snowball.)   Libby’s mother was the doctor who treated Henry when he was first admitted to the Hesland Juvenile Psychiatric Facility.  

When the SVU arrives at the Mesner home, they find that his father,  stepmother, and half-brother have been murdered.  But his sister Ruby is alive as she was staying at a friend’s house.  They later break the news to Ruby. She explains her dad was on Henry to get a job.  He was spending all day on video games and talking to somebody.  She thinks they never should have let him out. 

They quickly realize that Henry has bamboozled them all.  He basically spend the 8 years at the facility learning how to appear sane.  

Speaking with another person at Hesland, they find Henry was staying with that person's sister, Cora. When they enter her apartment she is not there but arrives soon after and is detained,  and they take some of Henry’s belongings.  Cora has been bamboozled too.   They question her and find Henry went to Morningside Park to take pictures on his phone and upload them to the cloud.  They use Cora’s phone to access the cloud photos and find photos of Jesse and Libby.   There is also a photo of Ruby taken that morning at the house where she was staying.

They race to the house and find that there is only one squad car outside but no one around. The rest of the police were called out to a bomb scare at the mall.  They quickly find one officer in the trunk of his squad car.   Inside they find the other occupants injured but alive and Ruby has been taken.  Henry said he wanted to go on a ride and Rollins quickly concludes he went to a nearby amusement park, Bayville Park. 

At the park, they check all the rides and Rollins locates Henry and Ruby in the mirrored Funhouse.  Henry is holding Ruby at gunpoint.   Rollins manages to get Henry to release Ruby.  She takes the time to talk Henry down and get him out of the Funhouse, saying she will protect him.   As he’s been led out of the Funhouse, he says he couldn’t help himself and is not of sound mind. 

Later, Henry has a session with Dr. Lindstrom, and says he was told he is not a danger to others and asks Dr. Lindstrom if he thinks they made the right decision. After that session Dr. Lindstrom tells Benson, Carisi, and Rollins that whoever let Henry out should have their license revoked.  Carisi comments that hindsight is 20/20 and presses if Henry is competent to stand trial. With some discussion, Lindstrom says a psychopath’s brain is different, probably from birth and the defense may say his personality disorder affects his sanity.  Rollins insists he knew what he was doing was wrong and he didn’t care and it’s all on him.   Lindstrom says sending him home to the family Henry thinks imprisoned him…Benson equates it to pouring gasoline and lighting a match. Rollins and Lindstrom continue to discuss this but Carisi just wants Lindstrom's assertion Henry can stand trial. Lindstrom says he is, but the question itself is the problem.  Rollins says she needs fresh air and she leaves, and Carisi leaves as well.  Lindstrom asks Benson how she is doing as it’s been a tough year. She says it has been and she is lucky, Noah is okay and the squad is healthy.  Lindstrom asks about Stabler and she says it is a lot to process, He understands why she wants an appointment and looks forward to it. 

At the competency hearing, Lindstrom testifies Henry is competent to stand trial.  The judge rules that Henry is capable of participating in his own defense and competent to stand trial. His lawyer says that they will  be changing their plea to not guilty by reason of insanity.  She mentions 4 months ago he was deemed no longer a danger and that was not true. The judge shuts her down and tells her to save it to the jury.  Henry comments she is being rude to her lawyer and he becomes enraged and moves to attack her.  When he refuses to sit down and continues to approach the judge, Carisi steps in and Henry grabs a pencil and stabs Carisi in the ear.  As Henry is restrained, he yells he wants his daddy. 

Later, Rollins visits with Carisi in the hospital – he is going to be okay.  Henry just missed puncturing his ear drum.   He explains that Henry is being remanded and medicated and will be until he is competent. Rollins thinks Henry is just getting what he wants and stabbed Carisi to prove he was crazy.  Carisi explains either way, Henry will stand trial and whether he meets the legal definition of insanity, he killed his father, his stepmother and 5 year brother and if he is not crazy, then no one is. 

At the facility, Rollins meets with Henry, who is restrained.  She knows he is drugged and pretending he can’t hear but she knows he  can hear her. She says when she told him she didn’t want him to die, she lied.  She says if he ever gets out of there, if she goes after Carisi or anyone in her family again, it will be his last day on earth…she will kill Henry herself.  She leaves and Henry smiles. 

Law & Order SVU “Post-Graduate Psychopath” Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU “Post-Graduate Psychopath” which will air on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 9 PM ET on NBC. 

The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino, Jamie Gray Hyder, Ethan Cutkosky as Henry Mesner, André De Shields as Keys, Maxine Wanderer as Ruby Mesner, and Charlotte and Vivian Cabell as Jesse Murphy Rollins. 

















 Photos by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC 2021 NBCUniversal Media, LLC