Law & Order Organized Crime “Ashes to Ashes” Recap, Review, Discussion

This episode was full of surprises for the criminals, the task force, and for viewers. The efforts of Stabler’s undercover work finally paid off with the arrest of key members of the Kosta organization – and that included Albi Briscu and Jon Kosta himself.   But those two didn’t make their arrests easy.   In a fast-paced, heart-pounding episode, the Organized Crime task force had to jump through hoops to get their hands on Kosta and Albi, with Stabler having to chase the two of them through an underground tunnel, at times under gunfire.   It was highly satisfying to see the look of surprise on Kosta’s face when he realizes Stabler was a cop and not Eddie Wagner AKA Eddie Ashes.  And when Albi realizes the same thing, not only does he look surprised, he looks hurt, and then worries that Stabler spilled his secret.  When Stabler assures him he is a man of his word and has told no one – especially Flutura – Stabler is able to diffuse a tense situation with Albi, who is holding his male companion at gunpoint.   Had Flutura known that Albi was going to dump her for his boy toy, she may not have helped talk him down.  The one thing I don’t think was explained was how Bell and Stabler tracked down Flutura in that motel where she was hiding. Maybe I missed something?  I fully expected her to take a flying leap off that balcony. 

Bell gets surprised as well when Nova, who had infiltrated the Marcy Killers,  has now been placed in a position of power.  Nova then tells Bell that Congressman Kilbride explained he has someone in the force who thinks he can compromise – Bell – and Bell appears less than thrilled at this turn of events.  Who knows, this may be an advantage, if they can both work Kilbride properly. 

Reggie,  the somewhat likeable - but still criminal - buffoon of the Kosta organization,  get his surprise when, as he is being taken to his new location in witness protection, he finds that his mother Agnes won’t be going with him as planned.   After the explosion at the Besa gym (which I don’t believe who initiated it was ever explained), the body of the court reporter, shot in the back by Albi, was discovered.  Her connection to Agnes was made,  and Agnes was arrested right before entering witness protection.   Reggie later finds himself alone in witness protection,  in the middle of cold and  snow-covered “nowhere”, working at a gas station, cut off from all his family and friends.   

Agnes surprises everyone when she manages to smuggle a gun into the courtroom and attempts to shoot Stabler in cold blood.   Someone  in law enforcement, or in corrections,  is clearly still on the side of the Kosta organization in order to get that gun hidden in that wheelchair.   Stabler needs to watch himself; the danger to him is likely not over. 

This excellent episode was directed by Jean de Segonzac, and he never disappoints in delivering a tense, tight, action-packed episode. 

Here is the recap: 

In the aftermath of the explosion at the Besa gym, Stabler and  Bell pick themselves up – Bell clearly rocked by the explosion -  and a large number of officers arrive.  They must quickly take cover as snipers shoot at them and the other officers from the rooftop, hitting some.   They fire back and ultimately take the shooters out and enter the damaged building, looking for Kosta, Albi, and other survivors.  Jet says Kosta and Vinnie were shown entering the building an hour before but never coming out.  There are at least 7 men still inside. They enter the burning gym under gunfire and continue to take the shooters out.  Bell and Stabler and the teams continue to search. They discover some bodies, and Bell sees a body of a black woman laying on the floor.  She sends Jet a photo and Jet IDs her as the court reporter that was previously with the ADA and Agnes. They believe she was the leak that tipped off Kosta, Albi, and Flutura.  Jet cannot see where Albi and Kosta exited. Stabler worries that Bell is hurt and tells the others to get her to a medic.  Jet explains that the last people  to enter the gym before the explosion was Kosta and Albi.  She looks at floor plans and finds a small space near the east wall that looks like storage.  Stabler checks it out and finds a stairwell to a tunnel – with rats.

He follows it  - alone – and sees what looks like storage for drugs.  He eventually loses contact with Jet. He continues on and eventually catches up to Albi and Kosta and meets with gunfire.   Albi tells Kosta to go ahead while he holds off Stabler (not knowing it is Stabler).  There is an ambulance waiting outside to take them both away and when Albi doesn’t come out right away, the driver prods Kosta to go now, so he leaves without Albi.  Albi exits and tries to block the exit door,  and finds he is on his own. Stabler forces his way out but Albi is nowhere to be found.  He radios to Jet for the location and she explains she picked up an ambulance leaving there. Stabler explains KO owns three ambulances and he had already logged two of the numbers.  Jet says aviation is looking for them and says Bell is on her way to him. 

Meanwhile,  the ambulance driver tells Kosta he is taking him to a boat and then will hook up with a  bigger boat.  Kosta readies his gun. 

Stabler asks Bell if she is  ready to drive, annoying her.  They continue to chase the ambulance based on information from Jet.  The police are hot on the tail of the ambulance, which must swerve to avoid another vehicle and then  crashes.  Kosta exits the back, and Stabler and police chase him.  Kosta shoots at those chasing him,  and the boat he is supposed to get on leaves before Kosta can get on.  Stabler yells for Kosta to drop the gun and Kosta stops and turns slowly, recognizing the voice.  He sees Stabler, who orders him to drop his weapon. Kosta says, “You gotta be kidding me”  and he puts his hands on his head and gets on his knees as instructed.  Kosta comments to Stabler “good game” and that he had him fooled – whatever his name is.  Bell asks where is Albi, and Kosta  says “Albi who.”

Elsewhere, Albi breaks in and enters someone’s home and when a young guy catches  him and sees Albi’s face as wanted on television, Albi draws his gun on him.  The guy screams for help and Albi sees a tattoo showing he is Albanian so he just restrains the guy and duct tapes his mouth.  He calls Flutura and tells her he is alive and she says she has the cash and the car is ready,  He says he will be there in about an hour and has the flash drive. He says Kosta will not make it and Flutura comments she saw that on TV.  He tells her not to worry – he has a plan to get then away, - just the two of them. She tells him to be careful and hangs up, turns, and looks to Bell and Stabler’s watchful eye as she made the call.  

Someone,  waiting in a car nearby,  sees Albi drive off in a red car. 

In the place where Flutura has been hiding, Bell watches below with binoculars, seeing an ambulance drive off. She notes that Flutura is giving Stabler the cold shoulder and Flutura thinks Stabler has been bragging about her to his police friends and how he was with her. Stabler says he’s said nothing. Flutura says he was fun, like a horny altar boy having sex for the first time, except he lasted longer.  Bell wishes she could unhear that.   Bell thinks she sees Albi get out of a car below but Flutura says that is not him but Stabler calls it in anyway, telling them to approach the car with caution and check the trunk.   But Flutura does see Albi below, nearby,  dressed in clothes belonging to the occupant of the house he broke into.  He senses there is trouble and nods to her.

Afterwards, Albi picks up his male companion and they speed off. 

Bell has a bad feeling, thinking Flutura knows where Albi is.  Stabler talks to Flutura about this and accuses her of lying. He understands why she is mad, but she claims she is not mad, she is hurt.   He did not intend to do that. She mentions Stabler drugging her and his non-answer is an admission he did it.  He admits he did a lot of things he was not proud of, and she says it is part of the job, to protect and serve. He explains he did what he had to do. She thinks she was a fool for wanting him.  She asks what happens to Eddie Wagner, asking if he has a family or is married, He says it is just him. She said it is a shame, thinking he will miss the Albanian life – the excitement, the passion, the fun. She thinks he loved it.  He asks again where is Albi and she does not answer.

Jet gets a message, then contacts Bell, saying they just got a tip from the 117;  Bell alerts Stabler there was a break-in and the victim called 911 and said Albi was the intruder – he saw him on the news.  Jet explains he stole an electricians uniform, and Bell said Albi took the kid’s car, and when Stabler is surprised he was unharmed,  Jet said Albi realized the kid was Albanian.  Flutura says they take care of their own, adding it looks like they found Albi.  Jet sees Albi on the surveillance video in those electrician clothes 30 minutes ago,  below the motel where Flutura is  hiding but then he walked away. Bell and Stabler look to Flutura and Stabler tells the other officers to cuff her and Bell tells Jet to track the stolen car, and to be on the lookout for suspicious activity when transporting Flutura.  Flutura tells Stabler not to forget her. 

Jet radios that surveillance is looking out for the car. Meanwhile, Albi and his man friend drive off and he finds Flutura’s passport and questions Albi about it.  He thinks he was Albi’s second choice, and Albi doesn’t think it matters now and gets testy.   Jet notes that it looks like they are heading to Liberty marina and tells Stabler and Bell they are about 5 blocks out and should be able to intercept them.   As Albi and his companion race to the boat, the cops arrive and Albi shoots at them for cover.  They board a  yacht where a party is taking place and Albi tells the man to start the engine. When he refuses, Albi hits him with his gun.  As Stabler and Bell board the boat, Albi and his friend try to start the engine with no luck.  The police attempt to get everyone off the boat as Bell and Stabler race to the bridge.  When Albi sees them close in on him, he grabs his friend around the neck and holds him at gunpoint.  Stabler sees this from below and shouts to get everyone out.  Albi is shocked to see Stabler, asking how could it be possible.  Stabler comments he guesses he is not the only one with a secret.   Stabler tries to get him to drop the gun and Albi asks for a helicopter and Flutura. But he worries that she knows, and Stabler asks Bell to cut the feed and get him Flutura.  Bell tells Jet to do so, and Stabler tells everyone o back away.  Stabler pulls out his earpiece and tells Albi no one from the outside is listening and he never broke is promise – nobody knows.  

Sometime later, Flutura arrives at the boat and Bell tells her there are two ways that this can end – one with Albi dead and the other in police custody.  She is shocked when she sees him and Stabler tells her the man he is holding as a hostage is a party guest.  She asks Albi to let the boy go, and he says he never wanted to live without her.  They work it out where the boy and Flutura are traded at the same time.  Albi relents and Flutura runs to him.  She mentions there was a time she saved his life and it is her turn to save his.  She gets him to drop the gun and Stabler picks it up.  They take Albi and Flutura into custody.  As he is being led away, Albi looks back at Stabler and says he will see him again, he promises. 

At home, Stabler is laying awake in bed, flashing back to his time  undercover. Kathleen knocks on the door and calls out that his mom is making breakfast, but she sees him with his eyes closed (pretending to be asleep) and then closes the door right away. 

Back at home, Bell is with Denise at breakfast and Bell explains she and Stabler will both be in court for all the Kosta arraignments.  Bell gets a call, sounds surprised, and tells the caller to go to the meeting and  they will meet at their spot at the end of the day.  When Denise questions her about it, Bell says she knows she can’t say.  She hopes everything is okay and will tell her when she can tell her. 

Elsewhere, Reggie is being taken to LaGuardia  airport with his mother, Agnes, for his new life and asks lots of questions.  But Agnes is arrested before they leave - for obstruction of justice, bribery,  and aiding and abetting a  criminal enterprise. As Reggie is being forced into the vehicle, Agnes is taken into another vehicle. Reggie screams for his mother. 

Meanwhile, in arraignment court, the whole Kosta organization is led in, with Albi spitting at Stabler.  Agnes is brought in on a wheelchair and Flutura calls out to her in shock.  Agnes looks at Stabler with disgust and scowls, calling him a traitor.  She begins to cough and bends over, gagging. When Kosta and Flutura call for her to get some water and help, Agnes reaches under the wheelchair and pulls out a gun. The officer wheeling her in sees Agnes raise the gun and grabs her arms, forcing them up as she fires.  Stabler, Bell, and the gallery react and move to protect themselves. Some move to restrain Agnes and get the gun. She scowls and shouts “Besa forever” and Stabler looks  on in shock. 

Afterwards in the hall, Bell asks  Stabler if he is okay. He says he is. Bell comments she knew today would be interesting but never imagined it would be Agnes.  Stabler explains she is the only one who never trusted him. She tried to tell them but they wouldn’t listen.  Bell says to “believe women” and then says it is over now. He comments it is never over, moving to shake her hand. She hugs him instead and then tells him to please get rid of that beard now and come out of hiding.  Stabler quips he kind of liked having hair on his head, even if it was on the wrong side. 

Later, in their meeting place, Bell meets with Nova who says she is inside and is made,  and was told she proved herself with her loyalty and courage and effectiveness.  They were pleased to welcome her into the senior management of the Marcy organization as Vice President. She is one of 5.  Bell asks if she can separate what that achievement feels like from the awareness of what she is there to do. Nova says yes, she can do it, if Bell can do it and will follow her lead. When Bell asks what she means, Nova explains there were two other people in the meeting in Webb’s office, one was Hugo, her mentor, and the other was Webb’s mentor – Congressman Leon Kilbride. Bell is stunned and asks if there is anything else she wants to tell her.  Nova says Kilbride is sometimes referred to as Mr. Taylor by the more junior members of the corporation and comfortable enough to mention, in the company of senior management, that he is cultivating a relationship with an up-and-coming NYPD sergeant who he believes will have his back if he ever had to ask her for anything.  Bell is silent. 

Elsewhere, at a snowy place in the middle of nowhere, Reggie tends to a car, filling gas.  The customer pays him and tells him to stay warm as he looks on sadly at his surroundings. 

Back at home, Stabler trims his beard, preparing to shave it off.  Eli comes in and tells him goodnight, they will talk tomorrow, and are glad he is home.  As he preps his face, he flashes back at some of the horrible things he’s seen with his recent undercover  work.  He looks in the mirror and sees a serious - now shaved -  face as we cut to black.