Law & Order Organized Crime “Can’t Knock The Hustle” Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order Organized Crime, “Can’t Knock The Hustle” airing Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 10PM ET on NBC.

The photos feature Chris Meloni, Danielle Moné Truitt, Ainsley Seiger, Dann Florek as Donald Cragen, Denis Leary as Frank Donnelly, Jordan Bridges as ADA Keller Shapiro, Mike Cannon as Carlos Maldonado, Guillermo Diaz as Sgt. Bill Brewster, Sebastian Arroyo as Jessie Santos, and Ellen Burstyn as Bernadette.

My recap and review of Law & Order Organized Crime “Can’t Knock The Hustle” can be found at this link.

Photos by: 

 Zach Dilgard/NBC 

Virginia Sherwood/NBC 

 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Law & Order SVU “Eighteen Wheels A Predator” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU,  “Eighteen Wheels A Predator”.

Law & Order SVU  “Eighteen Wheels A Predator”  Air Date April 14,  2022 (9 PM ET/8C Thursday NBC)

Rollins and Fin investigate an assault in Kentucky that has striking similarities to victim found in Central Park. Benson receives intel that turns the case upside down.  

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Law & Order “Wicked Game” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order   “Wicked Game”.

Law & Order   “Wicked Game” Air Date April 14,  2022 (8 PM ET/7C Thursday NBC)

When a young man is found dead of an apparent overdose, Dixon fiercely pursues a homicide investigation as an old unsolved case comes back to haunt her. Price and Maroun risk putting a witness in harm’s way to expose their suspect and reveal the monster underneath.  

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My recap and review of Law & Order “Wicked Game” can be found at this link.

Law & Order SVU - Octavio Pisano Official Cast Photos

NBC has released two official cast photos for Octavio Pisano, who plays Detective Joe Velasco. Here they are – enjoy!

Photos by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC  

2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Law & Order Organized Crime “Can’t Knock The Hustle” Episode Information & Promo

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order Organized Crime,  “Can’t Knock The Hustle”.

Law & Order Organized Crime “Can’t Knock The Hustle”  Air Date April 7,  2022 (10 PM ET/9C Thursday NBC)

A new ADA on the case urges the task force to flip a member of the brotherhood to get the evidence they need. Stabler must come to terms with the legacy his father left him. Bell and Nova’s worlds start to overlap in more ways than one.

My recap and review of Law & Order Organized Crime “Can’t Knock The Hustle” can be found at this link.

Law & Order SVU “Once Upon A Time In El Barrio” Episode Information & Promo

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU,  “Once Upon A Time In El Barrio”.

Law & Order SVU  “Once Upon A Time In El Barrio” Air Date April 7,  2022 (9 PM ET/8C Thursday NBC)

Velasco asks Benson for help finding three girls who were trafficked from his hometown to New York City.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Once Upon A Time In El Barrio” can be found at this link.

Law & Order, SVU, Organize Crime Promos For April 7, 2022 Episodes

Here are the promos for Law & Order “Free Speech”, and the Law & Order SVU and Law & Order Organized Crime episodes, all airing on Thursday, April 7, 2022. The latter two have yet to be officially named.

Law & Order “Free Speech”

Law & Order SVU

Law & Order Organized Crime

Law & Order Organized Crime “Guns & Roses” Recap, Review, Discussion

Law & Order Organized Crime “Guns & Roses” puts Stabler in a new precinct – the 3-7 – while he continues his suspension. Unbeknownst to the 3-7, Stabler is still working undercover.   The murder of a civil rights lawyer and a prostitute implicate Hugo of the Marcy Killers, but we find it’s really one of the dirty cops at the 3-7, Van Aller, who admits to the killing.  Before Van Aller kills himself, he admits to Stabler that the lawyer was on to the Brotherhood, and that Donnelly doesn’t know.  But now Stabler knows, and Stabler also got the log book of the guns that Van Aller kept.

Stabler also gains points with the 3-7 by helping Donnelly when Donnelly is shot while confiscating a cache of guns. Stabler helps to hide the guns before help arrives for Donnelly.  Now they think Stabler really is one of them.   The Captain, however, is openly hostile to Stabler. 

Nova, meanwhile, can’t believe that Hugo had any involvement with the killing, cause a slight rift with Sgt. Bell, a rift that they later seem to patch.  But now Hugo’s loyalty is questioned by Preston Webb, and by default, maybe even Nova’s.  

What really rocks Stabler’s world is Donnelly telling him that the combat cross earned by Stabler’s father, an item Stabler treasured, may have been earned by his dad trying to cover for a bad shooting by his partner.  Stabler doesn’t seem to know what to think now; you can see the gears working in his head, wondering if his dad was dirty.   I’d like to think that Donnelly’s story to Stabler wasn’t the truth, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Donnelly’s dad fabricated that story to possibly cover for something he himself did.  One day we may find out. 

One possible inconsistency in this episode was when Donnelly and Stabler stopped a car with a guy in the back seat who had a bag of drugs,  Stabler gets out of Donnelly’s car and Stabler clearly has a gun in his hand. But in the scene afterwards when Stabler and Donnelly get to the drug house, Donnelly comments that Stabler doesn’t have a piece.  Was it an error that he had a gun in the earlier scene, or did Stabler just decide to leave any gun that he had in the car before entering the building?   

Here is the recap:

Stabler is in a therapist office, saying he can’t shake the feeling he is betraying these people even though they are betraying their oath. They talk about his father, and Stabler mentions he’s been dead about 30 years. He was a cop and he represents the old school way, the tradition, the code.  His father was awarded the combat cross and took a bullet to save another cops life and he gave it to him when he became a detective.  It was the first time he felt he was proud of him.  The therapist thinks his father would be proud of him again. 

Meanwhile, Hugo calls Bonnie Ellis and tells her not to come down here, he’s warning her. Bonnie doesn’t know who the caller is. Bonnie is at the police department to pick up Angelica Guzman, who is there for prostitution and disorderly conduct. She asks the desk officer to call her next time and shows her  business card; she is Legal Defense at Second Chance Alliance.  Later, Angelica is released and Bonnie says she will take her home and it will be okay.  When they get to her place she tells Angelica she is going the right thing and gives her money to stay off the street for the night. Angelica says if he knew she was talking to her, but Bonnie reassures her and says she will walk her to the door.  They jump when they think they hear a gunshot.  But when they enter the building, someone is there waiting for them, who shoots them both.  The man runs off. 

At the task force, Stabler is packing up his things as he’s on “suspension”.   Brewster enters and announces last night a civil rights attorney, Bonnie Ellis, was murdered in east new York along with a sex worker.  She founded the Second Chance Alliance, a non-profit who helps victims of sex trafficking. Angelica Guzman was her client and she had been picked up as part of a sting.  The murder weapon was found in a dumpster at the crime scene, a 9 mm handgun with the serial number scratched off. Crime Scene is working to recover that number.  Stabler says east New York is the 3-7 and Bell asks if this is task force case or Stabler as technically he is on suspension.  Brewster says it is for the both of them because of a possible Marcy Killers connection.  A few hours before Bonnie was killed she received a call from a burner phone traced back to Hugo Bankole of the Marcy Killers. 

Elsewhere, Hugo meets with Nova at a diner and explains he didn’t do it and where he was when it happened. They see officers arrive and Nova tells him to get out of there.   He exits out the back and she leaves out the front door as the police enter. 

Meanwhile, Stabler starts his new job in the 3-7 and gets a cold reception at first,  but gets invited by one officer to play cards at McCutcheon's.

Bell and Jet speak with a co-worker of Bonnie’s and says she’s heard the name of the Marcy Killers but nothing in regards to sex trafficking. 

Stabler meets his new boss, Captain Darnell, who is less than pleased to have Stabler there, it wasn’t  his choice.   He tells him to keep  his head down and stay out of trouble or his suspension will be an expulsion. He puts him on desk duty. 

Later, Donnelly comes into the 3-7 and he tells him he’s the one that put in the good word to get him transferred there. Stabler says a cop without a gun is dead weight.  Donnelly convinces Stabler to  leave the desk and go out with him.  As they are out driving, Donnelly explains  how he stops people by surprise and how they operate.  He doesn’t run girls.   Stabler asks about the Marcy Killers and doesn’t really answer. He gives Stabler a phony shield so he can’t be identified. 

Meanwhile, Nova comes in to see Bell and says Hugo didn’t do it. The disagree on Hugo’s involvement and says Webb doesn’t allow sex trafficking.  Bell asks why Hugo contacted Bonnie before she was shot.  They argue about their viewpoints and Bell says the evidence against Hugo is strong. 

Elsewhere, Maldonado and Cho look for a hooker named Tina, which turns out to be Maldonado’s sister.  They ask her about Angelica - AKA Angel - and explain she was killed. Angel worked for herself.   There was one guy who came around a lot who drove a Lincoln SUV with a baby-on-board sticker, white, brown hair with a burn scar shaped like Florida.  She gives her brother her phone number.  She also says she’s clean.

Stabler and Donnelly watch a guy who runs his operation like clockwork and they stop  his car and Stabler comes out with a gun and asks to see his hands.  Donnelly opens the rear door and grab one  guy, Sticks,  AKA Aaron,  and takes his bag.  Donnelly says they are working with the FBI but the kid won’t talk.  Donnelly explains civil forfeiture and says he will come for his mom and all her stuff.  Someone watching from a window nearby. 

Elsewhere, a man at a drug operation gets a call and tells the others the cops grabbed Sticks and they have to get out.  They quickly take what they can get and exit.   Stabler and Donnelly, along with Santos,  get there after everyone has cleared out.  Donnelly comments Stabler doesn’t have a piece, but he says he is good.  They break in and Donnelly finds a huge stash of guns.   While they move to pack it up and check the rest of the place, a man comes out and shoots, hitting Donnelly, who tells Stabler to let him go.  Stabler takes Donnell’s gun and shoots but misses, and then tells Santos to call a bus.  Donnelly is in pain.

Later, Stabler checks in on Donnelly at the hospital, bringing flowers. Stabler says Donnelly saved his life and Donnelly says they are even.   Donnelly says the Sarge came by and asked questions, adding Stabler and the guys did well to get the guns out before EMS arrived.  He doesn’t think this will blow over but they need to get rid of the guns ASAP.  Donnelly tells him to contact Van Aller that he usually moves the guns with and he’s been acting skittish lately.  

At the task force, they see Angelica on video and the car that picker her up, saying it is registered to a Leon Popov of Canarsie, Bell tells him to pick him up.  Stabler asks Jet to check on Van Aller, and she says he is a third grade detective from Staten Island , two kids, divorced.  He’s clean.  Cho says the weapon that killed Bonnie was sold by one of their CIs a year ago.  It was sold to Hugo.  Stabler says Donnelly said the Marcy Killers are not involved in sex trafficking and Bell says Nova said the same thing.  The wonder what was the motive and Bell tells Jet to put out a warrant for Hugo and she will call Nova.

Back at the 3-7,  Captain Darnell rips Stabler for him being with Donnelly and says he is recommending IAB pursue charges and termination.  After the Captain leaves, one cop says they know what he did for Donnelly, and welcomes him to the 3-7.  They all applaud him.

Maldonado and Cho question Popov about Angelica. He explains about the last time he saw her. They explain her murder and he is a suspect.  Later, Maldonado tells Bell they have to contact Stabler; Popov never met Angelica, he let his neighbor use his car – his neighbor is a cop – Van Aller.  Bell tries to call him but there is no answer. 

Stabler meets with Van Aller.  Nova calls Bell and tells her where Hugo is.  Bell and Jet, with police, go to Hugo’s aunt’s home and they find him hiding in a cut-out mattress.  They arrest him. 

Meanwhile, Van Aller shows Stabler how he keeps a list of the gun serial numbers. His hand shakes and he says he can’t write well because of nerve damage.   Van Aller delivers the gun and Stabler takes photos of some of the serial numbers in the log.

At the task force, Bell and Jet question Hugo and says he was friends and he was helping her bring peace on the streets. He never told anyone and denies knowing Preston Webb. They show him his gun and he says he is being set up. A cop took the gun off him last year doing a stop and frisk. He called her to warn her about the cop who took his gun; the cops were working with a gang who ran prostituted and  gave them protection as long as he could have free sex with his favorite girl – Angelica. Bonnie was helping her and to bring a case against the cop.  Bell says unless he wants to take the fall for this he needs to tell her that cop’s name. 

Bell calls Stabler and tells him Van Aller took Hugo's gun during a stop and frisk and used that gun to kill Bonnie and Angelica and trying to pin that on Hugo. Stabler says if that is true he has proof right there. He tells Bell he has eye on Van Aller as he is returning to the car.  Van Aller gets a call from a “No caller ID’ call and tells the caller he will give them a call and thanks for letting him know. They leave. 

They head to the local bar and Stabler heads in but Van Aller says he has to take off.  Stabler tries to get  him to talk about what is wrong and Van Aller opens up and says Stabler can’t tell Donnelly.  He said Darnell just called him and said a couple IAB officers came in looking for him.  Stabler explains he’s been in front of IAB and he can tell him what he can and can’t say.  Van Aller says the two women that got gunned down – the lawyer was causing trouble and asking questions. He acted on his own but she found out about the brotherhood. If they pull one thread, the whole thing becomes undone. He says Donnelly doesn’t know. Stabler says he’s got him, they should go inside, have a drink, and strategize. Van Aller asks for a minute to call his kids.  Stabler goes inside and after a few moments, he decides to go back outside for a minute. He calls out to Van Aller but a shot rings out – Van Aller is shot in the head, apparently by his own hand.  People race out from inside the bar to look. 

Back at the task force, Bell asks Stabler if Donnelly really didn’t know about Van Aller and Stabler says the way Van Aller was acting – he was scared out of his mind that Donnelly would find it. He thinks it was a dying man’s confession and at that point there is no reason for him to lie.  Bell says she will pass on what she got from Hugo to SVU.  She shows Stabler the cash from the gun sale with what he got off Van Aller and the log book which has been logged into evidence. She asks Stabler if he is good, and he says yeah, why?  Bell says she is just checking. 

Meanwhile, Hugo and Nova are in Preston Webb’s office and Hugo says a dirty cop framed him and that the Brotherhood is out of hand and they think they can get away with anything. Webb says the two-faced brotherhood does not concern him; what concerns him is that Hugo and his trusted executives keeping secrets and telling lies. Hugo admits he should have told him about his friendship with the lawyer but he meant no disrespect.  Webb asks if he is looking at a Judas.  

Afterwards, Nova says she will talk to Webb, but Hugo says she has done enough. She knew Webb would find out the cops picked him up and it was better it came from her.  Hugo says he’s starting to see how that works. 

Later, Nova meets with Bell and Bell explains they did what they had to do, but Nova worries Webb doesn’t trust him or Nova right now.  Bell explains their worlds can  begin to blur.  Nova admits she was out of line, and Bell says she was doing her job. Bell says she is one of them but reminds so is Nova. She also says she cares about her, and Nova says likewise. 

At the bar, Stabler hears the others talk about Van Aller and Donnelly walks in.  The applaud him.  Donnelly asks Stabler for the highlights, and Stabler says he is still trying to figure it out. Van Aller was shaky and on edge all  night but the sale went down without a hitch.  He explains he was in the bar less than a minute and felt and he’s not feeling right so he went out to check on him and boom – right in front of him.  He hands Donnelly the money and the log book, saying he got it off him before the police arrived. Donnelly thanks him for saving his ass, and hands Stabler some money which Stabler tries to refuse.  Donnelly says Van Aller was not cut out for that kind of work and this kind of operation you have to have men with cojones, backbone.  Men like their dads.  Donnelly tells Stabler a story about his dad, saying Stabler’s dad and his partner are cleaning house and got abused by a kid. The partner shoots the kid dead and they have to make it look like a justified shooting. His dad searches the house for a gun and has his partner shoot him in the leg to make it look like Joe was defending him.  Stabler  gets uncomfortable.  Donnelly says Joe Stabler got a combat cross for taking that bullet.  Stabler looks rattled as Donnelly says if you want to talk about loyalty and brotherhood, “we’re just like our dads.”  Stabler and Donnelly drink.

Back at his desk in the 3-7, Stabler looks at his dad’s combat cross and closes the box as Captain Darnell approaches.  He says it must be Stabler’s lucky day, not only could he not fire him, but the powers that be determined the time to return his gun.  He tells Stabler it’s obvious he has friends in high places, but they’re the wrong kind of friends.  They’re the kind that will have his back just long enough to have stab him in it.  The Captain walks off and Stabler stands up, looking serious, and we cut to  black. 

Law & Order SVU "Sorry If It Got Weird For You" Recap, Review, Discussion

Law & Order SVU "Sorry If It Got Weird For You" wasn’t weird for me.  In fact, I thought it was a solid episode, even though it was predictable.  One could tell from his first moment on the screen that Jackson Wright was completely self-absorbed and his vanity would get him in the end.   And it did get him in spectacular fashion, as Carisi asked the right questions that caused Jackson to go into a full-throttle woman-hating tirade.  Keep in mind there was zero evidence that a rape occurred and they still got a guilty conviction, mostly because Jackson couldn't keep his mouth shut.  I was expecting that something would come out that Jackson was actually playing with the algorithm or the software to hook up with specific people; I thought that would be clear evidence of his intentions.  But no, they didn’t take that route.  

We saw Carisi become fully comfortable in his skin as an ADA.  He knew exactly which button to push with Jackson and how to push it. Seeing him sit down with that self-satisfied smile after his cross-examination of Jackson was his confirmation that he nailed this case.  And when Benson tells him he’s a good man, he had to be on cloud 9.   His only problem is the dreaded “eight floor”, always invoked as a place containing narrow-minded bureaucrats. In my mind, I envision that’s where you step out of the elevator into a bottomless pit of blackness, with nothing but despair as your parachute. 

Rollins was out tending to her mother, who is in a cast.  (Carisi did just fine without her, it seems.)

The only odd thing in this episode is when Benson tells Lisa she could have been seriously hurt falling down the steps, Lisa comments  “god looks out for drunks”,  and Benson SMILED, albeit briefly.  The smile is odd because that’s how Benson’s mother died – drunk and falling down steps.  I would have expected Benson to have a serious face and then stop Lisa and tell her that is how her own mother died.  It would have been a great way for Benson to connect with Lisa on another level, not just about being raped. 

Here is the recap: 

Cress Gordon and CEO Jackson Wright announces the  launch of an update to their dating app, rebranding the name and profile from Mr. Wright Now to Mr. Wright Forever, built  on trust and safety. After the launch, Lisa seems uncomfortable around Cress and Jackson, who sees share  prices are surging.  Lisa stalls on telling Cress what is wrong.  She texts Detective Velasco on a dating app. 

Meanwhile, Fin tells Velasco overtime has been cut by McGrath and he has to punch out. Fin sees him on the dating app and they talk about on-line dating, Fin calling it Russian Roulette.  Later, Velasco meets up with Lisa in a bar and she’s already well lubricated with alcohol.  Later, he walks her home and when Velasco tries to assist her in unlocking her door, she freaks out, telling  him not to touch her. She screams, and then she falls down the steps.  Velasco calls for a bus. 

Benson arrives at the hospital where Velasco is waiting and he explains what happened.  He insists he just brushed her arm and she freaked out and fell down the stairs.  Benson says she’ll talk to Lisa and tells Velasco to go over his whole night with Fin. 

Benson speaks with Lisa who said Velasco did nothing wrong, she drank too  much tequila. Benson asks if she has any idea why she acted that way, and Lisa says not really. Benson comments she could have been seriously hurt, Lisa brushes if off, saying “You know what they say – god looks out for drunks.” Benson smiles.  Lisa continues to resist going into detail,  but when Benson gives Lisa her business card, Lisa pauses and then changes her mind, saying there is a reason she can’t say anything. It is her boss, Jackson Wright. She explains the dating app and Jackson encourages employees to use it. She matched Jackson and he said the app had spoken and if they don’t trust it,  why should the public.  She went on the date, in his penthouse, and they talked and had champagne and started kissing.  He started to get pushy and grabber her, she was shocked.  She tried to get away but the more she fought the more he seemed to like it. He threw her over the couch and pretty much raped her.  He didn’t even realize, it was like hate sex. She got out of there as fast as she could. She texted him the next day and said she wasn’t going to date him again, and he DM’d her and said “Sorry if it got weird for you.”  Her godmother, Cress, is partners with Jackson and she tried to tell her but she couldn’t do it. 

At the Mr. Wright Now headquarters,  Benson and Fin speak with Cress about the situation with Lisa and she seems to not believe it.  Fin mentions Jackson’s reputation and she calls it a marketing strategy and says he would never be violent. They just re-lauched the app saying it would be safer for women. Benson states her sense is that Lisa was assaulted.  Cress thinks it was someone else, and it happened before the safeguards were in place.  Benson explains the date and Cress said neither of them mentioned it.  Fin says they will talk to him and Benson adds she’d appreciate it if she didn’t give Jackson a heads up. 

At the penthouse of Jackson Wright, Benson and Fin arrive and Jackson has a female guest there.  They ask about his relationship with Lisa and he explains they went out on the one date. Jackson sees on the TV screen that his stock is crashing and he freaks out.  He gets on the phone  to Cress and messages she needs to call him. He changes the channel to see Cress having a press conference about sexual assault allegations against Jackson.  She says he paid lip service to the women using the app, and realized he is a predator. She resigns as CFO. 

At SVU, Carisi watching this with Benson, discusses this latest turn of events.  Carisi wonders if the two women are playing them and Benson thinks this is what Jackson will say. 

Later,  Jackson is making a televised statement, saying he knows what rape is, when someone says stop, he stops.  Benson and the detectives watch this at SVU, along with Carisi.  He makes it sound like it is a baseless attack.   Jackson’s lawyer gets on screen.  Fin explains to Carisi that Jackson is not denying the date and said the sex was consensual, adding Jackson said he had no idea why Lisa would think otherwise.  They think he is lying but Carisi questions the timing of this allegation,  along with the company going public, thinking it is suspicious.  Benson gets a message that Cress has agreed to come in to SVU.

Later, Cress speaks with Benson and Carisi and she says she found four women who stopped using the app after dating Jackson. Carisi hopes she didn’t contact them, and Cress says sorry, she had to know.  She told them it was market research. Benson explains they will need their names, and Cress says she can ask them to call her but she can’t give them the names, it would violate their confidentiality agreements.  Carisi mentions a warrant but cress resists.  Benson explains it would be wise for her to cooperate.

In the squad room, Velasco said three of the women said they had bad sex with Jackson but none alleged rape.  Fin says when Rachel and Cristina complained to Jackson by DM and they got a message back was some version of “I’m sorry if it got weird for you.”  Blair said when she DM’d him she got a response saying “equity in the company, a trip to Maui”, Benson calling it a bribe, Carisi saying it is a class D felony in Blair’s case. None of them want to press charges.  Carisi asks if this is solid and when Benson says it is, Carisi says he knows his next step.

In arraignment court,  Jackson’s lawyer Mr. Swope pleads not guilty for Jackson, calling it extortion. Carisi wants remand.  The judge listens to the defense’s argument and the judge ROR’s Jackson.  Lisa hears this and is stunned, Benson telling her if Jackson dares to call her to let her know. 

Carisi later tells Benson he got an order of protection. Benson asks how is Rollins, and Carisi says her mom will be in a cast for two more weeks.  Benson explains she told Rollins to take all the time she needs and to take care of herself first.  Velasco calls out to Benson, saying she needs to see this. 

Jackson is on video talking about his legal situation and he mentions that date Lisa had with an SVU cop and now it’s an assault.  He thinks Cress planned to submarine the company and put an illegal scheme in place to start her own dating app while demolishing him.  Carisi thinks if this is true, there goes their case.

The next morning, Benson arrives in the squad room and Fin and Carisi are there, Carisi saying Maxwell had martinis with Jack McCoy last night and heard that Jack would not prefer to get exculpatory evidence from a video rant.  Velasco says one of the business blogs uncovered a registration for a new dating app that traces back to Cress.  Benson says to get her in there now. 

In SVU, Cress is in interrogation with her lawyer and Benson and Carisi. Carisi says any investigation into corporate espionage is beyond his purview and Benson says they will tell the appropriate agencies they cooperated.  Cress explains after she spoke with Lisa she knew she had to resign and likely the allegations would be made public. She understands the timing of her dating app was a mistake but she didn’t twist anybody’s arm and Jackson is known for stealing other ideas.  She is still willing to testify and says Lisa knew nothing.  Cress says Jackson put a torch to everything she sacrificed for and now she’s in legal jeopardy?  Benson says this will be a rough road. 

In another  room, Velasco speaks with Lisa who says she had nothing to do with what Cress does.  She apologizes for freaking out on him and he says he will have to testify as it speaks to her trauma.  She asks about going on the stand and he says he’s never done that as an SVU  detective but you just have to tell the truth.  She asks how he likes on-line dating, and Velasco says he will take a little time off.  Lisa sees Cress and walks into the hallway and yells how could she do this to her?  Cress tries to explain but Lisa freaks out and says no one will believe her now. Benson has Velasco move Lisa away and Cress tells Benson she is so sorry. 

At Carisi’s office, with Benson and Velasco, they watch video taken by Jackson of  the Feds investigating Cress' Mr. Wright Now office. He thinks this proves his innocence.  Benson says Jackson knows how to play offense and Carisi says this is why the eighth floor wants to plead this out  to attempted rape 1, 3-1/2 years, and he goes on the registry. Benson thinks Lisa is credible and that has nothing to do with Cress.  Carisi worries Swope won’t go for it and Carisi would look weak.  Benson gets a call from a groggy Cress who says she is sorry and she wants to lie down.  Benson races to her place and finds her there on the floor unconscious. She tells Velasco to call a bus and Benson sees oxy there.  She asks Velasco for the narcan. 

Later, Carisi is at a food truck and Benson and Fin approach. Benson is thankful for the narcan and Cress was released a few hours ago.  Carisi is more worried about Velasco on the stand and that he may be over-prepped. 

In Supreme Court, Velasco is on the stand and talks about sexual assaults and Lisa’s behavior and her assault by Jackson.  Under cross, Swope brings up the dating app and him going back to Lisa’s apartment and her fall down the steps.  Velasco says she projected her sexual assault on him, and then admits he’s only been an SVU detective for 6 months.  Swope continues to try to discredit Velasco.  

Lisa is on the stand and she explains Jackson assaulting her.  They matched on the app and he was her boss, and they were told to believe in the app. She was afraid no one would believe her.  She knew nothing about what Cress was doing and did not profit by coming forward. It was never about money, she wants him never to be able to prey on women again.  Swope brings up the date with Velasco again and her drinking.  She says she was projecting and Swope scoffs that everybody is using that word.  He asks about her drinking on the date with Jackson and he implies she was drunk and was wrong about the assault.  She says this is not what happened. Swope asks if she can see how that would confuse the jury. 

Later, Benson speaks with Cress in her home, who says he just wanted out.  They discuss the case and she asks if Jackson is going to get away with it again, as he can talk his way out of anything. Benson says the trial is in trouble, if Cress doesn’t testify for the prosecution, the defense will call her. Benson asks if she is up for this.

In Supreme Court, Cress is on the stand about the app re-launch date and that Lisa was tense. She explains hearing about the assault and that she later spoke with Lisa and then worried about what the allegations would do to the company and how she reacted with the new app. She says she was offered nothing for her testimony and Lisa knew nothing about the new company.  Cress admits she panicked and wanted to salvage what she put into the company.  She regrets it caused people to doubt Lisa’s story. Under cross, Swope asks her about Lisa and not knowing about the date or anything afterward.  She admits she was close to Jackson and that she did not go to him after the allegations and she decided to go public without  bothering to get his side.  She said it had nothing to do with financial gain and didn’t go to him because she knew what his side of the story would be because he did the same thing to her.  Benson looks stunned as does Jackson.  Swope moves to strike the comment but Carisi comments this is Swope’s own cross. Swope says they are unsubstantiated allegations he is hearing for the first time. The judge calls for order and tells the jury to disregard and tells the bailiffs to clear the gallery. 

In chambers, Carisi and Swope discuss what just happened and Swope says this is highly prejudicial.  Carisi says he knew nothing about it, reminding Swope he himself opened the door.

Benson speaks with Cress who explained what happened, it was after Jackson’s wife died.  She made it clear she did not want to have sex with him but that is not what he wanted to hear. He left the room and came back and apologized saying he’d never do it again, that he and Mr. Right Now needed him and asked he to come on board as CFO.  She says it sounds like he bought her silence but he believes him when he said he was sorry.  She does  not think he meant it, saying there is something else she never told anyone. 

Back in chambers,  Swope wants a mistrial.  Carisi and Swope argue the issue with the judge; she says a mistrial is not necessary, curative instructions should suffice.  Carisi says the prosecution rests, and the judge tells Swope he is up.

Jackson is on the stand and he explains his history with Cress and his wife.  He denies the assault.  Under cross, Carisi asks about the dating app and Jackson says he is an expert on what women want.  He says that when he said the app had spoken, that he and Lisa should trust the algorithm and  they would enjoy each other’s company.  Carisi mentions Lisa’s response on the stand and Jackson dating other women and that some women rewrite history, saying dating is a minefield.  Carisi asks if some women do like it weird, and Jackson says maybe the women Carisi dates but most like a little kink.  Carisi mentions a few behaviors and Jackson agrees, and when Carisi continues to press on the “kinks”, the defense asks if this is just a cross-examination or kink-shaming. Carisi brings up Jackson’s wife and asks if he knew what his wife wanted, asking if he knew she wanted a divorce. He adds that in the months leading up to her death,  she was planning on leaving him.  Jackson tells him to stop talking about his wife.  Carisi doesn’t stop and Jackson asks where is this coming from?  He asks if it is from that lying bitch, then starts to yell at Cress.  He asks if she is jealous  because he had her once and threw her back or because he banged her precious goddaughter?  He yells that they are all lying, that’s what women do.  He rants on, adding when they don’t get what they want, they cry rape.  The jury looks on in disgust.  He continues to rant even though the judge tells him to sit down.   Swope requests a break and Carisi says there is no need, he’s through with him.  Carisi sits down, pleased with himself. 

In the courthouse hall, Carisi speaks with Cress about what happened in there. He says he wanted the jury to see who he was. She always knew his anger was there and she brought Lisa into his world. She never thought he would do it to her. 

Later, the jury finds Jackson guilty of rape in the first degree.  The judge remands Jackson to Rikers until sentencing. He looks like he cannot believe this. Lisa looks thrilled. 

In the courthouse hall, Benson congratulates Carisi and asks if he is heading home. He replies no, he’s going to go to Rollins’ mother’s, it’s pretty chaotic up there. Benson says it really does take a village, doesn’t it? They step into the elevator and Benson says, “You are a good man, Dominic Carisi.”  As the elevator doors  close, we fade to black.

Law & Order “Fault Lines” Recap, Review, Discussion

I can’t find any fault in Law & Order “Fault Lines.”  This ripped-from-the-headlines story (Brittney Spears morphed with Naomi Osaka, plus Venus and Serena Williams?), involving the murder of a judge,  presented an interesting legal case.  The investigation wasn’t particularly complex but I liked that simplicity.  There were touches of humor, such as Cosgrove’s “Not the verdict he was looking for” line,  and Bernard wondering why everyone is surprised he follows tennis.  Bernard also let out his feelings about the inequity in how funds for cases for white victims can magically appear, while a case for a poor black kid can’t get this treatment.   Dixon seems constantly under pressure by people in higher positions and hopefully we’ll see her go head to head with these people in the future to see what kind of leader she really is.   Cosgrove used some quick thinking to get some DNA to match what was found on the murder weapon. 

When the killer is Lucy, a famous tennis star controlled by her father, the case finds Price and Maroun at odds. I’ve come to the conclusion that Maroun is the smart one on this team.   While Price seems to be looking at the case with a “black and white” legal eye, Maroun has a keen sense for the “gray”.  Based on her conclusions, she believes this is manslaughter, not murder.  Jack McCoy is in agreement with her. But  Price forges ahead with the murder case.  Lucy’s legal counsel and her father/guardian passed on the manslaughter offer,  and Price made only one try with the judge to get the guardianship revoked.  Luckily for Lucy, Maroun sees a way around the judge and the lawyers so Lucy can hear the truth and decide for herself.  If anything, this case shows Price’s lack of creative thinking and highlights Maroun’s sense of finding justice.  Whether Maroun will go around Price again remains to be seen.  I’m not sure if the threat of being fired by Price would be enough of a deterrent for her.

Here is the recap:

A judge, The Honorable David Keating,   is found dead in a parking garage, having been beaten by a fire extinguisher.    There are no working cameras in the garage.  The detectives speak with his wife, who indicates the past few months Keating has been distracted and they’d had a disagreement that morning.  She thinks his work was bothering him.   Speaking with someone in his office, they get a list of cases and of people that threatened him.  Something not in the files is the judge had mentioned someone confronted him on the courthouse steps the other day.  They later look at that video and see the judge with a blonde woman, and a man approaches and argues with the judge and storms off.  As courthouse visitors are logged they should be able to identify the woman. 

The woman is lawyer Clara Newhall, and the detectives visit her office.  She has a client roster of famous sports people.  One is a tennis player who had a  breakdown and pulled out of the French Open.  They discuss what happened at the courthouse and she said the man said the judge ruined his life and then left.

The detectives later speak with Greg Wallace, who complains about the judge and a child custody case.  He says he was at home all night, and he was alone. 

Later, Cosgrove tells Dixon that Wallace is lying as he was seen on video from his apartment building and he was seen leaving; he didn’t get back until 10:08.  Bernard shows Wallace’s cell phone pinged a tower near the parking garage and Wallace lives in the Bronx. 

They bring Wallace into interrogation to talk about his lies. Wallace admits he was there with his son and his ex can’t find out he violated the visitation order.   He mentions after he left the courthouse he followed the lady and the judge to a hotel and there were lots of security cameras there. 

The detectives are at the Keymont Hotel and hear that the judge was there as he was keynote speaker at a legal conference at the hotel. 

In Dixon’s office, she says she never heard of the Greater Manhattan  University of Law,  and Cosgrove says it is an un-accredited, for-profit place.   The school paid $10,000 for the speech. Bernard says the judge is flat broke  and credit cards are maxed out, his tab close to a million.   Dixon tells them to find out where the money went. 

In the squad room, Dani tells the them judge had a serious gambling problem, and was also doing betting with a bookie, “Dr. Weisman” and owed him 100 grand and it looks like Weisman made a threat in a text.  They bring “Dr. Weisman” into interrogation – he’s not a doctor, he just went to dental school for a few months and the name stuck.  He explains he never got physical with the judge and that Keating paid him in full in cash in the garage.   Dixon gets Bernard out of the interrogation room and says forensics recovered a hair on the extinguisher. Dixon sent it to special  labs as he was a judge - she wishes she could pull out the stops on all cases  but they have limited resources.  Bernard comments its funny they always find the cash when the victim is a white dude from the upper east side but when it’s a poor black kid from East Flatbush “Oh I’m sorry we don’t have it in the budget.”  She says she hears him but he asks “do you?’.  She explains she got a profile:  brown eye, black hair, sub-Saharan ancestry, likely diabetic, a woman.  Bernard heads back into interrogation and asks Weisman if he saw another woman near the garage. He says yes, getting out of a car on 87th street, wearing sunglasses and a big black jacket. She was alone, and hopped out of a black Range Rover on the passenger side. 

The detectives speaks with Jesse Malloy about his car and admits he drove Lucy McDaniel, his girlfriend, asking if her father sent them.  She is the famous tennis player.  They mention the judges name and Jess is clueless. 

Back at the 2-7 they discuss these developments, Lucy meets the profile and is a type-1 diabetic.  They wonder what is the connection and her lawyer, Clara Newhall is friends with Keating. She was with the judge when Wallace confronted him and then the judge turns up dead a day later.  Dixon thinks there is no such thing as a coincidence and suggests they  pay Lucy a visit. 

The detectives push their way into Lucy’s practice session and attempt to question her and ask for her DNA, but her overbearing father pushes back and gets Lucy to say she won’t give a DNA sample, won’t say any more, and wants a lawyer.  They storm off, and Bernard says he will call the DA’s office for a swab order. But Cosgrove has taken one of her workout towels, calling it abandoned  property – in the laundry hamper - and it belongs to the tennis club, not Lucy.  If the hair on the fire extinguisher syncs up with the towel… Bernard says it is game, set, match.

Later, Price and Maroun speak with Jack and when he suggests talking to Lucy’s lawyer, they tell him she made herself part of the defense team. Jack says they’ve tried cases without motive before, telling him to tell the jury what they have and what they don’t have, be upfront or they will never believe another word that comes out of his mouth. 

In Supreme Court,  Price makes his opening comments, outlining all the evidence against Lucy and then showing a photo of Keating’s body, shocking the jury.

Later,  Weisman testifies about seeing Lucy in the garage.  Under cross by Mr. Mendez, the lawyer tries to implicate Weisman, citing some of his own history of problems with the law. 

Next, Jesse Malloy takes the fifth at first but Price brings out a grant of immunity for him, and the judge says Jesse must  now answer.  He reluctantly admits that it is his car and he dropped Lucy off in front of the parking garage. 

Afterward, in his office, Price and Maroun discuss the case and Maroun says the defense just filed a psych notice, now claiming not guilty by reason of insanity. 

Back in Supreme Court,  Dr. Stewart Moore testifies about Lucy's situation and her history;  she is bipolar 1, suffering from manic-depression.   The doctor thinks this affected her ability to understand the nature of the consequences of what she did.  Under cross, Moore comments that Lucy has the benefit of therapy and medication, and the love and guidance of her father. He adds the best thing was to have her father become her legal guardian. This surprises Price and Maroun.  The doctor states it started six years ago and was court ordered but the records were sealed.  

Back in  the office, Price tells Maroun it is confirmed that Judge Keating appointed Tom McDaniel as Lucy’s guardian and Clara as her lawyer.  Price thinks the defense wanted the jury to know. They discuss any connection to motive. Price thinks the jury WILL think Lucy is insane and therefore not guilty; the difference between legally insane and mentally incapacitated would be hard to explain to the jury. Maroun wonders if this is a tennis dad trying to manage his rich daughter.  She adds that Moore never treated Lucy, he runs the clinic.   Price tells her to find the doctor who did and why that person didn’t testify. 

Maroun speaks with Dr. Gustofson who says Moore fired her two months ago. They discuss Lucy’s situation and Gustofson thinks it made it easy for Tom McDaniel to control Lucy and her life and finances.  She spoke with Moore and wrote Keating a letter saying the guardianship should be terminated. She said Lucy didn’t need someone to control her life,  and she was fired two days later.  The letter went to the courthouse certified mail. 

Later, Maroun shows the paperwork to Jack and Price, saying the guardianship was a sham.  Price says Keating rubber stamped everything.  Keating buried the paper trail, making it impossible to find and had they not  put her mental state in play they would never have found out.   Hearings were held in secret but they were recorded and transcribed and Lucy didn’t know she could terminate it.  Her father paid himself a $10 million salary.  Maroun suspects Lucy killed Keating as she wanted to marry her boyfriend but the judge said no because her father didn’t want it.  Maroun thinks this is manslaughter.  Price waivers on this and he and Maroun disagree.  Jack says she still murdered a judge and when Maroun says he was corrupt, Jack asks if she has proof.  Maroun states nothing concrete but brings up the $100 grand he got to pay off his bookie.  Jack agrees with her and says the correct charge is manslaughter, and Price counters the defense will never agree to that.  Jack tells him to talk to her lawyer and try to work something out.

Price and Maroun speak with Mendez,  Clara and Tom and make the offer of Man 1, 15 years. They will  not agree and want to go to trial.  Price and Maroun try to explain again but Tom says Lucy will want what he wants. 

In the judge’s chambers, Price and Maroun are there with Tom and Clara, Price making the motion to terminate the guardianship.  He makes his argument, saying they are not  looking out for Lucy’s best interests.  The judge says to bring lots of proof because otherwise the motion is denied. 

Afterwards, Price and Maroun discuss this and Price says they have to move forward on the murder charge.  Maroun mentions the transcripts, but Price says her lawyers and her father said no.  Maroun argues this is not murder and Maroun continues to argue against it. When Price says it is what it is,  Maroun says she is not so sure about that.

Later, in the visitors area, Bernard meets with Lucy and tries to explain the situation about the deal, and mentions what is in the transcripts. She is stunned.  He leaves the transcripts there for her to read. 

At trial,  Lucy stands up and says she wants to plead guilty.  Mendez asks for time but Lucy doesn’t want it.  Her father tells her to sit down or stop and she tells him to let her talk.  She admits to killing the judge and says she didn’t plan to. She went there to ask to marry Jesse and the judge wouldn’t listen and said it wasn’t an  option. She snapped and grabbed the fire extinguisher and attacked him. She wishes she could take it back but she can’t.  She says she is sorry and feels horrible, adding she is a good person.  She just wanted to marry Jesse.  She says she wants to accept the offer the prosecutor made – Price look surprised – and Lucy says she wants to plead guilty to manslaughter.  Price glances over to Maroun.   Lucy doesn’t want to ask permission, she wants to control her own life. 

As they walk down the courthouse steps, Maroun says to Price that she spoke with the  financial frauds bureau; they are going to open an investigation into Tom McDaniel and Clara Newhall.  She adds she couldn’t just sit there and watch Lucy get screwed over, again.  Price asked how she did it, letting Lucy know about the deal.  She admits she had Bernard reach out to her.  Price tells her if she ever  pulls a stunt like that again, he’ll fire her.  He walks off, leaving Maroun standing on the steps.  As we watch her stand there alone, we fade to black. 

Law & Order SVU "Sorry If It Got Weird For You" Advance Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU "Sorry If It Got Weird For You" which will air on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 9 PM ET on NBC.

The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Peter Scanavino, Octavio Pisano, Julian Elijah Martinez as Counselor Swope, Sherri Saum as Cress Gordon, Jon Glaser as Jackson Wright, and Christine Spang as Lisa Rose.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Sorry If It Got Weird For You" can be found at this link.

Photos by: 

 Michael Greenberg/NBC 

Virginia Sherwood/NBC 

2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Law & Order Organized Crime “Guns & Roses” Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order Organized Crime, “Guns & Roses” which will air on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 10 PM ET on NBC.

The photos feature Chris Meloni, Danielle Moné Truitt, Ainsley Seiger, Rachel Lin as Det.Victoria Cho, Guillermo Diaz as Lt. Bill Brewster, and Mike Cannon as Carlos Maldonado. 

My recap and review of Law & Order Organized Crime “Guns & Roses” can be found at this link.

Photos by: Zach Dilgard/NBC 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC