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.