Law & Order Organized Crime “…Wheatley Is To Stabler” Recap, Review, Discussion

The Richard Wheatley chapter has ended. Or has it?  At the end of Law & Order Organized Crime “…Wheatley Is To Stabler”,  Richard Wheatley’s status is technically still open because his body was never found. With no body, there’s always that chance that he made it out alive. I’m hoping he didn’t, because I believe Dylan McDermott’s portrayal of Richard Wheatley became more comical as it progressed. Besides, he’s landed on another TV show, so unless that fizzles, we won’t see him back again. (Fingers crossed.)

Don’t get me wrong, I like Law & Order Organized Crime, but felt the Richard Wheatley story line ran its course a long time ago and I’m glad they are moving on. The Wheatleys didn't fare very well in the end.   Richie Wheatley was shot dead by dear old dad, to everyone’s shock. Angela realized too late that Wheatley was evil personified and she  had to take matters into her own hands, even if it meant her own death.  Pity that such a smart woman was so foolish when it came to her ex-husband. We never heard anything about the status of Wheatley’s other daughter and his second wife, so they’ve faded into oblivion.   I think we can  be safe in thinking that the Wheatley chapter is truly over.  

The power failure creates problems, but Jet, Malachi, and with remote help from McClane, power is restored quickly,  as expected.  Sometimes events like a fictional, massive power failure don’t carry much drama when one knows they can’t let it drag on too long due to story line time constraints.  Let’s be realistic - this isn’t a show about a long-term zombie apocalypse or anything like that, although the power failure did cause an “apocalyptic gridlock.”   Stabler, to buy time, had to cave in to one of Wheatley’s demands that Stabler give him his soul,  meaning Stabler had to recite a litany of his crimes and abuses for a news crew to broadcast live.  He  has to admit to shooting 10 people “while hiding behind is badge” for starters.  

And unless you were sleeping under a rock, you knew that Bernadette Stabler was going to be in danger. It also was a safe bet that they wouldn’t harm her to any degree and she’d be found quickly. So there was no real drama there.  It was a relief to see that Miles seemed to have regrets about the part he played in her abduction. 

Jet and Malachi have an intimate  moment during the crisis, and hopefully this will be a relationship that grows. I like Jet; she’s the right mix of quirkiness, Malachi calling her the pervert of his dreams.  I did wonder, though,  how she and Malachi could start up a dormant power plant AND have it generate power so quickly and easily.  

While Sgt. Bell wasn’t running the communication and negotiation with Wheatley, she is still running the task force. She says she heard from Brewster that they’re bowing to political pressure and there will be a department investigation and charges for Stabler’s actions in relation to Wheatley.  Stabler thinks this is laughable but deep down he knows it’s serious. The question is:  will Stabler finally move on from his wife Kathy’s death?  Will he obsess over Wheatley’s body not being found? Will Stabler still play the angry man with a constant chip on his shoulder?  I would like to see some personal growth with Stabler but also understand that his angry personality is well ingrained. If he becomes a nice guy – as Benson on SVU has become squeaky clean – he’d become dull and boring. 

The next chapter will involve Mr. Webb and the congressman, and we saw a short scene showing that Nova is still embedded in Webb's organization.  Detective Frank Donnelly tracks down Stabler in a bar. They last saw each other 20 years ago and he says Stabler could use a brother that has his back right now.  But does he?  We’ll have to tune in to find out. 

Here is the recap: 

Sgt. Bell tells DHS to stand down outside the power plant. The Organized Crime Task Force listens in to the situation room at the office of emergency management as Wheatley makes his demands from the Con Electric SOC:  He wants a jet, gassed, and ready to fly out of Teterboro, he wants his son Richie released from prison and brought to him, and he wants Stabler to pay - with his very soul. 

McClane is released from the cell, but still cuffed.  He helps Jet and Malachi to find a way override the SOC and bring the power back.  He suggests an old out-of-use power plant. He will talk them through how to do this remotely, as Cho and Maldonado will not allow him to leave.  

Stabler and Bell head to Stabler’s home, and he checks to make sure his mom Bernadette is safe. She is there with Miles.  He tells Miles not to leave her alone.  

While the bosses, at the Situation Room, worry about long term impacts of the power outage,   Stabler and Bell arrive there. Stabler tells them not to give them Richie. 

Later, Wheatley gives them instructions on how to release Richie and to bring him to the SOC.   He warns them to follow his instructions.  Richie is being taken to Wheatley, escorted by Gunther.  Instead of a happy reunion with Richie, Wheatley shoots him in the head.   

Meanwhile, Nova and Hugo are doing a job for Preston Webb, who is helping to pass out supplies to the needy people.   He’s not happy that they are late. 

Jet and Malachi race to the power plant and then break in.  McClane, back at the task force, tells them what to look for – the generator.   Meanwhile, back at the situation room, they discuss how to get into the SOC where Wheatley is hiding but Stabler warns them that Wheatley has anticipated everything and Bell agrees, saying Wheatley is a 3D chess player.  Stabler suggests they ask Wheatley about what he means when he wants Stabler’s soul, and the bosses decide to use that as a distraction. 

Meanwhile, Bernadette and Miles hear music outside, and Miles has them go outside to check it out despite Stabler’s warnings.  They dance out on the patio as the music plays.  

But as the team tries to break into the SOC, Stabler talks with Wheatley who orders Stabler he is going to do penance first, like a good Catholic boy.  There is an explosion where the team is trying to break in, and Wheatley says now Stabler will have to do penance for all the people who will freeze to death in a nursing home because the power just went out. 

It’s dark and Miles and Bernadette are still dancing.   Bernadette tries to explain her “other side” and he says they all have them.  He says to put all that behind them as they dance into the future.  He sees Angela standing nearby and he goes inside with Bernadette and locks the door and says he is so sorry.  Glass breaks, men break in and disable Miles, and Bernadette is kidnapped. 

Meanwhile, Jet and Malachi, with help from McClane, work to start up the power plant.  Jet and Malachi touch hands. 

Stabler, elsewhere, is ordered by Wheatley to walk to city hall and outline his litany of crimes and abuses and there will be a local news crew there to broadcast his confession to the city. Stabler says he is NYPD, detective first grade, he was in the department in 1986 and promoted in 1989.  Wheatley orders him to say how many  people he shot. Stabler states he is associated with 10 officer shootings in the line of duty.  Wheatley tells him to state he did that while hiding behind his badge, and Stabler complies. 

Jet and Malachi get the system to reboot, and share an intimate moment.  Malachi gets things up and running and Jet has to call Bell before things get switched on. 

Meanwhile, Stabler confesses to misconduct, excessive force, and harassment. Bell, at the situation room at the office of emergency management, hears from Jet and the team gets ready to move but remains on standby to turn on power.  Bell, running to her car, tells Stabler to get ready to be picked up and to cough if he understands her. He does. 

Meanwhile the others stall Wheatley while everyone gets into place.  Jet gets the system ready and tells them they will be live in 60 seconds.  Wheatley taunts Stabler, telling him to repeat he is guilty of falsely accusing an innocent  man of murdering Stabler’s wife. But Stabler refuses which infuriates Wheatley.  Bell arrives and Stabler punches someone following him and runs to Bell’s car and they race off.  Power is restored. Everyone cheers but Wheatley is pissed.  Police move in on Wheatley’s location. But Wheatley shows them that Bernadette is being held in a dark place and she calls out to Stabler for help. 

At the location where Wheatley is hiding,  Wheatley comes out and continues to taunt Stabler.  Angela arrives and Wheatley says his mother is unharmed but she has no food, water, or her lithium.   He gets in the car with Angela and Angela won’t tell Stabler where Bernadette is being held. She says she is sorry – sorry that the women who care for "you men" always wind up being collateral damage.  Stabler comments as long as she is alive, she still has a choice.  Wheatley says they will be in touch once they are in the air, adding that Miles  works for him too.  Angela says Stabler can talk to his mom and keep her calm while they are on their way to the airport.  They leave.   Stabler talks to Bernadette and tells her they will pinpoint her location and come for her. 

Wheatley and Angela head to the airport, him saying they are bound to one another and will be on their own island paradise with many servants. He adds he always wins in the end. 

Jet and Malachi come back to the task force to hear Bernadette is being held.  McClane is trying to use their signal, and Jet looks at the data and says it looks like Marquis Manor, a BDSM club. Malachi looks intrigued. 

Stabler and police arrive at the club and release Bernadette. They also find Miles, who has been beat up.  Stabler tells them to lock him up and he apologizes to her.  Stabler has her go with the officer and Stabler says he has to go.  

Stabler races to follow Wheatley’s car and call’s Angela’s phone. He tells them it is over, and then explains to her that Wheatley is a liar and that Wheatley shot Richie. Angela is upset and says the day she met Elliot, they spoke about grief and says they still share grief.  She asks if he remembers what she said about grief, and Stabler replies that it gets better.  Angela says she lied.  She speeds up the car and drives it off a cliff into the water.  Stabler races to the spot to see the car sink under water. 

Sometime later, everyone is back at the task force office, McClane is being taken away. As he leaves, he tells Malachi he has a good thing going (with Jet) and not to screw it up. He says he won’t,  saying he found they have more things in common than he thought.  Jet asks that he is not freaked out, and Malachi says she is the pervert of his dreams. 

Bell tells Stabler they dredged up Angela’s body but Wheatley’s was not found. Stabler takes a deep breath.  She also heard from Brewster; they are bowing to political pressure and there will be a department investigation and Stabler will face charges for his actions with Wheatley. Stabler laughs  and she tells him not to laugh, it is serious.  He says it is difficult not to when it is so damn laughable.  She says nothing and walks away, tapping him on the shoulder as she walks off.  Stabler looks at the photo of Kathy on his desk and holds his head. 

Later, Stabler is drinking at a bar and  Detective Frank Donnelly sits down next to him and says that drink is on him, and he will have what Stabler is having.  He tells Stabler he thought he’d find him t here, and they shake hands.  Stabler says he recalls him and Frank says their dads were like brothers, He last saw him 20 years ago at a barbeque.  He asks how he is doing, and Stabler says ups and downs, Frank says he spoke to Captain Benson the other day and Stabler’s name came up and from the sound of it, he could use a brother who has his  back right now.  Stabler thinks silently and sips his drink as we cut to black.