Law & Order “Severance” Recap, Review, Discussion

Law & Order “Severance” meant a loss for Nolan Price and a blow to his ego.  Price has been overconfident as of late,  possibly fueled by a few wins made on weak cases.   Samantha Maroun concludes early on that the defendant’s problem would garner sympathy from the jury, and again she was correct.

Bernard and Cosgrove seem to be on better footing this episode, although Cosgrove risks alienating Bernard AND Dixon at the same time when the discussion turns to working with people you don’t like. 

I didn’t connect with this episode much.  The first half, with the detectives  working to find the suspect, was fairly cut and dry.  The second half felt a bit routine as well, with Price doing the usual forging ahead,  despite concerns from Maroun AND the issues Jack mentioned involving the CIA.  Price says the science is in their favor, but frankly there is probably a lot about Havana Syndrome that they don't know.  It’s almost like Jack doesn’t  care  if Price loses one. Maybe Jack knew this case was lost already and wanted Price to learn a lesson?  Regardless, I’m not convinced that Price knows how to pick his battles, and I wonder if Samantha Maroun isn’t the better person for the job. 

Jack told Price his old boss said "Lawyers who need to be right, lose more cases than those that don’t."  I'm not sure who said it - assuming it was either Schiff or Branch - as I can't track that quote back to either one of them in any previous episode that I can find. 

It was nice to see Francie Swift, another Law & Order “repeat offender”, in yet another role!

Here is the recap: 

Alexis Morphew, on a video conference call, tells the others they should be done for the night and they should go to bed. She explains there will be difficult conversations tomorrow. Someone buzzes at her door, she looks through  the peephole, opens the door, and asks the person what are they are doing there. 

The next morning, Bernard and Cosgrove are at that townhouse with police; Alexis has been found dead inside her home, strangled.  No sexual assault, but there was a struggle.  There is blood on her fingernails and doesn’t appear to be a burglary.  The alarm was deactivated, turned off to let someone in, so she knew the killer. A colleague called when she didn’t show p for a meeting as usual. 

The detectives speak with that colleague, they were in many virtual meetings. Alexis was distracted yesterday. She logged off at 7:30, saying that was early.  They were working together on a project, she is the CFO of Questarc, an electric car company, also rockets and robots. 

Back at the 2-7, there was no DNA match on the blood and her phone records show texts and phone calls at all hours, including CEO Ethan Merritt, who she texted saying there was a problem, they need to talk.  He did not reply. They wonder if he replied in person. 

At the Questarc offices on Thursday, April 7,  they speak with Ethan. They discuss the text; he didn’t see it until this morning. He explains Alexis was having problems with a former employee. Ethan promoted her to CFO 6 months ago and her predecessor didn’t take well to it.  He sent her a few distasteful emails. 

At the 2-7, Bernard,  Cosgrove and Dixon discuss the threatening emails they found from Terry Bellatoni. He has a temper also, based on a restraining order they found from an ex-girlfriend.  A video of him near the townhouse was found, arguing with Alexis. 

The detectives speak with Bellatoni about the altercation with Alexis. He blames her for him being replaced.  He got severance but he was employee #6 at the company and he ruined two marriages to get it off the ground, but now he’s out because Twitter  says being a white man is a moral equivalent of being a serial killer.  He was in Palo Alto at the time of the murder.   Lots of people didn’t like her, suggesting they talk to Kayla, he assistant. 

They speak with Kayla who thinks everyone loved her, but mentions she might have been seeing someone. She heard her on a call telling someone they can’t been seen together – she used a second, secret phone. 

Later, they speak with Robert Fletcher and he says he doesn’t know who Alexis is.  They explain finding the burner phone call, then he says no comment.  They explain she was murdered and he says he is gay and he is a journalist. She was a source, talking about the toxic environment at Questarc and the bad behavior of the CEO, Ethan Merritt.  She was trying to take Merritt down, and they were close to doing it. 

Back at the 2-7, Cosgrove explains to Dixon that Alexis was a whistleblower about the toxic workplace.  Dixon says he was supposed to be the new breed of CEO, and Bernard says “Spoiler alert: It’s a lot like the old breed.”  They thought she was hoping the article would get Merritt booted. Cosgrove agrees Merritt is a jackass but he’s the boss and shouldn’t he be allowed to get pissed off once in a while. He adds if it is sexual or physical in nature he gets it – obviously – but should a guy get booted from his own company just  because he’s a dick?  Dixon thinks it is more nuanced than that. Cosgrove adds you don’t have to like the people you work with.  Bernard asks if he is sending them a message, and Dixon says probably, but luckily she doesn’t care.  Cosgrove chuckles. She tells them to dig deeper and see if he really is early to bed, early to rise kind of guy. 

With Merritt in interrogation, they explain they saw him sneak out of his place so he lied about his whereabouts and said he has to worry about appearances.  He says he is dating an employee and was with her that night and it was consensual.  He consents to a DNA swab.  

Later, Dixon says Merritt’s DNA was a match and the girlfriend confirms his alibi.  But they went over the video footage and facial rec found Gus Imelski at a nearby bodega, his is founder of a solar company that Questarc was about to acquire. Merritt told them Alexis abruptly called off the deal the day she was murdered.  Imelski was looking at a $300  million  pay date. 

At Raystrux Engineering Lab on Friday, April 8,  they speak with Gus and he said he was at Alexis’ house and he wanted to fix things. She never answered the door. It was around 10:15 and he rang the bell and then left.  He denies killing her. He tells them to ask Colin Baker, the consultant Questarc hired. He bumped into him about a  block away from her house and he said he blew him off and kept walking. 

The detectives speak with Colin Baker who seems very  nervous and agitated.   He says Alexis messed up the numbers with the Raystrux deal. He says he never went to  her  house and starts yelling at them.  He says he has been awake for two days straight and has a migraine.  They see marks on his arm and when they ask him to roll up his sleeves, they see scratches.  He says he’s rather not say how he got them.  Bernard says then they will have to continue the conversation at the precinct. 

Later, Colin is being arraigned for the murder, there with his lawyer Diana Marcus. He pleads not guilty,  Maroun argues for remand and Marcus argues for him, saying he suffers from debilitating migraines and should be cared for at home by his wife who is a physician. The judge remands him anyway. Colin doubles over in pain more than once but is taken away. 

Back at the DA’s office, Maroun and  Price discuss the migraines and Price thinks he is setting up a defense.  Maroun gets a message that the DNA collection is being challenged,  bit Colin signed a consent form and it is on video. 

In the judge’s chambers, Price and Marcus discuss the DNA collection and Marcus argues it was a severe migraine and that he had mentioned he hadn’t slept in over 36 hours.  He was also on a heavy dose of sumatriptan which can cause dizziness. The judge throws out the DNA. 

In Supreme Court Part 19 on Monday, May 2,  Price makes his opening argument. Alexis was a problem which could have ended his career as he had made a mistake overvaluing the company and she could have exposed his secret.  He cites this as his motive for murder. 

Gus testifies about seeing Colin near Alexis’ home that night and Colin was distracted.  This was unlike him.   Under cross, he explains the termination of the deal and Marcus implies that would be a motive for murder for Gus.  But Price counters that Gus voluntarily offered his DNA.  It was not a match.  As Gus steps down, Colin starts to yell at Gus and starts to walk toward Gus. Colin screams he didn’t kill anybody. Officers have to remove Colin.  Everyone is stunned, and Maroun asks Price what the hell was that?

Later, in the judge’s chambers with Price, Marcus explains they are filing an affirmative defense: not guilty due to mental disease or defect. She had a medical expert examine Colin who shed  new light on a pre-existing condition: Havana Syndrome. 

At the DA’s office in a conference room, a doctor explains to Maroun about Havana Syndrome, first spotted 5 years ago at the embassy in Cuba.  Colin was stationed there in 2017. The doctor explains Colin’s symptoms and this MRI showing trauma to his brain. They don’t  know who caused it or who is behind it.  They discuss Colin’s increase in symptoms. 

Later, Maroun explains to Price that Colin sought help in 2017 which makes his claim credible.  They discuss whether it is a valid reason for murder. Maroun thinks because he was working for the country at the time he may  be sympathetic.  But there isn't anyone else who had it who  murdered anyone.  She thinks the defense is viable but Price thinks it is violence and intent.  Maroun gets a message saying the defense just subpoenaed the deputy director of the CIA. 

Later, the deputy director of the CIA meets with Jack McCoy. They are preparing a motion to quash but  asks Jack to consider  pleading out Colin.  Jack understands but makes no promises. 

Later, Jack discussed this with Price and that the defense is trying to shift the blame to the government and Price could lose. Price disagrees and says the facts and the science are in their favor. But Jack counters it is easier to hate the feds than a handsome government worker with a wife and two kids who was unknowingly attacked  by a foreign agent.   Price mentions Jack’s “friend” at the CIA. Jack says Price is missing the point, and  asserts this is not politics, it’s about playing the hand you have,  not the hand you wish you had.  Price gets it, but is comfortable with his cards. Jack gives him the go ahead. 

At Supreme Court Part 19 on Thursday, May 5,  Doctor Grady  testifies for Colin and discusses his symptoms and that they are like CTE, like what football players get.  He discusses the trauma to his brain and the possibility of violent outbursts.  He  states Colin would not understand the nature and consequence of his actions.  Under cross,  Price brings out that one can’t accurately diagnose CTE in a living person.  The doctor must admit it is only identified post-mortem.  He also states no one else he knows has done what Colin has done. 

Colin’s wife testifies about what happened to Colin in Havana and his symptoms.  They took the job in New York and the symptoms later got worse. She says Colin was always kind and gentle  but the anger built over the year and the smallest thing would set him off. He was like a different person and she even considered leaving him.   She did not consider the Havana syndrome.  Under cross, she explains she is a pediatrician and admits they talked about treatment for these other symptoms but he was worried about work and didn’t want to take time off.  Price implies it was because Colin wanted to make partner. She also admits since they have been in New York he never sought treatment for these new symptoms.  He brings up she still lived in the home with their two children and suggests the symptoms weren’t that severe at all, and maybe he was under a lot of pressure.  He presses that Colin wanted to make partner . 

Colin is on the stand in his own defense. He admits he did not plan to kill her, he was trying to salvage the deal.  She invited him in and they got into an argument, he doesn’t remember.  He sort of blacked out and then remembers talking to her, then sitting on the stairs. He saw scratches on his arm and Alexis on the floor. He panicked and ran home, he did not intend to hurt her, she was his friend.  

Under cross, Price presses Colin that he did not call the police or an ambulance. He wasn’t thinking clearly. Price says Colin went there to confront her to prevent her from being fired.  He blames the syndrome, and Price brings up no one else had those symptoms.  He cries, saying the government screwed him and lied to him.  Price says Colin killed an innocent woman to protect his career. Colin says Price is right, he goes on saying he doesn’t know why and is sorry he can’t take it back.  He cries and continues to apologize, breaking down.  The jury looks on sympathetically. 

Later, the verdict is in – not guilty by reason of mental disease.  Colin and his wife are relieved.  Price looks confused and disappointed. 

Back at the DA’s office, Price sees Jack walking out and walks after him, saying he still thinks Colin was lying. Jack turns and says, “My old boss, he used to say, ‘Lawyers who need to be right, lose more cases than those that don’t.’ ”  Price takes a deep breath and Jack shrugs, turns, and walks to the exit. As Price stands there alone, watching, we fade to black.