The best part of “Fashionable Crimes” was the return of Richard Belzer as the beloved John Munch. Munch had returned to help the SVU on a current case that had loose ties to a case he worked with Fin 12 years ago involving Alvin Gilbert. (If there was an actual case mentioned in a previous SVU episode, I am unable to find it.) There were only 3 scenes with Munch in them, but the only one that had any real meat to it was the closing scene where Munch had been babysitting Noah. He explains how he felt when he first left SVU, thinking that he – and the place – would fall apart. But he has realized that life is good. He also imparts a tidbit that some rabid, obsessive SVU fans should take to heart: “Turns out there is more to life than SVU. ” I really enjoyed when Munch explains he taught Noah an important word (“Why?”) and a life lesson: “Always question authority.” I almost got a tear in my eye when Noah said “Bye Munch” as I worried this would be the last time we’d see him on the show. I also must admit that Richard looks even more frail than the last time he appeared on the show. I hope that he is well and hope that the really isn’t the last we’ve seen of John Munch.
Otherwise, this was a tepid episode, and despite Munch commenting that he didn’t see it coming that a brother killed his brother, I thought it was obvious. The writers tried too hard to make it look like Matt would eventually kill Alvin, telegraphing this many times by Matt making several public threats. I also couldn’t really empathize with the victim. No one deserves what happened to her. But, like her boyfried, she seemed too eager to advance her modeling career and when it became advantageous for her to drop the charges, she did so in a nanosecond. I would have had more sympathy for her had she not constantly caved into her overbearing boyfriend’s demands when her modeling career would benefit.
I don’t recall Dodds ever mentioning before that he has a brother, but this information is revealed when Dodds explains how he’s had to bail him out many times and has been hiding these problems from their father, the Deputy Chief. (Update: it has been brought to my attention - and I have verified - that it was first mentioned in the episode "Maternal Instincts," the episode where Dodds makes his first appearance.)
In the segment where Benson has arrived at the murder scene, she questions whether Maria, who found the body, was the one who did it, and Carisi doesn’t think so, saying “Her screams were real.” How can he determine, without seeing the person scream, that it was real or not? Screams can be easily faked. I thought this was a ludicrous statement and was indicative of what I see as writing that is being dumbed down to the level of a teenager.
This is just a nitpick on my part, but it looked a little too bright for “magic hour” (more commonly known by photographers as the “golden hour”) photography.
P.S. I forgot to mention this episode appears to be based on fashion photographer Terry Richardson and the allegations of sexual assault.
Here is the recap:
Cast:
Mariska Hargitay - Lieutenant Olivia Benson
Ice-T - Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Peter Scanavino - Detective Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr.
Guest stars:
Richard Belzer – John Munch
Andy Karl - Sgt. Mike Dodds
Fisher Stevens - Alvin Gilbert
Griffin Dunne - Benno Gilbert
Francesca Faridany - Claire Gilbert
Hari Dhillon - Counselor Sunil Varma
Tom Pelphrey - Matt Kroger
Sandrine Holt - Nora Wattan
Virginia Gardner - Sally Landry
Jack Nawada-Braunwart - Noah Porter Benson
Jonathan Bock – Counselor Jason Gruber
Errin Ruth – Maria Carla Channing
Stephen Bradbury – Judge Colin McNamara
Sadie Newman – Eva
Jandra Dee – Tilda
Mick Szal – Mai
Bethany Barber - Cintra
Germar Terrel Gardner – Security Guard
Sally Landry enters the Alvin Gilbert Studio, escorted in by Nora Wattan. She is told that Alvin is the best. Nora takes Sally to a changing room and when Sally asks to call Matt, Nora says Alvin doesn’t like boyfriends or managers around, it keeps it more intimate. As Sally undresses, Alvin enters, surprising Sally. He tells her that today they will make magic. He slaps her on her backside a few times.
Elsewhere, Benson, with Noah, and Rollins, with Jesse, are at a merry-go-round with Carisi taking photos. Rollins doesn’t think she needs this, with hundreds of shots on her phone, but Benson says Rollins can text those but she needs something she can frame. Carisi also comments about the light; she can’t beat magic hour. Rollins wisecracks that Carisi gets a camera and suddenly he is a professional, adding that he says magic hour but she says witching hour, saying she only has ten minutes. The merry-go-round begins to move and Carisi snaps photos.
Meanwhile, back at Alvin’s studio, he takes photos of Sally and when he moves in to expose her breasts, she recoils. Alvin backs off and tells Nora to get Sally something to chill. Nora brings her a drink and tells Sally that Alvin is intense but he is worth it. Sally mentions her inexperience with a shoot like this, but Nora assures her she is fresh and that is why Alvin is responding to her. She adds if Alvin is into her, it is all good. Later, after her drink, Nora is taking the photos while Alvin rapes Sally, who is sobbing. He says that is amazing, and that it worked, asking Nora if she got all of it. He looks at the photos and says it is good stuff. He walks off, telling Nora to clean her up. Nora hands Sally a towel. Sally says she didn’t want him to do this, but Nora counters that is not what the camera saw. Sally sobs.
Benson, still at the park with Rollins, gets a call about a 17 year old girl who is in with the nurse. Benson says she will be there in 30 minutes. Rollins comments, “So much for magic hour.”
At Mercy Hospital at 365 West 32nd Street on Tuesday, March 22, Benson and Rollins speak with Sally who explains what happened, including that Nora took pictures. Sally is shocked when Benson and Rollins explain that Sally was raped. But Sally doesn’t know if she wants to file charges as her boyfriend Matt doesn’t know she was there and if he finds out he will kill her.
Later, in the SVU squad room, Dodds enters with Benson, who asks him how was the training at Quantico. Dodds replies that he can neither confirm nor deny he was there. Benson says okay, and Dodds apologizes to the others if he left them in a lurch. Fin comments that they managed. Dodds asks if they caught a case last night. Benson says yes, explaining that Sally Landry, 17, who was reluctant to press charges but the convinced her to come in. Rollins adds Sally is an aspiring model, fresh off the bus from Iowa, and is there for Fashion Week. Fin says he hates Fashion Week, and Carisi adds he does too; it’s nonstop gridlock. Benson gets them back on track by saying that Sally was raped by Alvin Gilbert in his studio yesterday. Dodds asks if this is the fashion designer, and Rollins says no, that is his older brother, Benno. She adds Alvin is the bad-boy photographer that does all their photo shoots and campaign designs. Fin adds he’s a real bad boy; he and Munch caught that case 12 years ago. Carisi asks what happened, and Fin explains some big time Italian model got assaulted during a shoot, and while they were investigating, she becomes the face of their new perfume. The case goes away. Rollins is not sure this one will; Sally is green and she is very upset, and Alvin’s assistant, Nora Wattan, may have taken pictures of the assault. Benson adds the rape kit came back positive for semen so they are running the DNA now. Rollins says Sally’s blood alcohol was high because Nora was feeding her drinks. Dodds asks if the Gilberts know that Sally disclosed, and Benson replies that she doubts it, she didn’t even want her boyfriend to know. Sally enters with her boyfriend, who has his arm around her and kisses her, and Carisi asks if that is Sally. Rollins says from that chokehold that guy has on her, she is guessing that her boyfriend knows. Benson approaches and asks Sally how she is doing today. She says she is okay, and she introduces her boyfriend, who says his name is Matt Kroger and he is her boyfriend and manager. He yells that he warned Sally about that Gilbert creep, and Benson, Fin, and Carisi work to separate the two so they can talk.
In the interview room, Sally explains to Benson and Rollins that she had to tell Matt and that he is angry at her and Alvin. Benson notices a bruise under Sally’s eye and she says it must have been from the assault. She says Matt has been understanding. She does not talk to her family any more. Rollins comments that Sally is new in the business and Alvin is a famous photographer, and Benson questions if there is anything that may have happened that she didn’t want to tell them or Matt. She thinks they think she is making this up, insisting she wouldn’t, and, upset, insists that Alvin raped her. Benson explains it was just a question, they have to ask.
Meanwhile, with Fin and Carisi, Matt explains how he discovered Sally, he got her pictures and connects and goes to her with every gig until Alvin cuts him out. He says Sally is too trusting and he has spoken to her about this. But he can’t guard her 24-7. He says Alvin is not going to get away with this; if they don’t take care of him, he will.
