Kelli Giddish gave an exceptional, impassioned performance which brought Rollins inner struggle to life, and this is probably her best and most realistic performance on SVU. It’s a shame that the story itself was anticlimactic as it was made obvious in previous episodes that Patton was her problem in Atlanta. I hoped that Patton was only the tip of the iceberg and we’d get a “meatier” story with a wider reach. I saw a glimmer of something more when Sam Reynolds began to get creepy with Rollins when he confronted her while she was out for a walk, but no. He’s just another member of the Atlanta scummy entitled boys club who thinks he deserves a piece of the action.
I have issues with Rollins’ behavior, past and present. Rollins never reported that Patton raped her when it first happened. I can understand her actions in part. Rollins felt that as she first consented to have sex with Patton to get her sister off the hook that no one would believe her accusation of rape. But it worries me that Rollins would have consented in the first place and I wonder what that says about Rollins’ overall integrity. Yes, it is difficult when one's attacker is someone who is in a position of power, and, at first, Detective Reese Traymor seems to be taking the same approach as Rollins did 5 years prior. As Reese’s rape accusation against Patton unfolds, Rollins lies, or at least avoids, telling Benson and Dodds what she knows about Patton. She knew Patton was a predator. Rollins was only looking out for herself, likely worried about how it would reflect on her if her own story came out. I find her omission of the truth to Benson/Dodds disappointing, yet there seemed to be no professional repercussions to Rollins for her initial lack of cooperation with this case. All she gets from Benson is a referral to her therapist and some time off. Based on the sum of Rollins’ past and present performance issues and behaviors, I would have zero trust in her and probably would have initiated some kind of official disciplinary action, at least to document that she seek help for her trauma. Most importantly, Rollins refused to testify but expected Detective Reese Traymor to do what she didn’t have the nerve to do 5 years ago. Reese did shame Rollins when, on the stand, she testifies what Patton did to her was a crime and she realized if she did not testify it could happen to someone else and she did not want that on my conscience. Later, Reese rightfully calls Rollins on her reluctance to testify about her own attack. The bottom line is that Rollins’ actions – and inaction – allowed a predator to continue, leading up to Reese’s rape. Even though Rollins’ rape does shed light on understanding some of her behavior, it doesn’t excuse it. I am not sure if I like Rollins, much less forgive her at this point. In her defense, she has been through a lot and needs therapy. Let’s just say for now that I remain disappointed in her and hope therapy can bring about positive results.
I don’t understand why Barba couldn't cool his jets and wait to call Rollins as a rebuttal witness to counter Patton’s testimony stating he would not harm a woman. Yes, the judge did rule out Rollins as an initial prosecution witness, but Patton’s statement should open the door to allow Barba to call her to rebut. I do understand why the judge blocked Barba’s questioning of Patton on this specific issue at the time and likely Barba was simply looking to rattle Patton by bringing it up. I suppose the point is moot, as Barba went at him full throttle and Patton conveniently became ill on the stand and Barba cut a deal at a later time. (Loved Patton’s “Spanish dandy” insult. by the way.)
I really disliked Hamlin’s faux southern accent, y’all.
This was a compelling episode which answered some question about Rollins, but it made me wonder more about what kind of detective – or person – she really is. There is still a lot more of Amanda Rollins “pre-rape” of which we know nothing about. I think there is more to her inner struggle than meets the eye.
Here is the recap:
Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Sergeant Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Peter Scanavino - Detective Dominick Carisi, Jr.
Guest stars:
Peter Gallagher - Deputy Chief William Dodds
Harry Hamlin – Deputy Chief Charles Patton
Dreama Walker - Reese Taymor
Delaney Williams - Counselor John Buchanan
Jenna Stern - Judge Elana Barth
Myk Watford - Captain Sam Reynolds
Becky Ann Baker – Vivian Dodds
Yvonna Kopacz-Wright – Dr. Darby Wilder
Mike Massino – ConElectric Worker #1
Brian Michael – ConElectric Worker #2
Atlanta’s Deputy Chief Patton is giving a speech, saying it is a brave new world, and criminals are bound less and less by geographical jurisdiction, and law enforcement must follow suit. He adds they all need to share information quickly and efficiently. He cites as an example the recent Pattern Seventeen rape case in New York. He says that for the APD, the most gratifying part of closing out that case was their collaboration with their esteemed and charming (looking towards Benson, who is sitting on the panel on stage) colleagues on the NYPD. He explains that one of Benson’s detectives, who was formerly one of his own (Rollins, sitting in the audience, gets squirmy), recalled cold cases in Atlanta that matched the profile they had established. He states that given the similarities in the MO, they felt certain that the DNA on file in the Atlanta precinct proved this was the work of one man, DNA they were unable to obtain from the New York crime scene.
After the speech, Benson, Rollins, and Fin are at the reception that followed, and so is Patton. Fin grips that Patton sat on the rape kits for 6 years, SVU catches the guy, and questions Patton taking the victory lap. Rollins tells Fin to accept the things he cannot change. Fin adds not to ask him to go out to dinner with Patton, Patton walks over to the detectives, accompanied by a young blonde woman. Patton complements Benson on their beautiful city, and Benson replies “Even when it isn’t.” Patton says that is true, then says speaking of beautiful, tells Rollins it is nice to see her. He said it broke his heart to let this one go, and that they all have a winner with her. Fin states dryly that they know that. Patton then introduces the blonde woman, Detective Reese Taymor, saying this is her first conference. Benson welcomes her to New York. Reese says it is just like the song, adding that she loved Benson’s presentation. Rollins glares at Patton as Reese tells Patton they should look into some of the program’s Benson mentioned. Patton responds by saying “Anything you want, darlin’. As he strokes Reese’s arm, and Rollins continues to give him the evil eye, Patton says there are so many friends here and excuses him from the SVU team, saying he will catch them later. Reese says it is “nice to meet y’all.” As Patton and Reese walk off, Fin lets out a sigh and Rollins states with sarcasm that in Atlanta, they are so polite. Amaro walks up to the group and says that Sam Reynolds, Rollins’ old captain, wants them to join the APD at Moran’s. Benson and Fin make excuses and bow out. Rollins says she is not good at hanging out with the good ol’ boys and adds she has to walk Frannie. Patton and Reynolds watch as she leaves.
Later, Rollins is at a bar drinking, and asks the bartender for another drink, saying “hit me.”
The next day at SVU, Amaro and Fin speak about the Atlanta detectives and Fin laughs that Rollins stuck Amaro with them. Amaro asks what is Rollins’ deal with these guys, and Fin suggests he ask Rollins, who is entering the squad room. Fin moves to answer his phone and Rollins, wearing sunglasses, races in and asks Amaro if Benson is already in. He says yes; he told Benson she was running late. Fin gets off the phone and gives them bad news: there was a hotel rape last night and the victim is the young detective from Atlanta.
At Bellevue Hospital on Saturday, January 3, Benson and Rollins speak with the doctor who said Reese Traymor was found by the maid in the hotel bathroom with a serious head wound. Security called 911. Reese disclosed to the ER nurse so they ran a kit. There were no drugs in her system but her alcohol level was 0.12, and Rollins notes Reese is still intoxicated this morning. There were bite marks and bruising on her thighs and hips. Rollins asks if she said who her assailant was, and the doctor says that is outside her purview.
Benson and Rollins then speak with Detective Reese Taymor who says she had too much to drink at dinner and she got up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water and thinks she fell and hit her head on the sink. When Rollins asks her about the assault, Reese says she doesn’t know what she means. Benson, confused, tells Reese that the ER nurse said she disclosed. Reese shakes her head and says she was in an emotional place. Rollins pulls out her phone and then says she is sorry, Fin needs her, so Benson excuses her from the room. After Rollins leaves, Reese says she feels so stupid bringing them in here, and Benson asks her to start at the beginning. Reese says they had drinks, he escorted her to her door, using a false pretense to get in.
Meanwhile, Rollins races down the hall, clearly in distress over the situation. Reese tells Benson that when she told him she needed to sleep, it became something else. She adds she can’t believe she is saying these words out loud. Benson asks if she struggled or said no, and understands Reese has some bruising. Reese is silent. Benson tells Reese this is not going to go away, and Reese replies yeah, it will. Benson goes on to say they will pull the security footage and find out who went in and out of that hotel room. Reese explains it was her boss. Benson asks, “Captain Reynolds?” and Reese laughs, saying no, it was his boss, Deputy Chief Patton. She says she is not pressing any charges and she won’t testify - she can’t. Benson looks stunned. Rollins, still in the hallway, tries to compose herself.
