This was a case for the Law & Order Bipolar Unit. An athlete who was raped discovers, thanks to Rollins, that she has a bipolar disorder, which explains her erratic behavior. Rollins, however, misses the same symptoms in her own sister, who is out on parole and staying with Rollins. This was a lifeless episode, devoid of a sympathetic victim. I dozed off for a minute while watching.
There was only one scene that I found interesting in this episode, and that was when Jenna decides to begin removing her clothes on the stand. Watching Barba race to cover her – and then do such a clumsy job at it – was the best part of the episode.
The “controlled meet” was anything but controlled. Usually when they have a civilian wired for a meeting in a public place, they have a detective stationed inside at the meeting place. In this case, everyone was in the surveillance van and no one was there to stop Jenna’s husband from interrupting. Maybe I missed something, but why wouldn’t someone have told Jenna’s husband this meet was going to occur to avoid him storming in? And, assuming they didn't tell him about it, how did he know she was there?
I’m so glad we are getting more legal action this season, and at least we did get that bit of courtroom drama. But those scenes mostly fell flat.
Rollins' sister is back, but it is clear that Rollins does not trust Kim one bit. Rollins seems stunned at Kim’s revelation that she is bipolar; still, I don’t think Rollins will give her sister any more leash until she knows that Kim has truly stabilized.
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:
Brit Morgan - Jenna Miller
David Alpay - Chad Miller
Lindsay Pulsipher - Kim Rollins
Hari Dhillon - Attorney Sunil Varma
Theo Stockman - Michael Wheeler
Jason Babinsky – Derek Kaller
Jordan Baker – Doctor Cohen
Ami Brabson – Judge Karyn Blake
Caleb Eberhardt – Jack
Kati Sharp – Val
Shea Glaser – Tanya
Natasha Murray – Nurse
Jane Fergus – TV Reporter #1
Cheryl Wills – TV Reporter #2
Luis Moco – Uni #1
John Finnerty – Uni # 2
Griffin Faulkner – Sam Miller
Jenna Miller is on a treadmill, frantically exercising, increasing the intensity more and more. Her son Sam is sitting nearby calling for her but she ignores him. Her husband Chad reminds her she has been going for over an hour and she says one more mile. Chad takes Sam aside and Jenna ramps up the speed.
Elsewhere, Kim Rollins is talking to the parole board. Kim says she knows what she did was wrong but knows she can do better, for her, but also for her one year old niece Jesse. She states she hasn’t met Jesse yet, and that is her own fault. Holding a picture of Jesse so it facing the parole board, she says after Jesse was born ,she realized there is something much bigger than her outside of these walls, and she trusts in Jesus and the mercy of this parole board to give her the chance to look Jesse in the eye and tell her how proud she is of her mother, her sister Amanda. She looks back at Rollins sitting in the back of the room.
Later, Rollins is in Benson’s office, who hears that Rollins’ sister made parole and has asked to live with her. Benson asks what are Kim’s options, and Rollins explains that Kim can’t leave the state; it’s either Rollins’ apartment or a shelter. Benson puts her eyeglasses onto her desk and tells Rollins that may not be the worst place, considering the trouble this woman has gotten Rollins into. Rollins counters that women get raped and killed in shelters and Kim says she’s found religion. Benson states that she hopes so, because if Rollins covers for her again – looking Rollins in the eye – says she will take her shield. Rollins looks as she understands the gravity of her decision.
At the Wooster Hotel at 25 Wooster Street on Monday, October 17, Jenna has been drinking heavily and she comes on to a man looking at her from across the bar. He says she might be the most gorgeous woman he’s ever seen.
Later, Jenna is on a rooftop, her dress torn and she is barefoot. She gets in athlete mode and runs and jumps over to another rooftop. Sometime later, she is running frantically on the street and the police pick her up and she is laughing, saying she won.
At Amanda Rollins' apartment, she tells Benson she will be there in 20. She looks to see if Kim is around and the crib is also empty. Kim walks in with Jesse from another room, and says they were in the other room just looking at themselves in the mirror. Rollins goes to hold Jesse but Kim rebuffs her, saying she can trust her with her niece. Rollins asks “can I?” and Kim counters that mistakes happen in life, adding that the strength of your character is determined by how you bounce back. Rollins tells her sister to save the fortune cookie philosophy; she heard enough at the parole hearing. Rollins adds that there are ground rules if she is going to be staying here. Kim says she knows: no drinking, no drugs, no staying out past curfew, no men. Rollins glares at her and says she is serious; one screw up and Kim is at that shelter, asking if they are clear about that. Kim nods and answers, “Crystal.” Kim comments that she and Jesse can wait for the sitter and they have Frannie to keep an eye. Rollins says that is not happening, and she reaches for Jesse and Kim allows her to hold Jesse. Kim says “we are just gonna have to earn momma’s trust, aren’t we? Put our faith in the Lord so he’ll see us through this too.” Rollins gives her a weak smile.
Later, at Mercy Hospital, 365 West 32nd Street on Tuesday, October 18, Rollins arrives to meet Benson and apologizes for being late. Rollins asks what are they looking at, and Benson explains the vic, Jenna Miller, a housewife from Long Island, was picked up jumping around Manhattan at 3:30 AM – literally, from a rooftop. High blood alcohol, no drugs. Rollins asks that she was raped, and Benson says Jenna did not disclose but she had anal bleeding, bruising, bite marks on the breasts and to the thighs, The SANE nurse called it in just to be safe. Rollins asks if her husband is in the picture, and Benson replies he is on his way but Benson wants to get her story before he shows up.
In the exam room, Jenna says the nurse should not have called the police. Benson explains she doesn’t have to speak with them but she has serious injuries consistent with a sexual assault. Benson adjusts Jenna’s gown to cover her. Rollins asks if she remembers what happened to her last night, and Jenna say no, not really. Benson asks if Jenna was meeting somebody in the city, and Jenna says no, she just came in for a drink. Benson states the whoever inflicted these injuries, unless she wanted that to happen, that is assault, maybe even rape. Jenna says she wasn’t meeting anybody. Her husband’s voice loudly announces that he wants to see his wife, but the nurse tells him to have a seat. Benson tells Jenna if there is anything she wants to tell them without her husband knowing, now would be the time. Jenna says she just wants to go home. The nurse walks in and asks what should she tell the husband, and Jenna replies it’s okay, she just needs to explain. Benson says okay bring him in, and her husband races in and asks what happened. She says she is sorry and he comments they told him she was with the police. Jenna frantically asks where is Sam, and her husband says he knows she thinks about him and he was worried sick, she was gone all night. Jenna cries and says she was raped. When Benson hears this, she pulls Chad aside to speak with him alone, leaving Rollins to talk with Jenna.
In the hall, Benson tells Chad she knows this is upsetting but she just wants to find out what happened to Jenna. She asks him where he was and he says he was home watching his son. Jenna went into the city alone, she does that sometimes to unwind. Benson asks if she is under stress and Chad says yes, her son is 5. He adds she comes into the city and blows off steam and the next day she is herself again. Benson asks about their marriage and Chad says there are no problems but they have arguments like any couple but they love each other. Benson asks if Jenna ever talks about these nights out and what she does or where she goes, and Chad says he doesn’t want to be the kind of husband who keeps tabs on his wife. He asks if they are going to find this guy and Benson explains they are certainly going to investigate, the problem is Jenna doesn’t remember much. Chad comments that maybe that is for the best.
