“Murdered At A Bad Address” had more layers than a Dagwood sandwich, and this is what made this episode so compelling. It started with one rape case, which uncovered a serial rapist, and two men who were unjustly sent to prison for one of those rapes and murder. Complicating matters was the Queens district attorney, who made career advancements on those unjust convictions, and who now has dementia. It will take some sleight of hand to get those convictions overturned.
A few layers of this sandwich also included some personal drama for Benson when her half-brother Simon makes a surprise appearance. Simon has been nothing but bad news for Benson in the past. We last saw him in the Law & Order SVU episode “Child’s Welfare” (season 13, episode 16, 2012), and things weren’t working out very well for him at that time. He wants to reconnect with her and get to know Noah, and Benson, likely still stinging from her past encounters with Simon, agrees. But when he stands her up for their lunch date, she fires off a voice mail to him which basically severs all ties. It isn’t long before Simon is laying on a slab in the morgue of our favorite medical examiner Melinda Warner. Now Benson is feeling regret for that voice mail message. It was a perfect closing of the loop for Simon’s story, and it gave fans a chance to have the much respected Melinda Warner back, even if it was only for a short scene. I was never much of a fan of Simon Marsden so I felt nothing for him upon hearing of his death. But I do understand why Benson is regretting that terse message she gave to the only blood relative that she had left in the world. Whether he actually got that message...
The story of the rape victim worked well as it wasn’t just about finding justice for her, but also for finding justice for someone falsely accused and later imprisoned for other rapes and a murder. We got to see Fin acting with confidence, more like a sergeant. Carisi has settled in quite well in as an ADA, making it seem like he’s been in that job much longer than in actuality.
Wentworth Miller makes another SVU appearance, but not in his previous incarnation as Detective Nate Kendall, as last seen in the SVU episode “Unstable” (season 11, episode 1, in 2009). In “Murdered At A Bad Address”, Wentworth plays ADA Isaiah Holmes, who was a former law professor at Fordham. Holmes - who happens to mention he is gay – uses some trickery with a DA suffering from dementia in order to get an unjust conviction overturned for Carisi. Will this ever come back to haunt him or Carisi? Probably not, as this would like expose the manner in which the DA’s deputies are covering up for the clearly mentally incapacitated DA. One does have to wonder, however, with that huge pile of untouched paperwork in the DA’s office, just how exactly are these deputies covering for the DA? If they truly were covering, they would have never allowed Holmes and Carisi to even get an audience and they'd make sure that paperwork would get done.
This episode reflects improved story telling this season, and the writers did an excellent job in balancing the investigative part of the case with the legal aspects, all while adding personal drama for Benson. I've been enjoying the full use of the cast, the expanded legal coverage, and the overall visually-interesting production. The rape victim got justice, and the wrongly convicted was freed, giving those people some closure; normally this would be a happy ending for an SVU episode. But it was hard not to feel deep sadness toward the end of this episode, both for the freed man who stands over the grave of his family, and for Benson, who regrets what may have been her last cutting words to her brother. She can only hope that he never got that message. But we have to wonder – what drove him back to drugs? Benson will likely be asking herself that question for some time, and she may never find the answer.
Here is the recap:
Benson is walking outside with Noah and asks him if he is ready to teach her some of his dance moves. He says yes, asks if they can get some ice cream as they are right by the cart. Benson questions it as it is before dinner, and Noah says he won’t have dessert after. Benson hears her name called, and turns to see it is her brother, Simon. He says hello and introduces himself for Noah. Benson tells Noah to go ahead and pick a flavor. Simon asks who is Noah, and Benson explains he is her son. Simon is surprised he has a nephew and she didn’t tell him, but he admits that is on him as he hasn’t been in touch. Benson asks what he is doing there, and he replies he moved back to Jersey a few years ago, working at the Carpet King. She asks about his family and children, and he explains he doesn’t know, Tracy took the kids and he hasn’t seen her or them since he last saw Benson. She comments she is sorry. He adds that he thought about asking her to help him track them down but he always ends up making more trouble for her. He just wants to make it up to her and asks if maybe he can take her and Noah out to lunch. She says she doesn’t think that’s such a…as she tries to move away, he moves in front of her and tells her “don’t say no.” He adds he has been clean five years and she is his only family. He wants to get to know his nephew. Benson smiles, and Simon suggests Wednesday lunch, his day off, and she picks the place and time, he can be anywhere. Benson looks at Noah who is sampling ice cream, and she pauses.
At a hospital, Lupe tends to a patient, then later after work is walking home eating ice cream. She hears noises as she walks up the stairs to her apartment in the projects and suddenly is attacked from behind, her mouth covered by the attacker’s hand.
Later, Fin and Rollins arrive on the scene, the crowd taunting them, but Fin informs them they are SVU, not the warrant squad. Inside, Rollins and Fin see the EMTs who are taking away Lupe Perez. Kat is waiting with an officer. Kat explains that Lupe, 14, was assaulted in a stairwell, and she is still in shock. She didn’t want to leave her little sister alone so Kat put a uni with her. Fin comments that Kat got there fast, and she explains it was the 2 train, faster than lights and sirens every time. She adds that CSU is on the way. Rollins asks about Lupe’s parents, and Kat states that her mom works the night shift at the Double Dutch Donuts on 125th. Fin asks about cameras, and Kat replies they are busted, like the elevator, like always. Fin asks if she is a former projects kid, and Kat tells him Gowanus, there is no such thing as a former projects kid. Rollins raises her eyebrows in response and Fin says okay, asking if the girl is comfortable with her, and when Kat nods yes, Fin suggests Kat ride with her to CAC. Kat moves to leave.
At the Child Advocacy Center at 207 East 130th Street on Monday, September 30, Benson observes Kat speaking with Lupe as Carisi enters the room. He asks if there were any witnesses and Benson explains Fin is still canvassing and there is nothing on the rape kit, no semen or hairs. Carisi thinks they are looking at a pro. When Carisi questions that she is giving Kat the lead, Benson states she is giving her a shot; Kat was first on the scene, she rode with Lupe and took the disclosure and Benson is there if she needs her. Carisi comments that Kat doesn’t miss a trick; somebody must have stolen her lunch money once, and Benson adds “or tried to.” Lupe explains the attack to Kat, saying the man smelled bad, like a woody smell, like pencil sharpeners. He said “Ok Chiquita, do it nice for Poppy.” She explains her real Poppy died, and she cries. She says he said if she didn’t, he would go to her little sister. Benson realizes the attacker knows Lupe’s family, Carisi adding this is why he wouldn’t let Lupe look at him. Lupe doesn’t want anyone to know he pulled down her pants. Rollins enters the room and tells Benson that Lupe’s mom is there.
Benson and Rollins speak with Lupe's mother who says she was working; her husband died two years ago so she works extra shifts. She cries and Benson assures her this is not her fault. Rollins explains they think the attacker knew Lupe, and her mom explains she is always in the library or at the school or babysitting her little sister. She asks to see Lupe.
