Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC 2019 NBCUniversal Media, LLC
The record-breaking season 21 premiere of Law & Order SVU was jam-packed with changes for the SVU and it portends an interesting season. By beginning the episode in a bar that’s showing “Gunsmoke” on television - and panning away - it symbolizes the torch being passed to SVU, which now holds the record for the most number of seasons (21) for a prime-time drama in the U.S. Here’s some of the big changes that transpired in this episode:
1. Sonny Carisi now works as an ADA for new Special Victims Unit Bureau Chief Vanessa Hadid.
2. Fin and Rollins are now the lone SVU detective pair (until such time that someone else is added, if that ever happens)
3. Judge Barth has stepped down and is now in private practice.
4. Chief Dodds gets moved to Staten Island to “ride point” for the Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Task Force as the “powers that be have decided [he] can’t be trusted to work with the DA’s office going forward.”
5. Olivia Benson is promoted to Captain, a condition Dodds made for his move to Staten Island.
This is a lot to absorb in one episode, but it’s better it was done all at once. Like ripping off a band aid, it’s best to uncover these changes right away so the show can quickly get some fresh air and heal. Warren Leight has returned as showrunner and it’s obvious in many good ways.
Judge Barth moving into private practice allows Barth to be a thorn in SVU’s side in a different capacity, a nice prospect for fan favorite Jenna Stern. Fin and Rollins becoming the only detective pairing could get old fast – it already felt a little tired in this episode – so hopefully they will add someone quickly to bring a spark into the detective team. Dodds getting exiled to Staten Island was a logical move as he’s been making quite a few waves for One PP over the years and it was just a matter of time before he wore out his welcome. Law & Order fans will recall that Mike Logan was sent to Staten Island but resurfaced in the Law & Order movie “Exiled” and then in Law & Order Criminal Intent, so I keep the hopes that Dodds will make a return somehow to the SVU universe. Peter Gallagher was a great addition to the series and I would be saddened if this was the last we see of him.
Carisi’s move to the DA’s office may require some time for adjustment, for him AND for fans. I don’t know what the hiring qualifications are for a real ADA in Manhattan, but I would think some first-hand trial experience would be required. Carisi admits he has none. While we did see him do some close work with Barba in the past, he did zero work with Peter Stone, as far as I can recall. He’s thrown into the deep end right away in liaising with the SVU for a case involving a very powerful man – Sir Tobias Moore - who has deep connections with the DA’s office and other influential people. It seems Carisi’s hiring was done for the DA’s office to get an “in” with the SVU. Did new Bureau Chief Hadid assign Carisi to Toby’s case in the hopes he would unknowingly give her a heads up so she could counter what SVU was doing, or that Carisi would somehow bungle the case and Sir Toby would not be prosecuted? Hadid is too quick to threaten Carisi with being fired when the SVU didn’t clue him into Toby’s arrest, so she's not trustworthy right out of the gate. Lucky for Carisi, the case seems to be working out in the prosecution’s favor. But what other ulterior motives for hiring Carisi does Hadid have and will she later use Carisi as a pawn to make trouble for Benson? Regardless, Carisi will need some time to learn his new job and navigate internal politics. It may take time for his colleagues – and for fans - to find him credible in this role. I admit that I'm more willing to see Peter Scanavino take on this role than have to "break in" another new ADA cast member, and I believe Peter can do the job nicely.
Benson being promoted to Captain was a natural progression for her character. I suspect there will be many more challenges for her – both personal and political - in her new position, and without an ally like Chief Dodds there to help her navigate the politics of One PP, things could get messy.
The cast photos in the opening sequence have been “refreshed” and they look great. Overall, I liked the feel of the episode as they used various different locations outside the squad room to help bring energy and bring the story to life.
The case itself was a bit of a disappointment. A ripped-from-the-headlines story (Harvey Weinstein), it didn’t seem like it took much time to go from accusation to the trial. This was one of those stories that could have easily taken two episodes to cover. I fully understand we’re talking about a show that usually tells a story in 40 minutes of screen time, but for how long the Weinstein story played out, a two-episode story – and not necessarily two consecutive episodes – would have made the story and its message more powerful. Ian McShane was well cast and played the creepy sexual predator like it was second nature (which is a little unsettling when you think about that). This was a fantastic start to the season and I’m looking forward to more of season 21!
As side note – I’ve received a few emails asking if I will be recapping the information given on the new Law & Order SVU podcasts. I likely won’t have time to listen to the podcasts - at least not right away – and already barely have the time to do the episode recap/review. I wouldn't be listening to the podcast before I write my review anyway, as I want to review each episode based on the story as it has aired without any other side commentary influencing my opinion. If anyone wants to add any feedback they have from the podcasts, feel free to add them in the comments on each episode blog post.
Here is the recap:
“Gunsmoke” is playing on a TV in The Beekman Pub while Benson supervises the hanging of a banner that says “we will miss you.” Chief Dodds comments that he sees she spares no expense, and Benson quips it’s not like they throw a lot of parties. Meanwhile, at SVU with Rollins, he is packing his things. He’s nervous about his “big leap”. She invites him for one last drink.
Meanwhile, Pilar Reyes waits outside the office of Sir Tobias “Toby” Moore, the CEO of Picflix, watching a video of him talking to a large group of people. His assistant Cindy enters and said Toby is on a call and will be there in two minutes. As she preens, we see that Toby is watching her via hidden camera. The assistant brings Pilar into his office, and he quickly dispatches Cindy. Toby fawns over her and then suggests to start the audition. He walks her through what he wants.
Elsewhere, Carisi and Rollins walk to the pub. He knows he is a long way from doing a trial but has practiced Barba’s summations in front of a mirror. As they enter, Carisi finds he is walking into a surprise party, with Benson, Fin and Dodds in the forefront.
Back at Toby’s the audition continues and Toby doesn’t like her performance. He coaches her but then gives her a drink to relax.
Back at the pub, Benson announces that Dodds told her to check the paperwork, but there was no mistake, as of midnight tonight, Carisi is…and Fin finishes that he is passing over to The Dark Side. Everyone laughs, and Benson finishes that Carisi will be bringing his charm and expertise to the DA’s Special Victims Unit under Bureau Chief Hadid. Dodds jokes to Hadid that Carisi is her problem now, and she returns with a quip about a 90 day return policy.
Meanwhile, Toby isn’t thrilled with Pilar’s performance and continues to coach her, but wants her to take off her blouse. She stunned and says she is not comfortable with that. He puts great pressure on her, ordering her to take her blouse off – NOW.
The next day at SVU, as Benson and Rollins arrive, an officer explains that Pilar Reyes was driven over from the One-One, who says she was assaulted by a media bigwig, Sir Tobias Moore. In the interview room, Pilar explains to Benson and Rollins how she was assaulted. She kicked him but he blocked her way, and then forced her to watch him finish all over the couch, the lampshade, etc.
At the office of Bureau Chief Vanessa Hadid, at One Hogan Place on Saturday, August 10, Benson and Chief Dodds discuss the allegations against Toby with Hadid, who adds it is her first month and Carisi’s first day. They discuss Pilar, who Benson says is credible. There were no witnesses, he made sure the office was empty. They are doing due diligence. Dodds asks for warrants for the screen test and couch, his whole office. Hadid wants them to vet Pilar more but Benson stands by Pilar. Hadid says Toby will say she is making this up, and makes Carisi the riding ADA.
As Benson walks through the courthouse main hall, she is on the phone with Fin, telling him to take Rollins with him. She hangs up and comments to Dodds that Hadid seems reluctant. He thinks she is astute; if the case blows up, it won’t touch her. Benson is glad she put Carisi on the case, saying he is “one of us.” Dodds reminds her “WAS”, saying Carisi works there now.
