It’s rare that an SVU episode is so awful that I was tempted to not write a recap and review. But, I trudged through it, thinking that I have a responsibility to warn others who haven’t seen the episode to watch it at their own risk.
Even Denis O’Hare could not save the one. By the way, Denis epitomizes the moniker "Law & Order repeat offender,” having been on 4 Law & Orders, 1 SVU, and 1 Criminal Intent. The later was as the same character he portrayed in this episode, a worthless value as his previous connection to the L&O universe was never made in this episode.
One thing I know for sure, I never want to see another Christmas themed Law & Order SVU. EVER. Some fans like to see their favorite SVU characters in real life situations, but I am not one of them. I don’t mind a little personal story line here and there, but the holiday themed subplots in this episode were overkill.
When the ADA commented that “a carjacking is not a sex crime” a said loudly to the television, “Thank you for stating the obvious.” While this ADA seemed written with the sole purpose to annoy, he called that one correctly. Ultimately the carjacking did lead to a years old instance of abuse of a child at the hands of a cleric, but it was an awfully convoluted way to get there. To make matters worse, once it seemed there was an SVU case in there somewhere, the story became horribly predictable. This was another episode that attempted to jump start an SVU crime with a non-SVU crime, and in my opinion, it diluted the telling the story of the special victim.
Some of the dialog and behavior seemed out of character and just…odd. Examples were when Benson said “screw you” to Fin (even though it was to preface her offer to help despite his protests) and later when she referred to Rollins as a “Georgia peach.” And let’s not even go there with what seemed to be going on with Fin and ME Warner.
I also didn’t care for the ending where Benson is flying off to her vacation with a mystery companion, of which we only saw a hand and part of an arm. Was this a bone to throw to shippers to get them talking and/or to fuel their hopes that it was Elliott? Was it a woman with "man hands?" Or, is Benson now dating “Thing” from the Addams Family? I found the scene laughable.
The acting and the writing were wooden (except for Denis O’Hare, who was wonderful as always). There was nothing in this episode that made me feel anything for any of the characters.
As the Christmas music was playing over the ending scenes, I was hoping that maybe I had fallen asleep during the episode and I was really having a nightmare.
One thing that was good to see was the use of a video camera to record a suspect’s questioning. As the NYPD recently caught up with most of the US in wider use of video during questionings, it’s good to see SVU also adopt the practice.
Some episodes are better forgotten. “Presumed Guilty” is one of them. But, as they often say in the Law & Order Universe, sometimes one can’t un-ring the bell.
(The nightmare before Christmas)
Here is the recap:
Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Detective Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Richard Belzer – Sergeant John Munch
Dann Florek – Captain Don Cragen
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Guest stars:
Tamara Tunie - Dr. Melinda Warner
Denis O’Hare – Father Chris Shea
Erik LaRay Harvey – Sam
Melissa Marsala - Margarita
LisaGay Hamilton – Teresa Randall
Peter Gerety – Judge Peter Harrison
Nathan Lee Graham - ADA
Daniel Raymont - Benitez
Theo Rossi - Enrique
Tony Plana – Monsignor Menendez
Gizel Jimenez – Angelica Rodriguez
Nicolette Pierini – Sofia Santiago
Rene Ifrah – Office Bracken
Alison Fernandez - Zara Amaro
Jon Freda – Public Defender
Rene Ojeda – Old Latino Man
Jaden Harmon – Dante Randall
At a Christmas party in the ME’s office with the SVU and medical examiner groups, Rollins is “cornered” by an ME worker and when she enlists Fin to help her get out of the conversation, he isn’t much help. Benson tells ME Warner that she is working tomorrow but Christmas Eve she is off to the Bahamas, but when Warner asks with who, Benson says it is with “a friend.” Warner laughs, accusing Benson of taking the 5th.
Elsewhere, Father Shea is at a Christmas party and says he has a doll for a special girl. Later, Fr. Shea is in his car as the young girl - Sofia - runs up and gets in the car, telling him she forgot something – she made him a Christmas card.
At Amaro’s home, he is there with Zara and she hands him her Christmas list, saying she wants a bike, an iPad mini, a puppy, and mommy and daddy to be together. He asks if they should call her mom and say goodnight.
Back in the car, Fr. Shea thanks Sofia for the card and hugs her. Someone slams what looks like a tire iron into the car windows. Fr. Shea tells Sofia to run. Someone pulls Fr. Shea out of the car and beats him while Sofia watches. Another man calls out asking what the man who is beating Fr. Shea is doing.
Back at Amaro’s, he speaks with Maria on the phone about Christmas, saying he did not get Zara too much and that Zara wants a puppy. He adds his mother is taking Zara on the train Christmas Eve.
Meanwhile, Fr. Shea is being taken away by ambulance. A man, Sam – likely the one who’s voice called out to the attacker - tells the police that someone was beating Fr. Shea. But someone from the crowd counters that, saying that Sam was the one who beat the priest and stole the present and the other kids ran off. As police arrest Sam, he swears he did not do this, and says his brother in law in on the job.
Back at the Christmas party, Teresa, Fin’s ex-wife, races in and asks Benson to see Fin. She then approaches Fin, who is taking with Warner. Warner’s arm is resting on his shoulder, and she makes a quick exit. Teresa tells him that her brother Sam has been arrested, and they say he carjacked a priest, then vigilantes beat him up. She insists he turned it around. Fin says he has been on parole for 9 months and is skeptical. Sandy gets a phone call from Ken, their son, and walks off. Fin tells Benson and Rollins that his ex brother in law got locked up again, and his family is complicated.
Fin drives with Rollins to the police station. He says she did not have to come with him, but she says it was either him or the morgue driver. Fin says Sam has been more in jail than out over the last 6 years. His ex tells him that Sam is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Rollins thinks people can change. Fin says you don’t get your ass kicked for nothing.
At the 55th precinct, Sam tells Fin and Rollins he is guilty of being black. He admits he he was in a fight, but he was trying to save that priest, they were calling him short eyes and chomo. Fin asks if he is making that up, and Sam says it is the truth. He saw them beating the priest and a kid running away. Rollins questions what he looked like, and Sam corrects her that it was a she, young, maybe 8 or 9 and Hispanic, long hair and cute. Sam says that not all priests like boys. Fin asks if he saw him do anything to her, and Sam says he saw two guys kicking his head in and they were going to kill him. Fin voices skepticism, and Sam says he swears, he doesn’t a car, he doesn’t want to get sent back to prison, so why would he do this? Rollins looks at Fin, and Sam adds that he has to get home for Christmas.
Later, Fin and Rollins talk with the office who says it was a righteous collar. They got two 911 calls about the priest on the ground and that others kept a black man from stealing his car and witnesses on the scene confirmed. Rollins questions about the guys who attacked Sam, and the office says they took off when they heard sirens. Rollins questions - good Samaritans that did not stick around? The priest did not ID Sam as he is still unconscious. Rollins asks if anyone talked to the girl, and when the officer asks what girl, she adds that there was girl with the priest and she ran from the car. He says he did not hear anything about this, and Fin tells her to let it go. 
