It seems that “Psycho-The-Rapist” William Lewis continues to live on – in prison (at least for now). I wished that someone would take him out before the end of the episode, as this would be a good way for Benson to move on from the trauma which he inflicted on her. It’s obvious that he has invaded her mind; she imagines him stalking her as she goes about her life. While in Doctor Lindstrom’s office, she is swept into a daydream (or waking nightmare) that Lewis has breached the safety of the doctor’s office to hold her at gunpoint. Her imagination also has her locking lips with the doctor when Lewis invades. Does Benson have actually romantic feelings for the doctor (ick!) or does he simply represent the safe, protective, and romantic feelings that she’s not getting from her current relationship or her life? She imagines Lewis stepping into an elevator with her, and she quickly realizes that it’s just someone who has a vague resemblance to him. She enters her new apartment and hears a strange noise and she arms herself to prepare for another attack only to find it’s her live in, Brian Cassidy. Her reactions are likely due to PTSD, the pressures of the trial, and the prospect of having to face William Lewis in the courtroom and keeping up her lies about what really happened during those final hours of her captivity.
Everybody lies, even our beloved Olivia Benson, but do we care? Should we care? We have the advantage of seeing William Lewis for the monster he is, but we also know that Benson did, in fact, beat him mercilessly while he was handcuffed to the bed. Was she wrong to do this? Yes. Is it understandable that she did this? Also yes. Everyone has a breaking point and several days of torture would certainly make anyone snap. It’s clear that the jury saw exactly what Benson did and had “serious reservations” about her conduct. And they should. They don’t know Benson like viewers know her, nor should they. The jury only has the facts as presented at trial with which to base their verdict. Sadly to say, based on what we saw of the prosecution’s case, their case sucked. It’s a shame that Barba was not able to get in more helpful testimony from her co-workers to Benson’s character, and it was a grave mistake for him to depend so much on questioning William Lewis on the stand. Maybe he assumed that Lewis had so big of an ego that he couldn’t pass up his time on the stand, but clearly Barba underestimated Lewis. This turned out to be a he said/she said trial with zero hard evidence, and Barba brought a only his fists to a gunfight.
During the testimony of one doctor, Lewis made a point that any one of the injuries he sustained from Benson’s beating would have incapacitated him. I am surprised that Barba did not counter by asking how Benson, who is not a doctor and does not have x-ray vision or an MRI scanner in her head, would not be able to see that she broke or shattered any bones. If, for example, she hit him in the ribs first, he could have still be standing or moving which would have triggered another swipe by Benson. Of course, we all know what really happened, but that doesn’t mean Barba could not have tried to discredit that witness.
Also, when Amaro and Benson were both questioned about the tactics Benson used when she first questioned Lewis, Barba did not bring on any expert witnesses later to show that using tactics as Benson did during the interrogation – and what she did to get in his head during her kidnapping – was in fact normal for a police officer. But no, as far as we know, he let the jury stew over the thought that Lewis put in their heads that Benson was coming on to him.
We also did not hear Barba’s closing argument, so we don’t know if he made any comments about Lewis saying he could not hear well, but then he seemed to hear Benson barely whispering at times on the stand when she testified. Yes, he did lose hearing in one ear but it was obvious that he only brought that up when it suited him.
The NBC promo tease and advance photos that were released before the episode aired made it obvious that some of the scenes would be either dream sequences or imaginary. It was the absence of scars on Lewis in some shots and big scars in others that was the tip-off. Sometimes I wish they would be a little more careful on what they release because I think it spoiled the surprise of the opening scene. By the way, the promo called this the “shocking final chapter in the Save Benson saga", but the door is clearly left open for more as it seems Lewis is already working on a way to get out.
The big question of course is why Benson either didn’t tell the truth about what she did in her final moments of captivity, or, why she didn’t at least think through the beating she was going to give him. If she felt she could not have explained away her meltdown and repeatedly beating him after the torture he put her through, then she should have been more deliberate in her beating. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but one or two blows to the head probably could have incapacitated him and been explained away, even if it turned out to be fatal. Regardless, having the benefit of knowing what he did to her and the possible charges she may have faced herself had she told the truth, I don’t have an issue the fact that she chose to lie.
Mariska Hargitay’s performance was remarkable and I can’t even imagine to what place an actor must go in their head in order to pull off such a performance as she did in this episode. Likewise, Pablo Schreiber played evil and disgusting to the hilt in this role and it may be hard for me to scrub the image of him as William Lewis from my mind. This was a well written episode which help those actors deliver those fine performances and helped keep the tension high. Even though William Lewis lives on and is likely scheming every waking moment, I can still hope that he makes that one mistake that closes the book on him forever.
Here is the recap:
Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Detective Olivia Benson
Dann Florek – Captain Don Cragen
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Guest stars:
Pablo Schreiber - William Lewis
Dean Winters - Detective Brian Cassidy
Renée Elise Goldsberry – Counselor Martha Marron
Bill Irwin - Dr. Lindstrom
John Rothman - Judge Edward Kofax
Jolly Abraham – Doctor
Barbara Jimenez – Viva Núñez
Sarah Street – Dr. Janice Cole
Sarah Bisman – Bronwyn
Zach Appelman – Officer Jimmy Hamilton
Jenna Rampage Rodriguez – Luisa Núñez
In Dr. Lindstrom’s office and dressed in a sexy, low cut red dress, Benson talks about her dreams and confirms she is keeping a journal of the ones she remembers, especially the one recurring dream. Lindstrom cuts her off and tells her that’s it and a good place to stop. Benson seems surprised, and says their sessions seem to go so fast now. As he helps her put on her coat, Lindstrom says time is speeding up unless they slow it down. He moves in to kiss her and as they do, Benson hears a voice say, “Hey.” She pulls away from Lindstrom and sees Lewis, his face unmarked from any injury, standing in the office, asking what she and Lindstrom are doing. Benson looks back to the doctor and he is not there, and turns back to see Lewis pointing a gun at her. He says “Welcome home, Detective Benson.” She looks back and Lindstrom has not reappeared to help her. Quickly, she snaps back to reality, sitting in the courtroom on the witness stand, in a prep session with ADA Barba. Barba asks if she is with him and she says yeah, and apologizes. He reminds her she was telling the jury what happened when she came home that night. She explains she stepped into her kitchen and sensed a presence and she went to reach for her gun but she froze. Barba asks her to leave that detail out to not imply anything was her fault. She goes on to say that before she reached for her weapon, the defendant William Lewis put a gun to her head. Barba asks if she needs a break, and she asks how close is the trial. He explains Lewis has one last pre-trial motion. Benson asks what is there left to argue about. Barba explains it is jurisdiction; Lewis’ attorney wants three separate trials; one for her kidnapping, one for Mrs. Mayer’s rape and the murder of her husband, and one for the murder of a Suffolk County police officer. Benson asks if Mrs. Mayer is willing to testify, and Barba says she is tough and she wants him to die in prison. He adds he is going for attempted murder and attempted rape. Benson counters that he did not rape her. Barba replies he understands that is important to her but he is going to claim those 4 days were consensual. He adds the jury needs to hear about the torture and degradation Lewis put her through. She is quiet but seems to acknowledge this.
Afterwards, Benson steps into the courthouse elevator and as the door closes, a hand reaches in to stop it. She looks up and sees Lewis enter, his face unmarked from any injury, and he smirks at her while she hears the song “Ain’t We Got Fun” as elevator music. Quickly she sees it is another man looking straight at her and smiling, and then he turns around to face the elevator door.
Later, in her apartment, she is unpacking groceries and she hears a strange noise in another room. She pulls her gun and as Brian Cassidy walks through the doorway he is startled to see her standing there with a gun on him. He reassures her it is him and moves to lower her arm holding the gun. She is startled and apologizes. He tells her it is OK and they embrace as she continues to say she is sorry.
In Cragen’s office, Cragen speaks with Amaro, Rollins, Fin and Barba about how the next few weeks are going to be stressful for Benson and for them. Amaro says Lewis has some stones for putting her through this, and Rollins comments they can’t think Lewis will get away with this. Barba informs them Lewis is five for five and that breeds hubris. Fin says they should have shot Lewis when they got there, and when everyone looks at him somewhat stunned, Fin says they were all thinking it. Barba cautions him “not on the stand.” Barba explains he will be calling each of them and a big part of his defense is that he thinks the NYPD has a vendetta against him and to tamp down their emotions, don’t talk to the press and don’t take the bait. Rollins says got it. After Barba leaves, Cragen says speaking to taking the bait, he knows they are all on edge but whatever is going on in the squad room has to stop, adding to Amaro and Rollins he is talking to them. Rollins says got it, and Amaro replies whatever Cragen says. Rollins says to Amaro that she knows they went at it and she probably said some things he misinterpreted, and Amaro picks up on that word. Fin jumps in and says Rollins is saying she is sorry, and says “right Amanda?” Rollins looks at Amaro and says she is sorry. They look at each other and Amaro says nothing, so Cragen prompts an answer from Amaro, who says they are good.
At the motions hearing, Counselor Marron explains to the judge that Suffolk County is 50 miles out of Barba’s purview and those charges should be tried separately. With Benson in the gallery, Barba counters that the murder and rape is part of Lewis’s course conduct in a four day torture and kidnap rampage that began in Benson’s New York apartment. Lewis, sitting at the defense table in is orange jail garb, looks down and seems happy with himself. Marron replies that the DA thinks by piling on charges he can overwhelm a jury and this is beyond prejudicial. Judge Kofax states he read her arguments and agrees binding the cases could pose an unfair burden on the defendant. When Barba tries to counter this, Kofax cuts him off and adds that since this may come up on appeal, he is ruling in favor of the defendant’s motion to separate the charges. The judge says he will allow the jury to hear evidence pertaining to what the detective herself witnessed or experienced. Lewis pipes up and asks the judge to speak up; due to the beating he received he no longer has hearing in his left ear. The judge asks Marron if this will be an issue at trial, and she explains that the prison hospital will be issuing a hearing assist device. The judge speaks in a louder voice and says the Suffolk County charges will be separated and they will proceed to trial, remanding Lewis until then. He asks Lewis if he heard that, and Lewis says yes and thanks him. As he gets up to leave, he turns to Benson and we can see the left side of his face has a huge scar around his eye. Benson looks rattled and looks away, and then back at him. Lewis whispers something to Marron and then glares back at Benson. Barba asks Benson if she is OK but she doesn’t answer and just races out of the courtroom. Marron tells Barba she has something to discuss with him, and he says he doesn’t know if there is anything she could say that could possibly interest him. She replies, “Oh, this will.”
Later, in Barba’s office, Benson is shocked to hear that Lewis wants to plead to rape. Barba says it is multiple counts to rape and sodomy...and Lewis wants to plead guilty and be specific in allocution. Benson is appalled, asking that he wants to stand up in open court and give graphic details of what he did NOT do to her? Barba informs her he would get 25 years to life and he will die in prison and she will avoid a trial and having to testify. Benson looks sick and as she paces, she says, “No, no, no he does not get to do that to me. He did not rape me. He did not sodomize me. You look at that rape kit after four days – he did not have the balls to rape me. And now he wants to stand up in open court, now? No. NO!” Barba replies that he had to tell her that. Given the extent of his injuries, they will go after her for excessive force. He may claim he was handcuffed when she crushed his skull. As Benson looks out the window, Barba goes on to explain that Benson testified to a police investigator and a grand jury that Lewis lunged at her and she used the bar to defend herself until he was no longer a danger to her. Benson whispers that is what she said. Barba picks up a file off his desk and hold it up to her, saying it is her grand jury testimony from last May. He tells her to study those transcripts and if she deviates from her statement in any way it will create reasonable doubt on all of her testimony and he will use it as a wedge. Benson continues to stare out the window as Barba tells her Lewis could walk again.
In Supreme Court, Barba tells the judge that the people are satisfied with the empanelled jury. The judge says now they’ve completed the jury selection and having exhausted all attempts at a plea, a trial was scheduled and opening arguments begin tomorrow. Lewis stands up and asks the judge if he may comment, and then says he offered a plea that would have guaranteed a lengthy prison term and spared the victim – looking back at Benson sitting in the gallery – the pain of a trial. Benson motions a scoff. Lewis continues that his so called attorney has failed to get the DA’s office to accept his capitulation and he has serious reservations about her competence and requests a change of attorney. Marron looks stunned and says she is just hearing this now. Barba counters this is an oft-used delaying tactic of Lewis’ in several trials. Lewis interjects he is not asking for any additional time. The judge comments that realistically it would take a new attorney months to get up to spend, and Lewis replies he does not believe it would, if that attorney was himself. Benson glares at him and Barba says that Lewis is simply trying to use this trial to publicly humiliate and re-traumatize Benson. Lewis objects, saying he was the one who offered to spare her of this burden entirely but this is not up for debate, this is his constitutional right, is it not? The judge replies it is, but he will insist that Lewis keep his current attorney with him to advise and if any of Barba’s fears prove prescient, he will strike Lewis with contempt. He asks Lewis if that is understood, and Lewis smirks and nods yes, saying “Perfectly.” He looks back toward Benson, with a slight smile. Benson glares back.
