Law & Order SVU “Rapist Anonymous” was more about a murder than a rape, but it provided an interesting story for Detective Amanda Rollins which triggered her going back to her gambling ways. It seems Rollins, who lately wants to see the best in people, hitches her wagon to the wrong person, who uses Rollins' SVU background to set up a cover story as a victim to be used later in a murder. Rollins also seems to have blinders on when it comes to Nate, a recovering alcoholic who also is a serial philanderer. Rollins faith in herself takes a big hit when her choices in friends and lovers are revealed in open court, adding to her embarrassment. At least she took Nate's earlier advice to “detach with love the one who drags you down.” Whatever she felt for Nate, she realized she had to detach from him. Kelli Giddish gave her best performance on SVU to date, as Rollins ran through a whole range of emotions, including Rollins’ outrage over what she perceived as a betrayal by Amaro. Hopefully the relationship Rollins had with Nate will stop the “Rollins is a lesbian” speculation, but who knows, it may now trigger “Rollins is bi” speculation.
Also thrown into the mix were a few tidbits about the other key players: Cragen has a lady friend and seems happy, Cassidy is back to being a detective but with the despised Internal Affairs Bureau, and Benson will soon be a Sergeant, having passed her test, finishing #48 out of 8,000. These developments could help spawn more detailed stories throughout the season. The only person who seems to be neglected in the back story category is Fin. While Fin was at Benson’s dinner party sitting next to ME Warner - there has been a spark between them in the past - we don’t know if they were there as a couple or separately. I think fans of Ice-T would like to see as much attention given to Fin’s back story as there has been to Benson’s, Amaro’s, and Rollins’.
I was surprised when Rollins referenced a Benson and Barba relationship in the same manner as she mentioned Benson and Cassidy. Did Benson and Barba have an intimate relationship that I missed? While we sometimes saw them sharing a drink or a meal together, they simply appeared to be very good friends. I never read (or wanted to read) any more into that.
When the episode began, there was a disclaimer which said “This program contains graphic language. Viewer discretion advised.” I think I have been watching too many cable drama series (such as Showtime's "Masters of Sex") which has skewed my language tolerance levels, because I kept waiting for graphic language which never seemed to arrive. I realize that the language standards are set pretty high for network TV, and the coveted demographic may have sensitive ears, but no words uttered in that episode should shock anyone over the age of 14 these days. I sometimes find myself wondering what Law & Order SVU – or Law & Order for that matter – would look or sound like if it aired on HBO or Showtime.
There were a few great lines in the episode. ME Warner gets the Lennie Briscoe-style line “He came and then he went.” But I think the best line was Rollins catty remark to Benson, “Oh, I don’t have to pay for someone to listen to my problems.” I also enjoyed Fin’s remark to knock the hat off Nate’s head, as I felt the same way.
It seemed everyone had a beverage in their hand at some point during the episode. I am sure fans of Mariska’s green drink were happy to see it make an appearance.
The burning question is why Barba was trying a murder case. Sometimes I get so confused as to the boundaries for the ADAs. Yes, Lena accused Gene of rape, but she was not being prosecuted for rape, she was prosecuted for first degree murder.
Here is the recap:
Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Detective (soon to be Sergeant) Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Dann Florek – Captain Don Cragen
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Guest stars:
Tamara Tunie: Dr. Melinda Warner
Dean Winters – Detective Brian Cassidy
Amy Seimetz - Lena Olson
Nia Vardalos - Minonna Efron
Mel Harris - Eileen Switzer
Geoffrey Cantor - Gene Fierstein
Jennifer Restivo - Melissa Blume
Jenna Stern – Judge Elana Barth
Thomas Sadoski - Nate Davis
Tony White – Luther Henderon
Natasha Murray – Rape Nurse
Mimi Ferraro – Brunette
E.J. An – Jury Forewoman
William Rattazzi - Dealer
There is a dinner party at Benson’s and Cassidy’s apartment, with M.E. Warner, Fin, Captain Cragen and his lady friend Eileen, and Amaro. They are all taking about work issues and Benson suggests that maybe they don’t talk shop. There is a pregnant pause and then Cragen compliments the wine that Eileen brought. Benson raises a glass and they all join in.
Meanwhile, Rollins is at a Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and Lena, an alcoholic, recounts her story and mentions her sponsor when she was at NA was Nate, and he is also here.
Back at the dinner party, Cassidy says he and Benson have a little announcement, and says that as of today, Detective Benson will soon be known as Sergeant Benson, she placed number 48 on her exam. Cragen adds that is out of 8,000, saying that is impressive, and “That’s my girl.” Benson announces that as of today, Cassidy will once again be a detective, and Benson somewhat uncomfortably adds it is with IAB, but that he had to start somewhere. There is a quiet pause and Amaro finally says that is great, congratulations to them both.
Elsewhere, at a bar, Rollins is there with Nate, who owns the place, and Lena and Gene, who were at the NA meeting, are also there. They talk over coffee about Lena’s talk. She says it meant a lot when they all came, and, under the table, she has her hand on Gene’s leg.
Afterwards, Rollins and Nate are walking outside and he thanks her for coming, adding it is not one of her core issues. Rollins says it doesn’t mean she can’t learn. Nate moves in and stands close to her and asks, as her sponsor, if she gambled today, and she hasn’t. Nate adds that he also did not, and he also did not drink. Rollins says she thought they decided after the last time that this was a bad idea. Nate nods and says they did. They kiss…and soon they are in Rollins apartment enjoying some foreplay in her bed. But they are interrupted by her apartment door buzzer. She stops everything to answer the door to find Lena standing there, very upset. Lena says Gene took her home and she thinks he had a few drinks, and he raped her.
Minutes later, Lena is sitting down inside and Rollins asks what happened. Lena explains Gene was buzzing her door and had been drinking, she could smell it. He started kissing her and things heated up fast. He made her take off her clothes and get on all fours and crawl to the bed – he’s kinky and it is a release; he calls his fiancée Missionary Melissa. Rollins questions that Gene is engaged, and Lena tells Rollins not to judge him. Lena asks if it would be okay if she smoked, and Rollins says yeah, and asks Lena to just tell her what happened. Lena explains that Gene threw her on the bed and grabbed her hair; he was so rough and he was hurting her. Rollins asks if Lena said no or stop. Lena replies yes, she begged him but he just kept on. She wonders if that is rape; she let him back into her apartment … Rollins questions “back in” and Lena says Gene walked her home earlier, they had sex and it was a quickie in the doorway. Rollins asks if that was consensual – Lena nods – and Rollins asks that the second time it wasn’t. Lena said no, he forced her, he hurt her. Rollins explains that is rape, honey.
Later, Rollins recounts the story to Nate, who is still in her bedroom. She explains she is taking Lena to the ER, and Nate asks “what, right now?” but then catches his tone and asks if Rollins wants him to go with her. She tells him to stay and sleep, and kisses him goodbye, saying she will bring him breakfast,
Rollins waits in the ER and a nurse comes into the waiting room and tells Rollins that they did the rape exam and the doctors gave Lena a sedative, and Rollins can take “her sister” home now. Rollins looks surprised, and questions the “her sister” comment. The nurse replies that’s what she thought she said, maybe she misheard.
Later, Rollins is back at SVU, and Benson comments to Amaro and Fin that unlike the rest of them, Rollins was actually working last night. Fin asks if Rollins caught a case, and Rollins explains it was someone she met in the program, and asks them not to let her know she said that if she comes in. Rollins explains what happened with Lena, adding that the complicating factor is that Lena had consensual sex with him earlier in the night. Benson notes that doesn’t matter, rape is rape. Fin asks what she knows about the guy, and Rollins replies she met him in the rooms; he’s bookish and works as in in-house lawyer for a baby supply chain.
