“Star-Struck Victims” was one of those situations when video documentation actually hurt a case. When a vlogger intent on partying with celebrities is raped, her frequent misstatements and her own vlog documenting her exploits (except the one that mattered) is used against her. It appears to the jury that her behavior is intended to get more traffic to her site and more hits on her videos, making her accusations of rape far from credible and likely contributing to the not guilty verdict.
Adding fuel to the fire is a major misstep by Rollins, who goes rogue and, going undercover without approval, tries to get the accused rapists on video. Had she bothered to check with Dodds or Benson first as is procedure, she would have learned that the suspects have already lawyered up, and her video is not only inadmissible but could possibly mean a lawsuit against the NYPD. Despite having a nanny to take care of baby Jesse, Rollins shouldn’t be running an unsanctioned undercover operation by herself where she could find herself in grave danger. Benson had every right to chastise Rollins for her behavior; the only thing that was missing was any mention of an official reprimand, which Rollins deserves. Benson is also right to mistrust Rollins, not for leaking the video (as Benson now realize Rollins didn’t do) but for going undercover without approval. I think Benson was too easy on Rollins.
There was a discussion between Dodds and Rollins where Rollins mentioned Kristi’s ego and wild streak, and Dodds referred to is as Kristi’s crazy streak. Rollins thought Dodds felt it was because Rollins has a blind spot for her sister, but I think that it’s Rollins herself who is a bit on the wild and crazy side. She still seems too quick to take risks. Dodds wasn’t forceful enough with her when he suggested she clock out and go home. Her response “Why don’t you stop telling me what to do – Sergeant?” borders on insubordination. If it were me, I would have reminded Rollins I was her Sergeant and her going home was an order. She likely would have ended up in the bar anyway, but at least Dodds would have further established himself as her Sergeant. (Sometimes I think that both Benson and Dodds run a very loose ship.) Rollins also took liberties with Dodds’ comment that if they didn’t catch these two in the act they were going to walk. Clearly he didn’t mean that Rollins should go do it herself, and Rollins was foolish to think that, despite her trying to blame Dodds for her actions, that Benson would not know the truth.
Repeat offender Craig Bierko – who appeared in the SVU episode “Escape” from season 5 – was one of two creepy perps who tag team their victims. Even though his character in this episode is a TV star, he and his buddy aren’t very bright, going right back to assaulting women despite being barely out of legal trouble. The fact that Rollins threw herself at D’Amico didn’t set off any warning bells, either. D'Amico thought he was untouchable.
I found Barba’s behavior to be mildly funny in this episode. I enjoyed his comment that “sarcasm is the weapon of the weak” which is especially amusing coming from someone who has mastered the art of sarcasm. Extra points to Raúl Esparza for that look on his face when Buchanan ruined his chance at trapping the defendant(s) and getting Rollins’ video admitted. Carisi sounds hopeful that he passed the bar exam and is very thankful to Barba for his support. Meanwhile, Barba is acting like he has a target on his back. Barba has experienced some high profile failures and it's understandable that he acts like the end is near.
Fin was missing in action again with no explanation.
Two nitpicks:
When Deputy Chief Dodds decides they won’t be pursuing the case, Benson asks him what does he propose she say to Kristi. Benson has been working at SVU long enough that she shouldn’t have to ask this question.
Benson also tells Kristi that the case will stay open, then right afterwards, tells the detectives the case is closed. The detectives were being told not to work it, so it seemed the case is closed. Was Kristi being misled?
Here is the recap:
Cast:
Mariska Hargitay - Lieutenant Olivia Benson
Ice-T - Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Peter Scanavino - Detective Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr.
Guest stars:
Andy Karl – Sgt. Mike Dodds
Peter Gallagher – Deputy Chief William Dodds
James Madio - Noel Panko
Craig Bierko - Bobby D’Amico
Vivien Cardone - Kristi Cryer
Delaney Williams - Counselor John Buchanan
Ami Brabson – Judge Karyn Blake
Nadia Gan - Sheila Lin
Madeline Lodge – Tara Browne
Rachel Deacon – Jen Burrows
Ngozi Anyanwu – Officer Perlina Edozi
Alexander Blaise - Louis-Alexandre Berthier
Timo Schnellinger – Director
Jeanine Ramirez – News Anchor
Rachel Alana Handler - Jury Foreperson
Lauren Noble – Carmen
On her phone, vlogger Kristi Cryer documents her experience in the Bellevue ER as she claims she has been raped. She complains about her experience in the ER. The SANE nurse (stands for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) tells her she can’t record in the exam room. But she turns the phone back on after the rape kit is done, and she props the phone up when she hears the detectives have arrived. Rollins and Carisi enter the room and begin the standard questioning. When Kristi begins to describe her attacker, she explains she has his picture on her phone. When she picks up the phone, Carisi asks if she is recording this. She explains she is a vlogger and her followers want to know everything that happens to her. She points the phone camera at Rollins and Carisi, and asks them what they said their names were. They look stunned..
At SVU, Deputy Chief Dodds is in Benson’s office. He has a copy of the New York Ledger with Hank Abraham’s photo on the cover with the headline “So Long Hank.” Dodds says if you ask anyone at One PP, Hank was a political appointee and was never one of them and no one is losing any sleep over him. Benson counters that THEY all did; she doesn’t think she has known anyone so compartmentalized. Dodds comments it is the lies they tell themselves to get them through the day. He says his son has learned a lot under her, and Benson explains that he works hard and is a good cop. Dodds comments then she agrees it is time he took on a more high profile role. She says Sgt. Dodds mentioned the Joint Terrorism position, and DC Dodds states that all he is asking is when the time comes for Benson to give him her best recommendation. Benson stands up and says he doesn’t need to ask.
They walk out of her office and the detectives are standing around Rollins’ desk watching a video on her computer, DC Dodds asks his son how is his first day back so far, and Sgt. Dodds says he is right in the thick of it. DC Dodds recognizes the man on the video as Bobby D’Amico, and Rollins replies “The TV actor, yeah.” Benson said the girl in the video was assaulted at his club last night. DC Dodds asks that she recorded it at Bobby D’s Hideaway, and Sgt. Dodds says it was at the beginning of the evening, explaining she is a vlogger. DC Dodds asks if she accused her date, and Rollins explains no, she accused the bar manager Noel Panko. Rollins states that their vic says he followed her into the bathroom and raped and sodomized her. DC Dodds comments he will put in a call to Bobby to see what he knows about this. Carisi questions DC Dodds that he knows Bobby D’Amico, and he replies that he is a friend of the department. Sgt. Dodds translates that be bought the brass a lot of Nobu dinners when he was researching his part for Jack Burns. Carisi says that was the morally conflicted DA turned bad-boy rouge cop. DC Dodds laughs and says Bobby is good people, and anytime there is a benefit for the widows and orphans he is on that podium. Benson says that is good to know but for the meantime, why don’t they hold off on calling him. DC Dodds tells her to keep in mind people look at a celeb and see an easy payday. DC Dodds walk off. Carisi comments “That was subtle” and Rollins tells Sgt. Dodds that Bobby was a friend of his father’s and asks if he was his too. Dodds replies that he knows him, but he’s not a fan. Benson states that Kristi was at the bar with a friend, and Rollins says yes. Benson asks if the friend disclosed to her, and Rollins replies no, it was the girlfriend’s birthday and Kristi didn’t want to ruin her night. Benson states it is the morning after, and to find out what the friend saw.
At Furry Rascals at 3915 Broadway on Saturday, February 20, Rollins and Carisi speak with Sheila who says she stayed at Bobby D’s until after 3 and put Kristi in a cab. She did go out for a smoke, once after 2. Kristi did not seem different and they were both very drunk. Carisi asks if there was anyone making eyes at her or getting grabby, and Sheila says there was no one creepy; they were mostly at the bar. She suggests the manager, Noel, might be able to help them. She said he was attentive and when you go to a bar with Kristi you never pay for drinks, and even Bobby D’Amico was flirting. Kristi danced with him and made out a little.
Later, on the set of the show “Napoleon in America,” Dodds speaks with Bobby who is clearly proud of his show. Dodds explains the possible trouble at his club and he asks about Noel. Bobby says they have been friends and Noel has been at the bar since it has been opened. When Bobby asks for details and when Dodds seems reluctant to explain, Bobby reminds him he played a cop for 10 seasons and not to dance around. Dodds shows him Kristi’s picture and Bobby confirms she was at the bar and it was her friend’s birthday. He seems very open about it, saying Kristi is a freak, they danced and made out and made love in the bathroom for three minutes and it was consensual. Noel came in looking for him and Kristi took care of him too. She is a big fan and this was definitely not her first tag team. He thinks if she is complaining now, it is a shakedown.
Back at SVU, Benson comments to the detectives it was one happy consensual three-way in the bathroom. Dodds says Bobby wasn't shy about it. Rollins thinks Bobby is covering for his childhood buddy Noel. Carisi thinks she is leaving out a big part of her story, adding Bobby is not a dummy and would not put himself in the bathroom with her if he wasn’t there. When Rollins doesn’t seem to by this, Carisi goes on to say Kristi’s own friend said she was dancing after she claims to have been assaulted. Benson tells him to hold on, saying they know her affect afterwards doesn’t mean anything, and even if she did have consensual sex with Bobby – Carisi reminds Benson that Kristi left that out – Noel still could have assaulted her. Benson states she and Dodds will talk to him and Carisi and Rollins should bring Kristi in and find out what else she isn’t telling them.
At Bobby D’s Hideaway on 184 East 33rd Street on Saturday, February 20, Benson and Dodds speak with Noel. He suggest that with three people in a small tile bathroom that wild things can happen to wild things. He says Kristi was into it and Bobby is catnip to the ladies. Benson asks how much will the girls do for him, and Noel says he gets his share of the runoffs. He admits he went looking for Bobby and when he saw he was busy that Kristi invited him to stay. When Benson asks what she said exactly, Noel waffles and says maybe Bobby said it. Bobby tells his fans to go down and they say how low. Dodds and Benson bring up the security cameras and Noel is very cooperative to get them all the footage. He says Kristi was there till last call, twerking the entire night.
Back at SVU, Rollins and Carisi show the footage to Kristi who admits she went into the bathroom with Bobby but didn’t tell them so they wouldn’t think she was a slut. Rollins reminds her to be honest and Kristi says she is sorry. She admits to consensual sex with Bobby but that Noel came in like he knew they were there but she wasn’t really okay with that. Benson, Barba, and DC Dodds are observing from her office, Kristi said Bobby asked if Noel could join them and she said no. Then Bobby said to look at those puppy eyes, she hurt his feelings. Barba comments to DC Dodds that comment was too cheesy to make up. DC Dodds says how do they know that, he is not sure this girl has a grip on reality at all. Benson quiets them and we hear Kristi explain she was pretty drunk and doesn’t remember everything but she heard the door open and Bobby was gone. She was rinsing her face and Noel pushed her onto the sink and raped her from behind. She sees the looks on their faces and worries they don’t believe her. Rollins explains they need to make sure the timeline is clear. The video shows Bobby left the bathroom first, and Carisi adds the problem is 10 minutes later Kristi is on the dance floor with her friend, acting like nothing happened. She sees the video and explains she told them it was Sheila’s birthday and she did not want to bum her out. With a quivering voice, she says Noel raped her, she swears to god. There is a knocking sound and Carisi and Rollins get up to leave, Rollins asking Kristi to give them a minute.
Carisi and Rollins walk into Benson’s office, and Rollins tells Benson, DC Dodds, Barba and Sgt. Dodds that she knows this looks bad. DC Dodds says Kristi is a train wreck. Benson says Kristi is not the most credible victim but she definitely thinks something happened to her. Barba states dryly “Probably a lot of things. It’s a they said, she said.” He adds she changed her story and went on dancing after the alleged assault. Rollins states emphatically that none of that means she wasn’t raped. Benson counters to Rollins that nobody is saying that, be Rollins says the Chief is, actually. DC Dodds asks Barba if the jury sees an attention-seeking vlogger pull a TV star into the bathroom and then sees her partying 10 minutes after she was supposedly raped, how would that play? Barba states not well. Rollins argues they have taken on tougher cases, but Barba counters they have to pick their battles. Carisi adds that Kristi’s story is compromised. Sgt. Dodds tells them to hold up; what if they find a pattern? Barba explains it is up to the Lieutenant. But DC Dodds states, “Actually, it is up to me.” Benson looks annoyed. DC Dodds says there is a difference between proactivity and harassment. Benson asks him what does he proposed she say to this girl? DC Dodds states to tell her we are sorry but the DA won’t move forward – and get her a ride home. Benson looks stunned, as do the other detectives, and DC Dodds leaves her office.
Afterwards, Benson delivers the news to Kristi. Kristi is upset, saying she was raped and doesn’t she believe her? Benson says yes she does but the question is, can they prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. Kristi says she never should have said anything at the hospital, but Benson says her rape kit stays on file and her case stays open and they can provide her with medical treatment and counseling. Kristi says she was so stupid and was so excited to have a big star interested in her. Benson says she didn’t deserve what happened to her and none of this was her fault. Kristi comments “If you say so.” Benson sighs.
