Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC 2020 NBCUniversal Media, LLC
Here is the discussion topic for Law & Order SVU, “The Long Arm Of The Witness” which aired on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 9PM ET on NBC. Wentworth Miller returned as Isaiah Holmes, as did Elizabeth Marvel as Rita Calhoun.
The episode was fast paced yet gave all the key players the chance to contribute to moving the story forward. I enjoy episodes like this which feature the ensemble while at the same time having the guest stars shine as well.
Elizabeth Marvel is always marvelous (pardon the pun) as Rita Calhoun, despite the fact that Calhoun is defending some of the worst scumbag clients. Rita’s true feelings are exposed when she admits they won’t let her “into the ring” to fight and that if Benson stays on the wrong side of this, she’ll be marginalized for the rest of her career. She then tells Benson to “lie back and pretend you’re enjoying it.” I don't think Benson will be taking Rita's advice any time soon.
It was nice to see Wentworth Miller return in a role that “checks every diversity box.”
Rita Calhoun is defending a man accused of rape, and the fix was in as the case was assigned to a sympathetic judge, Chip Gallagher. But just because the case was dismissed didn’t mean that Carisi couldn’t attempt to establish a pattern of behavior with the judge to expose the judge’s bias and past sexual assaults. Luckily for Carisi, he knows ADA Holmes – recently promoted to the Brooklyn DA’s Civil Rights Unit. Holmes has a past with Gallagher and this points Carisi and the SVU in the right direction to dig up some of the judge’s past nasty indiscretions. The judge also has his sights on becoming the New York Attorney General, making this a politically touchy situation.
While a few past victims take the risk and testify against Gallagher, it’s Holmes who gets Gallagher to incriminate himself in the men’s bathroom, and Holmes records the encounter. Gallagher accepts a plea deal worked out with Calhoun and Carisi, but gets the surprise of his life when the presiding judge decides to disregard the deal and impose a much stiffer sentence, shutting down the judges political career. Will Carisi suffer any blowback from him taking on Gallagher? Gallagher lofted some hefty insults at him, but will Gallagher have any power left to get revenge?
The next new episode is February 19, 2021.
What did you think of the episode? Comments welcome - join the discussion!
