Law & Order SVU “End Game” Recap & Review – Season 20 Finale

Law & Order SVU finished season 20, breaking Law & Order’s record number of episodes along the way, and heading for a record breaking season 21. The series is strong and has a lot going for it. So why I am I so agitated after seeing the season 20 finale, “End Game”? While watching, I had to keep repeating to myself, “It’s just a fictional TV show. It’s just a fictional TV show.” This episode hit me in all the wrong places. It turned Benson’s detectives into “dirty” cops, but made sure that Olivia Benson remained unblemished along the way.  She's not directly a part of a frame-up, but  she did push everyone's buttons which helped start it.

Not only does Peter Stone bring all of Benson’s detectives (and attorney Nikki Staines) into his plan to frame Rob Miller, he also manages to get a murder conviction despite having ZERO EVIDENCE. I’m perplexed as to how this even got to trial.  Rob Miller is initially released as a Federal judge ruled that Rob's  statement “No Nikki, no case” didn’t rise to the legal standard, yet later, Stone manages to get an arrest warrant for Rob on nothing but circumstantial evidence. I have a hard time believing that Rob’s defense attorney wouldn’t dispute the evidence before the trial.  Clearly he knew how a large sum of money was deposited in a young woman's bank account. Why wait for the trial to call Nikki Staines to testify that she was the one that did it, not Rob Miller? Wouldn’t this matter be brought before a judge in advance of the trial, throwing the rest of the evidence in doubt? Something about the way this got to trial didn’t feel right. I’m also surprised that the defense didn’t make a move to throw out the verdict as I don’t think Stone met the burden of proof.

I’ve come to the conclusion that Olivia Benson should come with a warning label that states she is hazardous to the career of an ADA, and she may incite you to compromise your ethics. (This would have helped Rafael Barba.) I cringed at the end when Peter Stone seems to profess his feelings for Benson when he says the she became more important to him than the case he is trying. This is the same Peter Stone, who, just a few months ago in the SVU episode “Part 33”, told Benson to keep her “bleeding heart” out of the courtroom. Even in the early stages of this episode he was reluctant to proceed as they had no proof. He seemed firm on that issue. But the minute he hears that Olivia and Noah are under threat, he decides to risk his entire career for her? Sorry, this was so contrived it almost made me laugh. I’m sorry to see Peter Stone go; my disappointment with the character is that we were force-fed a back story early on, before we could really get to see his legal expertise. And when we did see his legal expertise, it was - like in this episode - not consistent. I would have enjoyed it if he had been the one person to keep Benson in check. Instead, he seemed to have backbone in one episode and not in another, or, like in this episode, his backbone disappeared mid-episode. I can only hope that in season 21 we will get an ADA that is their own person and that can resist the pull of Olivia Benson.

While Benson didn’t participate in the frame-up, she does what she always does best: gets indignant that Stone won’t prosecute someone based on her opinion, with no evidence. She goes so far as to insult Stone by wondering whose side he’s on. Later, she’s shocked that he can move ahead with a trial,  saying that the case is basically a “bunch of arrows on a corkboard, signifying a whole lot of nothing.” First she wants him to go full throttle on Rob Miller, then she gets cold feet when Stone delivers. Benson’s flip-flop here is head-scratching and whiplash inducing.

At the end, Stone tells her that she’s the one person who could make it on her own. Then why did he feel the need to frame Rob Miller for her? We keep hearing that Olivia Benson is such a strong woman, yet it seems like everyone always needs to protect her and save her from all the bad in the world. It’s a variation on the old “damsel in distress” trope and I think Law & Order SVU has used this far too many times with Benson. Her bias and inability to cope with Rob Miller has incited her whole team to frame him for a murder that they can’t prove he committed. Frankly, Rob Miller looks like the victim here. He may have very well committed the murder, but as the SVU didn’t really get any hard proof to that effect;  all we know is the SVU/Stone had to do something illegal to get a conviction. It looks like the “arrow on the wheel of justice” was fixed in one direction, and now that the SVU has participated in a frame-up, what’s stopping them from doing it again to protect their own interests?

The brightest spot in this episode was Titus Welliver, who was excellent in playing Rob Miller, a deliciously nasty human being with a lot of power and influence, none of it used for any good. I can only hope that something happens where he can appeal and get out of prison, if anything so he can commit a crime that lands him back in jail without the frame-up. Callie Thorne also helped to round things out with her emotional, believable performance. I did like how they tied this story back to the Italian exchange students in the SVU episode “Exchange”. Otherwise, this story annoyed me and agitated me more than anything else. I could probably write for a few more hours on how much it bothered me, but I think I’ll cut my losses. “End Game” didn’t leave me with a great feeling about the Special Victims Unit going into season 21.


Update May 23, 2019: A viewer noticed a continuity error, occurring between the previous SVU episode, “Assumptions” and the SVU finale, “End Game”. “Assumptions” ends with the date May 7, when Rob Miller approaches Benson and Noah in the restaurant. Benson seems shocked to find he’s out. But “End Game” begins on May 5 – two days earlier – and it seems Benson had already found out Rob Miller is out and we are told police are already watching her and Noah – two days earlier than the end of “Assumptions”!

Here is the recap:

A private party goes on with many young girls in attendance. One man questions a girl’s age.

Benson, arriving at the SVU, speaks with Fin, saying she barely closed her eyes since Rob Miller got out of prison. She adds he is targeting her and wants her to know he has all the power. Fin explains they have an unmarked car on her block and in front of Noah’s school, there’s no way he can he can get at her. Benson snaps back that he walked right into that restaurant and introduced himself to Noah, adding she should have shot the son of a bitch. Fin tries to calm her, suggesting not so loud, Stone is in her office, Fin called him in.

As they walk into her office, Stone comments he wishes he had better news. Benson asks him to tell her it’s not worse than Rob Miller making bail. Stone replies that the Feds dropped the charges. Fin says “Damn!” and Benson looks stunned. She comments that he blackmailed a judge and threatened witnesses, adding he threatened Nikki Staines, they have him on tape saying “No Nikki, no case.” Stone counters that a Federal judge ruled that statement didn’t rise to the legal standard. Fin asks what now, Benson also asking what about Nikki’s rape. Stone replies there’s nothing there; Nikki is scared and is claiming it was consensual. Benson pauses, looking at Fin, and whispers she will talk to her.

At the apartment of Nikki Staines, at 1239 West 47th Street on Sunday, May 5, Nikki tells her daughter it is going to be okay, suggesting she go to her room and lie down. As her daughter races off, she cries and asks “What kind of person?” Nikki tells Benson that Miller killed her daughter’s dog. When Benson asks if she is sure, Nikki emphatically says yes, she’s sure. She points to the dog Penny’s ashes, saying the vet said it was rat poison. Getting upset, she explains the landlord didn’t put down any rat poison and she didn’t either. Benson asks how, and Nikki says her daughter said that a woman offered Penny a treat on their walk last night and she thought it was okay and this morning the dog was…Benson says she is so sorry. Nikki goes on to say the woman said to say hello to her mom. Nikki asks why, saying Rob Miller knows she was not going to testify. Benson replies that is whys he is here, they need her to testify. She adds that the Feds dropped the charges. Nikki is shocked, saying “no no no no!” When Benson asks Nikki to hear her out, Nikki shouts NO! Benson asks her to talk to her about the Wally Stevens case, the underage girls, saying Miller thought he’d be implicated and that is why he stole her phone. Nikki emphatically says there is nothing on that phone that connects him to that case. Benson asks why, what was he afraid of, can Wally put him at those sex parties. Nikki pauses and when Benson presses her to tell her more, Nikki shouts she can’t, citing attorney/client privilege, asking with sarcasm if Benson ever heard of it, adding she is not about to risk getting disbarred. She says she is appreciative for what Benson has done for her but orders Benson to go now, and Nikki storms off. Benson leaves.

Back at SVU, Benson tells the detectives there has to be a way to tie Rob Miller to Wally Stevens and the sex parties. Benson comments he blackmailed a judge (Judge Brian Leonard) and stole Nikki’s phone, saying it has to be connected, asking what are they missing. Rollins explains they have gone over the case forwards and backwards, it is falling apart. Carisi says the girls at the party are all backing off the story. Benson thinks Miller got to them or their parents. She suggests they check their bank accounts. Fin comments Miller doesn’t leave a fingerprint on the knife, and Benson reminds him they have half a dozen witnesses. Fin counters they HAD witnesses, they all lawyered up. Benson, getting increasingly agitated, shouts, “Exactly! That’s my point!” Fin comments since Leonard retired to the Maldives. Wally Steven is untouchable – double jeopardy. Benson retorts she knows, she was there. Fin sighs. Carisi gets a message and tells Benson he hears her on all of this but they have something from the harbor unit they have to deal with right now. A young female washed up on a pier on the Hudson river. Benson says, “Let’s go.”

Law & Order SVU “End Game” Photos – Season 20 Finale

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU “End Game” which will air on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 10PM ET on NBC. This is the season 20 finale. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Peter Scanavino, Philip Winchester, Annie Baltic as Lindsay Parker, Travis Mitchell as Sgt. Carl Matthews, Ryan Vincent Anderson as James, Quincy Giles as Lamar Jackson, Callie Thorne as Nikki Staines, and Titus Welliver as Rob Miller.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “End Game” can be found at this link.


Update May 21, 2019 - NBC has released an additional photo from this episode featuring Titus Welliver:

Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC 2019 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Photos by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC 2019 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Assumptions” Recap & Review

Law & Order SVU “Assumptions” had everyone making assumptions, but that’s somewhat normal for every case. Most investigations start with few facts and the detectives often get to the truth using assumptions to fill in the blanks. In this case,  there are more assumptions than normal, some which steer them in the wrong direction.  There's been an apparent sexual assault (Stone states the rape kit was inconclusive) against a Muslim New York City councilwoman which occurred in a synagogue, allegedly perpetrated by two Jewish teens.  That sounds like enough right there, but wait, there's more!   The boys ran from the scene as they assumed they would be found guilty. A witness assumed a red cap one of them wore was a MAGA cap and that they shouted a slur at her, both of which were incorrect. The councilwoman hides key pieces of information as she assumes it would destroy her family and career (we know it doesn’t destroy her family). The detectives look at a section of video evidence and assume that the boys were the instigators in a conflict at a protest outside the councilwoman’s office. The whole video reveals the facts regarding the boys and later helps to prove that the councilwoman’s ex-husband is a liar and a rapist.

The victim wasn’t exactly sympathetic once it became clear that she took advantage of the protest to further her own agenda. It was made worse when it’s revealed she’s hiding that she is a lesbian for fear of losing her position and family. It seemed Stone was having some difficulty with the councilwoman's story but once the facts became clear regarding her assault, he was zealous in getting her justice.

Overall, this was a solid, well-written episode with MUCH visual interest. The latter is one thing that I think Michael Chernuchin and the production team have brought to SVU this season and I hope we continue to see this in season 21 when under "new management".

I enjoy seeing Peter Gallagher as Chief Dodds; he brings great energy to every episode and I wish we’d see him more often. Along that line, the more interesting parts of the episode involved the release of Rob Miller from jail, and then his later appearance at a restaurant where Benson and Noah are dining. Titus Welliver plays creepy like no one else can.  His return in this episode is a sizzling tease for the season finale!

Here is the recap:

Two teen boys run out of a synagogue and a woman stops them, saying she saw them running out. She asks what they were doing there, saying she is calling the cops. They run off, but not before one of the boys knocks the woman over.

Benson, at home, is watching the news on TV and hears, to her surprise, that Rob Miller, the disgraced NYPD attorney, has been released on bail. She hears his lawyer proclaim his innocence, hoping for a favorable ruling. Benson says, “Son of a bitch” and Noah calls out “Mom! Mom!” to her to get her attention. He asks if she is mad at him and she is not, be he knows she is mad. She admits it, but not at him. She asks what is up. He asks for help on how to spell “believe” as she watches Rob seemingly stare at her through the TV screen. She shakes her head.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Meyers, who saw the two white boys, one wearing a MAGA hat, makes a statement to police. She mentions anti-Semitic incidents that recently occurred at the synagogue. At first the police see nothing inside the synagogue but soon find a woman unconscious on the floor and they call for a bus and SVU.

Later, Rollins and Carisi are on the scene and hear the woman was a Muslim and her name is Nahla Nasar. Carisi recognizes the name as a councilwoman. Rollins comments she’s been in the news a lot lately, Carisi adding it was for making anti-Semitic remarks. Rollins wonders what she was doing in a temple. As she is been wheeled out by the EMT, Carisi asks Nahla what happened. She explains she was set up, by “those people”, motioning to the synagogue.

In the morning, Benson arrives to meet Chief Dodds, who is just stepping out of his car. He asks that Nahla was set up by Jews. Benson explains that’s what she told the detectives, and an eyewitness saw two boys fleeing the scene, one wearing a MAGA hat. Dodds says it gets better and better. Reporters outside pepper them with questions about it being a hate crime and the asking for details, one mentioning Nasar is an anti-Semite. Dodds says rest assured the NYPD does not tolerate bigotry or hate motivated violence of any kind. He and Benson move inside the building.

As they walk in the door, Dodds tells Benson to fasten their seat belts. He adds they haven’t even discussed Rob Miller yet, asking if she heard. Benson says yes - that he is out on bail – stating she would have appreciated a heads up. Dodds comments he only saw it on the news himself. Rollins and Carisi are waiting inside, and Benson asks how is Miss Nasar. Rollins explains she is being treated for a concussion and they are doing a rape kit. Dodds wonders if they have any idea of why she was in that synagogue, and Carisi replies not yet, but her chief of staff just got there, her name is Aida Galanis. Benson tells them to find out what she knows, and Dodds tells them to ask her not to make any statements to the press, they don’t need this blowing up any more that it already has. Dodds and Benson get in the elevator,

Rollins and Carisi speak with Aida Galanis who explains Nahla is passionate about her beliefs and is exercising her rights to criticize Israel, saying she is not anti-Semitic. Carisi says his understanding people got offended by her choice of words, and Rollins says that aside, they need to find out why she was at that synagogue. Aida does not know. Carisi reminds her she is chief of staff, and Aida says Nahla can be a very private person and she respects her boundaries. Rollins asks about recent threats, and Aida explains their office is besieged by protesters and they get dozens of hate-spewing calls a day. No one said they want to rape her. Rollins asks for phone and email records and any threats made on social media. Aida comments she hopes they need the overtime. She is sick about what happened but the only upside is that everyone will realize she is the true victim here.

Meanwhile, Nahla enters the hospital room where Benson and Dodds are waiting. They offer their apologies but she explains her parents are from Syria and she knows what woman and girls have endured in the wars zones and she won’t feel sorry for herself. Benson offers help and Nahla says to catch who did this. When Benson asks what she remembers from the attack, Nahla says she was alone in the sanctuary looking at the cabinet for the Torah scrolls. It felt like a place of reverence on godliness. Then she was struck violently on the back of the head and she fell to the ground. She pauses and cries, saying he pinned her down, he was rough and he tore off her hijab and pulled up her skirt and forced himself inside her. He did not say anything, she did not see his face or know when he left. She must have passed out. Benson comments she told her detectives she was set up and asks why was she in the synagogue, and Nahla says she was lured there by a man pretending to want peace. She was lied to by a Zionist.

Law & Order SVU “Assumptions” Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU “Assumptions” which will air on Thursday, May 9, 2019 at 10PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Peter Scanavino, Peter Gallagher as Deputy Chief William Dodds, Ryan Buggle as Noah Porter-Benson, Elise Hudson as Aida Galanis, and Titus Welliver as Rob Miller.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Assumptions” can be found at this link.

Photos by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC 2019 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “End Game” Episode Information, Season 20 Finale

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “End Game,” the season 20 finale.


Law & Order SVU “End Game” Air Date May 16, 2019 (10 PM ET/9C Thursday NBC)

SEASON FINALE – When a teenager is found dead in the Hudson River, Lt. Benson (Mariska Hargitay) suspects Rob Miller (guest star Titus Welliver) is behind the mysterious death but can’t prove it. Despite having only circumstantial evidence, ADA Stone (Philip Winchester) takes the case to court before Miller can destroy more lives. Also starring Ice T, Kelli Giddish and Peter Scanavino. Also guest starring Callie Thorne (Nikki Staines), Jillian Rose (Attica Staines), Aida Turturro (Judge Catano) and Richard Kind (William Biegel).

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My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “End Game” can be found at this link.

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Assumptions” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Assumptions.”


Law & Order SVU “Assumptions” Air Date May 9, 2019 (10 PM ET/9C Thursday NBC)

The SVU searches for two suspects spotted fleeing the scene after a Muslim woman is assaulted inside a synagogue. Meanwhile, Benson (Mariska Hargitay) is dismayed to find Rob Miller (guest star Titus Welliver) out on bail. Also starring Ice T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino and Philip Winchester. Also guest starring Peter Gallagher (Chief Dodds), Richard Kind (William Biegel), Nazneen Contractor (Nahla Nasar), Ted Sutherland (Ari Kaplan), Elise Hudson (Aida Galanis), Hadi Tabbal (Masud Faraj) and Bob Ari (Ezra Zuckerman).

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My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Assumptions” can be found at this link.

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Blackout” Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU “Blackout” which will air on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 10PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kellli Giddish, Peter Scanavino, Titus Welliver as Rob Miller, and Peter Gallagher as Deputy Chief William Dodds.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Blackout” can be found at this link.

Photos by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC 2018 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Blackout” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Blackout.”

Law & Order SVU “Blackout” Air Date March 21, 2019 (10 PM ET/9C Thursday NBC)

When Defense Attorney Nikki Staines (guest star Callie Thorne) is raped after a police charity event, Benson (Mariska Hargitay) reluctantly looks to her own for a suspect. Also starring Ice T, Kelli Giddish and Peter Scanavino. Also guest starring Peter Gallagher (Deputy Chief Dodds), Titus Welliver (Rob Miller), Ian Blackman (Judge Leonard) and Jerry Clicquot (J.J. Austen).

# # #

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Blackout” can be found at this link.


Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.