Law & Order SVU “Undercover Blue” was overflowing with deliciousness. Finally, Olivia’s boy toy has been revealed, and it’s none other than Detective – now Officer – Brian Cassidy. It’s a nice pairing which pleases on many levels. Cassidy and Benson both have a good understanding of working in Special Victim and working in law enforcement, and they both seem to be in similar places in their lives where they want to find happiness. Mariska and Dean Winters also have great chemistry on screen which goes back to season 1 of the series. Now that the rape accusation against Cassidy has proven to be false, it could only help Benson and Cassidy to continue build trust. It is satisfying to see Benson in a relationship that seems very warm and comfortable, unlike the somewhat stiff relationship she had with ADA David Haden. I guess we are to assume that “THE HAND” that we first saw holding Olivia’s in “Presumed Guilty” was Cassidy’s but we all know that hand in that episode looks nothing like Dean Winters’. Next time, they should consider “casting” their body parts a little better. (I kid!)
It was also strangely satisfying to have the smug and always sanctimonious Nick Amaro get taken down a notch when he is hung out to dry in open court for being less than perfect in his own undercover work. Amaro has always been too quick to judge, acting as if his own behavior is beyond reproach. Being exposed in such a public way may have been a necessary humiliation for Amaro, but hopefully it won't make him swing the other way and become too cautious in his work. Now that Amaro and Maria’s marriage has hit the skids, he has a new instant family, this time with a son. Danny Pino skillfully took Amaro on the emotional roller coaster where his undercover indiscretion was revealed and he found out he had a son out there with a woman who he had loved deeply – and maybe never stopped loving.
Dean Winters was always a favorite of mine during the first season of SVU and I am thrilled that these recent appearances have given him solid story lines which have the potential of growing and developing further over time. I was a nice bonus to have Dean’s brother (Scott William Winters) make a return appearance on SVU as well.
The episode also featured a nice dose of legal maneuvering, something which always makes an SVU episode seem far more interesting to me. The writing was exemplary and the episode moved at a rapid pace; there were no periods where the story dragged.
A+
Here is the recap:
Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Detective Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Richard Belzer – Sergeant John Munch
Dann Florek – Captain Don Cragen
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Guest stars:
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Dean Winters – Officer Brian Cassidy
Greg Germann – Derek Strauss
Reg E. Cathey - Barry Querns
Andrea Navedo – Cynthia
John Ventimiglia – Bobby Navarro
Scott William Winters – Detective Joe Dumas
Robyn Rikoon - Heather
Amy Brabson – Judge Karyn Blake
Roy Jackson - Roberto Chavez
Natalie Thomas - Angela
Sonia Manzano – Judge Gloria Pepitone
Ken Schwarz – Counselor Lucas
Jaden Matthew Rodriguez – Gil Mancheno
Tata Martell - Brianna
In the courtroom, ADA Rafael Barba is questioning Detective Brian Cassidy who is on the stand, but it is just a practice session and Cassidy is not quite in the spirit of things. Meanwhile, back at SVU, Amaro is on the phone discussing Zara with Maria. As Benson, Fin, and Rollins move to leave for the day, Benson tells Munch to go home, there will be bad guys to catch tomorrow. Munch asks “who are you and what have you done with Detective Benson?” She says she is taking the night off, and Munch tells her with the Captain on vacation not to worry about them, they are fine and will carry on. Amaro and Maria are disagreeing but when Amaro sees a woman walk into the squad room who is escorted by an officer, he cuts the phone call short. The woman tells Amaro she was raped by a cop.
Later, a shocked Munch questions what Amaro told him about the woman claimed Cassidy raped her. Amaro explains that she said it was four years ago when Cassidy was undercover with some pimp and she never saw him again until she recognized his picture in the paper about the Ganzel trial. Munch thinks this is one hell of a coincidence. Munch reminds Amaro about Ganzel drugging Cragen and putting a dead hooker in his bed, and Amaro reminds him it was Carissa, the hooker that Cassidy had an affair with. Munch says that is why Cassidy has been busted down to uni and he works nights at a Bronx courthouse, adding he has paid the price. Munch emphasizes they have protocol to follow and suggests they try Cragen first. When Amaro comments that Cragen is on a fishing boat off Bimini, Munch states dryly that rules are rules.
Soon afterwards, Amaro and Munch are at Cassidy’s apartment and Munch knocks on the door, cautioning Amaro not to enjoy this too much. Cassidy opens the door and is surprised to see Munch and Amaro standing there. Munch calls Cassidy “numb nuts” and chides Cassidy for not asking who it is before he opened the door. Cassidy replies he thought it was his Thai food. Munch tells Cassidy they need to talk and Amaro stresses now, asking if they can come in. Cassidy replies that this is not really a good time, and a woman’s voice calls out but Cassidy calls back that he has this. Amaro asks if he has company, and Cassidy sarcastically replies that it is Amaro’s sister and he should have told him she snores and he will call them tomorrow. But as he moves to close the door, Benson walks in wearing just a shirt and asks if he needs change. Amaro pushes back on the door to prevent Cassidy from closing it and sees Benson, and Amaro and Munch look stunned.. Benson looks surprised to see them but just says “hey guys” and takes a breath.
At SVU, Munch and Amaro speak with Cassidy who gripes that IAB called him at 6 AM and Munch says they were trying to give him a heads up but he was “busy.” Cassidy says they are talking rape and he wants to know where this is coming from. Munch explains the accuser is Heather Riggs, and when Cassidy asks Heather who, Amaro tosses the file on the table, asking Cassidy if she looks familiar. Cassidy looks at the photo and put his head down, saying yeah, he thought her name was Brooklynn. He adds she is a working girl. He ask if she got arrested and is trying to make a deal. When Amaro explains she came in on her own account, Cassidy notes it is right before he is set to testify against Ganzel. He explains she did not work for Ganzel, it was before that, a small time pimp, Andre Larouche, a total sleazebag who got put away. Amaro says that Riggs claims she was forced into hooking and Cassidy broke her in. Cassidy emphasizes she is lying, then asks if Amaro passed on the report to IAB. Munch reminds Cassidy he knows they had no choice. Cassidy replies “Yeah, right” and grabs his coat and storms out of the room.
As Cassidy walks through the squad room, Fin asks him what is up and Cassidy says he came in for breakfast. Benson is walking in and she and Cassidy pass each other and say their hellos but Cassidy comments “Long time no see” to which Benson plays along and says “Oh, good to see you." Rollins sees the looks that are exchanged between Benson and Munch and Amaro and asks if they are missing something. Munch tells Rollins and Fin that they do not need to know.
Benson walks over to Amaro and asks what is going on, and Amaro suggests she ask Cassidy. She says OK and as she begins to walk off, Amaro asks “Really? You and Cassidy.” She explains she did not tell him because it is none of his business, it’s not that big of a deal, and she didn’t tell him because she didn’t want this.
At the Two Bridges Coffee Shop, Cassidy tells Benson this is a lynch mob organized by Ganzel who gave Amaro the rope. Benson asks him to be more specific, and Cassidy explains he is being framed for rape. Benson is stunned, asking when, who. Cassidy is annoyed, saying she i asking the wrong questions. She asks him what she should ask.
Back at SVU, Benson walks up to the rest of the team and Munch is telling them that if Cassidy was framed, IAB will figure it out. Fin thinks IAB makes frames, they don’t break them. Rollins asks Benson and Munch if there is any way Cassidy is good for this and Benson insists no, but he is not good at defending himself. She thinks they have to look into this. Munch urges discretion and reminds them they can’t talk to the vic. Rollins suggests they talk to the people that know her, and Amaro says Heather mentioned a job teaching at a pole dancing studio in the East Village. Rollins makes a move to go, suggesting to Fin they work on their technique.
