Law & Order SVU “Chicago Crossover” was the second episode in a three-way crossover with SVU. Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD. It’s been a long time since there’s been a complex crossover story line in the Law & Order universe, so this event was welcomed by fans.
The story arc began in the last few minutes of the Chicago Fire episode “Nobody Touches Anything”. While fighting a fire, firefighter Kelly Severide works to save a man and in the process, the man drops a box of photos. When Severide sees the photos contain disturbing images of young kids, he calls for the police, and in come the Chicago PD squad. While reviewing the photos, Detective Erin Lindsay discovers that one of the photos is of her half-brother, Teddy Courtney, who she believes is now living in New York. Lindsay makes contact with Rollins at Manhattan SVU, which sets up the SVU “Chicago Crossover” episode. The Chicago Fire segment of the crossover felt tacked on to the end of that episode, similar to last season’s SVU/Chicago PD crossover, so this segment of the actual crossover was the weakest. At least it was a believable scenario and good excuse for the Chicago PD and New York SVU team to work together. The Chicago Fire/SVU/Chicago PD may be the most complex crossover ever attempted and, despite the thin intro to the case in Chicago Fire, overall this series was a real treat and very well done.
Benson and Voight working together is initially like trying to mix oil and water. Both are determined and strong minded people but their approaches are miles apart. Benson is attuned to the needs of the victims - sometimes being too empathetic – but overall she has a level headed, structured, and paced approach. She knows what works to get information from both suspects and victims. But to Voight, she’s TOO careful. In my opinion from watching Chicago PD, Voight always has a lit fuse – a SHORT lit fuse. He does have a softer side (if you can even call it that) but for the most part, it’s not obvious. It’s hard to know which Voight you’re going to get – the one who fights for justice the right way, or the one that behaves like a bully and uses force and questionable tactics to get what he wants. (Too frequently, it’s the bully.) This may be the way he does things in Chicago, but that doesn’t mean his approach is right. At least Benson was able to use a simple threat of a violent outburst from Voight to get a suspect to cooperate. Benson was fierce in this episode and she did use force when needed; those were some moves she used to take down a fleeing suspect.(Nice editing of that whole chase scene.)
Benson compares Voight’s tactics to those of one of her partners – He Who Shall Not Be Named. (Okay I’ll say it – Stabler.) But while Stabler and Voight may seem similar, in my mind, Stabler’s intentions were good, while Vought’s motivations and tactics in his Chicago PD role have been shady and often questionable. With Benson not knowing what Chicago PD viewers know about Voight, it is understandable that she would think Stabler and Voight are cut from the same mold.
Thankfully, Detective Erin Lindsay didn’t get shot as some viewers assumed from the promo tease for this episode. Viewers should always take those promos with a grain of salt as more often than not they mislead. (That’s how they rope you in.)
I shared Voight’s disbelief that it’s taken 10 years to bring down this ring of pedophiles. It seemed a relatively simple task once the SVU team got involved – too simple. Did no one else ever check facial recognition on any of the other kids in the videos to track their identities or movements? This would have likely helped to see pattern in where these kids had been. Even more concerning is that they still didn’t have the "head of the snake," which apparently has been operating out of Chicago all this time. We should all hope that the real life Feds aren’t this ineffective.
Lou Taylor Pucci was excellent in his role of Lindsay’s half brother, Teddy.
I can appreciate the hard work that goes into creating a story line that can seamlessly transition from one show to another, not to mention from one city to another (and back again). This was a well written episode which incorporated the characters from Chicago PD so well that they fit in like they have always been there.
(Note: This was Law & Order SVU's 350th epsisode!)
Here is the recap:
Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Sergeant Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Peter Scanavino - Detective Dominick Carisi, Jr.
Guest stars:
Jason Beghe – Sergeant Hank Voight
Sophia Bush - Detectives Erin Lindsay
Jesse Lee Soffer - Jay Halstead
Lou Taylor Pucci - Teddy Courtney
Danny Mastrogiorgio - George Turner
Mark H. Dold - Bob Clinton
Isabel Shill - Jocelyn Cerpaski
Frank Deal - FBI Agent O’Connell
Donnetta Lavinia Grays - Lina Bagley
Sal Rendino - Deputy Warden Barberi
Christian Goodwin - Henry Thorne
J.T. O’Connor - Don
Joshua Warren – CO
Paul Mauriello - Daddy Bear
Previously:
While fighting a fire in Chicago, firefighter Kelly Severide works to save a man and in the process, the man drops a box of photos. When Severide sees the photos contain disturbing images of young kids, he calls for the police, and in comes the Chicago PD squad. While reviewing the photos, Detective Erin Lindsay discovers that one of the photos is that of her half-brother, Teddy Courtney, who she believes is now living in New York. Lindsay makes contact with Rollins at Manhattan SVU and offers to come to New York to help out.
Benson is at the park with Noah and Amaro, who is pushing Noah on a swing. Benson gets a call from Sergeant Voight from Chicago who says his people are on the way. She informs him a contact at Missing and Exploited Children found a link between the images found in Chicago and a video ring that has been sex trafficking kids for over a decade. Voight asks how this is even possible and Benson explains as soon as Detectives Lindsay and Halstead arrive she will brief them. He explains that for Lindsay, this is personal, one of the vics in the photos is her half brother. Benson promises to keep her eye on her. Voight thanks her and says this is a bad one, and Benson counters that they don’t get too many good ones. Benson explains this to Amaro as she swings Noah, and Amaro takes a photos=.
Later, back at SVU, Erin Lindsay and Jay Halstead from Chicago PD are in Benson’s office. As Fin and Amaro head towards Benson’s office, Amaro asks Fin if he worked with those two when he was in Chicago, and asks if Halstead is the guy who hit on Rollins. Fin says that is some other pretty boy. Benson makes the introductions. Rollins rushes in, saying she got stuck in the tunnel.. Halstead explains that the Chicago Fire department caught a fire vic, Andrew Llewellyn, who had a box full of these images which are traceable to this franchise. Rollins adds that Lindsay recognized one of the young victims. Lindsay explains that Teddy Courtney is her half brother; he ran away ten years ago and her mom won’t tell her how she knows but she knows he came to New York. Fin asks if that is who they are trying to locate. Benson replies that NCMEC ran Teddy’s face through the system and they found more images, and he is connected to pedophilia rind. She shows Rollins the file. Amaro explains that this pedophilia club is still active and they have upgraded to live streaming. Rollins asks if the Feds thinks this club streams from New York, and Benson replies they don’t know, but as soon as they find Teddy they are going to ask him. Amaro comments, “Assuming he’s alive.” Lindsay is silent and less than thrilled at Amaro’s comment. Rollins gives him the evil eye, and Amaro apologizes, saying if a kid goes through something like that…and Benson cuts him off. He shuts up. Halstead asks if they haven’t found him in the system, and Fin replies not as an adult. Benson tells them to try all AKAs, misspellings, and to check all juvie databases in the tri-state area and to run those old photos through age progression. Rollins adds to crosscheck against facial recognition against mug shots and DMV. Lindsay adds to check morgue photos of John Does. Benson states they will need Lindsay’s DNA too. She nods in agreement.
At the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on Friday, November 7, they see a live stream from the site in question with a young boy, Henry, who is about to be victimized. They are not sure from where the stream originated. The photos from Chicago are screen shots from 10 years ago from the same organization, the Chess and Checkers Club. Lindsay is appalled at what she sees, as the agent explains club members are making requests and watching from all over the world. She asks that they Feds know all this and can’t shut it down? The agent explains they are trying but so far, no. Benson says so they will.
Back at SVU, Rollins tries to get Lindsay and Halstead to call it a night, but they still want to work. Halstead goes off to check another data base and Rollins speaks with Lindsay, who admits it is rough and this could have been her. Her youth was chaotic and she hasn’t seen Teddy in a long time. Her family is complicated. Rollins explains she has a sister she hasn’t spoken to in 2 years and it is also complicated. Fin calls out they may have something; Amaro adds they have aged up photos of Teddy and shows a photo of what he would look like at 17. He also shows a mug shot from juvie. Fin adds Teddy Voight was arrested 5 years ago for soliciting. Halstead is surprised the last name is Voight, and Lindsay explains they used to know each other. She confirms that is Teddy. Fin explains Teddy was remanded to a youth center, Amaro adds there were no subsequent arrests and nothing else in public records. Lindsay offers to go to the youth center but Amaro suggests he and Rollins take the first meet.
At the Westway Youth Center on Saturday, November 8, Amaro and Fin speak with Miss Bagley and find that Teddy has run away from the center both times he was there and there less than a week his last stint. The security is there to keep the street out, not the residents in; they are not in a prison. George Turner, who works security, does not remember Teddy. Bagley says all of their kids are damaged but some more than others. When Amaro asks if she has any idea where Teddy is now, she says nowhere you would want to take your wife and kids. Fin asks if there is anyone who may have stayed in touch with him, and she suggests Jocelyn Cerpaski, one of their success stories.
