All Things Law And Order

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Law & Order SVU “A Misunderstanding” Promo

Here is the promo for Law & Order SVU “A Misunderstanding,” directed by Mariska Hargitay, which will air on Wednesday January 20, 2016 at 9PM ET on NBC.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “A Misunderstanding” 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.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Law & Order SVU “A Misunderstanding” Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU “A Misunderstanding,” directed by Mariska Hargitay, which will air on Wednesday January 20, 2016 at 9PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Raúl Esparza, Ice-T, Andy Karl, Pamela Gray (as Laura Stewart), Charlie Ray (as Abby Stewart), Jonathan Walker (as Martin Stewart), Olivia Birkelund (as Ellen Roberts), Sean Grandillo (as Chris Roberts), Delaney Williams (as Counselor John Buchanan) and Elizabeth Marvel (as Counselor Rita Calhoun).

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

Photos by: Michael Parmelee/NBC 2015 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 “Townhouse Incident” Recap & Review

“Townhouse Incident” was a drama filled episode where again Benson found herself held hostage, but this time she had company. Benson’s babysitter Lucy, sensing something was wrong at the home of another client and asking Benson to check it out, unwittingly puts Benson in this life threatening situation. But if anyone could get all the hostages out alive, it would be Benson. Despite the fact that we all know Benson would survive the ordeal, the real drama was watching how she calmly worked on her captors in order to find any foothold in gaining control over the situation. I know I am not the only SVU fan suffering from fatigue with Benson being placed in perilous situations, but I must admit that they did a fantastic job with this story. It also allowed Mariska to display her Emmy-winning acting talents; she doesn’t have as many opportunities to do this with Benson now in management. With all the horrors that Benson had to face with William Lewis, you can bank that this situation will mean after-effects to Benson’s mental well being.

It’s interesting that Benson’s long history of mistrust with Ed (“Mother”) Tucker – now Captain Tucker – has developed into one where she now trusts him with her life. And it’s Tucker’s sometimes annoying steely resolve from working Internal Affairs that has made him the perfect person to help Benson keep everyone cool with the hostage situation. In a way, Tucker has shown more character development over the last few seasons than anybody else on the show. He’s gone from being hated to someone that fans tolerate, maybe even (gasp) LIKE. Tucker can still annoy, but he seems to have genuinely softened toward the Special Victims Unit. Is it out of any feelings/respect for Benson or has he realized that there aren’t the problems with the SVU as there were in the past?

While this was a nice feature for Mariska, there was enough to go around for the other cast members and everyone brought their A game. (Note: Kelli Giddish did not appear in this episode.) The episode even LOOKED good, with great on location shots that were well presented with interesting camera angles. When I enjoy an episode visually, I tend to like the story even more, and this episode was one of those cases.

One lesson Dodds learned: Always be mindful of the underwear that you’re wearing before you go to work. You never know when you’ll be asked to strip down to your skivvies in public!

The role of Noah Porter Benson has been recast, which makes sense, considering that the timeline of episodes and the growth of a small child rarely synchronize in the television world. It does concern me a bit that, like Noah 1.0, even Noah 2.0 makes no sounds whatsoever. I'm not sure if it's because they are trying to show that Noah may be developmentally delayed, or if it just costs the show more if the child utters one word or any sound at all (or both). Having a family member with severe developmental delays, the lack of speech and verbal sounds were early indicators of a problem, and I could be just transferring my fears to the fictional Noah.

The story of the "push-in" rapist re-appears briefly, and it's possible they have their man - or it's the set-up for another arc at some later time.

There was one glaring continuity issue: The date on the episode title cards was listed as January 4, but the date on Benson’s phone, which showed Noah’s photo, displayed the date as Monday, November 30. Also, the previous episode, “Catfishing Teacher” took place in late December, after the date on Benson’s phone, but we saw no evidence of this traumatic experience for Benson in that episode. If we are lucky, this date inconsistency will not rip a hole in the space/time continuum.

For Raúl Esparza fans, it was great to see him in this episode, even if it was only briefly.

Later, Benson knocks on the door of the Crivello home and Lisa answers. Lisa tries to blow her off but Benson mentions Lisa’s cut. At first Lisa says she should go, and Benson suggests she would come back later. A voice from inside growls quietly to “let her in” and Lisa then tells Benson just come in now. As soon as Benson walks in the door, she is grabbed and slammed against the closed door by a man (later identified as Joe) with a gun, and a woman (later identified as Roxie) is holding a gun to Lisa. Joe and Roxie scream to her to put her hands up and she complies. Joe threatens to blow a hole through her face if she moves. Benson says okay and freezes.

Benson identifies herself as a police officer who is there by chance. Another man (identified as Ralph) dumps the contents of Benson’s purse and she admits she is armed and her weapon is holstered on her right hip. Joe searches her and finds her phone. Joe says they have a problem here, and ask if the “old man” has told them where the money is yet. Ralph says no, he is holding out. Lisa explains they don’t keep cash here, and Roxie flings her down. Joe tells Ralph to kick Richard's ass until he coughs. Ralph enters the other room and kicks Richard Crivello repeatedly as he lay on the floor. Joe asks Benson who knows she is here, and she replies no one, and when Joe says she better not be lying to him, she insists she is not. He holds up Benson’s phone and shows the lock screen with a picture of Noah and asks if this is her son. She says it is. Joe says this is good, it means she doesn’t want to die. He tells Roxie to tie her up. Benson suggests they don’t need to do that and that they should talk, but he punches her and she falls to the floor, stunned. He growls that he told her to shut the hell up, and he pushes her back with his leg. Lisa’s daughter Tess looks on in fear.

Meanwhile, back at SVU, Dodds arrives in the break room while Fin is reading the paper. Dodds asks if anyone uses the heavy bag in the weight room, he brought his gloves. Fin asks if Dodds boxes, and Dodds replies at the Golden Gloves and the Pro Am, and asks if Fin does. Fin stays seated and says he does not want to hurt him. Carisi enters and says they have a call, and asks where is Benson. Dodds says she is at a DNA conference all day. Carisi says their push in rapist may have struck again, this time in Chelsea. When Fin questions if it is the same guy, Carisi states he is black, tall, in his 20s, he is armed and the MO is the same and the vics ID’d the sketch. Fin says “just like they did before” with skepticism. Dodds comments either way, to bring him in alive, and tells Fin to notify central and alert transit. Fin adds housing, saying he knows the drill. Dodds says he is sure he does, and tells Carisi to tell the One-One they are en route and he will text Benson when they get there.

Back at the Crivello home, Ralph continues to kick Richard who denies they have a safe. When Ralph tells Joe that Richard says they don’t have a safe, Joe is angry as Ralph swore there was cash here. Ralph says Roxie is upstairs going through the jewelry and when she is done, they should go. Joe barks to Ralph that he said there was a safe and to go find it. As Ralph walks off, Lisa whispers to Benson that Roxie rang the bell at 6AM saying she had been robbed and when she went to call 911 the two men burst in. She says Ralph used to drive a truck for her husband’s stores and Richard had fired him. Luca is tied up upstairs. Ralph whines that he wonders what is taking Roxie so long, and a message rings on Benson’s phone. Ralph asks who is there, and, as Joe snorts a drug, tells Ralph not to worry about it. He tells Ralph to go downstairs and find that safe. Ralph complies and Joe mentions to Benson she got a text about a rapist. Benson states she really needs to answer that, and Joe sends an answer of his own, saying she just did. Roxie comes downstairs and says he found $200 and a bunch of crap jewelry. She pulls out her gun and asks Lisa where is the real stuff? Lisa insists there is nothing here. Joe suggests they bring Luca downstairs and Benson suggests he not do that. Lisa admits they have a safe deposit box. Ralph comes upstairs saying he found electronics, and Joe tosses it off, saying they have a new plan – they are taking mommy to the bank.

Meanwhile, at the home of Stacey and Glen King on Monday, January 4, Carisi, Fin, and Dodds get the details on the attack from Stacey and Glen. He went out the window. She was not raped but it was close. She scratches his face. Later, Fin and Dodds are outside looking at the fire escapes – the building is on lock down - when Carisi approaches and said the suspect climbed up and neighbors says he is checking doors on the adjacent roof. They race up.

Back with the hostages, Joe opens the upstairs bedroom door and brings Benson into the room with Roxie, who has Tess. Joe sits Benson on the bed and ties her hands. She looks at Luca, who is sitting on the floor, also restrained.

Law & Order SVU “Forty-One Witnesses” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Forty-One Witnesses.”

Law & Order SVU “Forty-One Witnesses” Air Date February 3, 2016 (9 PM ET/8C Wednesday NBC)

A woman is followed home and raped outside her building, where several neighbors witness the crime but fail to call for help. Starring Mariska Hargitay, Ice T, Kelli Giddish, Raul Esparza and Peter Scanavino. Guest starring Andy Karl, Daveed Diggs, Patrick Breen, Abby Miller and Anthony Ramos.

# # #

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Forty-One Witnesses” 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.

Friday, January 8, 2016

Law & Order SVU “Townhouse Incident” Preview

Here is a sneak peek from Law & Order SVU, “Townhouse Incident” which will air on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 9PM ET on NBC. The preview features Mariska Hargitay, Amber Skye Noyes (as Roxie Volkov), and Joe Reegan (as Joe Utley).

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

Please note: This video has a limited life so catch it while you can!

SVU_17012Clip2_16x9 townhouse by tvwatchr

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.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Law & Order SVU “Catfishing Teacher” Recap & Review

Law & Order SVU “Catfishing Teacher” gives us not one but two teachers who prey on young boys, and one of those teachers gets justice served on them by one of their victims. We saw the first teacher in action very quickly, so it was fairly obvious that while she was a predator but was not pretending to be someone else, we’d get some sort of twist. Of course, the wrestling coach was the obvious choice, because, as Phoebe Burnap indicated, we hear lots of rumors about wresting coaches! In fact, the first time the wrestling coach made an appearance, I pegged him as the guy. Watching too many network crime shows over the years makes for little surprises. Still, there were enough surprises to make for an interesting hour.

It was a nice twist to see how the wrestling coach meets his end. It was also surprising to hear Benson encourage Nat, the coach’s torturer and murderer, to stay silent until his lawyer gets there. Regardless of whether she and Dodds asked Nat for his help to testify, she should not feel any responsibility for such a brutal action. While she felt that at one time Nat was also a victim, she should have a more level headed approach as did ADA O’Dwyer. I can understand her encouraging him to get a lawyer, but I don’t quite get her apparent sympathy for a person who killed someone in such a violent manner, prior victim or not.

In the opening of the episode, we see a bonding moment between Carisi and Rollins and her baby Jesse. Carisi seems to be a natural with the baby, and Rollins seems to be looking at him with new eyes. Personally, I think that Carisi was more enamored with the baby than he was with Rollins. He seems to look at Rollins as a close friend and colleague, but Rollins had that look that Carisi - someone who has annoyed her in the past – is becoming A LOT more attractive to her. Personally, if Rollins gets into another relationship, I’d rather it not be a co-worker again, at least not Carisi. I don’t see that kind of chemistry between them.

Dodds is also trying to establish himself as Sergeant and he takes the initiate to get performance evaluations rolling. He makes some very interesting observations which were spot on. Benson, probably a little too close to her detectives, counters all of Dodds’ concerns. Of course, Fin walks in and then seems to verify Dodds’ inference that Fin is a bit of a slacker and buck-passer. I admit that Fin has never struck me as being what Dodds’ calls a “kicker” but maybe, like Benson, I’ve “known” Fin for too long to see his performance clearly. It also surprised me that Benson seemed to be very comfortable with being short staffed, while it was only a short time ago she was making being short staffed such an issue. Maybe things are just slow enough at SVU because of the holidays that she can let Carisi do his legal thing and not worry about Rollins being off on maternity leave.

Dodds also stepped in it a bit with Benson when he had issue with Rollins making being a mother a priority. I guess he forgot about all the Noah drama with Benson and that she too was a single mother. How could he forget, when Noah has been front and center for so long (wink)?

Something that struck me as odd: How can Fin tell a woman’s age by her cleavage? Maybe I missed something but I thought he made that age comment after only seeing the photo of cleavage, not her whole face or body.

While I enjoy seeing Robert Sean Leonard again, I still don’t get Barba’s absence. Raúl Esparza is absent more that he is present. I would have loved to hear him at the end giving Benson that dose of reality regarding Nat. I am wondering if SVU is renewed for another season, if Raúl will be part of the cast.

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
Michael Gaston - Coach Donald Basinski
Robert Sean Leonard - A.D.A. Kenneth O'Dwyer
Jordan Gelber - Principal Bernstein
Missy Crider - Serena Foster
Erik Heger - Cole Foster
Kelli Barrett - Phoebe Burnap
Noah Fleiss - Nat Dennehy
Ted Sutherland – Zach Foster
Alberto Rosende – Jordan Massina
Judge Jeanine Pirro - Herself
Christopher Gray - Travis Barstow
Tony Campisi - Counselor Steve Roth
Alex Esola - David Faulkner
Brett Smith - State Trooper Al Clark
Lindsay Arnold - Megan
Mark D. Friedman - Counselor Parnes
Ngozi Anyanwu - Female Cop
Shanga Parker - Doctor
Kate Elizabeth Young - Melora

Rollins walks down the street with Carisi with baby Jesse in the stroller after meeting for lunch. She is going crazy on maternity leave but says being a mother is the greatest thing ever. She is not getting sleep and Carisi gives her advice on Feberizing and suggests she call his sister. The baby starts to cry and Carisi picks her up and consoles her, saying she is a good girl, while Rollins looks at him with a desirable gaze that she normally doesn’t give Carisi.

Meanwhile, Phoebe Burnap and a student, Travis, have sex in a car in the school parking lot. She tells him to hurry up or he will be late. He jokingly asks her to write him a note and races off to school. At the lockers, he runs into Jordan and Zach and Zach seems to know what Travis has been up to. The principal, with the wrestling coach, sees them and tells Travis and Jordan to get to class. Coach tells Zach he expects more from him if he wants a slot, and Travis tells Jordan that Zach will never get a spot on any team.

In class, the teacher, Miss Phoebe Burnap, gives them instruction as the boys gaze upon her, looking dumbstruck. The bell rings and as the class leaves, she wishes them happy holidays, and as Jordan moves to leave, she asks if she can get a little help. As Travis looks back with surprise. and then leaves the room, Jordan asks “Now?” and Phoebe says she needs a ream of paper from the supply closet and it’s on a high shelf. He says “yeah” and she smiles at him.

Later, in the supply closest, Phoebe comes on hot and heavy, kissing Jordan but then he quickly pulls back and he tells her to stop. She asks if he is playing hard to get. She moves in closer and asks if that is better, suggesting they see what they can do to get that average up. She continues to kiss him.

Later, Zach gets a series of text messages from someone unknown which gives him instructions on where to meet along with a photo of only her cleavage. He calls his father and says that mom is on the warpath about his girlfriend again and suggests it may be a better holiday if he ignores her when she calls. He packs his duffel bag and leaves.

Afterwards, he waits on a street corner and when the time to meet comes and goes, he gets concerned. A few hours later he sends a text to his contact and later, he sees a car flashing his lights at him and he smiles.

At SVU, Dodds brings up the issue of performance reviews to Benson, reminding her it is part of his duties and thinks he can make them more efficient. He says Carisi is studying for the bar and trailing Barba and he is not sure his focus is here. Benson states Carisi is learning the law to make him a better cop. Dodds asks if Rollins is really coming back, making a comment that it seems like motherhood is her priority. Benson reminds him you can be a good mother and be good at your job too. Dodds realizes he inadvertently insulted Benson. He thinks she needs someone there who is all about the job. She states she has him and Fin. He admits he is still getting up to speed and when he starts to mention Fin, Benson cuts him off and says not to underestimate him and that Fin knows more than anyone here. Dodds concurs that Fin does, but says Fin is a “kicker,” meaning that he boots any call that he can to someone else. Benson says that is not true. There is a knock on the door and Fin enters, saying that they got a call about a missing 15-year-old boy, missing over 48 hours. And the local precinct wants them to take a look at it. When Benson agrees better safe than sorry, Fin says he figures that Dodds and Carisi may want to check it out. Dodds shoot Benson a look and Benson asks Fin why not him? Fin says he has been racking up a lot of overtime lately. Benson says she will approve it and to go with Dodds. Before Dodds leaves, he turns and gives Benson a quick “I told you so” look.

Law & Order SVU “Townhouse Incident” Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU, “Townhouse Incident” which will air on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 9PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Peter Scanavino, Ice-T, Andy Karl, Robert John Burke (IAB Capt. Ed Tucker), Bronwyn Reed (as Lucy), Hasaan Gilmer (as Pierson Dawes), Amber Skye Noyes (as Roxie Volkov), Cole Bernstein (as Tess Crivello), Jack Gore (as Luca Crivello), Wendy Hoopes (as Lisa Crivello), and Joe Reegan (as Joe Utley).

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

Photos by: Michael Parmalee/NBC 2015 NBCUniversal Media, LLC