All Things Law And Order

Monday, October 28, 2019

Law & Order SVU “We Dream Of Machine Elves” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “We Dream Of Machine Elves.”

Law & Order SVU “We Dream Of Machine Elves” Air Date November 14, 2019 (10 PM ET/9C Thursday NBC)

Rollins goes undercover to find a suspect who is drugging and assaulting tourists, while Benson helps the victims sort out their memories from their hallucinations. Starring Mariska Hargitay, Ice T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino and Jamie Gray Hyder. Guest starring Demore Barnes, Adam Arkin, Eve O'Brien and Amy Hargreaves.

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My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “We Dream Of Machine Elves” can be found at this link.

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Friday, October 25, 2019

Law & Order SVU “At Midnight in Manhattan” Recap & Review

This episode was an interesting, highly engaging “day-in-the-life” episode for the SVU and for Carisi that began at the end of one shift, bringing three cases in rapid succession. I liked this episode as each story on its own would have made for a dull episode, but compressing these three cases into one day upped the pressure and the tension. The episode moved quickly and each story received the right amount of attention, making excellent use of the entire cast. The clock on the time cards marked off the seconds; counting the seconds was overkill as the cases didn't involve anything THAT time critical.

Right off the bat, Rollins complains she has two kids and a sitter on the clock, and Fin rightfully calls her out on it, saying he hates it when she plays the momma card. (He succumbs to it anyway.) Of course, Benson says she’s playing the mom card, but, sadly for her too, duty calls. Rollins later acts like a petulant child when she argues with Carisi, accusing him of being more worried about his boss than the victims. A phone rings – it could have been a victim or something important about a case – and Rollins picks up the receiver and slams it down. She’s upset that “everyone” is worried, “they” are nervous, swamped, and drowning because he left. But the truth of the matter comes out: Rollins says Carisi was her partner and walked out on HER. Carisi counters that Rollins said she was happy for him, but her retort to this is her asking that he believed her and how stupid is he. Considering that Carisi has gone out of his way many times to support her and her family – you know, acting like a real friend – this insult must cut very deeply. This is worse than simple envy or jealousy over someone moving on to a new career that presents a better career path or even moving on to a new relationship. Rollins is behaving like a selfish, spoiled brat, upset that she is not the center of attention. It’s not a good look for her. This is the Rollins that I don’t like, just another thing on the long list of things she’s done that I don’t like.

It’s great to see Carisi learning as he goes along, and also to see him go through new roadblocks. What’s nice about this is we get to see an already likeable character experience learning a new job and bring a new dynamic to the team, becoming even MORE likeable. Carisi was thrown into the deep end very quickly and so far he’s been able to keep himself from going under. It’s also great to have a little more of the legal component in each episode, something that was hit and miss with SVU in recent seasons.

Hopefully the newbie – Kat – will never use the word “quiet” again, as she really jinxed the squad. Kat is driven and wants to succeed, to the point of leaping before she looks. It was smart for Benson to have Carisi go with Kat to question one suspect as Carisi’s experience helped draw out information before the suspect got wise and shut it down. When Benson told Kat that she and Carisi were going to handle the questioning of one suspect – Paul Davies – Kat seemed hurt and offended. I believe Kat later realized that Benson and Carisi handled the interrogation far better that she could have. It may be difficult for Kat to cool her jets and I suspect that, until she gets more seasoned, she’ll eventually create a problem by acting or speaking too quickly. Kat learned a lesson when the transgender victim she was helping decided to capitalize on her misfortune, likely using a sympathetic Kat to put her in a position cut herself a deal.

One thing I still don’t understand. Are these detectives the only detectives for all of Manhattan, 24/7? Does the 16th precinct not have a second shift? I have a hard time accepting that when this group goes off their shift that there is no one to take their place. As special victims can occur at any time of the day or night, how many 24 hour shifts must they work, and how costly would that be?

One line in the episode that made me cringe a bit: Benson saying that, in her experience, “women are stronger than men.” Considering just earlier that day she heard Rollins have a meltdown over Carisi, it seemed odd. Even without seeing Rollins' tantrum, it’s a sexist comment. It’s no wonder Joelle made the comeback that if that were the case, Benson should have minded her own business.

Very nice camera work and filtering for the final scene with Kat on the pier.

Here is the recap:

In one location, a woman runs down the street, away from something, trying to close her blouse. Elsewhere, another woman is being beaten in her home by her husband while their son watches and begs him to stop. In another location, a woman is thrown from a car into the street. A man inside the car calls her a whore and then speeds off while she collapses on the street.

Meanwhile, in the SVU squad room on Friday at 11:58:26 PM, Rollins and Kat are working late and Kat is applying some makeup. Rollins asks if she is going on, and Kat replies to a house party. Rollins comments she misses those, but Fin, who is also there, chimes in and says not him, adding he will see them on Monday as he moves to leave. Benson walks in and comments they are still here. Rollins replies “Two minutes to midnight and counting.” Kat adds that in Vice they never had a Friday night this quiet. Benson says, “Oh” and Fin and Rollins looks shocked at what Kat has said, giving her a look. She asks “what?” and Rollins explains that she knows Kat is new but they don’t say the “q” word. The phone rings, and Fin comments that Kat jinxed it, saying it is her call. She moves to answer it and then a another call rings in. Rollins looks pleadingly at Fin and says she has two kids and a sitter on the meter. Fin says he hates when she plays the momma card, and moves to answer the phone. Benson says she is playing the mom card and they know where to reach her. But her cell phone rings as well while the others shoot her a glance. When Benson answers it, Rollins makes a move to stay.

At the apartment of Joelle Fuller, 2516 Frederick Douglas Boulevard on Saturday, September 28 at 12:30:55 AM, Fin speaks with an officer who tells him about a sexual assault and beating in the projects. The vic is Joelle Fuller, the perp is her husband Leon who left before they got there. The son, Andre, called 911. Fin tells the officer to find Leon; felony DV is a mandatory arrest. Fin enters the apartment and sees Andre comforting Joelle. She says they shouldn’t be there and Andre shouldn’t have called the cops, saying she is fine. But Andre disagrees and says she is bleeding. Fin explains they will take care of his mom.

Meanwhile, Benson and Rollins arrive at the home of Nicole and Matt Cooper at 198 West 84th Street on Saturday, September 28 at 12:45:03 AM, Nicole apologizes for calling Benson on her cell, but says she and Hadid went to Spence together, she gave her Benson’s number and said she is terrific. Nicole explains Chloe called her husband in a panic, and he explains she had taken a car service, “HailMe”, and the driver assaulted her. Chloe sits in the living room, stunned. He shows them a photo of the guy, Mohammed. Benson asks to speak with Chloe alone. They agree.

Elsewhere, Kat speaks with an officer who says a “trans-whatever” was beat up by a john. She challenges him on that crass description. He explains the vic was found unconscious with her skirt up, some cuts and bruises, saying some barfly called it in who was gone before he got there. Kat recognizes Lakira, who calls her Officer Kit Kat. She says if Kat is here to arrest her, she is too late, “mall cop” beat her to it. Kat sees she is cuffed to the stretcher, and looks at the other officer and angrily asks that he cuffed a vic. The officer looks sheepish and Kat removes the cuffs and tells Lakira they EMS will load her into the ambulance. She tells the other officer to radio Mercy ED and tell them they need a sexual assault nurse with trans experience. Kat steps into the ambulance and asks Lakira if it is okay that she comes with her.

On Saturday at 1:55:14 AM, Joelle is at the hospital with Andre and tells Fin what happened, saying Leon has been in a mood since they separated. She should have given in sooner, after he got what he wanted it was over. He suggests a rape kit in case she wants to press charges and it could take a few hours. He asks where can he take Andre and she suggests her sister Aleah in the Van Buren houses, Andre knows.

At Columbus Memorial Hospital, 568 West 113the Street on Saturday, September 28 at 2:31:29 AM, Chloe explains what happened to Benson. The driver pulled over, saying he had a flat then he opened up the door to the back seat and jumped in, ripped her top and put his hand up her skirt. She pushed him off of her and ran and an old couple saw her and waited until she called her dad. She realizes she left her shoes in the car and asks if she can get them back. Benson replies if they find them, they will be evidence. Chloe realizes how spoiled that sounded, and Benson assures her there is no wrong or right way to react. Chloe’s parents enter and they are ready to take her home but Benson wants a few more minutes with Chloe. They exit the room. Chloe goes on to say that she thought this is where she would die.