New Aspect Upwards Constabulary & Fellowship Svu “The Undiscovered Country” Recap & Review; Raul Esparza Exits

“But that the dread of something after death,

The undiscovered dry soil from whose bourn

No traveler returns…”

– William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Farewell, Rafael.

What an amazing episode, with exceptional writing yesteryear Michael Chernuchin. I almost never say this anymore: this was an Emmy worthy episode on many levels.

Law & Order SVU “The Undiscovered Country” was an emotional roller-coaster episode that many Law & Order fans were eager to consider every bit it featured the furnish of Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) every bit District Attorney. But this joy was short-lived every bit it brought problem – together with the prosecuting career destination - for ADA Rafael Barba, who resigned his ADA position. This episode also marks the commencement of Peter Stone’s displace from Chicago to New York. The convergence of all these characters occurs when they are faced with a moral together with ethical number that tests everyone involved. But it’s Barba who takes decisive together with controversial action, much to the detriment of his career. It’s clear early that the chore is wearing on him when he makes a comment almost getting some slumber inside the adjacent decade or so. This instance may conduct hold arrived at a fourth dimension where Barba was reaching his emotional boundary with the job.

The lastly scenes with Raúl Esparza were hard to picket without feeling a overflowing of sadness. Esparza was able to brilliantly convey the complexities of what Barba went through with his father, summation the controversial determination he made to plough off Drew’s life support. One could almost consider what looked similar the existent weight of those actions on him during the scene where Barba had to evidence almost why he did what he did. Raul Esparza is an amazing talent who brought a passion together with spark to Law & Order SVU that few conduct hold been able to deliver, together with he volition live greatly missed on this show.

Was Barba right to plough off life back upwards together with was the verdict correct? I’m silent on the fence. The parents clearly contributed to the number yesteryear non existence inward understanding on the fate of their son. Had they had agreement, the number may conduct hold been easily resolved inward courtroom together with the SVU would conduct hold never been involved. I suspect that Barba has, over time, go likewise emotional after working with Benson together with the SVU, and, also influenced yesteryear the province of affairs with his ain father,  he couldn’t think logically almost babe Drew.  He shouldn’t conduct hold been the 1 to plough off life back upwards but I sympathize why he did together with I’m satisfied with the verdict. Barba was clearly listening during McCoy’s eulogy of Ben Stone, every bit Barba used that advice to exercise what he must.

Benson is feeling guilty for bringing Barba into this case, but it was her chore to exercise so. Her constant demand to create things, however, is what makes the mess. She often becomes likewise emotionally involved inward cases together with thus makes rash decisions; for example, putting herself at conduct a opportunity when she decides she tin handgrip the hostage situation. This could live her agency of trying to brand amends for Mike Dodds’ decease inward a hostage province of affairs but that doesn’t brand it whatever less reckless. (Benson was lucky this time; she couldn’t know that Aaron was only belongings a paintball gun until she got into the house.)  When she finds that Barba turned off Drew’s life support, she over again says she has to create this. Maybe she wouldn’t conduct hold to create things if she took a to a greater extent than tempered approach together with looked firstly earlier jumping in, or she should at to the lowest degree realize that she can’t create everything.

This episode neatly tied inward the Law & Order yesteryear past bringing inward Peter Stone, boy of Ben Stone, the firstly Manhattan EADA featured inward the Law & Order series. Ben Stone is dead (R.I.P Ben), together with Peter has come upwards from Chicago for the funeral, where Jack McCoy delivers a eulogy.  As the years progressed, Ben Stone was only rarely mentioned inward the Law & Order universe together with only served every bit a connectedness to Peter Stone for Chicago Justice. It made sense that the graphic symbol transcend on inward monastic enjoin to opened upwards the door for Peter to brand his ain grade inward New York. The 1 thing I liked almost Peter Stone on “Chicago Justice” is that he had a existent passion for his chore together with wasn’t afraid to stone the boat. I promise nosotros consider this same Peter Stone on SVU.

Jack McCoy, spell he seems to truly similar Barba, knows that he has to prosecute him every bit he “can’t conduct hold his ADAs killing people.” Benson actually has a negative mental attitude with Peter Stone right out of the gate, telling him  “I certain promise you lot suck” (causing Stone’s handshake to retract similar a deflating erection).    I think nosotros all wanted Stone to exercise badly prosecuting Barba. Benson continues to conduct hold it to the adjacent storey with Stone, proverb with typical Benson sanctimony that Barba lives inward a house that the men who wrote the police clitoris don’t fifty-fifty think about. Thankfully, Stone has the perfect retort, that “amongst us mere mortals, it’s a course of written report Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 felony.” This is going to live a rocky human relationship together with I think that it could convey some much needed tension betwixt SVU together with the DA’s office, inward to a greater extent than ways than one.

The possible argue Barba is burned out came at the destination of the episode when Barba explains that when he started the job, it was dark together with white. Working with Benson every bit she started to “weasel” (interesting alternative of words) her agency into his world, he began to consider shade of greyness together with thus color. When he says “I’m you lot now, Liv”, this tells me that he, similar Benson, became likewise emotionally involved inward his cases. I think she ruined his legal objectivity. For a spell it seemed they were dumbing downwards Barba; I liked him to a greater extent than when he had that defined, “black together with white” approach to the law. It meant for to a greater extent than tension together with drama every bit well. Right straight off Peter Stone is taking a dark together with white approach, together with possibly this is the best agency to consider the job. (There is aught incorrect with throwing inward a picayune gray, every bit at that topographic point are silent legal loopholes.) Barba is smart to displace on, together with hopefully he volition abide by a career that allows him to occupation what he learned inward his chore every bit ADA to brand changes inward the law. That said, I promise that someday nosotros volition consider Raúl Esparza brand a invitee appearance inward some other role.

An interesting comport upon was bringing inward the annoying yet effective Randy Dworkin to defend Barba.  Abigail Hawk also played the emotionally wrecked woman raise with perfection.

I almost loathe bringing this upwards with such an first-class episode, but at that topographic point were 2 pregnant continuity errors inward this episode.  These kinds of errors are extremely annoying. The most glaring was Jack McCoy every bit District Attorney. In the SVU episode "Scorched Earth" (season 13, episode one, air appointment September 21, 2011), SVU Bureau Chief Mike Cutter says at that topographic point was a novel DA. As SVU went through a many seasons after that with a nameless, faceless District Attorney, viewers were only left to conclude that Jack McCoy was out every bit DA. This episode doesn’t actually explicate why McCoy is silent inward the job.  I suppose it's possible he was out every bit DA for a spell together with was afterward elected dorsum in...?

The other continuity mistake – possibly non every bit obvious – was Barba telling McCoy that his manful somebody raise died seven years ago. In the episode “ Padre Sandungeuro” (season 16, episode 12, air appointment Jan 21, 2015), Barba states “I know what it's similar to conduct hold to human face upwards downwards your old man. Mine's dead xv years, together with my mitt silent curls into a fist whenever I think of him.” It’s perplexing that the writers recalled Barba’s human relationship with his manful somebody raise was contentious, but didn’t acquire the timing of his decease right.

A+

Update Feb 13, 2018 - a deleted scene has been added after the recap.

Here is the recap:

Jack McCoy is delivering a eulogy at the funeral of one-time EADA Ben Stone. Ben’s boy Peter is inward attendance, every bit is Rafael Barba. During the eulogy,  McCoy mentions a instance where an inculpatory document was included with a regain asking received from opposing counsel together with McCoy did non know what to do. He went to Ben Stone for advice together with McCoy commented he tin either ignore the document…and McCoy says Stone cutting him off, proverb that a human being shouldn’t exercise what he can, he should exercise what he must without regard for upshot or repercussion, that’s what makes us moral, together with god assist us if nosotros lose that. He says his goodbyes to Ben.

The SVU instance began with babe Drew, kidnapped yesteryear his ain father, Aaron Householder, that turns into a legal battle over the parents’ right to allow Drew, who suffers from Mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid Depletion Syndrome, to die. The baby’s woman raise – Maggie Householder  – wants to destination Drew’s suffering, every bit he has no encephalon functions together with can’t hear, see, or consume normally. Aaron takes the Drew every bit he doesn’t desire to conduct hold this action.

Aaron is rapidly tracked to a family inward Sheepshead, New York where he’s develop a life back upwards organization for Drew. The SVU team arrives on the scene with backup. Benson, who seems to live trying to brand upwards for the hostage province of affairs where Mike Dodds was killed, decides she tin handgrip this situation. Against potent objections from Fin, she ditches her gun together with telephone together with enters the family to attempt to diffuse the situation. She tries to speak Aaron downwards together with is finally successful when she tells him she is a cop together with knows her guns – Aaron is only belongings a paintball gun. The hostage province of affairs ends.

Later, at SVU, the parents – separately - hash out Drew’s heart-wrenching together with hopeless medical situation, together with they eventually reconcile. Benson tells Barba that no 1 is forcing him to prosecute. Barba replies that if he doesn’t, he is telling the public that babe Drew has no rights. When Rollins asks what almost his right to die, Carisi comments that, unfortunately, that’s non inward The Constitution. Barba asks them to abide by out if the kidnapping caused the babe whatever harm, together with Benson adds that is thus he tin permit Aaron go with a clear conscience. Barba says it's thus he tin prosecute together with possibly acquire some slumber inward the adjacent decade or so.

Meanwhile, McCoy together with Stone come across at the courthouse. They part McCoy’s sandwich spell sitting on a bench nigh the courthouse hall. McCoy suggests he has a house for Stone inward New York but Stone plans to remain inward New York only until his father’s affairs conduct hold been settled. McCoy recalls how proud Ben Stone was of Peter, together with Stone wishes he knew this before. Afterward, Stone enters an empty courtroom together with cries.

Later,  while Barba is inward his business office having a drinkable together with is looking out a window, he hears a vocalism say “We don’t pay you lot to think, nosotros pay you lot to work.” He turns together with sees it is McCoy, who says, “Sure, I’ll conduct hold one.” McCoy says he wishes the police clitoris was to a greater extent than similar chemistry; you lot oestrus upwards H2O to 212 degrees together with the sonofabitch boils. As McCoy sits inward Barba’s chair together with grabs the liquor out of Barba’s desk drawer together with pours himself a drink, Barba comments, “Sans bias, sans judgment”  together with McCoy replies, “Sans conscience.” McCoy asks what is thus interesting out that window, together with Barba explains his father. He explains (continuity mistake warning!) that seven years agone his manful somebody raise went into a diabetic coma together with was on life back upwards for half dozen weeks. When McCoy says he is sorry, Barba tells him don’t be, he was non good liked yesteryear anyone, peculiarly him. Still, he was at the infirmary every morn earlier piece of work together with every nighttime until the nurses threw him out. The doctors said at that topographic point was aught they could exercise for him; at that topographic point was no encephalon activity together with they highly recommended they destination it, but he said no, where at that topographic point is life, at that topographic point is hope. He could conduct hold eased his suffering but he didn’t, together with told himself it every bit because Father Mike wouldn’t approve. McCoy says he is certain he wouldn’t. Barba states he was selfish; he hated the man, but silent he didn’t desire the burden of existence the argue he took his lastly breath. He states over again he was selfish; he permit him suffer. Jack tells him to prosecute Aaron Householder, together with Barba asks if it is for doing the same thing he did to his dad. McCoy explains that police clitoris is what the statutes says it is. Barba counters it is a shame, no affair how hard they try, they can’t legislate morality. McCoy comments, “We’re non inward the pity business, Rafael.” Barba nods, together with says “Sure. Why not.” McCoy finishes his drinkable together with tells Barba to cutting a deal, offering Aaron probation, go to church, say iii Hail Marys, together with thus come upwards dorsum to the business office together with complete that bottle. But nosotros tin consider the gears moving inward Barba’s head.

Barba heads to the infirmary room where Maggie is at that topographic point with Drew. After Maggie has a flake of a breakdown almost Drew’s situation, she asks why Drew can’t only die. Barba tells her that he can. But Maggie can’t plough off the machines, together with Barba tells her to go. He looks at Drew, makes the sign of the cross over him, together with the scene fades to black. We know what he does, however.

Later, Benson sees Barba exterior the courthouse together with is shocked that he “killed the baby.” But Barba states he expedited his passing. Benson thinks this volition live a tough pilus to dissever inward the courtroom. The courtroom was the lastly thing he was thinking of inward that infirmary room. He knows he could go to prison, proverb sometimes you lot conduct hold to act, without concern for the consequences. But Benson says non him, he wears suspenders together with a belt. He thinks he had no option. Benson says she has to create this (there she goes again) together with every bit she walk off, Barba says she can’t assist him.

Benson meets McCoy inward the courthouse hall together with makes her instance for Barba. McCoy says he can’t conduct hold his ADAs running around killing people, it’s unbecoming. Benson says Barba did what he idea was right, together with McCoy states he knows that, together with says she knows that, together with he hopes the jury agrees with them. Stone approaches together with McCoy introduces him to Benson. McCoy calls him the “hotshot out of Chicago who is going live Special Counsel inward The People v Rafael Barba”. Stone looks a flake surprised every bit does Benson. He tells her it is a pleasance together with reaches out to milk shiver her hand. Benson declines to exercise so, instead telling Stone “I certain promise you lot suck.” He rapidly closes his mitt together with Benson walks away, glaring at him. It’s obvious that this is the firstly Stone has heard almost the special prosecutor job. He asks McCoy how he knew he’d say yes, together with McCoy says it’s because he has to a greater extent than of his manful somebody raise inward him than he knows.

Meanwhile, Barba gets the annoying yet effective Randy Dworkin every bit his attorney and, after a rocky start, Dworkin says Barba killed what nine out of 10 doctors said isn’t alive. Barba worries almost the tenth doctor. But Dworkin says both he together with Barba desire to prove a point, that the government’s ability has grown likewise much together with the bigger it gets, the smaller it leaves the individual. Once the authorities takes away our right to die, it takes away our right to live. Barba sits downwards to hear more.

On Feb 6 inward Supreme Court, the parents testify. Maggie admits that she did non conduct hold an abortion when it was firstly discovered almost Drew’s condition, because it would live wrong. Stone asks if it is no okay to kill him 10 months after he was born?

Afterward, Stone together with Benson come across on the courthouse steps together with she asks if he has spoken with Barba. He replies the police clitoris says he can’t. She tells him to forget the police clitoris together with await into his eyes, together with speak to him; Barba lives inward a house that the men who wrote the police clitoris don’t fifty-fifty think about. Stone counters that downwards hither alongside us mere mortals, it’s a course of written report Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 felony. As he walks off, Benson asks if he has kids together with he doesn’t, together with Benson says their hurting is your hurting together with Barba knows that. Stone counters he knows why Barba did what he did together with he understands but if they every bit a social club ignore it, they are proverb murder is no longer absolutely wrong.  Condoning it inward 1 instance would allow us to condone it inward whatever cases. Benson says she is talking almost a decent human being who did a decent thing. Stone says they shoot horses, non people, asking if Drew didn’t conduct hold MDDS, what if he had Downs or leukemia or a sore throat? What if he didn’t conduct hold physical hurting at all, what if he was only unhappy? Benson retorts that is the thing almost you lot lawyers, they are ever talking almost the reasonable man. She states he wouldn’t know a reasonable human being if he savage out of the heaven together with landed at Stone’s feet.

Later, Barba testifies inward his defense strength together with admits he killed him, proverb it was a justifiable homicide. He explains how Drew couldn’t odor flowers or hear the music his woman raise was playing. He would never consider a cloud, a rainbow, the Sun or moon. He wouldn’t know he existed, he would only know pain. The doctors said he had no encephalon function. The courts conduct hold only dealt with these number tangentially, proverb that Roe v Wade said an unborn babe was live when it could endure on its own. Drew could not. All he knows is that he saw a babe who couldn’t shape the most basic idea of his own, he couldn’t love, hate, or promise together with when he saw the hurting together with unutterable suffering that his existence was causing for the 2 people who loved him most, he had to exercise something, whether it meant going to prison theater or not.

Under cross, Stone brings upwards that Barba did non convey upwards with number with Aaron, together with Barba  admits  he did not. When asks if he feels guilty, he avoids a direct answer together with when Stone presses, Barba admits he does.

On Feb 7, the jury returns a verdict of non guilty for the accuse of murder inward the 2d degree. Barba together with Benson await relieved together with Stone seems to live inward agreement. Benson hugs Barba together with Stone tells Drew’s parents “well done.”

Later, Barba is cleaning out his business office every bit McCoy enters, who asks if Barba realizes that one-half his chore is keeping people who piece of work at that topographic point from doing something stupid. He is belongings a resignation letter. Barba says straight off McCoy has 1 less somebody to worry about, together with McCoy tells him he doesn’t conduct hold to exercise this. Barba knows, proverb he is going to exercise what he must. McCoy understands. They milk shiver hands.

Later, exterior the courthouse, Barba looks dorsum on the edifice every bit Benson approaches. She feels guilty that she called him almost this case. He says when they started working together v years agone – Benson corrects it to half dozen – the public was an old movie, all dark together with white together with it was High Noon together with he was Gary Cooper. He was absolutely certain who were the expert guys together with the bad guys,  together with says Benson started to weasel her agency into his public together with dark together with white became unlike shade of gray. He tells her non to say it…before he knew it at that topographic point were blues together with greens together with yellows together with reds. He adds, “I’m you lot now, Liv. You opened my ticker together with I give cheers you lot for it.” Benson says, “And?” to which he replies, “I’ve got to displace on. “ She looks dejected together with he kisses her forehead. As he walks off, crying, he leaves Benson standing at that topographic point alone, watching him every bit nosotros fade to black.



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:
Sam Waterston – DA Jack McCoy
Philip Winchester - Peter Stone
Peter Jacobson - Randy Dworkin
Abigail Hawk - Maggie Householder
Joe Tapper - Aaron Householder
Ami Brabson - Judge Blake
Damien Brett – Mel Cooke
Lindsay Becker - Sandy Householder
Precious Cruz-Dyson - Jury Foreperson
Sprague Theobald – Priest
Dave Adams – Sniper







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