New Confront Constabulary & Guild Svu “Scorched Earth” Recap & Review

The premiere of flavor xiii of Law & Order was welcome for some (finally, novel episodes amongst added cast members!) together with unwelcome for others (no Chris Meloni). Despite beingness prepared for change, it is hard non to aspect at the offset episode amongst an overly critical eye. But don’t despair – I idea "Scorched Earth"  was excellent.

Using a familiar,  very high profile ripped from the headlines story (the episode was inspired past times the Dominique Strauss-Kahn case), it helped to depict attending to the novel dynamic amongst the SVU squad, inwards add-on to the changes inwards the DA’s office. It’s clear the somebody most affected past times Stabler non returning to his chore is Olivia Benson. Mariska did a superb chore inwards portraying Benson every bit beingness slightly off-kilter from the alter together with and then letting her sadness all out at the end. It is clear that despite that Elliot is live together with well, Benson is grieving for the loss of her closest move partner together with a friend.

It’s wonderful to receive got the experience of the ensemble cast dorsum amongst the series, similar to what it had inwards the early on years. Cragen appears to receive got re-established himself every bit boss of SVU, rather than letting the inmates run the asylum has had happened inwards the lastly few seasons. (The entirely exception is his guild non to do the perp walk, which Benson together with Fin ignore together with do anyway.)

Fin also seems to receive got mellowed, together with may serve every bit a stabilizing forcefulness every bit the squad gets accustomed to novel additions to their team. And it’s cracking to receive got Munch dorsum inwards the swing of things. The jury is out right right away amongst me on the novel Detective Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish). I was surprised that her stunt inwards getting Roberto Distasio to verbalise didn’t come upward dorsum to seize amongst teeth her (especially since she clearly doesn’t undertand what existent Italian nutrient is!). It’s ever hard for a novel cast fellow member to come upward inwards to an established serial together with live accepted right away thus I’m going to refrain giving a total sentiment on Giddish for some other episode or two.

Law & Order fans are likely apoplectic that at that spot is a novel DA. While nosotros can’t aspect Jack McCoy to live DA forever, I would sure love to know the fate of this dear character. It seems that Mike Cutter every bit SVU Bureau Chief volition live a dissimilar human being than Mike Cutter the EADA, together with I recollect I’m going to relish seeing him every right away together with then. Having the legal side of the demonstrate dorsum made this episode a winner for me.

I know at that spot is some displeasure over Tamara Tunie beingness bumped to invitee star status. In all honesty, since she previously didn’t appear inwards every episode or when she did, she didn’t receive got much concealment time, this doesn’t upset me. I'm simply glad she's notwithstanding on the show.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 plus was what seemed to live a reduction inwards the annoying background music that, inwards the lastly few seasons, seemed to play over every scene. I liked the to a greater extent than infrequent role of it hither – I don’t demand constant music to tell me when a dramatic instant is occurring. The story itself was good done together with the dialog felt comfortable together with believable. The episodes raises the question: does money together with ability larn someone off the claw inwards the American justice system? It seems inwards this illustration it did, but it also brings frontward how of import a person’s credibility – their words together with actions – tin live their ain worst enemy.

This is a cracking start to the novel season, together with I tin entirely hope that fans volition stick past times the series.

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
Stephanie March - ADA Alex Cabot
Linus Roache – Bureau Chief Michael Cutter
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins

Guest Stars
Tamara Tunie – medico Melinda Warner
Franco Nero - Roberto Distasio
Mariam - Anika Noni Rose
Jenna Stern – Judge Elana Barth
John Earl Jelks – Mr. Achok
Ron Rifkin - Attorney Marvin Exley
Alexander Blaise - Pietro Fedeli


As Italian diplomat Roberto Distasio leaves his hotel room at the Park Milano, a maid, Mariam Deng, stumbles out of a nearby room. Later, Roberto is at dejeuner amongst family, hoping for his grandchild to live a boy. Meanwhile, hotel administration calls the police.

At SVU, Captain Don Cragen sends Munch together with Fin to the hotel to cheque out the study of a maid beingness assaulted inwards the presidential suite. Benson is simply arriving together with Cragen apologizes for her weekend but transportation her to Bellevue to larn a preliminary study on the victim. He tells them that the suspect is Roberto Distasio who is the favorite to live Italy’s adjacent prime number minister.

Roberto is inwards his chauffeur driven car, looking for his laptop which he lastly saw at the hotel. He seems inwards a frantic rush together with decides to telephone phone the hotel to cheque for it rather than peril missing his flight.

Munch, at the hotel, phones Cragen to tell him that Roberto checked out over an hr ago. Fin says safety has him on the telephone right away calling nearly his laptop he left behind, together with that Roberto is on the means to JFK. Cragen is worried if Roberto gets on the excogitation he is gone for practiced thus he tells them to stall him together with he volition telephone phone Cutter. As Cragen rushes out, Detective Amanda Rollins is coming in. He tells her she picked a hell of hateful solar daytime to come, but she tells him she is cook to move now.

At the hospital, Mariam explains to Benson what happened when Roberto attacked her. She said when he grabbed her she scratched him together with he pushed her downwards right exterior the bedroom. He forced her into oral gender activity together with he laughed when she spit it out, maxim this is the deviation betwixt similar together with love. Benson asks her where she spit it out.

Back at the hotel room amongst a forensics squad together with ME Warner, Rollins finds what looks similar blood. When Warner asks for a photograph of it, Rollins puts downwards a money for scale. Meanwhile, Benson makes a telephone phone maxim that Mariam spit it out inwards the bathroom.

On the plane waiting to depart, Roberto oogles the flying attendant.  Munch together with Fin race to the airdrome amongst lights flashing together with siren blaring. Back at the hotel, Warner looks at the fluid sample together with tells Cragen to larn cook to larn happy.

Munch together with Fin move into the floor together with when Fin addresses Roberto, he thinks they brought his laptop. Munch tells Roberto he is nether arrest, together with Fin asks, “Capisce?”

Back at the SVU precinct, Roberto is placed inwards the interview room, together with Munch tells Cragen that Roberto is claiming diplomatic immunity based on the fact that he is caput of the Global Economic Trust. Fin says it is also bad Stabler is notwithstanding out, he would receive got loved to cleft this guy. Cragen says Benson is notwithstanding taking the maid’s argument together with they volition verbalise to Roberto when they know what they are looking for. But defence attorney Marvin Exley arrives to verbalise amongst Roberto.

Exley enters the interview room together with Roberto tells him he trusts no 1 together with that Berlusconi volition do anything to halt him. He knows the others are observing him through the mirrored glass.

ADA Alex Cabot arrives at SVU together with sees Exley inwards the interview room earlier Exley closes the blinds to block the view. The SVU squad welcomes her dorsum to the “concrete jungle” together with Fin asks her how it was the Congo. She replies to pray for them. She comments that this is some other DSK, together with Munch says it is opened upward flavor on hotel maids. Cragen adds that the maid made an immediate outcry together with her story has been consistent. Rollins adds they found a mixture of semen together with saliva at the scene. Cabot says this is plenty to grip him, for now.

Back at the hospital., Benson speaks to Miriam nearly her family. Mariam says she was told the human being is rich together with important. Benson assures her that regardless of who he thinks he is, he is going to jail.

Back at SVU inwards Cragen’s office, they speak amongst Pietro Fedeli, the Italian counsel, who says that Roberto was playing golf game amongst the President that afternoon. SVU Bureau Chief Michael Cutter enters the room together with comments this is a fragile situation. Fedeli calls it a farce, maxim Roberto has diplomatic immunity. Cabot says he has to choose that upward amongst the State Department, together with if he has immunity, it is against prosecution, non arrest. Cutter assures Fedeli that Roberto is beingness afforded the rights of whatsoever other suspect. Fedeli retorts he is simply non whatsoever suspect, asking why else has at that spot been this rush to judgment. Cutter tells him the NYPD did their jobs together with right away his component subdivision must do theirs. When Fedeli leaves, Cutter asks Cragen to tell him he knows what he is doing.

Benson arrives at SVU amongst Miriam,  and Benson stops cold, seeing everyone stopping together with looking at her. But Miriam thinks everyone is staring at her. Benson rapidly has Miriam choose a spot to hold off for the lineup. Rollins introduces herself to Benson, who knows she is a transfer from Dallas, but Rollins corrects her that it was from Atlanta. She asks Benson if she likes Distasio for this, together with Benson pauses together with says he was there. Rollins goes on to tell she is actually happy to live hither together with that she has studied her cases together with used some of what Benson did on the Brown illustration - the infant homicide. Benson seems distracted together with says she hasn’t briefed the captain yet.

Cragen, meanwhile, tells Cutter together with Cabot that Roberto charged his hotel to his personal occupation organisation human relationship together with non to the GET. Cabot says “bye cheerio immunity” but Cutter cautions that is State’s call. Benson enters together with tells them the victim’s argument is solid together with the exam backs her up. Cutter says they demand an ID, together with Cragen says his guys are on Park Avenue trying to corral 5 men who fit Distasio. Benson looks out into the squad room at Stabler’s desk, the chair empty. Benson tells them that the maid is a hard working unmarried woman parent amongst no arrests, together with she immigrated hither 3 years agone from the Sudan for political asylum. Cutter tells her to move over the past times amongst a fine-tooth comb. Benson leaves the room together with Cutter gets a call, maxim it is Hillary’s people.

After they leave, Cabot tells Cragen she heard nearly the shooting together with asks if Stabler is coming back. Cragen says it is upward to Stabler.

The line upward takes place, together with Miriam rapidly picks Roberto out of the line up.

As Benson fingerprints Roberto, he asks if he is right away released, together with she replies that he’s going to the hospital. Fin tells him it is a procedure, together with Roberto comments “on the give-and-take of a maid.” Fin slams the prison theatre cellphone door closed together with tells Roberto that his grandmother was a maid.

Cragen is talking to everyone inwards the squad room, maxim it was a tough span months together with at that spot is a bulls-eye on SVU from the top downwards together with they are all nether the microscope. They are going to move the illustration past times the mass similar their jobs depended on it. Benson says that the DA’s component subdivision volition lay upward the victim together with her kids at a hotel to maintain her away from the circus. Cragen says Roberto has a PR squad that volition move to muddied her. When Fin says Romeo is cook for his forensic exam, Cragen cautions him non to allow he personal feelings larn inwards the way, together with tells him together with Benson to choose him out a side door, no cameras together with no perp walk. Fin assures him they are professionals.

But, every bit the doors opened upward up, the media is waiting together with Roberto leaves the expanse nether a barrage of photographic tv camera flashes. Roberto comments he idea people inwards America were innocent until proven guilty. Fin replies that it is liberty of the press.

ME Warner collects samples from Roberto spell Fin watches. Roberto comments they are taking aid to brand sure the evidence is non corrupted but they can’t tell that nearly the whole process. He says they volition discovery no evidence of sex, he’s had a vasectomy. Warner reminds him deoxyribonucleic acid is everywhere, together with then tells him to drib his pants.

Back at SVU, Rollins tells Munch she worked upward a timeline from the maid’s fundamental menu together with wonders why Roberto would throw it all away inwards less than twenty minutes. Munch says that absolute ability corrupts absolutely. She asks if anyone has tried to “small talk” Roberto. Munch says she has been oblivious to his charms.

Rollins enters the asset prison theatre cellphone to choose Roberto some Italian (it's actually Italian-American) food. She tries her modest verbalise amongst him together with to essay to charm him. Rollins makes a comment nearly a woman’s weakness, maxim a woman’s fantasy is that she has relinquished something together with that is her power. He adds that the parry holds every bit much ability every bit the thrust. Rollins tells him he has a lot to a greater extent than to lose than the maid does. He gives her an Italian maxim which translates to “man has facts, adult woman has words.” Rollins says they receive got her words, they would similar to listen his facts. He says he is sorry but thank yous her for the meal. She says they volition verbalise later, together with he tells her after he volition live gratuitous together with she volition live out of a job.

At arraignment court, Roberto pleads non guilty, spell Cabot asks for remand every bit Roberto attempted to flee the country. The gauge remands him to Rikers.

Later, Benson together with Cabot are inwards the hotel room amongst Miriam together with her kids. She worries nearly Roberto’s defence squad together with Cabot says they volition essay to discovery out everything nearly her. Benson suggests for the officeholder to choose Miriam’s kids to the snack machine. As they leave, Cabot tells Miriam the defence volition tell Miriam did this for money, together with she denies it. Benson together with Cabot press her to reckon if she left anything out of the story but Miriam insists she was raped together with worries he volition discovery her together with do anything he wants to her, simply similar the soldiers. She explains the killings inwards Sudan together with said he was told at that spot would live no fighting inwards America.

Benson returns to SVU to reckon a grouping from IAB leaving Cragen’s office. She asks him what they want, together with and then says that was a practiced shooting together with that Elliot was cleared. Cragen says on that one, but right away Internal Affairs wants to move over his entire jacket. Benson says to allow them, there’s goose egg to find. Cragen says it was his 6th shooting together with the whole squad is on notice. Benson is upset that Stabler is the sacrificial lamb together with asks if he is simply going to give him up. He says she knows him amend than that; Stabler is similar a boy to him together with he has been pushing every bit hard every bit he cans but does non know how this is going to milk tremble out. He adds that if Elliot wants to maintain his job, he volition receive got to submit to a psych evaluation together with anger management, a lot of hoops. Benson says he volition tell them to move to hell. She storms out of Cragen’s component subdivision together with passes Munch – Cragen tells him, “Don’t ask.” Munch says Cragen looks similar he could role to a greater extent than bad news, together with tells him that Roberto simply won an appellate courtroom review of his bail. Cragen dryly replies, “Great.”

At Sutton Place Townhouse, Exley is having a press conference nearly Roberto’s release on bail together with that in 1 lawsuit the DA’s component subdivision becomes aware of the witnesses credibility issues, they volition drib the charges. His married adult woman is at that spot together with she adds she never doubted her hubby together with that he has many enemies. Roberto arrives together with steps out of the squad machine together with walks past times the screaming crowd.

Elsewhere,  Benson is inwards a bar calling Stabler on the phone, leaving a message. Munch, Fin, together with Rollins reckon upward amongst her. As Munch together with Rollins larn drinks, Benson asks Fin what’s Rollins' story, adding she must receive got some hooks to transfer from Atlanta. Fin says she is cool. Benson asks if he has talked to Elliot together with he says no. Cabot arrives together with reports that the deoxyribonucleic acid came dorsum together with it is a fit for Distasio together with the victim. Munch says that puts him inwards the room, but Rollins adds that inwards Roberto’s world, gender activity is ability together with whatever happened inwards that room he does non reckon it every bit rape. Fin comments to Benson that Elliot likely does non desire her to verbalise him out of it. She thinks he is non going to quit, but Fin thinks because he shot a teenage girl, he may non desire to lay his gun on again. Cutter enters together with shows them the front end page of the Ledger, amongst the headline “A Maid’s Tale” together with says he idea they vetted their witness, adding she is inwards it for the money. Cabot says non a chance, together with Fin says the Ledger volition impress anything. But Cutter informs them they receive got her on tape, some other maid from the hotel sold her out.

At the DA’s office, Cutter together with Cabot play the tape dorsum for Miriam where she says he wants to choose millions from him. Cutter tells them her co-worker taped her together with sold it to the newspaper. She says she has a right to brand him pay, he is rich. Cabot says they defence tin right away tell this is a shakedown, together with Cutter adds that Miriam promised Cabot this was non nearly money. He asks if she hired a lawyer together with she slightly nods yes. 

Outside the courthouse, Benson is waiting for Cabot together with Cutter together with asks them if they recollect Miriam is line-fishing for a payday. Cutter advises that Miriam says no but Exley’s squad volition claim extortion. Cabot reminds them that fifty-fifty on the tape, her story of the rape is consistent all the means through. Cutter says these cases are nearly perception, non reality together with she is compromised. Benson thinks they are earthworks upward everything they tin on her, together with asks what nearly him?

Back at SVU, Benson is on the telephone speaking inwards Italian. She tells Cragen it was some other GET official that volition non maintain record. Rollins adds that 2 months agone inwards Buenos Aires a hotel maid, Isabel Cortezar, told her boss that Distasio pushed her onto the bed together with started to onslaught her together with he entirely stopped when she screamed. Rollins has non reached her yet together with neither receive got they. Cragen tells her to rest on it. Benson puts inwards a telephone phone to Cabot but tells Rollins practiced work.

At the pre-trial hearing, Exley is making a motion to suppress this data every bit it is prejudicial. Cabot argues it is consistent amongst Roberto’s M.O. together with they are making arrangements to wing inwards Cortezar. Judge Barth volition allow her testimony if she is produced. Exley says he has notarized constabulary reports from the southward Sudan maxim that Miriam was convicted of prostitution inwards her dwelling theatre country. Roberto grins. Cabot says this is inflammatory together with fifty-fifty if this is legitimate, it is inwards violation of the rape shield. Exley says the rape shield has an exception if the claimant has been convicted inwards the lastly 3 years.

Back at the hotel, Benson asks Miriam why she lied to her. Miriam says she is non a prostitute, she was gang raped. She went to the constabulary together with they called her a whore, maxim she broke sharia law together with they volition rock her dead inwards front end of her children. Benson inquire if anyone tin confirm the story, together with Miriam says it is non a story it is why she came here.

At Cutter’s office, Benson walks inwards every bit Cabot is telling him the maid from Buenos Aires has moved to a gated community together with won’t furnish their calls. Benson informs them that Marian insists she is telling the truth together with that she was a victim of sharia law. Cutter replies that is does non affair now, he does non reckon a win here. But Cabot disagrees, she thinks when the jury hears her story they volition come upward dorsum guilty on all counts. Benson adds Miriam is heartbreaking but that does non hateful she is telling the truth. Cabot is shocked at that comment. Cabot says she believes her, she heard thousands of stories simply similar hers when she was inwards Africa. Benson moves to answer, but Cutter says it is non getting that far. The novel DA wants to drib the charges. Cabot’s oral cavity is agape. But together with then she adds that all she heard was Mike Cutter was a crusader for justice, together with asks, “What happened to you?” He replies if they press a illustration they can’t win, they are telling the adjacent victim to rest silent. Cabot counters if they allow him walk, they transportation a message to the residue of the public that inwards New York, the law doesn’t apply to the rich together with the powerful. She stresses they are hither to fifty-fifty the scales, non cutting together with run. She moves to leave.

Outside the courthouse, Exley is talking to the press spell Benson leads Miriam into the courthouse covered inwards a white sheet. Meanwhile, Roberto together with his married adult woman exit their home, also amongst press coverage. Cutter together with Cabot also brand it at the courthouse every bit the press swarms the area.

In superior court, Miriam is on the stand upward explaining the attack, together with insists she was never paid for sex. She explains the conviction for prostitution inwards Sudan together with talks nearly her gang rape.

Under cross exam past times Exley, he questions her on the gang rape together with her asking for political asylum. She has to tell that she did non acknowledge to the conviction on her application. She insists she is non lying nearly the rape. Exley sarcastically comments they volition simply receive got to choose her give-and-take for it.

Back at SVU, Fin talks to Benson nearly the trial. Benson says Miriam brought it on herself past times lying repeatedly. Fin says she did what she had to do to larn asylum. Benson is skeptical nearly her testimony on the gang rape, maxim it is 1 thing to live consistent but some other to quote verbatim. Fin seems stunned, maxim everybody is ripping into her. He asks what is upward amongst her, asking her to tell him she doesn’t recollect Roberto is practiced for it. She looks at him, does non answer, together with walks off.

Back inwards court, Roberto is testifying maxim he obliged Miriam together with afterwards she asked for money. He said he is non accustomed to paying together with she became upset, maxim she knows how he is. He said she asked for $10,000 together with unless he gave it to her, she would tell he raped her. He told her many receive got tried to blackmail him together with this volition non stand.

Under cross exam past times Cabot, Roberto recounts what happened. Mariam came inwards together with he said he would clothing inwards the other room, but she offered himself to him. Cabot asks didn’t he recollect it was strange she offered herself to him thus abruptly. He did not, maxim women reckon ability together with discovery it attractive. When Cabot says that nosotros similar it rough, Exley objects together with the gauge sustains it. Cabot brings upward evidence nearly Miriam’s injuries together with asks if he thinks is from normal sex. Roberto says the trip the lite fantastic toe is dissimilar every time. Cabot also brings upward the photograph inwards evidence of the scratch on Roberto’s cervix asking if Miriam scratched him, asking if he got those injuries from her fighting him off. He replies he knew she did non desire him to stop, that a human being knows. He admits she did non tell him that but it is inwards a woman’s eyes, no affair what the words say. Cabot challenges, asking fifty-fifty if the give-and-take is no together with that she is fighting him? She mentions him fleeing the room together with what he saw inwards her eyes, together with he is silent. Exley gets intelligence that they receive got some other witness, together with Cutter gives a aspect of surprise to Cabot.

In chambers, Cutter, Cabot together with Exley debate the witness amongst the judge. Cutter maxim it circumvents proper discovery rules. Exley says he is coming from the Sudan, together with Cabot counters Exley had fourth dimension to wing him inwards but non fourth dimension to inform them. Exley says he is informing them right away together with they tin choose all the fourth dimension to vet him. Judge Barth allows it.

Back inwards court, Mr. Achok is testifying nearly helping Mariam fill upward out her asylum applications, maxim that the best means to larn into the the U.S.A. is to live raped together with the Americans yell thus hard when they listen it together with opened upward their doors wide. He said she told her 1 soldier had raped her together with he told her no, 1 dozen soldiers is better. He adds they practiced for the interview together with she almost made him cry. He said the gang rape was a lie.

Cabot cross examines him nearly him couching people to lie, together with asks how much the defence paid him to testify. She says he was paid nothing. She asked if that is what they couched him to lie, together with Exley protests thus she withdraws the question.

Afterwards, inwards the hallway, Cabot reminds Benson that all rape victims prevarication nearly something. Benson said Mariam picked the incorrect thing to prevarication about. There are also many lies together with also much damaged control. Benson admits that she does believe something bad happened inwards that room. Cabot says that is all she needs to hear.

In Superior Court inwards summation, Exley brings out Miriam’s’ repeated lies together with that Distasio was an opportunity. Cabot counters that Miriam is less than perfect, but did to larn into the country. She says it took courage to human face upward the human being who raped her together with that money together with ability do non arguing the scales of justice. Cabot asks the jury to reckon Miriam gets justice.

At the DA’s component subdivision conference room, Benson together with Miriam hold off for the jury to come upward back. Miriam is worried they believe Achok. She says whatsoever prevarication she told was to give her sons a amend life but never lied nearly what he did to her. Cabot enters together with tells them the jury is back.

In court, it is revealed that the jury cannot attain a unanimous verdict on the rape. On the accuse of assault, they discovery Roberto non guilty. On the accuse of unlawful imprisonment, they discovery him guilty. Roberto is upset together with every bit they cuff him together with choose him away, he says this is a farce.

Back at SVU, Benson tells Rollins they handed the jury a mess together with they separate the baby. Rollins says he volition appeal, maxim the perp walk was prejudicial. Benson says she volition choose the hitting but at to the lowest degree he volition do a twelvemonth inwards Rikers amongst the lesser charge. Fin pipes inwards maxim that yous receive got to come upward over on the Mayflower to brand a rape accuse stick. Munch asks how she took it, together with Benson says hard. Cragen calls Benson onto his office, together with Munch says, “Nice working amongst you.”

In Cragen’s office, Benson tells him she does non recollect Miriam was lying nearly beingness raped. Cragen asks her to closed the door. He tells her Elliot lay his papers inwards – Benson looks stunned – together with Cragen adds at that spot is goose egg he tin do. She nods her head, together with says he’s earned it. Cragen adds, “And together with then some.” He asks if she wants to talk, together with she seems on the verge of crying, maxim no. He asks if she desire to choose a day, but she says she is fine, the tears starting to come. Cragen tells her he is sorry. She nods her caput together with walks out. She walks dorsum into the squad room together with Fin asks if she is OK, together with she replies yes. Munch gets off the phone, maxim they receive got a 10-34 on Waverly. Munch looks at Olivia together with and then tells Fin to choose Rollins. But Benson says she volition go, simply give her 5 together with they volition roll.

Benson walks into the interrogation room together with breaks downwards together with sobs every bit nosotros fade to black.


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