Law & Order: SVU Episode 15: In Loco Parentis Review

I'm not really going to recap this episode. I am going to assume (dangerous, I know) that you've seen it 😊

THE GOOD

1. While I have issues with some of the material and direction he was given (covered The Bad and The Ugly sections), Philip did an outstanding job in this episode. One thing that always makes for great performances from him is his ability to convey emotion in his body language and facial expressions. From the tilt of his head to the furrow of his brow to the drumming of his fingers on the notebook, it says more than dialogue ever could or makes the dialogue all the more powerful.
2. High five to Finn for defending Peter. Telling Rollins to stop blaming Peter for Barba's action was great and 100% spot on. I have a feeling Rollins is going to be the major thorn in Peter's side for awhile. Which is fine. I don't expect everyone to like him from the get go. But make sure you're not disliking him for the wrong reasons.
3. Benson's faith in Peter's abilities when Carisi questions them. Peter may be new to SVU, but he has plenty of solid and successful prosecution experience behind him.
4. Peter doing what Peter does best... kicking ass in the courtroom. He is great at getting the defendant riled up by pretending to agree and condone their actions. Sympathizing with them and their anger and frustration. And then, the defendant does the rest: insert foot in mouth, salt and pepper to taste. Nothing like getting the defendant to admit his own guilt right up on the stand.

THE BAD

1. This is yet another case, within a few months, in which an SVU detective is personally involved. What is this, the Kobayashi Maru SVU style for him? Sorry for those who don't get the Star Trek reference but these cases are almost no-win scenarios for him. If he loses, he sucks as an ADA. If he wins, he sucks because he put one of their own or someone they care about behind bars. This week is an exception to the last one because winning was good but if he had lost, Carisi would have hated him. It's like the writers are giving every opportunity for the squad and fans to dislike him.
2. The dinner invite and blatant flattery. If having dinner with Benson is strictly a throwback to the history of his eating meals & discussing cases with Anna, I'm good with that. But if it's hinting at anything else, especially with all the uncomfortable flattery and what happens in The Ugly section....
3. When did Peter forget that he's a kick ass prosecutor? Telling Benson he's used to going to trial with more evidence... back in Chicago, he took on weak cases with extreme self-assuredness frequently, much to Mark Jefferies' chagrin.
4. Benson telling him that if he's in this (meaning the prosecution of sex crimes) to win, he's in the wrong place. Really? I think maybe some of the previous ADA would disagree with that. Sure, you want to go to trial, as she points out, so the victim can tell their story and confront their attacker, but you want to win, too. Prosecution and conviction is the ADA's purpose. You want justice for the victim, don't you?

THE UGLY

1. The gratuitous shirtless scene. Okay, from a strictly aesthetic standpoint, those few frames are quite pleasing to the eye. But from a character and necessity standpoint, what the heck?? Peter would have never changed in his office in Chicago. Yet he changes here and doesn't bother to lock the door or even find out who's knocking before telling them to come in. Aren't there bathrooms or a locker room or some place he can change? Or is he living out of this office and that's why he doesn't have all his ties yet? It was pointless. It marginalized and sexualized the character in a way that has never happened before on the show. And again with the forced flattery/charm to Benson with the Mets tickets for her son. Writers: PLEASE stop making Peter try so hard. Let his natural pleasant personality win the SVU folks over. 

Law & Order: SVU airs Wednesday nights on NBC at 9pmET.