‘Law & Order’ 22×01 Review: “Gimme Shelter – Part Three”

Law & Order 22×01 “Gimme Shelter – Part Three” was the concluding chapter in the franchise’s three-part premiere event. Unfortunately, it ended an entertaining —if, at times, chaotic — three hours, packed with action, on an incredibly sour note. Part of that is just a matter of the courtroom drama not being nearly as exciting as all the other stuff.

However.

That’s not really what made this episode a decidedly…not great way to kick off the season for all three series in the Law & Order universe. Nope! It’s all about how the characters were treated and, honestly, just more of the same old.

So, let’s dive into some key points of Law & Order 22×01 “Gimme Shelter – Part Three” and just vent.

Y’all gotta be kidding me, right?

Broken record time, folks: Just because Mariska Hargitay can constantly break every single heart on the planet with a single caught breath, or a single change in tone, or those eyes — or any number of other things! — doesn’t mean the franchise always should have her do that. She could do so much more!

But the situation is actually worse than normal here. Because in “Gimme Shelter – Part Three,” we see Captain Benson disrespected by another major icon of the Law & Order universe (Jack McCoy) with some messy line about how she can’t play God.

Which, first of all: She actually can. If there is a God in this universe, her name is Captain Olivia Benson.

But…that’s not even the most terrible part of it.

Evidently, what Law & Order 22×01 needed was…a major SVU character, who has been Liv’s friend, partner, and confidante in the years since Elliot Stabler peaced out, getting shot. We are, of course, talking about Amanda Rollins — who, for what it’s worth, is the mother of two very young children. Just icing on the cake there, y’all. Imagine.

And, for as much as Rollins has meant to both our hero and to so many fans, her life was put on the line…in the final hour. Not the one that technically is the premiere for her own series. The one that…isn’t. Is this for real? Apparently, this is for real.

That’s an aside, though, because the biggest issue was Liv getting disrespected for doing her job while Rollins’ life was in jeopardy. And while she had to somehow pull herself together to comfort Carisi. But that was also while she was having to comfort and protect Nicole, a victim.

Which, at the risk of being the most repetitive writer on the planet here: Did Hargitay absolutely deliver a master class yet again? Obviously. Do I remain in awe, from head to toe, with every cell and fiber of my very being? Always, always, always.

And don’t get me started on Peter Scanavino somehow breaking me even worse. Like, when you’re in a scene with her and are still somehow just as big of, if not an even bigger, emotional pull…That’s an accomplishment, Sir.

But for what. What was the point of this? It looks like Kelli Giddish is getting a recycled exit. (Hi, Jamie Gray Hyder). And Olivia Benson just gets more pain.

Thankfully, Rollins survived. Or else, the pain would’ve been a billion times more severe. And she and Carisi had a sweet, sweet moment in that hospital. Rollisi have each other. They’re going to be there for each other (somehow, offscreen, I guess?). It’ll be ok, in its way…for them. (Hopefully.)

But who is there for Olivia Benson? As usual, no one. And that’s with this being a three-hour premiere event, with every single squad, from every single Law & Order currently airing, involved. But Elliot was off doing Elliot things. So, even during the awkward copaganda voiceover at the end, there was nobody to comfort Olivia. No one to tell her it’ll all be ok and show her that the world is beautiful. Cosgrove got his daughter while Olivia’s son was…at a sleepover. Probably?

Nope, she still had to give of herself.

It’s exhausting. And it’s old. It’s also just…such an incredible waste of a once-in-a-lifetime talent. I look forward to the day when “not perfect…but still beautiful” allows for that casual, smiling Olivia Benson in the sun to be smiling because she really has a reason to smile. Not because she’s putting on her usual, brave, loving face for someone else. Someone who needs her to give more pieces of her, apparently, infinite heart.

The other issue with Law & Order 22×01 “Gimme Shelter – Part Three” is…

So, I referenced it a little bit up above. But it goes across the board here. Aside from the new guy, Shaw, who mostly kicked ass for three hours straight…And aside from absolute hero Samantha Manoun, who was gentle with Captain Benson about needing to question Nicole and also stood up to McCoy on the whole “playing God” thing, Law & Order 22×01 basically made this series’ core cast look…bad.

You’ve got Cosgrove doing the bad voiceover at the end. Not to mention, he also basically was like “poor me. I’m just a cop. It’s not my fault if there’s no justice — blame the judges, sweetie!” (Paraphrasing, I guess.)

And then, there’s Price backing McCoy, and working these deals with these criminals for political reasons. He even kind of tries (fails) to bully Benson a bit over the whole Nicole thing — while she’s terrified for Amanda’s life. Eventually, Price turns around and is all “oh, I couldn’t do it” and “this is so awful” or whatever…But that’s only after he tries to justify himself to Stabler.

Which. I mean, I don’t know. This entire crossover seemed to want to revert back to the out-of-control version of Elliot Stabler in a lot of ways. But, right or wrong, (blah, blah, violence isn’t the answer)? I wouldn’t have minded if he’d punched Price in the face during their encounter.

I…shouldn’t be rooting for a cop to punch anyone (eh, except maybe my personal enemies). But, I especially shouldn’t be in favor of a cop from a different series, punching a main-character ADA on this one. I’m supposed to want to root for this part of the justice system.

In “Gimme Shelter – Part Three,” I simply couldn’t. Considering my love for Hugh Dancy and the way I usually root for him in the event that I watch this series, that’s…really not a successful outing.

More on Law & Order 22×01 “Gimme Shelter – Part Three”

• “We need to protect her because God knows nobody ever has.” When Liv said this about Nicole, all I could think about how this is the fandom’s take on Liv.
• “…could’ve been a lot worse.” You mean, it would have been a lot worse if Benson, Bell, and Dixon hadn’t dragged everyone who tried to stand in their way in the first two parts? Exactly.
• Ok but why is Olivia Benson so gorgeous, and why is this shocking me in the third hour of this beast?
• Those little touches from Hargitay, though. Like, figuratively in terms of details. But also literally in terms of the little ways she has Liv touch people like Nicole to bring them comfort? Truly the best of the best.
• In other news, Christopher Meloni. The sunglasses. The smirk. Hellooooo, Zaddy. When he turns on the nasty sarcasm, it does things.
• …but it’s even better when he drops from 100 to negative infinity on the macho level when he sees people who need his help. That voiceover at the end may have had me turning green? But Elliot Stabler telling those girls he was there to help — and immediately putting his hands in the air — during it was all about the heart eyes.
• Elliot’s eyebrow raise when this idiot says he found Ava’s phone.
• “Look, I know you speak English, so just turn your ugly ass around.” Immediate Shaw fangirl? Yes.
• “They are equally culpable and despicable.” Manoun when Price asks if they’re trying these two together…or ME when I think about Marshmelon trolling us???
• The Mother’s Day picture with Noah. Help. I asked for happy things on Olivia Benson’s desk, and I received!
• Mmmmm ok but Nicole’s mom didn’t need a pre-existing condition as an excuse for her death by COVID-19.
• “I’m glad she’s ok.” Are you, Price? Seems fake.
• I was rooting for him when he sat like that while he and Manoun were trying to figure out the case. And yet.
• “Right now, nothing is more important than giving this little girl a chance of a semblance of a normal, happy life.”
• McCoy: I don’t care what Captain Benson thinks. Me: Last time I said what I thought of a character who came for Olivia Benson, the White House Press Secretary said I was venomous. So. No comment.
• Very disappointed, though, Jack. Very.
• “…partner, but I can’t really say no to him.” Sirenko is voicing Benson’s thoughts on Stabler, huh?
• Yeah, I get that it’s Law & Order 22×01…But Benson and Stabler >> (much, much greater than for the math-incompetent) everyone else.
• “Who knows? Maybe we’ll get lucky, and he’ll get stabbed in prison.” Shouldn’t be rooting for this. But I am. Manoun, my queen!
• “That’s a bunch of crap.” Exactly, El. Exactly.
• Also, Meloni just…fire in that confrontation with Price/Dancy.
• Felt Liv’s deep sigh in that courtroom, too.
• “We can’t let the State Department drive the train. They don’t care about victims…” Meanwhile, neither do you, Price. Nice with passing the buck, though.
• “So, Sirenko still gets to ride the benefit of the plea deal even though Rublev was killed. Is that what you’re saying?” Tag yourself. I’m Irritated Press Guy.
• So, we risked Rollins’ life and, according to some internet rumors, were going to end it…on this show and not hers? Bitter forever.
• “We feel that justice has been served.” No, actually. We don’t.

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Law & Order airs Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC.