‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’ 4×01 Review: “Memory Lane”

Law & Order: Organized Crime 4×01 “Memory Lane” begins with a nightmare that’s also a memory, ends with some things we wish were hallucinations, and has some highs and lows in between. Even with the many changes the series has endured, the real draw continues to be the way the storytelling actually includes both the high-stakes procedural elements and the personal, emotional core. In this premiere’s case, we have everything from the team continuing to work through their grief following Jamie’s loss at the end of last season, to…whatever’s going on with Jet and Reyes, to the slow and gut-wrenching loss Elliot is trying his best to navigate at home.

As a very surprising and long overdue bonus, there’s even verifiable proof that this series does take place in the same universe as SVU. (Continuity? In this economy???) Here’s hoping that holds up, but we’re going very Fox Mulder on this and trusting no one.

“Welcome back, Detective. I missed you, too.”

If we had to open up another season with Elliot undercover, we’re glad we got to see the beard it didn’t last long. Or, well, Elliot’s very much Elliot very quickly for us as viewers, at least. But in Law & Order: Organized Crime 4×01, time has ticked by, with Sergeant Bell having to look out for her broken team. All while not exactly being fully healed herself.

But even with all the very clear signs that everyone’s still struggling, one thing’s for certain: Ayanna Bell still does not put up with Elliot Stabler’s shit. As in, she does not suffer this fool. For all the great emotional moments, and all the lingering signs of everyone having difficulty moving on — because, really, we never fully do. Not from that kind of grief — some of the best parts of “Memory Lane” are actually the lighter ones. The normal ones, like when Stabler does his “bull in a china shop” act, and Bell just…shuts him down. Or when she sees him about to do something incredibly stupid and calls him on it, all as El’s basically like “…eh, whatever” about it because he knows this game — they play it all the time — and knows he’s going to win.

Which, ok. Sure. That last one is still pretty high on the tension, once you put it in context. But between the welcome familiarity of the moment — how many times, after all, has Bell had to put up with this man? — and the entire journey Danielle Moné Truitt’s expressions take us on, we find it very difficult not to laugh all the way through it. Especially when, at the very end of the back-and-forth, Truitt just narrows her eyes and gives the slightest shake of her head. Like Ayanna can not even be bothered to give El more than that but wants to make sure he knows this is very much another “Elliot, no” situation all the same.

“Can we take a break and try that again?”

Basically, seeing the Bell/Stabler dynamic back in action is kind of like coming home after a very long time away. And it’s a welcome one that makes some of the more emotionally-intense situations that much bigger. Going back to their first interaction in Law & Order: Organized Crime 4×01, once Bell gets Stabler to dial it down about 100 notches, they give us that beautiful, if kind of heartbreaking, moment of concern for Jet and Reyes. Later, the reverse happens: After Elliot pulls his “Elliot, yes” in his hazmat suit — how does this man manage to look so utterly ridiculous here, by the way? — he gets into an extremely dangerous situation. (Shocker, right?)

And, in the aftermath of all the action, as Bell finds herself in the awful position of having to choose which one of her people to save first, Truitt’s performance takes us on yet another journey. This time, though, it one that just hurts. What an utterly horrifying, agonizing, situation — especially only months after losing Jamie. And, come to think of it, it all feels even worse when we look at it as such a damning and twisted parallel to what happened with Jamie. Back then, Whelan convinced Reyes to send the only medic away when he needed care. Here, even as he’s just gasping for breath, El sends his partner to care for Reyes — who’d just rushed in to save him with no protective gear. No smart! …but heroic — first. It’s just too much.

So, we’re going to just keep reminding ourselves of the fun moments Stabler and Bell have in Law & Order: Organized Crime 4×01. Or, we can even go with their disagreement over the AI dude that’s not quite fun, exactly, yet still just a shining example of how two partners can challenge each other while still respecting each other. Because without those parts, not only would we have a very difficult time surviving how utterly wrecked Bell is in those moments where she has to save two people she cares about but may not be able to save anyone at all, but the punches to the gut wouldn’t be quite as strong without knowing how solid that relationship is — and always has been — either.

“I just refuse to be a burden.”

Ellen Burstyn and Christopher Meloni continue to bring something to Bernie and Elliot’s relationship that really deserves a highlight, yet we struggle to describe in any definitive way. There’s…there’s an authenticity to it— a true, human story of what it’s like to see an aging loved one slipping away. Of wanting to cling, desperately, to any sense of control over the situation or any ability to feel like you’re actually helping that person. And, most certainly, of heartbreak. Now, all of that is mostly about El’s struggle with caring for his “Mama.” Which, of course, means it’s all Meloni.

…but the scenes themselves, and the way this story defies the usual perspective — the caregiver’s — are not all Elliot. And they’re definitely not all Meloni, either. As Bernie, Burstyn portrays for us the cared for person’s sense of loss. Specific to Law & Order: Organized Crime 4×01, there are plenty of moments where, as the character’s situation has most certainly taken another step into decline, it’s clear Bernie is confused. And that is, of course, why she needs more help than Elliot can give her. But she’s also completely bewildered by the thought that, despite them having agreed on it, her son now seems to be going back on his word about finding her a place. A place where professionals are better prepared to meet her needs, however crushing it is for El to consider that he can’t be that person for her.

Most importantly, Bernadette wants to go because she doesn’t want to be a burden. Doesn’t want to feel like a burden. Of course, Elliot doesn’t see the situation, much less his mother, that way — but that’s not what matters. What matters is it’s what Bernie thinks and feels, that this is one thing she can still decide for herself, one thing she still has control over. And El just…doesn’t get it. Can’t look past his own pain, even, to see how much Mama is just begging him to listen. To really, truly see her for her. Sometimes, wanting to help means listening and helping in a way that the person you care for actually finds helpful. Not putting your own beliefs and preferences first.

Burstyn is so small, yet also so present as Bernie pleads with Elliot, and it’s truly a difficult moment to watch. For both of them, yet especially for her. We’ll all go through something like this at some point — both sides of it, even. And whatever this series and these two actors are doing, it rings true. It gives both people agency, and even as the particulars are very different than what my own family experienced some 17 years ago (WTF is time?), something in Burstyn’s performance just made me miss my Grannie very, very much. Because in so many ways, it was like seeing her again. And in so many others…not so much.

This is to say nothing of the final moments of the episode, when Bernie first mistakes Elliot for Randall and then demands the latter’s presence. And El just…tries to reason with her at first. That is, of course, before he stands there in stunned and pained silence when his mom yells at him not to touch her, that she doesn’t need (want) him. Sure, this is Meloni’s show, so the episode ends in a perspective that’s firmly Elliot’s. And sure, as usual, his work is incredibly moving. But it’s in how “Memory Lane” alters the point of view, or maybe even just lets its main character really see the person in front of him — just not in the moment — to tell Bernie’s story that well and truly stands out.

More on Law & Order: Organized Crime 4×01

• The nightmare that opens this premiere is done so very well. The darkness, the heavy breathing (can we have that in a positive way sometime soon or)…it all creates this sense that we’re having the nightmare with Elliot.
• That shot of Elliot in front of the sink, with him kind of in shadow and the outside noise the only part that’s lit, is utterly gorgeous.
• “I’ve already got a dad that hates my guts.” “You listen to him as much as you listen to me?” “Less.” Barely into the new season, and this absolute dumbass is already adopting more kids…just to lose them. Cute. Insert “this is fine” gif here.
• Of course he’d blow his cover out of concern for innocents. “Toxic” Elliot Stabler, my friends.
• “…saving money without cutting corners.” Right, right. Because making sure people are out of jobs and (probably) scraping human content without consent isn’t “cutting corners.” Go away, dude.
• “Allocating resources efficiently is my jam.” It’s like a line I don’t think fits Bell at all but that, even so, still comes out sounding like Bell? Out of character, delivered in an in-character way? I believe we call this a mindfuck, kiddos.
• “Didn’t know you were such a fangirl.” Things no one will ever say about me.
• “Jet’s sharp edges are more like razor blades. She’s keeping everything close to the vest. And Reyes is throwing himself into work a little bit too much. Reminds me of you. And not in a good way.” That first line is beautiful. AI could never. Same goes for that delivery on “and not in a good way.” You need a human for that.
• THE EMPTY DESK
• “I was worried that donuts might offend.” And the “???” look from Rick Gonzalez. A comedy!
• “To do what?” “…to make your lives…wondrously more simple.” “To do what.” Could not. Stop. Laughing. Elliot Stabler is like no.
• “That’s artificial intelligence.” “I know what AI is.”
• “Is he staying.” It’s all so very “you can’t sit here,” and I’m so here for it.
• “Look: you don’t have to like it…” “Good. Because I don’t.” I love them. Their timing!
• Ok but I thought that space was reserved for EO moments (that go nowhere).
• The church scene. The candles. Beautiful. (I don’t even go here with churches. But still.)
• “I’m the one who left, Mama.” Um. In more ways than one, you jerk. Me? Still bitter? Yes.
• Monte Cristo!!!!
• “Hey, Liv. It’s me. I just got back. Um…I got a message from someone. An old case of ours, and uh…I don’t know…Maybe I just wanted to hear your voice. Um…call me. Bye.” Not because he’s afraid of dying and calling to, essentially, say goodbye like that one time. Because he just wants an excuse to hear her voice — and quickly admits he just wanted an excuse.
• Also, it’s giving “if I heard your voice…”
• Is it time to clown?
• The entire bit with Reyes and Jet undercover is hilarious — especially Reyes’ look and the way Rodriguez just cheeses it up.
• “Sorry. It’s my first time.” “And your last.” Get him, Daddy.
• “Be careful.” Elliot Stabler, hypocrite.
• “I’m always careful.” Jet Slootmaekers, liar.
• “I am literally traumatized. That is the most disgusting bathroom I have ever seen.” Did she stop at that one awful place in Virginia on the way to that one concert, too????
• Every single one of these line deliveries. Period: “What’s going on? Why do you have on that hazmat suit?” “You’re just going to walk into that beehive. “No. We already have one too many.”
• El on his knees with the guns trained on him, Bell having to rush in to save him. Not ok!
• Meloni is so good here. (Everywhere.)
• His case involves fentanyl. Her case involves fentanyl. Weird copaganda soulmate things!
• What in the…Jet and Reyes? No. I mean, the chemistry was there in the buildup…but no.
• And so, what? Jet’s forever into people she works with? (Malachi, Seamus, kinda/sort Jamie, now Reyes…????) Y’all can give my girl better material, promise.
• …or maybe yes, apparently. “I thought we agreed we weren’t gonna do this again.” “We did.”
• I just…sorry, what????
• Oh. Ok. Look how proud El is when he sees his Liv on TV.
• …but also: So, the Stablers are capable of watching the news and seeing when major things happen to Olivia? Interesting.
• …this man has so many things to answer for.
• Also, it really was this simple to have continuity all along.
• Let’s see if it lasts!
• “I don’t need you! I need Randall — I need your brother. Where is Randall?” Ouch.
• “No, no, no. I have to go.” “You don’t have to go anywhere, Mama.” Kill me now.
• Her episode ended with her being utterly crushed; so did his. EO things!

Thoughts on Law & Order: Organized Crime 4×01 “Memory Lane”? Leave us a comment!

Law & Order: Organized Crime airs Thursdays at 10/9c on NBC.