Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 2 Review: ‘Excavation’

Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 2 is not only better than the season premiere, it’s also easily better than pretty much anything we can remember from last season. Do we think it’s perfect? No. Does that matter? Not completely. Because really, we just like getting to take the win and watch the comfort show we signed up for. And “Excavation” is truly an episode of that show. It has everything: fantastic work from the guest stars, an unwavering Olivia Benson fighting on behalf of a victim in a way real cops usually…don’t, some courtroom drama, and even a few personal moments that still manage to be about moving the case forward.

As far as the case of the week goes, it actually managed to surprise us. (Talk about something that’s not at all easy this many seasons in.) First, there’s the outcome. A guy like Judge Andrews usually gets away with it, but that, thankfully, isn’t what happens in the hour. Then, there’s the Lillian of it all. The mom’s role in essentially ruining her own daughter’s life in service to her husband is, uh…q-white a portrait of a certain type of woman in America. That’s not exactly something we expect to see a show like this handle in any kind of meaningful way, but this was spot on.

Another great surprise? One of the things that, initially, really upset us turned out to actually not be what it seemed. All that talk of Maggie’s struggle with alcoholism isn’t about this series — franchise, really — once again making addicts out to be terrible people and/or addiction being used as an excuse. Instead, the way the justice system — even dear ol’ stepdad the judge — uses her addiction against her is spot on. On that same point, Maggie having a relapse and buying that “just one” shot at the beginning because she was headed home makes a ton more sense in context. Almost as if television, even a silly lil’ copaganda like SVU, can tell a story about how triggers work — and boy, did we get that big time after Maggie finds the diary — without just using a ton of faux therapy-speak.

Wild AF. We’re as shocked as anyone.

“Well, I guess you’ll never know.”

Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 2 gives us yet another chance to see Carisi doing his actual job — and doing it well — while working with his bff Benson. And watching both of them walk that delicate line, between letting Judge Andrews know how much he disgusts them and staying “professional,” is so much fun. Sure, we’re used to this series giving us a ton of “big, powerful man tries it with Liv. Liv DGAF and lets him know” moments and all…but wow, does Carisi have some great ones here. He makes it very clear, at every opportunity, that he can see right through Judge Andrews…and can’t stand a single thing he sees.

And Peter Scanavino does amazing work here. That bitter, twisted smile when the perp says he’d be in cuffs if there was enough to arrest him is a work of art. Also a masterpiece: The arrest scene, from that gorgeous shot of Carisi waiting for Andrews to show up, to those looks back and forth, to all that tension. There are also a ton of highlights from the courtroom scenes — a thing we usually do not say and would normally think we were crazy for saying. You really do love to see it, especially since it seemed like nobody really knew what to do with this character, thus wasting Scanavino, there for a while.

Kinda here for Carisi sassing hotshots who think they’re above the law, getting the win with the odds stacked against him, and managing to work with the NYPD without doing cop things he has no business doing, actually.

“I believe Maggie.”

We’re not sure if this is a good surprise or a missed opportunity, but one thing Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 2 doesn’t do is bring up a certain other victim who turned to alcohol. Like, it’s by no means exactly the same situation…but did anyone else think about Liv’s mom? Something about that scene in Maggie’s childhood bedroom — what an amazing performance from Johanna Braddy there and throughout the entire hour — just feels like it should cause this case to be a little bit more personal. Then again, we’re not exactly going to complain about not having to suffer through yet another…whatever that Maddie stuff was.

Regardless, when she helps a sobbing Maggie off of that floor and out of that house, Captain Benson promises to get Maggie the help she needs. Thankfully, she is able to keep that promise. The first step? She listens, and she believes what she hears. Even when everyone else seems to think there’s no way Maggie’s memories could just claw their way back to the surface after being buried so long, Liv gets it. So, she shows up, she’s supportive, and she fights for whatever justice can possibly look like all these years later. Importantly, she does all of this without getting inappropriate and weird, and she has her team’s support — instead of acting out of character and everyone thinking she’s lost it — nearly every step of the way.

…just saying, we were ready to rip Carisi a new one with the whole “vet Maggie” thing. But Benson took care of that for us, and he was great afterwards. So. Crisis averted!

Possibly lost in all of this is that, while the victim’s whole family judges her for her failure to live up to expectations, Captain Benson — this person she’s just met but who just is there for her in a way her crappy mother never managed to be — gives her some grace. Not excuses, not a free pass, no. Just empathy and understanding. Because, like Detective Bruno tells Charles, “childhood trauma leaves lasting scars.” (Which, ok. Fine. Yours Truly didn’t need the telling when there’s so much well-executed showing in this episode, but whatever works.) And what this particular victim’s family has done is cause those scars, then blame her for how they shaped her life, then use all of the above against her to deny the scars and the trauma even exist.

Which, of course, is a ton of mental abuse on top of the initial sexual abuse. Talk about “especially heinous.”

But hey! You know what’s not heinous in the least? The way Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 2 tells this story with these layers and doesn’t feel, at any point, like it’s trying to slam a bunch of stuff together and keep it there whether it all fits or not. Because it just…fits.

More on Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 2

• “It’s because you never wear that watch we gave you.” Ok but nobody’s needed to wear a watch to know the time in, like, a long time. Phones! Exist! Maggie just doesn’t want to come around you vile people.
• “Not living up to my full potential.” (I am in this photo and I do not like it.)
• The team dynamic works very well, overall in this episode. I could use more of the new girl, but aside from that…
• Captains Benson and Curry are so good with Maggie in that initial interview. Like, they’re honest with her about how difficult this is going to be, but they are so very careful about it.
• If I speak on “shortlisted to be a Supreme Court justice” and this dude being trash…
• Mariska Hargitay’s timing and little gesture on the “really Carisi.” Inject it in my veins.
• “When people flame out, they almost never blame themselves.” Probably because, a lot of the time, there are multiple factors outside their control in play that lead up to that point? IDK.
• The whimpering and shaking in the corner…so good, so painful.
• Kinda mad Curry didn’t get to do more of the fighting she promised in our clip, though.
• “I assume that’s why you’re here with your team. Of attorneys.” Absolutely living for that tiny scoff before “team.” It’s like Andrews and his [mini scoff] attorneys aren’t even worthy of a full one. Amazing. Liv vs. some rich, powerful white dude throwing his weight around. Feels good, feels organic. Thank you.
• “I’m just horrified Maggie found it. I can’t imagine how she felt.” WHEW. The “can you blame her” and that daring look. Ok ok.
• I love how absolutely zero people buy this man’s “sweet and innocent” act. Truly. Once there’s cracks in the “good, family man” facade, it’s all over.
• THEIR FACES when the female lawyer brings up Lolita.
• See how we can give Hargitay and Scanavino a ton of scenes and let them have fun and still make it make sense?
• “Mr. Carisi. Thank you for the courtesy.” “It was the DA’s call.” People died.
• “I expect to be treated like any other defendant — presumed innocent.” Wait until he hears about Black and brown folks.
• “My body remembers!” !!!!!
• “Write what you know. Writers draw from real life.” Nooooo comment!
• “So. We’re supposed to just take your word for it. That this was all made up.” Loved this part of the cross-examination. Carisi’s like a dog with a bone.
• And love the delivery here: “Tell Lillian she’s got a choice. She can either answer my questions in the DA’s office. Or on the witness stand.” My dude’s saying it like it’s a threat. Good.
• Also, not for nothing, but like. I watched a lot of some legal drama where they say four-letter words a lot. Did the dad not suborn perjury by giving that nod to the mom and having her testify in a way that would mean she’d have to lie on the stand? And they both knew it? IDK.
• Imagine being a pediatrician and helping your husband cover up “being unfaithful” (WTAF) with your 8-year-old daughter.
• “You did what was best. FOR. YOU.”
• Just…everything about Hargitay and Scanavino in that scene with the mom, to be honest.
• “I was good man, a good judge, a good father.” “Glad you think so.” GET HIM.
• It’s the disgusted way Liv says “husband” for me.
• Something about truth…
• …y’all aren’t going to trick me into clowning. Won’t get fooled again. Nope.

What did you think of Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 2? Leave us a comment!

New episodes of Law & Order: SVU air Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.