Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 5 Review: ‘Economics of Shame’

Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 5 gives us yet another reminder that we’re not supposed to trust strangers on the internet — especially not if they start asking us to send nudes when we still don’t really know them. But, unfortunately, that’s not a lesson anyone’s going to learn from this episode. The hour fails to give us anything to connect with that will cause the warning to stick with us. Also, let’s be real here: it’s 2024, nearly 2025 (a crime against me, personally, that this year is already almost over), so that’s about the only way a lot of folks do meet new people at this point. Like, where else are we going to make new friends? Work? Hard pass. Just, like, going out and talking to strangers in public? Think not.

Thankfully, though, the way “Economics of Shame” actually deals with the sexting part of its storyline feels at least somewhat based in reality. As in, it’s not like a whole, “wow, look at this newfangled thing the youths are doing” issue. Also of note, we never get the impression that anyone’s trying to blame the victim. And the performances, particularly from our guest stars, work. Aside from that, though, something just doesn’t click. Better time management — which, admittedly, is a skill I’ve never had in my life — might have taken this episode from “well, that was an SVU episode. Looking forward to background noise next time it’s on” to something more. But, well. Nope.

Case in point: Very early in the episode, Kelsey is about to jump. That should be treated like the huge deal that it is, but…it…kinda gets lost. Because the character, who is supposed to be at the center of this story, gets lost. Sure, Captain Empathy Benson does her thing and gets Kelsey down off that ledge, and she and her squad do their thing to try and get her some justice. But then, it just feels like we’re wasting time being asked to empathize with, say, Neil and not enough time with either Kelsey or Ruby. Speaking of Ruby, there’s a story to lean into and give some depth to. Like, you want your audience to care, to stay glued to their TVs, to want to watch this over and over? Make this whole case about her, and go big on how gutting her story is. Done.

Then, there’s Velasco’s undercover gig. Things go almost too smoothly, which is forgivable enough. Like, nobody really cares about this Audra person, and it’s perfectly believable that a low-level scammer like her wouldn’t expect to also get scammed. On the other hand, the choice to make the “Juan Pablo” date so quick necessarily made it feel like, just as we were starting to get interested in the Silva/Bruno conversation, it was already over. Same goes for the Velasco/Silva/Bruno scene after that.

Basically, Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 5 is a mostly watchable, if sometimes…kinda surface level, hour. It’s fine enough, and after being less than satisfied (to say the least) with the previous two chapters in this series’ very long history, I was kind of ready to be like, “ok. Back on track.” But, well. The ending happened. If we’re going to make a whole big thing out of Kelsey being a reporter who people need to trust, then no, she can’t lie to her audience about spending time undercover. It paints the victim, who we’re supposed to care about, in a terrible light. If the people who count on her for vital information about what’s going on in the world can’t trust her with a detail she didn’t even need to include on camera, can they trust her at all?

No, they can’t.

Bad message. Especially right now. Not a fan.

More on Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 5

“Well. You know, you are even more gorgeous in person than you are on TV. Honestly.” Did Mariska Hargitay write this based on experiences with fans or.
“He was a gentleman. The exact opposite of Jake.” “I’m sorry who?” Real talk: Get you a friend like Lisette. (Not to be confused with Fangirlish‘s very own Lissete…but also…get you one of those, too.)
“I swore I’d never let anyone control me again.” Ok. So. Go deeper with this…or don’t mention it. Same goes for the whole blow up about the ex taking everything.
Sure, the procedural format makes deep, deep dives into characters more difficult. However, it’s still 100% possible to tighten things up elsewhere so the characters that need more time and space to fully come to life can get what ~~they~~ we deserve. Do you know how I know? This series has done that. Many times!
Love the very cautious entrance from Hargitay when Benson goes up to the roof to talk Kelsey down.
“…and you’re used to reporting the story. Not — not being the story.” But then she *checks notes* makes herself the story and lies about part of it at the end? What are we doing here?
(Liv looks particularly good there, though.)
(…and also with the glasses in her office.)
(But this series needs to be more than “Mariska Hargitay pretty.” Ok. Stopping with the parentheses now.)
Was there a point to the “hi! I’m Olivia” or. Like, the little sister just ignores her??? Cut it.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to trust anyone. Ever again.” Me.
No but seriously, why didn’t they just put the focus on Ruby’s story? Ouch.
What decade is Neil’s “stereotypical loser” look out of, and what even is with that ‘stache? Also, why do we spend so much time on him? Also also: Why does he get the best ending (no legal consequences for participating in the extortion ring — coerced or not, pictures never saw the light of day, gets to sue his old job)?
The way Ruby lights up before asking Liv if there might be a way to get her money back.
What’s with Carisi being so judgmental in this episode? The Cheeto comment, “unemployed copywriter,” “a schlub with no job,” whatever else…
…also, can the Catholics stop appropriating Yiddish or.
“He worked at a prestigious ad agency until AI came along.” “Another occupation on life support.” This is the best we can do with an AI discussion, huh?
“So this guy’s entire digital life. Is a mirage.” Sonny Carisi, discovering social media.
Continuity with Bruno’s backstory? In this economy!
Are they trying to set up a Silva/Velasco thing, though because…
Oh, ok. The look she gives Bruno when he asks if she also looked him up. (Probably not with Google, though, because if you want to talk about something that’s dying of AI poisoning…)
“Nice work. Give me the watch back.” Legitimately laughed out loud over the pouty way Velasco did, in fact, grudgingly hand over that watch.
This cast really does so much with so little. And the guest stars…whew.
“You know many cops with a sense of humor?” In fiction? Sure.
“I thought you were a married guy from Mexico. You lied to me.” Imagine being mad about this when you’re literally setting people up to have their lives ruined for money.
Is Velasco slurring or mumbling his answer or.
Normally, I’d get personally offended at people messing up names…but LOL. Basil. Like the herb. LOL.
“I guess you did the right thing when it counted,” followed by the disgusted congratulations. Would 100% love Silva if given enough stuff to give me the opportunity to actually fall in love, I bet.
Give her more! Please!
“It starts innocently enough — a match on a dating app, a DM on Instagram. And you may think you’re too worldly to become ensnared, but if you have a heart, it can be used against you by criminals who are experts in manipulating our need for human connection.” This would work really well as, like, a “The More You Know” PSA for olds.