Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 7 brings back a character from Season 24 whose case was treated as “less than” at the time and, to the hour’s credit, actually puts the majority of its focus on her. That part of the episode works fairly well…but then, there’s the B plot. Essentially, Carisi’s storyline rewards him for, essentially, using the system for personal benefit to stalk this random guy — after already stepping out of line with the same random guy not long ago. And, here’s a disturbing question: Is the whole, “don’t judge” message “Tenfold” sends about sex work…supposed to…also…apply to pedos???
Because, uh, hard pass on that. So, let’s just not.
More: See why Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 2 remains our favorite episode so far this season.
“I’m tougher than you think.”
If we only take Wallen’s case into consideration, Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 7 is a decent hour. Good, even. Sure, there are a couple of head scratchers here and there — like Bruno’s whole “we’re asking you not to abandon us” line to our victim, for one. Overall, though, the narrative takes the right approach. First and foremost, the detectives treat Wallen and the working girls they interview with the dignity, compassion, and respect they deserve, which is actually really nice to see. The investigation includes a little bit of an interesting wrinkle with Tiana, too. (Honestly, who wouldn’t be so desperate to protect the brother who protected them, they’d deny reality until they were shown so much evidence, they couldn’t deny it anymore?) And, by the end, it looks like there might even be some hope for at least this one victim to have a new beginning.
(Not to mention, how cute is the whole sappy ending with the boys and that baby?)
The best part of the entire episode, though, is Ciara Monique’s performance. We actually hate that she didn’t get a chance to shine as a true guest star — as opposed to a guest footnote in the Big, Wasteful Important Three-Episode Arc — like this in Season 24, especially since the only logical way to bring her back for another episode involved re-traumatizing a character who had already been through enough. With that being said, Monique does phenomenal work here. From the wrecked look about her as she’s trying to get away from Bruno and Fin at the hospital, to the attitude Wallen gives back to Fin and Bruno both at various points, she makes this character so real.
The real highlight comes when Wallen has to watch the footage of her own attack in Captain Benson’s office. (Which, um, is a weird sentence to type. But. Here we are. Great acting is great acting, no matter what the scene is. We’re at what, though? Traumatized three times now, between previous rape, the one in this episode, and reliving the latter? Awful but…not unrealistic.) Monique brings so much emotion to the moment, seamlessly transitioning from the reluctance and dread prior to looking up at the screen to the horror and sadness once Wallen sees herself dragged away. Just saying, we wouldn’t be opposed to seeing her back sometime, except as someone who’s purely here to help. No more trauma for our future social worker, please.
More: See why we thought Wallen deserved better during her initial appearance in Law & Order: SVU Season 24 Episode 12.
“Really, Carisi.”
Carisi fans, you might want to stop reading from this point on because, uh…his whole predictive policing thing in Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 7 is just bad. Same goes for how he behaves toward Liv. These two are supposed to be friends, but he barges in on her little in-office hug pillow product placement meditation session, then guilts her into helping him on his personal crusade even after she says she’s busy. As a colleague, he should know better. And as a friend? No comment.
The other issue here is him abusing his own power as an ADA to dig into the life of a private citizen who hasn’t even been charged with anything, whatsoever. And don’t get us started on him accusing Benson of trying to distract him by asking him to actually do his job and get the warrant she needs for Wallen’s case. Admittedly, there’s something to be said for gut instinct here. After all, Carisi turns out to be right. Cottle is a creep and did give some other kid “ick vibes.” Even so, overreaching still doesn’t look good on him.
Here’s another problem with this whole mess: Because Carisi behaves the way that he does to get us to the point of Cottle’s little crying fit, we’re looking at being set up to feel bad for a pedophile. Which, um. No. That’s. Absolutely not. Can we not. What is it with this show lately and trying to make us care about the wrong people? Because, full offense: We do not care about Cottle or his tears. The end.
More: What did we think of Carisi’s first run-in with Cottle? Read our review of Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 4 to find out!
More on Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 7
- “Well, unless you’re trying to actively get some kind of award for most OT this month, guys. Go home.” Uh. Something about a pot, a kettle, and being black. Or is Liv actually not into overdoing it these days? If that’s the case, it would’ve been great to actually see the journey that got her there.
- On the plus side with all the Carisi/Benson stuff, you can almost see the makings of a buddy comedy with how Mariska Hargitay and Peter Scanavino play off each other. He’s really selling going nuts, and she’s brilliantly reacting to a lot of his crazy-making like “???” Good stuff. (From the actors only.)
- “She has a memorable name.” And then she…struggles with…remembering it.
- “She doesn’t want the system involved.” Gee, can’t fathom why. (/Sarcasm.)
- “I thought your momma called you.” The way she rolls those eyes!
- It was way, way too brief, but I liked that tiny moment with Curry and Silva.
- “Well, if keeping you focused on a perp who committed an actual crime will distract you then, yeah.” That part! GET HIM.
- That is a very pretty shot of a very pretty person with her very pretty hair blowing in the very pretty wind, at least.
- “So figure it out. Do your job. And win her over.” Now, why is Captain Liv so short with her detectives in this episode? What’s the rush? Why is she irritated AF? But also: OMG. Yes, Mother.
- “How’s that for karma?” “You believe in that?” “Maybe it just moves slower for some folks.” I mean, looking around and the worst people constantly failing up…don’t think it works at all for some.
- OMG. A Noah mention??? He exists!
- It’s the side-eye when Bruno’s all “not with that attitude” for me.
- “Every family’s got stuff. Is yours perfect?” No, but uh. Our imperfect ain’t that.
- Love the back-and-forth where Fin gets Bruno to pay both witnesses the $250, and Moneybags is bellyaching over it.
- “What made him stop?” “I did.”
- Can we get more Benson/Curry team-ups like this? Please?
- The “SIT. DOWN.” from Bruno was fire.
- “He looked you in the eye and he asked for help, Carisi.” “Yeah. Well. Boohoo.” A mood.
- “…and he seemed genuinely remorseful when he told us about his…urges. So, technically, I think that puts us on the same side.” Girl, what.
- “For not decking him. Like your father would have.” You have another friend with similar daddy issues, Olivia…
- Make her a social worker!
What did you think of Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 7 “Tenfold”? Leave us a comment!
New episodes of Law & Order: SVU air Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC. The fall finale airs Thursday, November 21.
Really like your review and comments! I will disagree with the making us feel bad for a pedophile complaint. He was asking for help with his urges so he wouldn’t act on them, and hasn’t acted on them yet including with porn. Of course the right thing to do is help him! To protect any future potential victims! How could that be argued?
I think what you’re saying makes sense and isn’t something I’d even disagree with, but the way the episode approached the nuance of the situation was skewed in the wrong direction. Protecting/preventing any future victims is 100% the right way to frame the issue, but it just felt like the bulk of our concern was supposed to be put on Cottle and not those kids. I think other shows have done a better job of handling nuanced villains (so to speak) than this one has in its recent attempts, if that makes sense.
I just read your review and there are some things that dissapointed me with what you had to say. I understand that you’re naturally disgusted at Cottle’s character. Who wouldn’t. But I’m also dissapointed that you couldn’t acknowledge that the character recognises he has a flaw and he wants to fix it. That the message the episode was trying to tell us was that child sexual abuse is preventable and that there should be access to support for those who willingly come forward.
So when you say that no one cares about Cottle, I care. If it means that fewer children are sexually abused. And this is coming from a person who had been abused as a child and wishes my abuser had access to help earlier.