Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 8 Review: ‘Cornered’

If we were to sum up Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 8 with only one word, that word would most definitely be “intense.” To go further, this fall finale is relentless in its intensity, with pacing that works about as well as this series’ pacing has worked in quite a while. As viewers, we just simply don’t get a chance to breathe. This fits. After all, we’re watching a hostage situation unfold with Carisi desperately trying to figure a way out and keep things as under control as possible. But each frantic, rushed moment also manages to exist as an eternity, which also fits. Because time is meaningless when you don’t know if one wrong move will be your last, what the guys with the guns will do next, or when — even if — the cavalry might come and save you.

So, couple that sense of urgency with strong performances across the board, and the hour winds up being one that we’d really like to say we loved. We’re not sure if we can go quite that far, but at least we can say the episode has a lot going for it. If nothing else, it certainly kept us on the edge of our seats and didn’t have us go “LOL tried to be ER‘s ‘The Long Way Around‘ and came out clownish” even once. (Though, nobody’s beating that episode for us.) And, for all the times Carisi playing cop despite no longer being one has been irritating — not to mention, evidence of nobody knowing how to put Peter Scanavino’s talent to use in any creative way that makes sense — it was pretty sweet to see the character think on his feet and put those old skills to use.

…but, at some point, the episode starts piling trauma on top of trauma in a way that becomes gratuitous. That turning point, oddly enough, comes right about the time that Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 8 becomes an SVU episode, as opposed to an unflavored Law & Order. Or other procedural, really. In case you need a translation, that means we really didn’t need the whole situation with Tess’ rape. Like, yeah. Special Victims Unit and all, but…it’s really fine to do something a little different every once in a while. Especially when you’re really trying to make use of the whole, “surprise! A main character is in danger — and not on the job or in the usual way” trope.

We also take issue with Olivia accepting Boyd’s terms so quickly. If we are to believe that Liv went through some great “healing” journey in Season 25, perhaps showing major evidence of that healing would be nice. Yes, saving one friend while keeping another from losing the love of her life and getting those innocent women out of the deli is good motivation for a “whatever it takes” mentality. But when a character has a pattern of behavior that speaks of all sorts of underlying stuff — most, if not all, of which is the result of a lifetime of trauma — and that character finally (supposedly) deals with that trauma, then the pattern needs to change.

Luckily, Carisi gets to be the hero here, so Liv never actually has to go in the deli or get on a plane with those guys. But she gives no indication, whatsoever, of even having a plan to save herself. A cue to give the other cops on the scene? Anything? Nope and nope.

And it’s…kind of both a good thing and a bad thing that someone else gets to be the center of the story, even gets to save the day. Because, honestly, this series has gone way too far in the other direction — of making Benson some kind of god-like archetype forever — way too often. But When you have a dedicated fanbase that’s willing to stick out a zillion (ish) episodes for their comfort character, having her take a step back and not be the hero — while still putting her in the position of being “heroic” in an unhealthy way — tarnishes Carisi’s big chance to shine.

Also: We get that Amanda wasn’t exactly in her best headspace (understatement), but for Noah’s name to not come up — not before his mother offered herself up as a sacrificial lamb yet again, and not even in the aftermath of…everything — was a choice. An unfortunate one at that.

MORE: How did we feel about the beginning of this season? Check out our Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 1 review. And see what we thought about Rollins’ last visit with the squad in Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 3. For something more recent, some thoughts on Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 7.

More on Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 8

• Carisi has good taste in coffee preparation, bad taste in bagel prep. (Butter should always be a last resort, not your go-to. I said what I said. Schmear all the way. Forever.)
• “What about our meeting? What do you want me to tell Benson?” “You’re a defense attorney. Why don’t you try defending me for a change?” The side eye Andrews gives him during all this.
• Really loved the beginning of that second visit to the deli, with the atmosphere and Ali being so tense before Carisi’s brain kinda catches up to the moment. Really great work from Turhan Troy Caylak. He nails portraying the two very different tones. Both the guy Carisi was just so friendly with…and this new Ali who’s, like, frozen and can only just look down, defeated, when Carisi finally asks if everything’s ok.
• That shot of Carisi’s face through the door is brilliant. Is it a bit convenient that Benson shows up at the exact right time for them to spot each other? Sure. But who cares? Not me.
• Olivia having to be the one to call Amanda…ouch. Incredibly well done from both Mariska Hargitay and Kelli Giddish. But ouch.
• “I used to work at a deli. Trust me. You’ll be fine. Only cold enough to keep the Yoo-hoos chilled. I promise.” Boy, what? These terrified girls should trust the dude with the gun…because???? Also, there are about a zillion other drinks I’d expect someone to bring up here.
• That phone ringing in the background, nonstop, just takes the anxiety up to a 100/10.
• When Liv hears Carisi yelling at the gunman and gets proof he’s not the one who was shot, wow. The physicality from Hargitay makes it seem like Liv’s own relief hits her like its own bullet to the chest.
• The. Smear. Of. Blood.
• “The cops? You honestly think they give a crap about us?”
• “Rollins, is that you.” “Yeah, I’m here Sonny.” The emotion from Scanavino and Giddish here.
• Ok but they’re right that Rollins shouldn’t be here. Totally get why we’re stepping out of norms and procedure here. Can’t really blame her or Benson for how they act, in general. But…the other cops are right.
• Actually. What was the point in having that whole, intense showdown between Benson and the hostage negotiator dude if they weren’t going to lean into that when she, you know, agreed to take Carisi’s place?
• Ok. So, we’re blaming Boyd being a belligerent alcoholic for our lack of…anything. Riiiiight.
• This is traumatic to watch. Like, Scanavino is selling it, with the “you’re ok with this” and the way Carisi flips TF out about how he’s going to wash the blood off his hands…but OMG. Too much, too much.
• “I’m sorry I couldn’t help your friend.” Touching moment in all that horror — and a necessary one, at that.
• “Look: we just all walked in through the wrong door this morning.” I was honestly like “OMG! Finally! A complicated villain done well!” with Deonte — who, by the way, Keith Machekanyanga made so incredibly raw and human, even almost sympathetic — until this line, right here. Less is more, folks.
• “Baby mamas.” Y’all gotta stop with trying to sound hip or whatever. Because you don’t.
• Paige Herschell gutted me, from the moment we first saw Tess after Boyd finally left her alone to that wail. And the way everything else is just dead silent while she does it…wow.
• ..but also: If the episode is going to focus on Carisi, then messing this girl up this much is so unbelievably cruel. The story doesn’t need this. Viewers really don’t need it either. Maybe on another show? But not this one.
• “Carisi. Carisi, come out here…Carisi, that’s an order.” “You’re not my boss anymore,” All that stuff I said up above about Olivia aside, this was truly a moment.
• “After all I did for you?” Oh, this dude is so many layers of trash, I can’t.
• Another wow moment: That major, major change Scanavino does from Carisi being so “understanding” and on Deonte’s “side” to basically cop mode.
• Just, for the record, Scanavino carries this fall finale. Which is kinda the point. In that aspect, we’re sold. Just, going forward…how do we give him strong enough material in his character’s actual job???
• Oh. Where’s Fin? Kinda needed him here. I get having to rotate cast according to schedules and dollars and whatnot…but story-wise…
• “I can’t believe I spent the entire day in the deli and didn’t have a single potato chip.” For me, it’d be coffee and dessert foods.
• “I’ll be fine.” “I thought you were fine already.” Ok, first of all: HOW DOES IT FEEL, OLIVIA. Second: That little half smile is everything.
• In additional “less is more” news: Throw away those lines at the end. Viewers don’t need Liv and Amanda’s concern spoon-fed to us. We see it, and Sonny’s state of mine is obvious as well.

What did you think of Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 8? Leave us a comment!

Law & Order: SVU returns Thursday, January 16 at 9/8c on NBC.