Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 10 Review: ‘Master Key’

Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 10 isn’t great, but at least it’s not down there with, say, Episode 9. Unfortunately, the hour relies a bit too heavily on Olivia Benson’s magical skills of just knowing something else is going on, while also including an uncomfortable number of instances of Liv just…putting words in the murder-suspect-slash-victim’s mouth. Additionally, the pacing is just off. Sure, we’re beyond grateful not to have another 84-year cold open and all. But no, that doesn’t mean splicing everything together in a way that speaks of urgency and uncertainty that just isn’t there is the way to go either. Because of this, we’re kind of like…ok. That was an episode that happened. One more down!

So…not great.

We could pick apart a lot of different issues here, but one of the glaring ones has been a major, ongoing problem for a while now. His name is Noah. In case you’ve forgotten, which someone at Law & Order: SVU clearly has, Olivia has a son named Noah. If not for her taking an interest in his case when he was a baby and showing up to all of his hearings, he very well could have wound up in the same place as our victim, Anthony. But does this come up in conversation, either with Captain Benson’s good ol’ pal ADA Carisi or even, at any point, when she tries to swoop in and play Anthony’s savior? No. Of course not. Why would it? She’s just here to be of service.

Even so, there is a message, underneath all the missteps in “Master Key” that we don’t want to discount. Often, a lot of these dudes who are “helping” kids, the ones who get way too involved, are actually involved in ways that are about anything but help. And the system does fail to stop these predators, enables them even. But there are better episodes of this series — and others! There’s a Criminal Minds episode about Morgan’s past that’s fantastic with this — for highlighting this issue. As usual, it all comes down to character development (or a lack thereof) and (a lack of) attention to detail in the right places.

It would be nice, for example, to say that Captain Benson’s able to pick up on the grooming aspect of all of this and knows so much in her gut because of her realizations about her own groomer a few years back and everything she’s done to work through that trauma since. But she hasn’t done anything — at least nothing genuine that we’ve seen — to work through it. And there’s still far, far too much magical thinking in the face of what looks, on the surface, like a clear cut case. So, we find ourselves in a familiar, hated place: Liv turns out to be right…but it happens for all the wrong reasons. (Or, really, a lack of any good reason other than “just because.”)

One might even argue that there’s too, too much going on in Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 10. As usual. Nothing in the way of personality for our star or literally any of our series regulars…but too much, nonetheless. Also as usual. That this counts as “better” really says something (nothing good) about the rest of Season 26. But, we have to admit, one genuinely good aspect of “Master Key” is guest star Ricky Garcia, whose performance as Anthony is spot on. This kid’s anger is justified, and we don’t need a lot of dialogue to let us know because the actor shows us. The way Garcia portrays Anthony’s righteous anger, his mistrust and contempt for Benson and Carisi, and his state of shock in that hotel room — all of these are so well done. In short, he makes us care, in spite of all all the missteps.

Finally, an episode that really makes us focus on the victim…not necessarily through anything other than the actor’s work. But still.

MORE: It’s been an…interesting season. To say the least. Read why Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 4 had us like “what.” Then, visit our Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 8 review for some thoughts on the big Carisi hostage situation. Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 5 was also here to remind us about online stranger dangers or whatever.

More on Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 10

• “‘My bad’ is not an apology. Just go to bed.” I laughed.
• “Do I look like his zookeeper?” No, but you do sound like a non-human wrote that. A human might say “do I look like his keeper.” But zookeeper?!
• “He finally went to school without complaining for a change.” Should’ve been a red flag, to be honest. Even us nerds complained about getting up early for school.
• Is there some sort of push/financial scheme to get fentanyl to be a bigger deal on cop shows than in real life or.
• Some of this is too easy. The Google search for how to remove an ankle monitor, for one.
• “The level of trauma he’s been through in his life, it’s very likely that he learned how to compartmentalize.” But did he learn it to the extent of being totally stripped of all personality? Asking for a Captain.
• “We’re here to help you. Ok?” Also: “Do not hurt him.” Like, I get the sentiment and Benson caring about teen boys (not her own, apparently) and all? But…Liv shouldn’t be so sure on first sight like this.
• I mean, I guess since he’s a white boy, it’d be fine even if he was the murderer. Plenty of real life white boy mass murderers who get treated like precious cargo. Ugh, fine.
• “I love you.” “I love you more.” Hm. So, we can afford to show text messages with emotional things in them. Good to know.
• The whole “you want to know what’s a lie” speech. Go off. That…that was well done. Kudos where kudos are due.
• No but how is this episode better but still…this?
• Why are we talking about a murder investigation out in the open and using a traumatized minor’s name while we’re at it? Also, maybe be less rude to the coffee cart person and actually acknowledge them.
• “Anthony was traumatized his entire life! Wouldn’t you want a different story???” Yeah, but that’s not the story Carisi’s talking about here??? He’s specifically pointing out that the kid keeps lying to the cops cop and ADA.
• Two dead parents, sex abuse at another home, “advocate” grooms him and traffics him…so. many. things.
•  “…but sometimes, dredging up the past just makes things worse.” Not really sure that’s the part that made things worse here.
• “Anthony has been failed by the system his entire life. I’m not about to let that happen again.” She’s magic! Only Olivia Benson can fix him!
• First of all, “you’ve got me” is hilarious, considering her own son clearly doesn’t “got” her. Second…Liv, why are you grabbing this kid’s shoulders when you just talked to him about adults who were abusing him???
• Posing to be “beautiful” while you’re “contemplative” in front of the board is…a choice. Like, we get it. Mariska Hargitay pretty. That…shouldn’t be the focus of the scene.
• Um. Craigslist no longer has personals. Hasn’t in a minute.
• They’re literally guilting him about the other kids involved. More manipulation. So healthy! Much help!
• The whole “push the world away to keep yourself safe” bit is very much giving “do as I say, not as everyone who’s watched this show knows I’ve always done. Or at least what I always did when I was a character, not a trope.”
• So, early in the episode, Bruno and Silva are a bit too much “rawr, intense cop” with Michael. Once we know, though, I very much appreciate the sarcasm dripping from Bruno’s “wow.”
• Horribly, the whole “pathological liar” thing has just enough of a grain of truth to it after Anthony’s spent the whole case, um, lying. That would’ve been a good avenue to cast doubt, but instead we went the easy way of wrapping this thing up and making sure Liv’s the perfect-perfect oracle who knew all along. Ok.
• “It almost gives me hope.” “You know I’m rooting for you, Anthony. And the system is broken. But not beyond repair. And neither are you.” Phew, ok. First of all: She…implies he is, in fact, broken here. Not good. Second, not really sure Anthony — with everything he’s been through, which we’ve been hammered over the head about the whole episode — would even so much as “almost” have hope after one small win in the sea of F—ed up he’s been through. It’s way too much of an “awwww, feel good!” moment to end things. Way too much. Viewers are much smarter than to need a cutesy, ~inspirational~ ending, actually.
• Is Noah in a group home now? With his brother in Stepford? Dead? Raising himself? No one knows!
• And in conclusion: Sure. Fine. Whatever.

What did you think of Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 10? Leave us a comment!

Law & Order: SVU airs Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.