Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 1 Review: ‘Lost Highway’

Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 1 is, to put it lightly, a season premiere we’ve had a difficult time waiting for. Compared to other series, especially those on streaming services like Peacock, the gap between seasons hasn’t actually been that long. But it’s felt like forever just the same. (Again, putting it mildly here.) Well, it’s finally here, and — thankfully — ‘Lost Highway’ was well worth the wait.

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder and all of that tired nonsense, sure. But our praise for this episode, and our impression that the move to streaming hasn’t caused this mold-breaking procedural to lose its magic hold over us has nothing to do with any of that. Organized Crime just remains that good. Period.

MORE: See what we thought when we first heard about Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 streaming on Peacock.

“I’m not exactly ready to hit the road just yet.”

As the beginning of the season and the beginning of a new arc, Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 1 spends some time setting up the task force’s latest investigation. And it, uh, is…a lot. Although the trucking company Detective Stabler goes undercover with is bad enough, it’s the Kingman brothers’ business partner, Lebec, who we meet in the episode’s opening moments. And he is much, much worse. He claims he’s burning bodies to avoid being “barbaric” or a “sociopath” (his own words), but that creepy opening scene and the way he talks about a deceased person as if they’re an object shows us he’s both of those things — and probably more.

Whatever you do, don’t think about the badge that gets tossed into the flames. Because the federal agent working with our team certainly doesn’t want you to. Sheppard also doesn’t want the team to know about it; he plays evasive about the biker gang being “slippery.” But Bell and her detectives can tell this guy isn’t being honest with them…which leads to them discovering “sh— hit the fan so hard” last time, a C.I. was killed and the previous task force was disbanded. Then, there’s the leader shooting a dude in cold blood in front of the new guy (our “Hank”) and, again, burning the body for the sin of “mess.” (Which apparently means something about drinking and getting beaten up?)

So, really, for all the terrible people we’ve come up against so far on this series, this one sounds…worse, somehow. Which, as bad as it may be to say, is exactly the feeling we want to get as viewers whenever we go on a new adventure. Otherwise, what’s the point? Whether or not any of this operation is actually more dangerous, or actually involves more twists and turns than any of this series’ previous storylines, the setup has us just convinced enough to care what happens next. This premiere does a superb job of laying the groundwork, making a promise that we’re watching something new.

One of the hour’s standout performances comes when Bell listens to a recording of the previous confidential informant’s last moments alive. Danielle Moné Truitt plays the moment just as stunned, and horrified, and chilled as the revelation requires. And, more to the point, we know how worried she is for her partner. We also know, thanks to an earlier scene, that she has even more of a reason to feel responsible for what happens to Elliot than usual.

In fact, if absolutely nothing about Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 comes across as any different from anything that came before it, one thing should: Elliot Stabler. Yes, he’s still bald. Yes, quite a lot about him remains the same — not the least of which being his easy, close friendship with Ayanna Bell. But…well. He sets some kind of record for blowing his cover here, whether his reasons are exactly what you’d expect them to be or not. (Which, hi. Hello. Defending women and a child? Yes. Obviously, the real El jumps right out.) The failure to keep all the good, caring parts of himself just under control enough to get the job done is noteworthy.

Even before that, though, he really, really doesn’t want to go undercover in the first place. The scene where Bell visits Stabler’s home to convince him to embed himself in Three Kings Haulage’s operation showcases the absolute best of Law & Order: Organized Crime and the absolute best of these two characters’ relationship. Elliot just casually putters around his kitchen, talking about coffee and pointedly ignoring Ayanna as she tells him about the investigation. But, of course, the second she mentions trafficked women, Elliot stops being a goofy old man who just wants his coffee and accepts the uncomfortable truth. He’ll do it. His partner was right when she said he wouldn’t want to miss this one.

MORE: Take a trip down memory lane to El and Bell’s “crap spouses” conversation in Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 3 Episode 2.

“Not everyone’s as nice as I am”

Season 5’s Stabler can’t hide that he’s, well, extremely, shiny-like bald Stabler. In the past, he’s let his mask slip — but he’s always quickly covered himself back up again. But in Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 1, he fails to even try to keep it on. Look at how quickly he goes full “big softie” with Bunny, who sneaks into his truck and tries to steal from him while he sleeps. He might snap to attention and get his bat ready for a fight when something wakes him up, but as soon as he sees that child there, the man melts. That little girl holds him in the palm of her hand from minute one. He is so utterly and completely amused by her bargaining tactics, and he insists on walking her back to her room so she can be safe. That instant bond is adorable — and dangerous.

Elliot again messes up by beating the everloving F— out of Felix for being too rough with one of the girls. “Hank” gets back in the bosses’ good graces by pretending not to be the least bit rattled after seeing Lebec’s whole masked, murdering, corpse-burning spectacle.. But he almost immediately blows it again, for Bunny. And just when we think he might have saved her, just when he’s convincing her everything’s going to be ok and they’re going to go get ice cream, all of that fragile hope simply shatters. (Kinda like, you know, the windows of that truck.)

Throughout the entirety of the Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 premiere, Christopher Meloni reminds us that he’s the master of subtle expressions. Hank may convince Vic he’s fine after that spectacle on the border, but when none of the scene’s other characters are looking, Meloni shows us just how much it all disturbs Elliot. All of those shots of Stabler looking on as Felix burns are stunners. He’s standing there haunted, and riddled with regret, and generally like “WHAT THE—…” On the other hand, whenever El’s with Bunny, the man wears his heart on his sleeve. That adoring, little smile after the little girl nods that, yes, she does want ice cream would be a heartbreaker even without what comes after.

…but, uh. Well. That happened.

MORE: This isn’t the first time Elliot has gotten a little too attached while he was undercover. We’ll always have his time as Rita Lasku’s Officer Monte Cristo…even if that ended very, very tragically.

“No one’s heard from Joe Junior in months”

While Elliot reluctantly (and, uh, unsuccessfully) runs around as Hank, for the rest of the Stabler family, life goes on. As it does, Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 1 gives us an update on last season’s biggest cliffhanger. Namely, no, we still don’t have any idea where Joey is or what he’s up to. Or…maybe Bernie does? She’s completely convinced that Junior regularly calls her and, last time they spoke, he was in Switzerland. The way Randall responds, however, very much shows that he doesn’t think she knows what she’s talking about. Additionally, we get the impression that these two have this sort of disagreement, in various forms, frequently…and Becky has learned exactly when and how to jump in so she can play peacemaker.

Meanwhile, an adorably-nervous Eli begins work with his field training officer. During a check-in, Bell shows Stabler a photo of his namesake in his uniform. Although Elliot’s a proud papa of his “all grown up” boy, his smile does not last. It’s because he’s still worried about his kid doing this type of work — especially after his nighttime experience — and he’s also just not there to experience these milestones with him. The sequence that includes the party back home, set against everyone sharing in Eli’s joy while Elliot has to pretend to work on his truck just to get a quick couple of minutes to call his kid, is beautifully done. It really highlights all that Elliot wants to be back home for, what he’s missing out on. The extra detail of Eli not even having his phone on him and missing his dad’s call is absolutely gutting.

“Sorry I can’t be there. But congratulations. I love you. And I’m proud of you. Ever since you were a little boy, I’ve been proud of you. It’s been an honor to watch you grow up to be the man that you are today…It’s an honor to be your dad. I ove you.”

And the message itself? So bittersweet, especially since Elliot talks about the “honor” of watching his son grow up…which is a thing that’s actually not happening in that very moment. He’s not watching. He’s under a truck, having witnessed yet more horror. Ouch.

MORE: When we last saw Joey in the Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 finale, we…didn’t exactly feel great about some of Emery’s comments to him.

More on Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 1

• “All of this is getting scooped up. And dumped in Lake Ontario. Where it belongs.” Between this and talking about chopping up bodies being “barbaric,” I’m just going to pretend like this Lebec dude has beef with Dexter Morgan.
• Bunny telling her bear to keep quiet…so innocent, such a wild contrast to that tough, smart thief Elliot meets. This is who that kid should’ve been able to be, if not for where she’s growing up.
• “You want a coffee?” “So, that’s a no on the coffee?” “…being crammed in an 18-wheeler would certainly be that, but I’m not exactly ready to hit the road just yet. But. If you haven’t changed your mind, I am making a fresh pot either way.”
• SARGE JUST LET THE MAN SHARE A COFFEE WITH YOU.
• Bell’s reaction to Stabler saying to just send Reyes? Oh, I have missed those looks.
• His s— eating grin, though. How can an old man be so…boyish?
• Here lies Elliot Stabler’s little gold bag of magic caffeine beans. It died valiantly, whilst being slid down the cabinet as if its owner was saying “welp. That’s over, that’s canceled.”
• Oh, but he looks sick when he realizes he has to go.
• A hat on the big, bald head! Sun protection! …and a sufficiently trashy deep V on that shirt’s neckline. We are BACK-back!
• Ok but when FBI dude’s all “how’d you get your guy in,” and Bell’s grin says something like “none of your business…and F. you.”
• “Your CI got a name?” “…yeah.” In which Reyes is like, “confidential. Try me” without saying a single word.
• It’s the way Bell squints those eyes after “everything else is irrelevant” for me.
• “Detective Stabler can handle himself. Do not forget you came to us. And we for da—ed sure know what we’re doing. So let us do it.” My notes, only without the censorship: SHE GETS RIGHT UP IN HIS FACE AND SAYS THIS AND SHE LOOKS MAD. AND SHE SAID FOR D—ED SURE. DO NOT F— WITH AYANNA BELL IS2G.
• Once again: We. Are. Back.
• The beat where Elliot and Bunny spot each other for the first time. It’s like “adoptive dad at first sight” or something. This man can not do anything without collecting more kids!
• No, seriously. Meloni and kids, y’all. Always the best. All of this banter between Stabler and Bunny is so good.
• He’s just a giant child himself, huh.
• I love that for us.
• Also love for us: the immense amount of talent Maggie Toomey clearly has, and how she uses it here. Makes all the Bunny stuff that much better.
• “I can talk to you about you? What is it that we are gonna talk about?” “About how I learned my lesson and I’ll never do it again.” I’m going to need Baldy to take notes on that response and word-vomit it to Olivia, and Ayanna, and Mama Bernie, and…
• “What are you talking about five bucks? That’s mine.” I LOVE THEM.
• Such a cute little hug, which El’s clearly surprised about. And BOOM! Right into “poster boy for rage” mode when he spots Felix hurting that woman. Get you a man who can, and will, do both.
• “Adult proof.”
• “Junior, uh, missed those steps good.” Ya think.
• Have I mentioned that Ellen Burstyn and Dean Norris are gifts yet this season? No? Well. They. Are. Gifts.
• “She’s not a bad kid. She just had a rough start, you know?” Me when I defend this bald b—ch to the haters.
• That fond “daddy” smile when he sees Bunny getting her hair done.
• Do these dudes think they’re the Yellowjackets during their time trapped in the Wilderness™, or working for Jonathan Crane or. (No but seriously WTAF with the masks.)
• “I don’t like messy.” Please do not let this dude watch EO interact.
• Did y’all catch that shot of one of the masked dudes staring “Hank” down? That’s bad, right?
• Ok but Elliot looks super weirded out. Even after everything he’s already seen in his long, long, loooonnnnnnnng career.
• “What masks.” If I speak about humans and public health…
• “You’re not very good at this.” And his little grin.
• “You want a stapler? It’s free.”
• “Nearly had my head blown off in the last 24 hours.” “That’s less than usual.”
• “My brother Randall? Since when are you two BFFs.” “I’ve got a lot of besties you don’t know about.” “Do you? Alright.” “…you’d better get back.” Inject it in my veins. I MISSED THEM.
• Official first “Bell’s actually Stabler’s best partner because they don’t have all that…complication but do have all the closeness, and the trust, and the toughness, and the respect, and, and, and” of the season!
• What in the frozen body.
• “There can’t be that many bad apples out here.” Sadly, there can be, and Elliot Stabler knows.
• Tag yourself. I’m Bell’s “my God.”
• …outbreak of serial murders. Call the BAU. Wait. Wrong streaming service? OOPS.
• “[Thwack.] Can you explain the rules of the grill to this barbarian?” “You eat when he eats.” Never change, Uncle Randall…never change.
• Elliot really can leave a good voicemail, huh.
• The way he nearly murders Mark to get information on Bunny…and the details. Of. The. Blood. On. His. Knuckles. Look how many times the camera focuses on that…wow. Elliot Stabler and his many contradictions? Or “blood on his hands” being used literally here.
• “I got ya. It’s you and me, ok? Let’s get you out of here.” YOU AND ME.
• Teamwork with the bat toss!
• “I want to go home.” So. Small.
• His soft look. SHUTUP.
• That is…certainly a way to end a season premiere.

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 1 ‘Lost Highway’? Leave us a comment!

Stream Law & Order: Organized Crime on Peacock. New episodes release Thursdays.