Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 22 Review: ‘Post-Rage’

Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 22 is a mostly-forgettable end to a season for which “forgettable” is, as a general rule, an improvement. While ‘Post-Rage’ isn’t without its weird issues, the hour at least spends time on police work — for the whole squad! — instead of on trying to humanize all the wrong people. Admittedly, this idea of a violent rapist and murderer being someone who’s “beyond help” in his only surviving victim’s professional opinion doesn’t completely sit right, particularly on a series that has so utterly failed its protagonist in her alleged healing arc. At this point, though, we’ll take what we can get. And, you know, chuckle at the inconsistency of Liv calling the perp’s insanity plea “rich” — even after the “beyond help” comment and, you know, the whole meltdown in interrogation.

Is this episode at all worthy of being a season finale, though? No, not really. With us losing two series regulars, it would’ve been nice to feel like there was some kind of end to their characters’ arcs. No one would’ve cared if it was happy, tragic, or somewhere in between — just something, anything. The little surprise celebration at the beginning, combined with the promotion ceremony at the end of the hour, sort of does that for Detective Velasco (Octavio Pisano). Aside from one character-centric episode for Velasco earlier this season, though, it’s not exactly as if the promotion feels like anything other than an easy, token way to explain away his leaving. (Except that…Detective, Second Grade doesn’t automatically equal “leaving SVU.”) But hey! Better than totally wasting Juliana Aidén Martinez all season, then giving us nothing to set up that character just…not being here in the future.

At this point, it’s just a good thing that this didn’t wind up being the series finale…and even better that we can put a consistently-disappointing season behind us.

MORE: While we’ll probably brain bleach most of the season, Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 2 and Episode 14 were both more what we’d expect from this series.

More on Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 22

• “It’s a Friday night, I guess they got lives.” …and Liv’s here. Exactly.
• OMG? She mentioned needing to get home to Noah? In this economy?
• “…but it turns out that you’re not entirely a lost cause.” This would play as so much more fun/teasing if I’d ever, even once, seen evidence that Benson and Velasco were close. Plus, did we ever get true development after that bogus storyline a couple (few?) seasons ago? No, we did not.
• I will always take a personal scene, even if it’s just corny “cops at a bar” bit, though.
• GLOVES!
• “Post-rage comedown…It’s actual regret, right? I’ve seen guys like this actually feel sad, try to undo the crime, even call the police on themselves.” OMG?! She’s talking about her experience and knowledge instead of making magical-thinking leaps???????? WHAT.
• Proud of Dr. Stewart’s assistant for not just handing over her patients’ information. HIPAA is important, actually! And “sought therapy” should never, ever automatically imply “suspicious person.”
• “…a way of maximizing my time with her. Apart from being the right thing to do.” Super grateful this didn’t go the way of Gary being that kind of “nice guy.”
• The retina is way in the back of the eye, so, uh…ouch.
• “I meet people in some of the most challenging moments of their lives.”
• “We should probably do it right now before this traffic starts moving again.” Not sure why, but I giggled.
• …but why did Benson and Curry go to the crime scene, which was more than handled, then stay nervously huddled in Liv’s office when the rest of the squad went out to track Fierro? Would it not make more sense for the Captain(s) to be close by, for leadership purposes, during the more unstable and potentially dangerous situation?
• Benson and Carisi having a chat about the case, debating evidence. It works! (But why is Liv reclining on his couch like she’s about to put her feet up, pop open a beer, and watch Organized Crime?)
• “Benson got so much juice downtown, she could start her own beverage company.” Filed under: Things only Fin could say without folks going “WHAT.”
• A DV arrest isn’t “a certain amount of chaos,” lady.
• There is so much material there with Benson and Curry. Imagine if we didn’t keep wasting it. Look at them!
• …we’re having this discussion around other patients and medical staff? Ok then. Sure, sure. Totally appropriate! At least we’re not badgering the victim for someone else’s sake!
• Love the way Betsy Brandt plays Gretchen’s reaction to learning a different patient than the one they assumed wanted to harm her.
• “Well, the symbolism’s hard to miss.” Or he’s a fan of last season of Criminal Minds for all the wrong reasons. Either way!
• “…lot of rage…” Me when I think about how dirty they did Olivia Benson this season.
• Does…does nobody realize that’s a fake AF confession before dude gets to his claim that he “assassinated the former president” or.
• Maureen Burgess. Elliot’s oldest daughter, merged with Kim from Chicago P.D. Well then.
• “I’ll know it when I feel it.” “Oh, you’ve been spending too much time with Benson.” This is…are…are LivGPT’s magical powers spreading?!
• Unintentionally(?) hilarious moment there, with Liv marching into that bullpen with dude’s photo held up.
• Dude’s Spiderman.
• “I’ve had my fair share of therapy but, uh, not even remotely enough to understand something like this.” Me, watching whatever happened to Olivia’s entire personality this year.
• No but, all snark aside, the Olivia Benson we get in that interrogation — the way she plays that guy, simultaneously covering up what she really thinks of him and showing how the whole disturbing conversation affects her — is one of the rare glimpses of her being her in SVU Season 26. Better late than never, I guess?
• “Nothing but mental manipulation.” Was one of the psychiatrists he saw Paula Agard?
• That little eyebrow raise after he says he’s all, “God, I am so tired.”
• Also: Same. So tired.
• “Our jobs are similar.” Yes…but also no? You are not a mental health professional! Here’s hoping everyone on this series taking turns spouting off random therapy jargon is over now.
• Imagine if they hadn’t wasted Pisano so that this little montage actually hit. It’s cute; it’s sweet; it’s a nice touch. Blah, blah, blah, blah. But it doesn’t have the same weight as it could — and, in fact, should.
• …and that’s that.

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Episode 22 ‘Post-Rage’? Leave us a comment!

Law & Order: SVU will return for Season 27 on NBC.