Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 17 Review: ‘Deep Under’

Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 17 “Deep Under” is an intense hour from start to finish. It’s a really strong one for a returning Octavio Pisano, as Velasco’s undercover role with the DEA collides with the work he did, and the person he became, while he was working with Benson and the rest of the squad. Although the investigation involves some very, very high stakes—one wrong move for Velasco, and he’s dead. Not to mention, there are a bunch of trafficked girls he and his old squad are trying to save—the episode weaves in some thoughtful, emotional personal scenes that really make all those life-or-death implications matter so much more. It’s Pisano at his best, and the additional return of Ice-T as Fin (also doing some of his most understated, yet greatest, work) makes everything click into place in a way that just feels right.

In an hour packed with a lot of difficult work for Pisano—he has to simultaneously pull off Velasco’s undercover “Vicente” personality while signaling his actual character’s constant, calculating anxiety underneath—it’s unsurprising that the best comes in those one-on-one scenes with Ice-T and Mariska Hargitay. There’s a history here, and the hour honors it. In fact, much like Velasco’s shocking (or, would’ve been shocking if there hadn’t been plenty of promotional material to let us know about it ahead of time) reveal, Fin has his own grand entrance. Although, If there’s any misstep, whatsoever, with how the series reintroduces either character, it’s here. How is Fin not in the loop on where Curry is and why.

Even so, between Velasco’s visit to the Benson household—what’s with the trend of undercover dudes just…showing up in the middle of the night, no matter how many times Liv moves?—and Fin’s ability to give advice without actually giving it, drawing the other man out to confess he’s actually developed feelings for someone he was initially using for information, it’s difficult to imagine going back to a world where these guys aren’t naturally, regularly part of the team. And that…kind of makes their moment at the end bittersweet. To be clear, it’s well done. But I’m also probably going to have to put more emphasis on the bitter than the sweet.

MORE: Here’s how SVU explained Velasco’s exit.

More Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 17 reactions

“Griff, you do know what anonymous means, right?” This is how I like my Olivia Benson. So much attitude, lovingly judging the F— out of fools.
“Take me in. Take me in now.” The absolute terror Pisano portrays here, combined with that urgency to get Liv to snap out of her surprise and move, is excellent.
Also: Liv. Ma’am. You’ve been in the game long enough, you should know you have got to have a better poker face to keep this man alive.
Between the…unfortunate facial hair and the completely different attitude and posture, I would not know this guy in holding was Velasco if they hadn’t told me. Really well done from Pisano. Truly.
“Well, I’m—…sick of talking to myself. You can have him. Bye, Vicente.” Ah, see? Much better. There’s Captain Benson, being disgusted with a perp—not Liv, shocked to see her former detective!
“Yeah? Well, that’s why I brought in this guy.” Oh, she’s so happy to see him and so proud of herself for asking!
Fin Tutuola could be immortal, and he’d still always manage to know a guy. Especially in Narcotics. Pitch perfect.
For as much as I’m like, “ok, but why wouldn’t Liv have talked to Fin about Curry at any point while he’s been taking time away,” I do very much love their exchange there at the beginning. Like, I felt that deep sigh before “…that’s a story for another time.” And Fin? Fin’s just chill as always with that “say no more.”
“Any idea who the connect was?” That “no” from Ice is hilarious. Just sharp. Blunt. Quick. Moves right on to the next thing.
“One thing about me, Captain, I don’t really believe in luck.”
I need another DEA case involving Weber, like, STAT. Jerrika Hinton and Mariska Hargitay are so good together. That’s especially true of their very first scene in Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 17. Neither character wants to show her cards because they’re both actually trying to look out for Velasco, and that results in this fascinating kind of mental battle, where they’re both needing to read each other and feel each other out before actually deciding to cooperate. Hinton comes in like Weber’s going to be yet another problem for Benson, but the more the characters figure each other out, the more we see her soften and become sincere. (Because Liv begins to see her that way.) And those little moments where Hargitay releases the tension she carries, as Liv lets down her guard and feels actual relief, are golden.
“I’m always sorry the guy who cut his throat didn’t finish the job.” Oh, wow. She means it. That expression!
That one nervous swallow from Pisano when Arturo first confronts “Vicente” about loyalty…wow.
OMG?! NOAH EXISTS?!!!!!!
…not for long. Mommy’s gotta talk to yet another foolish man who’s gone undercover and won’t see how badly he needs out.
“Should probably get your super to check the door on the roof.” Nah. Next time we see Olivia at home, she’ll be living in yet another new place.
~~(Elliot’s would be nice.)~~
“He’s, uh…hit quite a rebellious streak.” That sigh and little bit of attitude…
I want to know more.
Tell me about Liv as the mother of a “rebellious” Noah! Please! I’m usually a “show, don’t tell” person, but I’ll take a frustrated comment here and there if that’s all they can manage.
I know I mentioned it up in the brief introduction and all, but that back and forth between Hargitay and Pisano is just incredible. When Liv first begins talking about her and Weber both being concerned for Velasco, it’s like he physically braces himself to withstand the pressure of his former Captain’s interrogation skills. And, although she uses completely different tactics, Liv gets him squirming exactly the same way she does with pretty much any perp you put in front of her in the box. Nobody’s escaping that oh-so-intense gaze of hers, especially not when she’s leveling it on you from a place of just passionately trying to help you.
That firm “I said no, Captain.” Ouch.
The way she studies him so carefully before realizing he’s definitely not budging and then just…covers her face like that. Brilliant.
“We’re very busy right now.” “Ok, well, you just said you’re not open yet. So.” I snorted. Captain Benson’s brand of snark is rubbing off on Griff, I fear.
“You and me…” “…me and you.”
SVU without Fin Tutuola is just wrong. Look what we’ve been robbed of for most of this season.
“I mean, look, Velasco. I’ve always kept it real with you, and Imma keep it real when I say you can’t. You can’t protect SVU, you can’t protect the DEA, not the missing victims, or this girl all in one shot. That’s not how it works.” I don’t think anyone else could put it so bluntly like this and actually make someone who’s so deep undercover, so desperate to help everyone, so afraid for his own life…listen?
Beautiful moment of reflection from Pisano.
THE FACEPALM FROM LIV.
“You’re right. Agent Weber, we did. We walked right into it. But we were acting off intel that Velasco gave us. If this was a ruse, that means that our guy…and the victims, are in danger.” Hargitay really plays up Liv’ struggle to even think about those victims, and her voice just breaks on the “so. So, we need your help.” Ouch.
“It works even with Velasco’s phone turned off.” “Probably should’ve led with that.” And Liv’s giving Fin this look that’s equally a warning and something along the lines of, “can you believe these people’s sh**?” Absolutely priceless.
So much suspense here toward the end of Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 17. I’m very glad it didn’t happen, but I was so drawn in, I was convinced Velasco was a goner.
This whole thing feels very “we’re trying to be like Law & Order: Organized Crime instead of just renewing it,” though? I think, no matter what other small imperfections there may be here or there, that’s…that’s my biggest issue?
Carmela Zumbado was so good in this hour. Especially that absolute devastation and heartbreak when Eliana realized the one person she’d let herself trust had been lying to her all along.
“You said you trusted me. Do you trust me?” “I don’t trust anybody.”
Unintentionally hilarious there with Fin running that guy over and sending him flying? Normally, it would take me out of the plot completely, but somehow, it works when it’s Fin. I don’t know.
“I told you to be careful.”
“Velasco, she must be, uh, quite a woman to get you involved in all of this.” “Yeah, I told her.” Much better than Fin hiding important things from Liv at the beginning of the season. We call that growth.
“My take is they’d be crazy to let a cop like you go.”