Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 21 Review: Season Finale With A Strong Case, Tynan Arc Weaker

Law & Order SVU Season 27 Episode 21 “Monster” features a finale-worthy investigation, focused on bringing a particularly evil serial child kidnapper and murderer to justice after a mistake has the entire case against him—child in the trunk of his car, creepy AF confession in interrogation, gun, and all—thrown out. And no, the detectives can’t even use anything from the confession itself as they try to rebuild their case. They have to start from square one, while knowing who their perp is, and be sure not to take a single step out of line. It’s a nice twist on the procedural’s usual formula and one that drives home how important it is to pursue justice justly and legally, no matter how difficult that may often be.

The case of the week is intense, with the scope of Richard Caine’s crimes so harrowing, even Olivia Benson struggles with it. As the squad consults with a retired out-of-state cop who barely missed the opportunity to stop this especially heinous criminal himself, his harrowing experience is echoed beautifully in the exhausted, haunted reaction our Liv has to his story. There’s a wordless understanding between them, one shared by only those who’ve been at this forever, seen it all, and yet still manage to be sensitive to the worst horrors. No matter how much they compartmentalize. Strong performances, coupled human moments like that—the total opposite of the inhumanity from Caine and the tragedy of all those tiny bodies the squad eventually finds on the beach—that make this episode.

There’s at least some argument I could make for a multi-episode, even season-wide, arc centered on this case. But Law & Order: SVU Season 27 has been about something else. “Monster” makes some progress there, to the point of wrapping it up in much better fashion than I expected the Season 27 finale would be able to. Griffin reveals what he knows about his dad to Chief Tynan, and he’s smart enough to record her wildly unapologetic confession. Then, by the end of the hour, Liv’s able to use that to shut down her pettiest attack yet. Somewhere in there, Griffin gets tested, Benson almost loses yet another young nepo baby she’s come to adore, and all’s well that ends mostly well.

…but there’s never actually been a true reason for why Chief Tynan had it out for Captain Benson specifically. When I first heard her “being a boss” line to Griffin, I looked at it in the most charitable way possible and described it as “complicated in a really interesting way.” But part of what made her such a fascinating character, right from the start, was that she seemed to be testing Olivia in some way—even her job offer seemed like it was a maneuver, part of some agenda. And that agenda just went…nowhere, apparently. So, the WHY has always been fuzzy, with the partially-valid reason she finally gave so close to the end of the season not nearly enough.

Based on how Tynan threatens Liv’s job for purely emotional reasons while Griffin’s lying in that hospital bed, what was originally a weak explanation for her behavior now falls completely flat. Because between this and the way she justifies what she did back in the day to help cover for her former partner after that shooting, it’s very clear that she’s not ruled by impartiality or following chain of command. No. It’s personal. Period. So, what is the reason? What is it about Benson that put a target on her back in the first place? I guess we’ll never know.

It’s just…it’s sad. I don’t know how else to put it. Liv finally gets another woman for a boss, and she’s…what? Self-serving, evil, corrupt, unethical, and more concerned with her career—and the old “boys in blue” alliance—than actual justice? It’s not that Black women can’t be terrible just like anyone else, but it’s just an odd choice to make her the evil boss, unfairly harassing our saintly white woman main character. Especially in a season with Fin out more often than not, and especially with how she used Curry in her game, it just looks some kind of way. If nothing else, and actually in my lane, it very much validates the “women are too emotional to be leaders” foolishness. And, uh. No F—ing thanks to that.

Acknowledging how much harder it would be for someone like Tynan to get into that leadership position, versus Olivia “we were both referred” Benson rising up the ranks how she did, might’ve made all of this come together better. Then again, maybe it would’ve made things significantly worse by acting like the people who work the hardest for the least have a chip on their shoulders and/or are “angry.” Either way, this storyline, this character, and Noma Dumezweni’s utterly incredible performance in this role (both throughout the season and in this finale) deserved more substance. I’m probably a broken record across a few episodes now at this point, but this arc really did have all the potential in the world. I just don’t believe it ultimately lived up to said potential.

Still, looking at Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 21 as its own hour, not as part of anything larger, it’s pretty solid. In fact, if we accept the missteps leading up to it—Olivia’s last-minute and barely-there suspension, most of all—the finale also wraps at least this last handful of episodes up fairly well. And Dumezweni’s performance in both of her “Monster” scenes is just absolutely, unfairly stunning. I really can’t stress that last part enough.

MORE: We can pinpoint exactly where it all went wrong—the fall finale.

“Therapy can be weird”

For as difficult as everything about the case of the week is, and despite the Tynan arc ultimately being a swing and a miss, Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 21 manages to be at its best when everything slows down, steps away from the shock value, runs away from the mess with the Chief, and allows viewers to focus on the victims. There are some absolutely heartbreaking details—a child’s tiny shirt, Torres’ memories of a clarinet player or a “real smart” kid he couldn’t save—but at least one victim is still alive because those officers, however badly they botched procedure, found him six months ago. Bobby DeBoer.

Olivia Benson’s biggest problem as “Captain” is that she wants to be out in the field, wants to be there for the victims, wants to connect—but it’s also her greatest asset. When she has to tell Bobby’s parents about the outcome of Caine’s trial, she’s absolutely shutting down, beating herself up, drowning in guilt and grief to the point where she stops Griff from stepping in to protect her from an angry dad. It’s very clear she thinks she deserves it. But for as defeated as Mariska Hargitay plays our usually-bada** Benson, the time she spends with Bobby brings the character back to life. This is where she feels at her best, where she is at her best, the reason she keeps coming back and doing this job no matter how traumatizing and terrible it is most of the time. Because she can help.

I can’t get over how much I love watching Liv play catch with Bobby. In the first place, it’s so smartly done. Just as she talks about therapists playing games sometimes, that’s what she’s doing to get a feel for where the kid’s at mentally and why he might not be opening up in therapy. While she has a job to do and would very much like to come up with some new evidence that might help rebuild the case, she protects Bobby every step of the way and just does something he loves. He comes first. So, she has a conversation he can relate to while sharing something about herself. It’s genuine; she feels real, fully realized.

There have been so many times when Olivia’s kind of…formulaically gotten a victim to open up to her. Those scenes still manage to be powerful, in a way, despite being so generic—that’s in no small part due to how Hargitay works. But this was so, so very much better. It’s not the usual formula, not entirely. Because Olivia’s more open, vulnerable, human, and honest with this kid than she’s been with just about anyone in a very long time. She’s not only SVU’s longtime crusader; she’s a person with experiences that she can share, experiences that can help someone else. Honestly, the rest of this hour could’ve been hot garbage (it wasn’t), and this scene alone would’ve made it all worth it for me.

Also: “BOOM.”

MORE: Earlier this season, Detective Griffin was able to draw on personal experience to help a child, and that also made for some great TV.

Olivia Benson and Fin Tutuola talk retirement

After a season premiere where Fin admitted to considering retirement, and him needing to take more time off after initially returning after an injury, Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 21 “Monster” now sees Liv wondering how much longer she can keep going. There’s a certain exhaustion to how Hargitay plays her throughout this investigation, and with such a difficult case and an interrogation tape she obsesses over throughout, it’s natural for her to have doubts. Luckily, there’s Fin. He’s got her back—at just the right time, with just the right advice.

Obligatory statement: We’ve been robbed all season. We deserved more of this.

Admittedly, I wish we’d seen more of how Fin changes his mind and comes to the conclusion he’s actually “never retiring.” But the moment calls for someone to reassure Olivia, and he’s the best choice, especially after all his recent doubts. That he waits to make sure she’s listening before his next promise is a really nice detail. Although “and I’m never gonna die” is, obviously, an empty promise, it’s still a good thing to see and hear as a fan. I appreciate that Fin knows Liv’s faced way, way too much loss in her life. And that whispered “you’d better not” Hargitay delivers, and punctuates with that sad smile, is a killer.

This friendship and partnership is so important to this series. I really do hope we see more of it next season.

MORE: In this season’s penultimate episode, Tutuola and Benson had a different kind of role reversal—he was the supervisor.

More Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 21 reactions

“The last straw? He said he didn’t believe in birds. ‘Hollow bones don’t make sense, Jess.’ Dumba**.” What—and I can’t stress this enough!—the everloving F—.
People grab evidence bare-handed so often on these shows, I was very impressed by Rodriguez actually using a glove to grab that gun…and then, the procedural error got exposed at trial. Oops?
Daniel London is excellent in this finale. Caine’s a total and complete creep, but it’s in the most unassuming, subtlest of ways…which is actually much, much worse than if he was more overt about it.
Please tell me my ears deceived me, and the uni with the bird-truther boyfriend wasn’t named Acosta? As someone also covering MGM+’s FROM, that name on a cop…concerns me. (If you know, you know. And if you don’t? You’re missing out.)
Those looks Benson and Carisi share when the case falls apart!
Another episode of SVU, another opportunity for me to be like “I need a gif of that Liv facepalm.
“I cannot believe this; I cannot believe you’re putting me in this position.” Much better than the judge in Episode 19, that’s for sure.
”Nothing can destroy a government more quickly than its failure to observe its own laws. And that is where we are now.” Do I even need to point out how relevant this is right now, or…?
Liv in those shades being shady with this dude. Art.
Ok but the way she pulls those shades off and steps to this creeper…
I, too, love to watch Liv interrogate people over and over!
The way Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 21 uses all of these flashback scenes, with us seeing what Benson does so well—through her own increasingly frustrated, intense, heartbroken, troubled eyes—is absolutely brilliant. Hargitay hits all the beats she normally would in an interrogation scene, yet ever so slightly less-than, somehow. It’s like…Olivia knows she’s good at this, but she’s doubting herself the more she obsesses over the Caine case, so she’s not seeing herself in a way that’s as talented in the box as viewers normally would.
TL;DR all the flashbacks are cool AF.
Double facepalm?!
“Tynan helped him cover it up.” And then that grimace from Hargitay. Liv’s already got enough on her plate there, and this just, like, confirms so much and adds more aggravation. It’s very much an “OMG I CAN’T” moment, right down to how that arm lifts to grab the back of her head.
“All right, Dr. No. What do you suggest?” “Don’t you give me that crap. I’m trying to prevent this department from violating civil rights—again.” This was weird? I get everyone’s frustrated, and Carisi thought he had a slam dunk case, only to basically be embarrassed in court. But that squad isn’t exactly just constantly violating rights left and right for funsies like, say, a lot of real ones do so…just a weird tone in general.
“Boss, you don’t gotta go do this alone.” It’s the way Liv inspires this kind of loyalty so quickly for me.
“Maybe next time, don’t marry a dude after just two months of dating.” Or. Maybe next time, we can mind our business and not judge women for men being trash.
“You married a piece of garbage. That makes you gullible—not bad.” No, seriously. WTAF. “That makes you gullible”???!!! This is…really, really not a good look. Especially for this series.
“It wasn’t a mixup, it was a mistake. It was—it was a big mistake. And I’m in charge, and I take full responsibility for it, and I cannot tell you how sorry I am.”
She’s so gentle with him????
“I remember, um, when I first went? I just thought, like, why should I tell a stranger anything about me when they don’t know me.” Absolutely adore the way Hargitay shakes her head and throws her hand up—and has an attitude on the word “stranger.” Amazing.
“She had some stupid baby game. I didn’t want to play.” “Oh. Baby games? That’s dumb. You’re not a baby. You know, I bet if you told your therapist that, she’d come up with some other games.” Never getting over it.
…it’s possible I watched that whole scene like “Mariska Hargitay or Olivia Benson,” though? Maybe it’s both; maybe they’re, like, merging after all this time.
Tag yourself: I’m this child staring up at Olivia Benson and smiling like that.
“The clandestine meetings are so unnecessary…” as she’s having a clandestine meeting. I laughed.
As I said up in the intro/overall section, Noma Dumezweni killed it in Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 21. When Griffin tells Tynan he found that gun…wow. The Dumezweni turns in shock, then filters through so many complicated emotions is genuinely incredible. And that tiny swallow gives away so many nerves that Tynan usually simply doesn’t have. Then, look at how she quickly tries to hide those nerves all over again and look unaffected but still doesn’t quite get to masking her feelings to the same extent as usual. So good. That moment alone makes me incapable of saying the entire arc was a waste, and there are so many others like it packed into precious little time, I don’t know how she does it.
“I told that stupid sonofab**ch to throw that gun in the river.” This line reading makes it seem like we’re actually going to get a complex moral problem/justification that sounds more like Tynan’s about to try convincing herself all over again, then fail in the face of this kid she’s helped protect all these years. Instead….no. A waste.
“How far would you go to protect your partner? Your captain.” THE THE WAY SHE LEANS IN AND RAISES THOSE BROWS ON “YOUR CAPTAIN.” Oh, she’s jealous AF that he’s swapped loyalty here, too. But I mean, it comes across pretty clearly from Corey Cott that Griffin desperately wanted to hear something else from Tynan, desperately wants to get himself back on her “side.” He just…can’t here. There’s nothing there!
“Did you…did you practice for this? Or…or are you just. that. good?” Olivia asking this monster about his crimes? Or me, asking Mariska Hargitay how she does it? You decide!
The emotion, the tears in her eyes in that flashback…
“I knew it. First time I talked to him, I knew it. Sometimes, you can just feel it. When you’re in the room with him, it’s on your skin. In the air.” “What’s it feel like?” “Evil.” “That’s right.”
Bensonhurst Towing. Hear me out: Benson. Towing.
“That guy’s probably got a lockout kit.” “There’s no time for that.” And then, Fin just calmly walks over, picks a pipe up, and busts the window out. Like it’s nothing. I’ve missed this guy so much this season. So, so much.
Neat shot of Rollins leaning back in her seat, reflected in the mirror, with Curry right next to her.
“That’s her strategy, though, right? Just make things hard enough so it’s not worth fighting for?” I am, once again, going to ask if I even need to point out how relevant…
“Yeah, well, I sit in a room with that guy, there’s no guaranteeing what I’ll do.” We’ve seen her boxing skills, so…I say she should go sit in a room with that guy and her fist should slip.
One thing Hargitay’s going to do is give you that emotional moment when something more horrible than even Benson can bring herself to predict gets uncovered. That beach…
“How long? …have they been buried?” The struggle to even say this…oof.
“Regular day at the office for ya?” “Top five worst.” Somehow, Torres’ small, weary nod of recognition makes this 10 times more painful.
He’s not wrong? But how dare Carisi crush my Liv’s first real hope since the whole case collapsed. Very rude of him.
(It’s actually a great use of the character.)
When Liv gets in that monster’s face and calls him a coward at the end there…
Liv jumping back, startled in the flashback and in the present day? Genius way to kick us back into the current timeline, actually.
“You gotta knock that off.” “I’m…just trying to see if there’s something I missed.” “You didn’t. And if you keep doing that, you’re just gonna drive yourself nuts.” Olivia Benson would listen to this from exactly zero other people.
The EXHAUSTED way she takes off the glasses, pinches the bridge of her nose, gets up…
Check out that seamless handoff with the coffee. Fin is here, and everything is better than it otherwise would be!
The kid’s name…is Eli. Olivia saves him. Where have I seen this before?
“You know nobody—nobody—in this whole world would care if I blew you away right now.” Such an emotional moment from Cott.
Seriously, do the suspension earlier—and give Benson a real break! Make her fight to get back in!—make Tynan more morally gray, and you’ve got an arc!
I like the full-circle bit with Jake there at the end. Yes, he completely struggles with it, but he does do the right thing instead of shooting Caine. So, even though he’s in a similar position to the one Tynan and his dad were in years ago—he could easily just rid the world of another “low-life who deserved it”—he can rest easy knowing that he did the right thing, just like he vowed he would’ve.
…but also: Elliot Stabler and his daddy issues were more compelling, and I was told that had “run its course,” so.
“I guess you’re the one…who’s gonna punished now. You’re done.” Wowwwwww, she’s terrifying when she wants to be! We all know this. It’s still impressive in the moment.
Benson helping Griffin. Yeah…him getting hurt is a weight she’s gonna carry with much more difficulty.
That is some intense emotion while Liv watches and waits outside Jake’s room.
Speaking of small moments that make this season finale good: Rollins and Fin. What a sweet, silly little exchange when he’s (clearly) passed out in that chair.
“Hey, Sleeping Beauty.” And that little noise??
“I’m not asleep; I’m meditating.” Sure, Fin.
“Got you a coffee.” “Is that decaf?” “What do you think.”
Same goes for Bruno and Curry. “Curry made me bring the fuzzy slippers.” “Well, they’re adorable so of course I did.” I giggled. So hard. Great line reading from Aimé Donna Kelly.
Speaking of: It kinda sucks that Curry didn’t get to confront Tynan about what she did to her. A battle between them would’ve been…well. What we did get earlier in the season was great, so. It would’ve been that—but more!
Oh, oh, oh. Tynan’s heart is IN HER THROAT, even after everything. She still loves that guy…if only we saw more of this and less manipulation and maneuvering.
Deserved better, I say!
Can we talk about Olivia caring enough to speak up and fill Tynan—who didn’t even appear to notice her at first—in, after all this woman has put her through? Because, uh, I would not. I’d ask WTF she was doing here.
“He’s ok. He lost about a foot of his intestines. But from what I understand, uh, we have some to spare.” When you used to work at Cook County General…
“I’m sorry. What—what are you even talking about?” “You putting a team in danger for no valid reason.” “The valid reason is locked up because of Griffin. He’s the hero here.” “I don’t care about heroes, Captain. I care about survival, and it’s a shame you don’t.” THE WAY LIV PULLS BACK AND RAISES THOSE BROWS and makes that QUESTIONING “WTF” little head movement. Excellent.
“Your career is over. And I am no longer sorry about that.” Oh. When Olivia Benson drops her jaw and makes that face, you’re about to get skewered.
…but when was she sorry????
Again with Dumezweni’s ability to look so shocked, and betrayed, and then filter through so many more emotions after that “you sure about that?” And the shots of Tynan watching Griffin…whew.
What a fantastic scene for Hargitay and Dumezweni.
Liv getting up in Tynan’s face!
But that’s…it?
…again, I say, DESERVED BETTER.
That cute, little fist bump and smile, though????
I do love a found family moment to end a season! Is it maybe a little odd, considering how fractured the team has been? Yes. But still. I’m a sucker for found family, so.
Griffin and Benson being so close in a relatively short amount of time, considering how he originally became assigned to her unit: Shouldn’t work. Ultimately does. That came together really nicely this season.
“Olivia adopts new grownup son in the absence of her actual adopted son,” is a note I put somewhere but then felt attacked by. (Too soon?)