[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Law & Order: SVU Season 24 Episode 12 “Blood Out.”]
The promo for the most recent Law & Order: SVU episode made it seem like the time has come for the long-awaited kiss between former companions Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni). But has it?
Heading into what could possibly be a monumental episode, Benson spoke with Detective Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish) earlier than her exit about why she’s hesitant to go there, and Stabler, whereas drunk, mentioned he’s in love. And now, in “Blood Out,” the 2 don’t cross that line. No, Benson and Stabler don’t kiss.
Leading as much as that second, the chief of BX9, Oscar Papa (Goya Robles), is arraigned and remanded, dealing with 19 counts of rape and two for tried homicide, and Benson makes it clear he shouldn’t even take into consideration threatening Noah once more. “If you say one more word about my son, it will be your last,” she warns.
Scott Gries/NBC
Prep for the case towards Oscar is bleak; there’s concern over who will truly testify and probably questionable selections (like Velasco probably utilizing medication to get info from Hector). Then, in courtroom, Maria testifies to being raped and withdrawing her criticism out of worry of retaliation towards her brother (who was then killed by BX9 rivals), however Oscar’s lawyer argues she will be able to’t show his involvement. And his lawyer then pushes Duarte (Maurice Compte) about his prejudice towards BX9 and Oscar when he takes the stand. It solely will get worse: lead witness Benny is then given meals with rat poison in it and dies. (BX9 may need gotten to his mother or the supply child.)
With their case on “life support,” as Carisi (Peter Scanavino) places it, it might be time to play soiled, like Oscar. That means telling him they’ll launch the recordings of him working his mouth towards gangs within the metropolis, who’ve folks in jail. “That’s not a threat. It’s a verdict. No one gets away with trying to kill my son, not without some form of justice, and right now, yours is starting to sound pretty good,” Benson tells him. “You know the rule: blood for blood.”
But they hit one other roadblock: not solely is Albert, who was one of many males to assault Benson, sick, however he have to be rushed to the hospital due to his leg. Fortunately, the docs are in a position to save his leg, however even when he may testify from the hospital, his mother refuses to let him. Carisi switches gears in that dialog to asking Benson how Noah’s doing, and she or he is aware of he’s reminding right here which child she must be eager about. Noah’s doing nice; he seems completely happy along with his half-brother — and so they look regular, Benson and Duarte agree when he joins her at a bar. (He additionally feedback on a comment she makes about sleeping in her home alone; she’s referring to her son, she clarifies.)
After, Duarte turns down a journey and as an alternative chooses to stroll. And sure, that ends as we count on: BX9 members encompass and assault him with machetes in a bodega. Though he makes it to the hospital, he dies in surgical procedure. Oscar doesn’t even put up a struggle as soon as the recruits he had kill Duarte discuss. “He wanted to take away everything I built. Couldn’t allow that to happen,” he says. He additionally admits to having a “soft spot” for Benson as a result of he sees the kind of mom she is: one who would go toe-to-toe with a man like him. He’ll plead responsible to homicide (leading to 25 years to life) and tried homicide (25 years) and assures Benson that Noah gained’t be harmed. “I got what I wanted, so we’re even now.”
And that signifies that Noah can come residence. Benson has Stabler driving him again, explaining to Carisi, “there’s nobody that I trust more to bring my son home in one piece.” It’s after Noah’s asleep that the massive, intimate “Bensler” second comes.
“You’re family,” Stabler says when Benson thanks him for choosing up Noah, but in addition desires to know why she didn’t name him. “I knew that you would try to protect me,” she says. “And there’s something wrong with that?” he asks. “I care for you.” She avoids his gaze, looking the cupboards, till they get shut and… “Elliot, I want to, I want to but I can’t,” she admits. “What if it doesn’t work out?” He counters with, “and what if things work out?” But “I’m not ready for this. I’m not ready for this,” she insists, pulling away. “I’m not ready for this.”
So SVU followers, how are you doing after that?
Law & Order: SVU, Thursdays, 9/8c, NBC