WARNING: SPOILERS ahead forLaw & Orderseason 24, episode 11 andLaw & Order: SVUseason 26, episode 11.
This article contains references to the sexual exploitation of minors and the targeting of minors over the internet.
TheLaw and Orderfranchise’s Nicholas Baxter (Tony Goldwyn) appears in bothLaw & OrderandSVU’s 11th episodes of the current season for similar reasons, but the two series fail to make the most of this crossover opportunity. As the replacement forLaw & Order’s Jack McCoy(Sam Waterston), Baxter often has to make tough decisions about cases while keeping his lead attorneys happy enough that they won’t leave. However, he’s made an effort to distinguish himself from his predecessor by focusing more on the big picture than individual wins.
Law & Orderseason 24, episode 11 involves Baxter’s decision-making in an intense case of an abused woman accused of facilitating her daughter’s murder at her late husband’s hands. Baxter also makes a rare appearance in one ofLaw & Order: SVU’s creepiest episodesto resolve a conflict over whether a suspect with an intellectual disability should be charged as part of a sting targeting pedophiles who use the internet to lure their victims to hotel rooms.In both cases, Baxter must decide whether to move forwarddespite objections.
Both Maroun & Silva Fought For Cases To Be Dismissed In The Name Of Justice
Law & Order’s Samantha Maroun (Odeyla Halevi) andSVU’s Kate Silva (Juliana Aiden Martinez) face similar dilemmas in their respective shows. TheLaw & Orderepisode revolves around Michelle Burns (Abigail Spencer), a filmmaker who is accused of enabling her daughter’s murder by her abusive husband.Maroun demands Price (Hugh Dancy) join her in asking Baxter to get rid of the caseafter a judge denies the defense’s motion to allow a psychologist to testify about Michelle’s state of mind. She feels that prosecuting Michelle would set a precedent of punishing abuse victims for their trauma responses.
Law & Order Season 24, Episode 10 Breaks A Cliche Tradition For The Worse
Law & Order season 26, episode 10 skipped a tradition that’s become cliche for the procedural, but this was the wrong time to change its formula.
Baxter agrees to a plea deal for Michelle to get this case off his desk. However, soon afterward, he has another case to decide. Kate Silva participates in a sting operation that nets the department 50 pedophiles. However, the last suspect is a disabled man with the mental age of 10, who brings condoms to the meetup at Silva’s request but doesn’t know what they’re for. Thus, Silva doesn’t believe he should be prosecuted, and ultimately, Benson (Mariska Hargitay) makes Carisi (Peter Scanavino) accompany her to convince Baxter to drop the charges.
Silva’s Case With The SVU Was More Clearcut Than Maroun’s
It’s Obvious There’s A Miscarriage of Justice In This Case
Silva’s case is the more straightforward of the two. Matthew’s appearance and behavior during the sting, such as showing off his new lizard t-shirt, make it clear he is not entirely aware of the severity of what is going on. Furthermore, while the other men arrested in the sting all respond with eagerness and excitement to the suggestion that they bring condoms to the encounter, Matthew replies, “What are condoms?” Thus,Matthew’s possession of condoms doesn’t signify an intent to have sex with a minor, but only to please his new internet friend who asked for them.
Price’s argument that Michelle knew what she was doing also holds merit.
In Maroun’s case, it’s difficult to tell whether Michelle truly lacks appreciation for the potential consequences of her actions. While it seems logical to Maroun that Michelle’s trauma led her to shield her husband from harm rather than protect her daughter, Price also points out at trial that Michelle made a film in which the abused daughter is killed by her abuser. Thus, Price’s argument that Michelle knew what she was doing also holds merit. This ambiguity is likely why Baxter agrees to a plea deal with minimal jail time rather than dismissing the case altogether.
Law & Order & Law & Order: SVU Missed The Chance To Make A Proper Connection
The Two Cases Are Entirely Separate Despite Baxter’s Involvement In Both
Unfortunately, Baxter’s cameo inLaw & Order: SVUdoesn’t include any mention of the case he just finished. Instead, Benson confronts him at the end of a long day when he’s trying to go home, and he agrees to look at the case, then gives her his decision off-screen.This way of handling Baxter’s two appearances has the effect of making the cases inLaw & OrderandSVUfeel completely separate,even though both shows are part of thesharedOne Chicagouniverse.
It would have helped strengthen theLaw & Orderfranchise’s connection if anyone had consulted Benson or another trauma expert from the Special Victims Unit about Michelle’s claims.
If Baxter had gone into too much detail about his previous case, it would have been a distraction. However, it wouldn’t have been necessary to do so. A throwaway line about how this was the second such request he’d gotten in the last hour would have been sufficient. Additionally, it would have helped strengthen theLaw & Orderfranchise’s connections if anyone had consulted Benson or another trauma expert from the Special Victims Unit about Michelle’s claims.
Law & Order
Cast
Law & Order is a procedural crime drama series that premiered in 1990, featuring New York City police detectives and prosecutors as they investigate and prosecute serious crimes. The show is known for its two-part approach, dividing between the crime-solving efforts of the detectives and the legal proceedings in court.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a television series that premiered in 1999. Set in the criminal justice system of New York City, it follows an elite team of detectives who investigate sexually-based offenses, focusing on their efforts to solve complex cases and seek justice for victims.
