Fans of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU) and Law & Order were super excited for a crossover episode featuring Olivia Benson and Rita Calhoun! However, this reunion left some viewers wanting more!
A Contentious Reunion:
Olivia Benson and Rita Calhoun have a history! Calhoun is a defense attorney who often represents wealthy men accused of rape. She clashes frequently with Benson, who champions survivors. The latest episode sees them briefly teaming up when Benson testifies on behalf of Calhoun's client in Law & Order season 24, episode 2.
The Missed Opportunity:
What many fans felt was missed? The episode failed to fully address the intense animosity between these two. The most significant point, a crucial event was left unmentioned entirely.
There was this epic scene that should have totally been revisited! But it was totally glossed over!
A major plot point from SVU's season 14: Calhoun and Benson clashed violently with a gut-wrenching verbal attack in a scene viewers had never forgotten!
Calhoun's Controversial Actions:
This episode totally left people scratching their heads. Many were curious if her current alliance with Benson came from her suddenly getting this passionate sense of wanting to make things better or just simply from wanting more pay. Calhoun is seen by many to have a dark side and most of the roles that she took before really focused on people she knew had committed these heinous crimes and in many cases were actually wealthy and in the case involving the defense of the corrupt judge, many questioned her judgment as Benson was super outraged.
Exploring Calhoun's Motivations:
The show could have had a really powerful moment, one that would hit people's emotions right in the gut and address Calhoun's history, it would have really brought home a new direction and given her this great redemptive moment as she chooses to champion a rape victim accused of murder. That means showing audiences that there really could have been a huge, incredible shift.
There was never a scene, in this episode, or any attempt to give her a deeper examination to truly discover how she truly came to championing a victim! The viewers get little to no hints to her true beliefs, making many doubt her entire storyline!
The Lingering Questions:
One major aspect of the storyline may continue in Law & Order: SVU and hopefully gets a proper revisitation in season 26!
While we didn't get all that we wanted in Law & Order's latest crossover. It showed viewers a potential new start for Calhoun!
A major opportunity that should have had even more depth, especially with this complex story, left fans wondering and questioning the true direction for this "Law & Order" character. If these characters had faced off it may have changed the show to include these emotional plot points! It also raises the point that audiences want a bigger emotional hook that these well known shows haven't delivered! Fans of the Law & Order franchise have great memories! We know it can bring those emotional, memorable moments and will definitely bring that heart to the episodes!
