TheDarryla

Yes. 100% Yes. I just haven't warmed up to Carisi at all, and I don't think I ever will. As far as Barba goes, I stand by my opinion that SVU doesn't utilize their best actors. Esparza, like Karl, is a very capable actor but is being limited by poor writing and a show which must center around Benson. The days of SVU being a true ensemble show are long gone. Maybe, hopefully, SVU will return to its roots once WL is gone. You know, that's a pretty good observation. Let's face it, most of these people should not be running around with guns.

I totally agree. However, to be fair, Liv, along with almost all of the SVU members probably should have been fired or at least suspended for all of the times they went off-book as well. Sometimes I don't understand how any of them have managed to keep their jobs at all! I agree with the poster up-thread who mentioned that Liv was far more likable in Chicago PD. It seems as though the PD writers know who to write her better than the writers on her own show. I found this episode to be rather lame and predictable. I mean, what are the odds that Yates, Rudnick, and Jose were all in the same prison? And that Cupcake Lady, just happens to be their therapist? Come on. That's laughable. The whole situation is laughable, as is the show itself most of the time. What did the writers do? Rip five different stories from the headlines, put them in a blender and haphazardly try to make a story out of them? If rumors are true that Andy Karl is leaving the show (I hear he's just been cast as a lead in an upcoming Broadway production), then kudos to him for leaving this mess of a show and returning to the work that he is capable of. I kind of hope he takes Raul with him. SVU seriously under utilizes two of their most capable actors in favor of Liv torture porn and plots that are beyond ridiculous.

​ ​I couldn't have said this better myself, WendyCR72. The only thing I'd add, is that with the Noah drama moments, SVU has fallen into a form of the "Cousin Oliver Syndrome" that older shows nearly invariably sink in to once fresh plots are harder to come up with. I'm just happy that we don't have to put up with the Noah drivel every episode. I still watch, but only care for episodes with Raul Esparza, (of which there are too few this season!). If he's not in the show, I don't care if I miss it. However, in spite of it's age and recycled plots, I wouldn't be surprised if SVU hangs in there for another couple of seasons at least. The ratings are good and NBC doesn't really have too many other shows to put in its place, yet. Just wait until the network manages to come up with something fresh and innovative (which SVU and its previous incarnation was) and it will be time to say bye to what has become the Olivia Benson drama hour. I miss the days when the show was a true ensemble cast and there was little drama about their personal lives. ​I do wonder how a serious actor such as Raul Esparza puts up with the weekly drivel. I guess it's an easy paycheck for him, but still, he's a far better actor than the rest of the cast, and yet, each episode seems to revolve around "Saint Olivia," who's character just appears to grow more bitchy and tiresome with each passing season.