S01.E04: The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of

[WendyCR72]

Airing on April 22, 2021. And heads up: Another Benson crossover.

Quote

While the Wheatleys celebrate an important birthday, Benson joins a Stabler family gathering. Bell investigates an accidental death. Jet gets some offsite experience.

 

[GHScorpiosRule]

 

1 minute ago, WendyCR72 said:

Benson joins a Stabler family gathering. 

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY???!!!!!

[Gigi43]

I hate it already. Kathy's body is barely cold. Let her ruin her own show. 

 

Genuine question--- Who is Jet? The only names I know still are Bell, Stabler, Richard and Angela Wheatley.

[WendyCR72]

23 minutes ago, Gigi43 said:

I hate it already. Kathy's body is barely cold. Let her ruin her own show. 

 

Genuine question--- Who is Jet? The only names I know still are Bell, Stabler, Richard and Angela Wheatley.

No idea. Maybe Wheatley's son from last week? Otherwise, I also have no idea.

[michelec]

Jet (aka Sloot) is the unit's hacker.

[CrystalBlue]

6 hours ago, michelec said:

Jet (aka Sloot) is the unit's hacker.

Isn't one nickname enough?

[Gigi43]

On 4/19/2021 at 8:16 PM, michelec said:

Jet (aka Sloot) is the unit's hacker.

 

Thanks!

[melon]

"Benson joins a Stabler family gathering."

I don't know which bugs me more....Bloated Benson crossing over into  the OC series, or the Stabler family.  If the purpose is a story line where their lives are in danger due to a vengeful mafia family, then I can see the potential.  Hopefully, I'll be able to post in a couple of days saying that I actually enjoyed watching them in this episode.

 

[mtlchick]

Stabler to Benson: “I love you.” (Very long pause.) “I love you all.”

Me: (face palm) 

Then goes to the one person that currently gets him; the ex wife of the man he’s trying to take down.

it’s a good thing Chris Meloni is playing this so well as a man who is going through all of the emotions because this entire plot leaves something to be desired. 

 

Not only did Gina not die, she managed to plant the bug AND she was being counter viewed. I have to say I am impressed.

[WendyCR72]

I missed this because I got busy with family stuff. Will catch it on Peacock. But just reading the ILY stuff does not fill me with much anticipation.

[Xeliou66]

This episode was decent minus the Benson cameo and Stabler’s kids, I really disliked that part, it was just soapy dreck designed to rile up the shippers.

I like the investigation parts, and I loved that threw in some legal material and brought Carisi over for a guest appearance, that was awesome, Carisi was used better in this episode than he was on SVU tonight. I thought the plot advanced well although I could’ve used more scenes of the OC squad investigating the case.

So Kathy was the target, I wonder if it was done just to get to Stabler or if Kathy had some connection to Wheatley. That’s rather intriguing.

I found Stabler’s conversation with Wheatley’s ex wife forced, and I still can’t tell if she’s good or bad, she seems to spend a lot of time around Wheatley for someone who’s supposed good.

I am liking this show pretty good, minus the Stabler family drama. I wish they would cut back on that and give us more investigation scenes.  But it isn’t a bad show. 

[Irlandesa]

Oh bloody fuck. That ILY was just so unnecessary. 

And then that super close moment with Wheatley's wife?  What the ever loving bleep is this show? (I don't know why I bleeped there when I opened my post with the full on curse but it is what it is.)

C'mon show, gimme what I'm looking for--2 seconds of Wheatley and his ex being super close.  But no.  It was just Wheatley and Gina. 

Edited April 23, 2021 by Irlandesa

[shapeshifter]

I haven't seen all of all the episodes.
Did we already know that there was another Wheatley son who is now dead, and, if so, how did he die? With Gramps Sinatra dead too and Mom Tamara weepy about Young Remaining Wheatley's prospects, it all seems rather Shakespearean --except for when Elliot's life goes all The Bachelor/Big Brother.
But kudos to Wheatley for not falling into the Honey Pot of hitting on his son's fake girlfriend.

[Gigi43]

4 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

I haven't seen all of all the episodes.
Did we already know that there was another Wheatley son who is now dead, and, if so, how did he die? With Gramps Sinatra dead too and Mom Tamara weepy about Young Remaining Wheatley's prospects, it all seems rather Shakespearean --except for when Elliot's life goes all The Bachelor/Big Brother.
But kudos to Wheatley for not falling into the Honey Pot of hitting on his son's fake girlfriend.

 

Yeah we knew in the first episode she her son died and I think it was because of working for Wheatley's father (or was it Wheatley himself?) Richard was that son's step father. 

 

I thought  Richard was going to make a pass at Gina (I know another name!) I like Gina is actually good at her job and got the bug planted. There wasn't much of a case this week, she and Stabler were the ones to make headway. Would have liked more Bell.  

 

Those Stabler family plus Benson scenes were a drag. I like Stabler investigating and being smart about scanning IG photos (he was historically bad at/ignorant of technology and the internet.)  CM is selling Stabler's grief. 

 

Carisi! He was doing his job and not getting yelled by Benson/Kat. His appearance was far better and I don't know why they didn't advertise his appearance more. 

 

I can't figure out if Angela is being nice to Stabler to use him or if she actually feels something for him, I'm leaning towards manipulation against her ex-husband since she does seem to want the kids out of his business. 

 

I worry that crossover involving Simon is going to drag this show down. It can stand on it's own without SVU since Benson drags it down and generally the cases have been better than SVU. Last nights and the week before were really bad, I hope it does drag OC down.  

Edited April 23, 2021 by Gigi43

[nittany cougar]

8 hours ago, mtlchick said:

Stabler to Benson: “I love you.” (Very long pause.) “I love you all.”

Me: (face palm) 

This moment really pissed me off, mainly in the way it was shot with him declaring while staring at Olivia.  It felt like shameless manipulation of the Olivia/Elliott shippers.  

I like Dylan McDermott a lot, but, when he is onscreen, I hear his Captain Dave character from "L.A. to Vegas."  The way he delivers his lines sounds just like Captain Dave giving his goofy announcements to the passengers.  All I can think is that Captain Dave is a mobster now.

Edited April 23, 2021 by nittany cougar

[Maurina]

Okay this might be really nit-picky, but are they serious with the whole "you can take a dark, low-grade smartphone picture taken at night and zoooooom in and depixelate a tiny part of the image and get a COMPLETELY CLEAR SHOT of a dude in the background"?  It annoys the living hell out of me when they do this kind of stuff.  There's reasonable suspension of disbelief but COME ON.

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, Maurina said:

Okay this might be really nit-picky, but are they serious with the whole "you can take a dark, low-grade smartphone picture taken at night and zoooooom in and depixelate a tiny part of the image and get a COMPLETELY CLEAR SHOT of a dude in the background"?  It annoys the living hell out of me when they do this kind of stuff.  There's reasonable suspension of disbelief but COME ON.

 

[melon]

As an actor:  Stabler looks at Benson and says "ILY".

IRL:  Meloni looks at Hargitay and says, "Wow, WTF happened to you?"

 

[TV Diva Queen]

I just love this show.  Yeah - Olivia needs to go, but I am 100% enjoying this show.  I bet this show is giving SVU a jump in the ratings too, because I'm sure I'm not the only one watching SVU now and haven't watched in in quite some time.  

[Dessert]

I liked the “I love you” scene. It was way overdue, but well-done and beautifully acted. 

Meloni is a brilliant actor and very charismatic. He’s been missed.

The organized crime plot doesn’t interest me as much - over the top. I prefer the old format that seemed, at least somewhat, tied to reality. 

[edhopper]

Outside of the unnecessary PDST Stabler BS, the show is good. Dear writers, after 10 years, we don't  need the afternoon special crap to care about him.

[Neiman]

As I posted on the SVU thread, I enjoy Olivia and Carisi much more when they are on Stabler’s show.

I don’t care for the Stabler family scenes at all. This guy they have playing Eli looks part vampire at times. The least they could have done was find an actor who somewhat resembles his fictional parents. 
 

When they say Maureen’s name, I cringe. There were one or two seasons in SVU when her role was to essentially parade across screen in skimpy clothes. It was kind of creepy watching Stabler obsess over her. Do not want to see her or any of the other Stabler kids. Yes, send Eli to live with his sister, and keep them busy with their own lives all off screen.

Stabler going to visit the ex for advice was not a good move. I have a feeling he’s going to regret that.

[milkyaqua]

I drifted in and out of this epi especially when it came to the intervention.  Enough of the Stabler family drama and leave Olivia on SVU.  Don't care about the 'shipping nonsense and never have.  Carisi didn't annoy me this epi and served a purpose.  Kathy was the target?  Please let it be as simple as someone trying to send a message to Stabler and not some secret Kathy thing because who do TPTB think wants to see that?

Yes Gina survived but I'm still thinking she's done for it sometime this season.  And I wasn't surprised when Wheatley didn't hit on her since I think he's trying to figure out what she's up to before he has her knocked off.

Stabler going to Angela was bizarre but okay show.

Less or no Stabler family drama and more of the cases, please show.

[catrice2]

I am really not loving the Benson scenes.  Luckily I was out of the room and missed this " I love you," being discussed here. I missed the whole family scene, but determined later that they had some sort of intervention and removed the minor from the home?  I would have thought Stabler would have considered it himself after seeing the thugs so close to his son right before the beatdown....and well, he thought someone had killed his wife to get to him, so.....

I too think Gina is done for. I can't see why Wheatley would have cameras all over New York and not have them in his own home, nor can I understand why, if he is suspicious of her and tracking her on the camera, he would not have observed her and Bell exiting the same place moments apart.  He should also be able to do a very thorough background check on her.   Maybe his son will die trying to protect Gina? 

I have NEVER understood why anyone would think Elliott and Olivia are a pair that need to be together. Realistically I can't see kids IRL accepting that, especially soon after the mother had died, or not thinking that they were sneaking around while she was alive.  The fact that they are already laying the groundwork for this so soon after his wife's death (a funeral she attended) is icky.   

I am I wrong because I am a little intrigued by the thought of them throwing a curveball and Stabler having a thing with Wheatley's ex wife?  I was also hoping that when they showed him calling Olivia that some unknown man would be next to her or walk out of the bathroom or something. 

I can't decide if his henchman is being serious about wanting to turn on him, or if it part of a plot.  I can't imagine why anyone in Wheatley's family would actually like him.  

[ShellsandCheese]

21 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

Oh bloody fuck. That ILY was just so unnecessary. 

And then that super close moment with Wheatley's wife?  What the ever loving bleep is this show? (I don't know why I bleeped there when I opened my post with the full on curse but it is what it is.)

C'mon show, gimme what I'm looking for--2 seconds of Wheatley and his ex being super close.  But no.  It was just Wheatley and Gina. 

I’m with you! Wheatley and his first wife are so hot together. They ooze chemistry, unlike him and his young wife. 
 

ETA: I’m also not buying the Gina - Richie situationship. 

Edited April 24, 2021 by ShellsandCheese

[preeya]

51 minutes ago, icemiser69 said:

I have never liked Benson so the idea that TPTB can't resist putting Stabler and Benson back together just makes me want to puke.

One more St. Olivia appearance and I'm out. 

 

[lakin1013]

Not a shipper here so ....

Does anybody understand why Stabler said ILY to Olivia.  The last thing she said was something like -- what can we do for you, or to help you.  The we was Olivia and all his children.  They are all crowded into the same room.  Why would ILY be his response? 

Assuming the writers are logical people, how is that response reasonable?  How does that fit into a situation where a group of intimates are trying to help Elliot.  I thought it was well-acted and surprising, considering his children were there.  I guess we always knew they had an affair of the heart, not of the flesh.  But still, I am having trouble trying to understand what this means.  Ideas?

[shapeshifter]

31 minutes ago, lakin1013 said:

Not a shipper here so ....

Does anybody understand why Stabler said ILY to Olivia.  The last thing she said was something like -- what can we do for you, or to help you.  The we was Olivia and all his children.  They are all crowded into the same room.  Why would ILY be his response? 

Assuming the writers are logical people, how is that response reasonable?  How does that fit into a situation where a group of intimates are trying to help Elliot.  I thought it was well-acted and surprising, considering his children were there.  I guess we always knew they had an affair of the heart, not of the flesh.  But still, I am having trouble trying to understand what this means.  Ideas?

Dragging my own response from the previous episode's thread, because it might be even more relevant here:
 

3 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

I don't watch the newer Wolf Chicago shows, but like SVU and this show, they air on the same night, back-to-back, and have character crossovers. So it seems to be a marketing thing for the network, designed to demonstrate to advertisers that they have captured viewer eyeballs for the night. 
If I'm right and the crossovers are a business decision, that might explain the awkwardness of the character intersections.

Edited April 24, 2021 by shapeshifter

[meira.hand]

On 4/20/2021 at 9:54 AM, CrystalBlue said:

On 4/20/2021 at 3:16 AM, michelec said:

Jet (aka Sloot) is the unit's hacker.

Isn't one nickname enough?

None are nicknames. Her name is Jet Slootmaekers

[lakin1013]

1 hour ago, shapeshifter said:

1 hour ago, shapeshifter said:

5 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

don't watch the newer Wolf Chicago shows, but like SVU and this show, they air on the same night, back-to-back, and have character crossovers. So it seems to be a marketing thing for the network, designed to demonstrate to advertisers that they have captured viewer eyeballs for the night. 
If I'm right and the crossovers are a business decision, that might explain the awkwardness of the character intersections.

Edited 1 hour ago by shapeshifter

But, if you are right, this is going to have to continue to some end.  Either Stabler and Olivia hook up, or this is nipped in the bud by Olivia.  I have been wondering if Hargitay has indicated she wants to quit L&O and maybe moving her to Stabler's show as simply the love interest is one way to do that.  
 

 

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, lakin1013 said:

2 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

I don't watch the newer Wolf Chicago shows, but like SVU and this show, they air on the same night, back-to-back, and have character crossovers. So it seems to be a marketing thing for the network, designed to demonstrate to advertisers that they have captured viewer eyeballs for the night. 
If I'm right and the crossovers are a business decision, that might explain the awkwardness of the character intersections.

But, if you are right, this is going to have to continue to some end.  Either Stabler and Olivia hook up, or this is nipped in the bud by Olivia.  I have been wondering if Hargitay has indicated she wants to quit L&O and maybe moving her to Stabler's show as simply the love interest is one way to do that.

The last Hargitay interview I skimmed was probably over a year ago, but I recall Hargitay indicating that she was committed to the SVU show because it shed light on #MeToo issues. If my memory and interpretation are correct, and if she still has the energy for that, I doubt she'd leave SVU. 

[TM101]

As McDermott hugs and greets the undercover cop at the party...”I hope you’re vaccinated”

Dick Wolf has really made Law and Order pretty cringe at times when he decides he wants COVID to suddenly reappear in an episode. Why is he doing this with it and SVU but not with Fire/PD?

Edited April 24, 2021 by TM101

[AnnA]

I seriously doubt if I'll watch the entire season of this show.  We're only 4 episodes in and I'm not loving or even liking it.  I can't stand Saint Olivia and they keep bringing her back.  I don't know why they think she's a draw.  I think she's bringing the show down.  Meloni doesn't need her.  He's a much better actor than she is.

Edited April 24, 2021 by AnnA

[GHScorpiosRule]

26 minutes ago, AnnA said:

I seriously doubt if I'll watch the entire season of this show.  We're only 4 episodes in and I'm not loving or even liking it.  I can't stand Saint Olivia and they keep bringing her back.  I don't know why they think she's a draw.  I think she's bringing the show down.  Meloni doesn't need her.  He's a much better actor than she is.

I haven’t even watched the last two-based on the comments I’ve read-I’m OUT.

I never saw any romantic feelings between these two, and was happy that for once, there just friendship between partners.

But the show is just stupid and boring. I love Meloni, but even I have my limits.

Edited April 24, 2021 by GHScorpiosRule

[tennisgurl]

6 hours ago, icemiser69 said:

So now this series is crossing over into Monk territory.  Monk thought that the car bomb was meant for him, not his wife.  It turns out that the car bomb was meant for his wife (Trudy).  Of course it took the entire length of that series for Monk to figure that out.

 

I am glad I wasn't the only one thinking of Monk with all of this, its almost the exact same situation, except it took Monk a whole series to figure out that his wife was the intended target, and it took Elliot four episodes. Damn it Monk just open the package! I wonder if they will keep drawing out Stabler taking down Wheatley and figuring out why Kathy was killed, or if he will get all that done by the end of the season? If that does happen, what will the show be like? A new wiseguy every season, or more cases of the week? This episode had a mini case of the week, so will we get more of that?

Of course even on this show, Olivia gets tons of talking up. The Stabler family drama is actually a little bit less insufferable than I expected it to be, but it is still pretty uninteresting, especially with the addition of St. Olivia. Chris Meloni is giving it his all, and that allows some of this to work, but I always prefer the investigations over the drama and interventions. 

Hi Carisi! He even got to actually do his job over here, unlike on his regular show where he was regulated to Rollins hand holding this week, the poor guy. 

I actually quite like the other show happening in the background where undercover Gina flexes those acting skills to get in deep with the Wheatleys. 

[Snazzy Daisy]

This show needs more active cases other than hunting the supervillain and Elliot investigating Kathy’s murder off the book. Seems like nothing much to do for Diego/Freddie/Jet, while Gina plays more active role for their main (and only) case.

What is the point of having that draggy birthday dinner scene? Why Kathleen plays the main role in that intervention when Maureen is the eldest? Maureen & Lizzie are speechless in that scene, so weird! Carisi has better scenes here in OC than SVU.

Love the interaction between Elliot & Angela, she should be Elliot’s new love interest because she listens to him while Saint Olivia been avoiding his calls.

Hey Olivia, please stop appearing in OC, many of us don’t wanna see you here, kind of allergic! 😏 And ohh, you said Elliot is one of the most important people in your life but when he says ILY, this is the best reaction that you can give??? Do better! 🤣

[CrystalBlue]

I was expecting Wheatley to be on to Gina and reach into her cleavage to retrieve the bug.  I was surprised to see she got the job done!

Why exactly does the Stabler clan plus St. Olivia think Elliot needs an intervention?  He just lost his wife to a car bomb.  Why are the kids so OK with it?

Carisi can come on over to OC anytime.  Benson needs to stay away.

[shapeshifter]

3 hours ago, CrystalBlue said:

I was expecting Wheatley to be on to Gina and reach into her cleavage to retrieve the bug

That would have been much better drama than anything we saw in the episode. 
 

3 hours ago, CrystalBlue said:

Why exactly does the Stabler clan plus St. Olivia think Elliot needs an intervention?  He just lost his wife to a car bomb.  Why are the kids so OK with it?

Carisi can come on over to OC anytime.  Benson needs to stay away.

Yes to both of these. 
And   
Dear Mr. Wolf: Please note that it is not necessary to have Olivia be the crossover character for these 2 dramas. 

[preeya]

19 hours ago, CrystalBlue said:

Carisi can come on over to OC anytime. 

That ↑ said, can someone explain the meeting/plot with the judge re: the charges/bail against the Russian Israeli Hitman? It made no sense to me.

Edited April 26, 2021 by preeya

[Sake614]

35 minutes ago, preeya said:

That ↑ said, can someone explain the meeting/plot with the judge re: the charges/bail against the Russian Mobster? It made no sense to

You mean the hitman? They did this on the mothership many years ago. He wanted to cooperate with the authorities because he realized his boss (Wheatley) was throwing him under the bus. But he was afraid he’d be killed if Wheatley found out, and his attorney was hired by Wheatley. So the DA asked for a ‘shadow counsel’ to be appointed in order to facilitate the deal. The hearing would proceed with the original attorney none the wiser and thinking he got his client out of jail. Then presumably, The NYPD would take Wheatley down based on the information provided, and the hitman gets immunity and a new identity.

[preeya]

2 hours ago, Sake614 said:

You mean the hitman? They did this on the mothership many years ago. He wanted to cooperate with the authorities because he realized his boss (Wheatley) was throwing him under the bus. But he was afraid he’d be killed if Wheatley found out, and his attorney was hired by Wheatley. So the DA asked for a ‘shadow counsel’ to be appointed in order to facilitate the deal. The hearing would proceed with the original attorney none the wiser and thinking he got his client out of jail. Then presumably, The NYPD would take Wheatley down based on the information provided, and the hitman gets immunity and a new identity.

Thanks, but is this a real thing, as it sounds quite shady & convoluted to me?

Also, do you know the mothership episode where this was previously played?

Edited April 25, 2021 by preeya

[Zoe]

1 hour ago, preeya said:

Thanks, but is this a real thing, as it sounds quite shady & convoluted to me?

Also, do you know the mothership episode where this was previously played?

This was in SVU as well. When Carisi was explaining it for the viewer's benefit, I was like, "yeah, yeah, yeah, we already heard Jo say this exact same thing years ago."  It was that episode where Stabler and Benson went undercover to buy a baby from the Russian smuggling ring. Buchanan was the sleazy lawyer on the other side. 

Edited April 25, 2021 by Zoe

[Zoe]

4 hours ago, Zoe said:

This was in SVU as well. When Carisi was explaining it for the viewer's benefit, I was like, "yeah, yeah, yeah, we already heard Jo say this exact same thing years ago."  It was that episode where Stabler and Benson went undercover to buy a baby from the Russian smuggling ring. Buchanan was the sleazy lawyer on the other side. 

Bump cause this episode is actually on USA right now--"Ace"

Edited April 25, 2021 by Zoe

[rwlevin]

10 hours ago, preeya said:

That ↑ said, can someone explain the meeting/plot with the judge re: the charges/bail against the Russian Mobster? It made no sense to me.

Just a small nitpick. He was Israeli, not Russian.

[jabRI]

Well that was all kinds of ridiculous.  Olivia: If you feel like you are drowning take our hands.  Then she ghosts him and he 'gets it'?  What did I miss?  Because he said ILY or he left?  What if he really needed someone to talk to, I mean, wasn't that the point of the intervention?  Talk to someone but not to me???? Though I had to admit when he was ringing that doorbell I had a deep wish it was either Dr. Huang or Dr. Olivet (old school, I know)

[TM101]

On 4/24/2021 at 9:37 PM, SnazzyDaisy said:

This show needs more active cases other than hunting the supervillain and Elliot investigating Kathy’s murder off the book. Seems like nothing much to do for Diego/Freddie/Jet, while Gina plays more active role for their main (and only) case.

What is the point of having that draggy birthday dinner scene? Why Kathleen plays the main role in that intervention when Maureen is the eldest? Maureen & Lizzie are speechless in that scene, so weird! Carisi has better scenes here in OC than SVU.

Love the interaction between Elliot & Angela, she should be Elliot’s new love interest because she listens to him while Saint Olivia been avoiding his calls.

Hey Olivia, please stop appearing in OC, many of us don’t wanna see you here, kind of allergic! 😏 And ohh, you said Elliot is one of the most important people in your life but when he says ILY, this is the best reaction that you can give??? Do better! 🤣

I keep saying it but this show would have been so more entertaining if it was like a typical L&O series with different cases and not like some cliche CBS FBI/CIA series. It would have been great if Stabler was leading an intelligence unit similar to Voight in PD and different cases ala that.

[WendyCR72]

I get there aren't many episodes due to this show's very late start and COVID, but to give this two weeks off really risks losing momentum.

Then again, as I said, while the show is okay, it really does not feel like a Law & Order franchise show, a la SVU, Criminal Intent, and even the way failures Los Angeles and Trial By Jury did. And I understand styles change and slick is in, but I rather liked the gritty tone the other offshoots had that this lacks. Even NYC, as sort of its own character, so prevalent in the others (minus Los Angeles, obviously) , seems absent here.

This iteration just seems so...generic, I guess. It could pass for any CBS procedural.

I wish Dick Wolf and Company would remember just what made this franchise work for 30+ years.

[TV Diva Queen]

On 4/25/2021 at 11:06 AM, preeya said:

Thanks, but is this a real thing, as it sounds quite shady & convoluted to me?

Also, do you know the mothership episode where this was previously played?

it was in the Adam years I believe.  LOL  Jack wanted to do it, Adam said no, Jack did it and Adam got mad.  But I'm also remember it in SVU - with Casey?  I'm literally no help here...

[Sake614]

It’s real...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_counsel

[Lukeysboat]

Chris Meloni was absolutely amazing in the ILY scene. He’s got great acting chops. 

Benson says they are all there for him and then doesn’t pick up her phone. Well gee Liv, thanks for the support.