S20.E24: End Game

[dttruman]

Episode description from Googling "Law and Order SVU season 20 episode 24, End Game"

When a teenager is found dead in the Hudson River, Lt. Benson suspects Rob Miller is behind the mysterious death but can't prove it; despite having only circumstantial evidence, ADA Stone takes the case to court before Miller can destroy more lives.

This description is from "All Things Law and Order, End Game"

SEASON FINALE – When a teenager is found dead in the Hudson River, Lt. Benson (Mariska Hargitay) suspects Rob Miller (guest star Titus Welliver) is behind the mysterious death but can’t prove it. Despite having only circumstantial evidence, ADA Stone (Philip Winchester) takes the case to court before Miller can destroy more lives. Also starring Ice T, Kelli Giddish and Peter Scanavino. Also guest starring Callie Thorne (Nikki Staines), Jillian Rose (Attica Staines), Aida Turturro (Judge Catano) and Richard Kind (William Biegel).

[dttruman]

I have a feeling this is going to be like a couple of other episodes from this season. They have great plots, but they should have been two or maybe three part episodes.

I just hope the story line here is more original than it's title.

[Xeliou66]

I’m not really excited for this one, I don’t care for “super villian” storylines and that seems to be where they are going with Miller, and I’m really disappointed that Stone’s final episode will be all about St Olivia and an “it’s personal” case for her, I’m afraid Stone’s exit will be entirely about her. I will miss Stone and I will be very disappointed if he turns into Benson’s bitch the way Barba did.

I could be wrong, I didn’t expect to like last weeks episode but it was a good episode, so maybe I will be wrong. But I’m not getting my hopes up. 

[dttruman]

41 minutes ago, Xeliou66 said:

I’m not really excited for this one, I don’t care for “super villian” storylines and that seems to be where they are going with Miller, and I’m really disappointed that Stone’s final episode will be all about St Olivia and an “it’s personal” case for her, I’m afraid Stone’s exit will be entirely about her. I will miss Stone and I will be very disappointed if he turns into Benson’s bitch the way Barba did.

Possible scenario: We lose Stone and "it's personal " for Benson. I'm thinking they take down Miller, and he tries to have Benson taken out after the verdict, but Stone takes a bullet for her and we lose Stone?

 Haven't most of the courtroom scenes from other episodes that Stone was prosecuting with mostly circumstantial evidence, weren't they sort of lacking in quality? I wonder if we can expect the same here?

[Xeliou66]

I don’t see them killing off Stone, since they killed off his father and sister last year. I’m more worried that Stone will cross the line in trying to take down Miller and will be forced to leave as a result, and it will be all about how St Benson changed Stone and made him into a new person the way Barba’s last scene was.

I’m disappointed Stone is leaving, and I’m disappointed that his final episode will be an “it’s personal” case for St Olivia. I’m also disappointed that McCoy didn’t appear this season, with Stone leaving I would like a final scene between him and McCoy, but he won’t be appearing.

[observer]

And here we have a second level of acting prowess by Mariska Hargitay.  The first being, of course, the Hoarse Whisper.  The Hoarse Whisper can be used to display intense emotion, intense revulsion, intense love, intense lack of understanding of what the fuck is going on.

This second level is the Mouth Agape Vacant Stare.  Also used for any number of circumstances.  Let me illustrate.

Olivia reacting to the news that Amanda has an ingrown toenail:

Olivia trying desperately to remember her lines:

Olivia learning that Noah has been kidnapped by a sexual predator:

Olivia receiving the news that Elliot is gay:

Olivia discovers that aliens have landed in the squad room and are demanding Big Macs and fries:

Olivia after sitting on a large tack:

Olivia in disbelief that of the ten best female TV cops of ever, she is not even on the list.  These are the 10 best female TV cops ever

Edited May 15, 2019 by observer

[dttruman]

1 hour ago, Xeliou66 said:

I’m also disappointed that McCoy didn’t appear this season, with Stone leaving I would like a final scene between him and McCoy, but he won’t be appearing.

So true, that was a BIG MISS with an opportunity like that. Was it a money issue, a possible getting upstaged thing or it wasn't considered at all?

[dttruman]

14 minutes ago, observer said:

Olivia in disbelief that of the ten best female TV cops of ever, she is not even on the list.  These are the 10 best female TV cops ever

Benson's fan club will come back with, that list is more from an international collection than America collection.

[Xeliou66]

17 minutes ago, dttruman said:

So true, that was a BIG MISS with an opportunity like that. Was it a money issue, a possible getting upstaged thing or it wasn't considered at all?

I have a feeling a mix of the 3. I have a feeling the writers have forgotten McCoy exists, given how they haven’t even mentioned his name this season, not even when Stone was on the phone with “the DA” in the season premiere, they couldn’t even be bothered to say his name. It’s too bad though because it was McCoy who got Stone to come to New York and I love the connection Stone has to the Mothership and I loved seeing him and McCoy interact last season, so it’s a major disappointment that they didn’t get Waterston/McCoy to appear for a final scene with Stone. 

[observer]

38 minutes ago, dttruman said:

Benson's fan club will come back with, that list is more from an international collection than America collection.

Okay, that's fair, although S. Epatha Merkerson (as Lt. Anita Van Buren of Law and Order) made the list.  Law and Order SVU airs in Latin America, Australia, New Zealand , Latin America, the UK. 

But here from TV Guide:

The Top 12 Female Cops of All Time

Olivia Benson places 12th out of twelve.

And not at all trying to start any back and forth with Olivia's fan club.  To each their own, YMMV and so forth.  

Edited May 15, 2019 by observer

[dttruman]

27 minutes ago, observer said:

And not at all trying to start any back and forth with Olivia's fan club.  To each their own, YMMV and so forth.  

I am just a little surprised that Cagney or Lacy wasn't mentioned

[dttruman]

It looks like the Feds drop their charges against Miller, so they have to rely on Benson to get Nikki Staines to testify against Miller. So were in for a lot of Benson's whispering tonight.

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Chermunchin included "I did it all for you Liv" in a tweet promoting tonight's episode.

My worst fear, Stone's departure will be all about Benson.

I'll need booze tonight.

[Xeliou66]

47 minutes ago, MrsRafaelBarba said:

Chermunchin included "I did it all for you Liv" in a tweet promoting tonight's episode.

My worst fear, Stone's departure will be all about Benson.

I'll need booze tonight.

That’s my concern and prediction: Stone will cross the line in trying to take down Miller because of pressure from Benson, as a result Stone will lose his job, and yet he will thank Benson for making him a better person and worship at her altar. This will be after an hour of St Olivia taking it personally, whispering and making overly dramatic expressions, with Rollins supporting her. Fin and Carisi will be window dressing. Let’s see how many of my predictions come true.

[MrsRafaelBarba]

A Stone centric episode for Phillip as a parting gift was clearly asking too much.

[dttruman]

7 minutes ago, Xeliou66 said:

1 hour ago, MrsRafaelBarba said:

Chermunchin included "I did it all for you Liv" in a tweet promoting tonight's episode.

My worst fear, Stone's departure will be all about Benson.

I'll need booze tonight.

That’s my concern and prediction: Stone will cross the line in trying to take down Miller because of pressure from Benson, as a result Stone will lose his job, and yet he will thank Benson for making him a better person and worship at her altar. This will be after an hour of St Olivia taking it personally, whispering and making overly dramatic expressions, with Rollins supporting her. Fin and Carisi will be window dressing. Let’s see how many of my predictions come true.

Thank God, it's only an hour long episode considering what is in store for us viewers tonight.  Your prediction sounds like a slight derivative of what happen to Barba. But since originality has been lacking much of this season, I would say you are spot on.

[dttruman]

1 minute ago, MrsRafaelBarba said:

A Stone centric episode for Phillip as a parting gift was clearly asking too much.

Whatever benefits Hargitay and/or Benson is always the primary goal for this show. IMO, Hargitay already threw out a bone this season and that was to Ice-T for the "Diss" episode.

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Here Go Hell Come! 

Me Me Me Me Me ME!

[Gigglepuff]

Maybe Noah will be kidnapped? 

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Supervillains killing dogs.

I miss Melinda Warner.

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Wut?

[tennisgurl]

Whats worse, Olivia's patronizing victim whisper, or her "threatening" badass whisper?

[dttruman]

Considering what Benson went through with Miller, you'd think Stone could at least get a restraining order against Miller for her.

[Gigglepuff]

I wonder if they're gonna implicate Stone somehow? Remember how they were implying he was a sex addict? 

[MrsRafaelBarba]

:knocks back booze:

Why don't Titus just twirl his mustache already.

[dttruman]

2 minutes ago, Gigglepuff said:

I wonder if they're gonna implicate Stone somehow? Remember how they were implying he was a sex addict? 

Sounds like Miller is setting Benson up for some paranoid delusions.

[Gigglepuff]

Just now, MrsRafaelBarba said:

Why don't Titus just twirl his mustache already.

[MrsRafaelBarba]

She said Supervillian

:eyes roll out the door: 

[Gigglepuff]

And now Stone's jeopardizing his career for the saint? 

[MrsRafaelBarba]

1 minute ago, Gigglepuff said:

And now Stone's jeopardizing his career for the saint? 

Ben Stone is rolling in his grave.

WHY?! 

[Gigi43]

Making Noah go away could have been the first step in Miller's redemption. What a mean fakeout, show!

[dttruman]

I think that is why Stone gets upset with Benson a lot. In that little meeting in her office, "things always has to be her way". If she would have told him about the "Noah" incident, she wouldn't be so paranoid and think everyone is against her. Now it looks like she is mad at him because he is holding something back now. Benson is so hypocritical.

Edited May 17, 2019 by dttruman

[auchic]

We had a brief, shining moment of Stone telling Benson he wasn't just going to do what she asked, before it all went Olivia's way, because of course it did.

Fare thee well, Peter Stone.

Edited May 17, 2019 by auchic
Hit post too early

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Oh no, Nikki is a witness for the Defense.

Goodbye Law Career, this tops Barba mercy killing a sick baby.

[dttruman]

Just now, MrsRafaelBarba said:

Oh no, Nikki is a witness for the Defense.

Goodbye Law Career, this tops Barba mercy killing a sick baby.

Is this part of Stones master plan?

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Oh wait a minute!

[WendyCR72]

Sorry to the fans here, but...of all the Law & Order shows in the big franchise, I cannot believe this will be the one to break the record held by Gunsmoke. Good Lord.

Ben Stone is mortified in the Great Beyond.

[mtlchick]

Au revoir, Peter.  Because someone really doesn’t like you. 

[Gigglepuff]

Oh god.....

[MrsRafaelBarba]

What a Damn mess.

[mtlchick]

What the fuck kind of exit is that?! I mean, I missed Barba’s but I’m simply stunned on how bad this was done.  The writing, the blank stares, his delivery...

Seriously, did Philip run over someone’s pet to get this for an ending?

Edited May 17, 2019 by mtlchick

[Gigi43]

Kill me.

For the love of God...

...WTF am I doing with my life watching this? Like Stone, I can't keep doing this.

[auchic]

Welp. That sure was an ending. 

So is everyone who leaves the show contractually obligate to tongue bathe Benson? She "sees cases with an open heart" my ass. That is some high class bullshit, right there.

[gaucho91]

Wow, this is beyond awful...

 Titus Welliver must really feel like he is slumming it on this show after starring in the vastly superior  Bosch.  Maybe he just wanted to play a bad guy.

Edited May 17, 2019 by gaucho91

[Gigglepuff]

That was just........

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Am I the only one, who thought Peter was going to say I love you?

Yikes!

[dttruman]

Oh my god, I can't believe how this ended. These writers can't expect us to swallow this, can they? Benson taking the moral high ground is just so unbelievable.

[Gigglepuff]

Just now, MrsRafaelBarba said:

Am I the only one, who thought Peter was going to say I love you?

Yikes!

I thought they were going to get together for a moment there. 

[Gigi43]

Sorry this episode even made my tablet freak out!

Edited May 17, 2019 by Gigi43

[SuzieQ]

That ending made me want to toss my cookies!! BLECCCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHH!!

Worse than the Barba exit.  They've reached a new low!  And you need a shovel to get to the bar.