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'Law & Order: SVU' finale shocker: Shooting in the squad room
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After a powerful twelfth year, "Law and Order: SVU" finished up the season with a bang. Literally. Wednesday's finale, "Smoked," began with a young girl, Jenna (Hayley McFarland), seeing her mother shot in the head, seemingly over a botched mugging. The murder victim was also, sadly, a rape victim whose case against her rapist was about to go to trial.
Ultimately, Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Chris Meloni) did track down the murderer - and the dirty cop who made the murder weapon available. Unfortunately, it wasn't soon enough to provide comfort to the girl who had lost her mother.
Jenna returned to the squad room while her mother's killer and his indirect accomplice were in the cage, and she went on what can only be called a shooting spree. She shot both men, and likely killed Sister Peg (Charlayne Woodard), a recurring character since 2002, who runs the homeless shelter frequently seen on the show.
Before she could kill her mother's murderer, though, Stabler shot her. As Jenna bled out, she confessed that the weapon she carried had been easy to acquire - she simply bought it on the street, a chilling reminder of our loose gun laws.
Killing a girl who had just lost her mother, in his squad room of all places, is bound to weigh heavily on Stabler -- despite the weapon in her hands. We wouldn't be surprised if we see him forced back into counseling next season. Equally traumatized is Benson -- this experience may be one of the contributing factors to her position change next season.
Weigh in below in the comments, "SVU" fans. Did you like the series finale? Where do you think Benson and Stabler will go from here?
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Photo/Video credit: NBC
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I was afraid that Cragen, Munch, or one of the others who have been missing a lot lately (Warner, Huang) might be killed. I'm sad that they killed Sister Peg, but at least, it wasn't one of the main people we've gotten attached to. When I saw the shocked expressions on the character's faces, and realized that we hadn't seen Fin, I almost thought that he would be dead, too...But, luckily, that wasn't the case. Pretty intense scene, though.
With SVU, it doesn't matter how dramatic the episode is. It's always let down by the fact that it uses the cheapest sounding keyboard music for its soundtrack, especially at the end of each episode. The camera zooms in on the characters staring poignantly at one another, and the synth music moves up an octave, then down, then up, then down, then fades. Every episode is the same. Awful.
@ManWithSword: Yes, let's judge an established series like SVU which runs for 12 seasons already, only on it's opening theme. Very clever.
I too was afraid one of the main cast members would be killed off. I'm happy to see they are still all intact physically (mentally..well..maybe not so much). I'm wondering how this will play out during the next season. I doubt this will affect Olivia to go into her supervisor role. She becomes a supervisor after 13 episodes in the new season, so that's a lot of time and SVU is not that great with continuity. I do bet this will continue to haunt them for a long while tho.
They REALLY need to upgrade their security at the precinct tho. This has been like what.. the third time something happens in there?
I hope Chris Meloni renews his contract for the next season. All in all, this was not a bad episode at all and I actually quite enjoyed it. When I saw that Speed Weed was the co-producer of this episode, I was expecting a cracktastic episode since he also did "Wet" and "Bombshell", but this was a pleasant surprise.
The shaking camera feature during interrogation added to the anxiety because we all knew what would come, just not who would survive and who didn't.
Great job and Neal Baer, thanks for the ride.
I hope Warren Leight won't disappoint us.
A really bad finish to a season of really badly written episodes. The premise was nonsense. There was a homicide, not a sex crime. They missed the perfect opportunity to show SVU detectives working with Homicide detectives when their cases intersect.
The station house had metal detectors at the entrance. They didn't get them for the new one?
Thank God Baer is gone. Too bad he was there that long. Hopefully Warren Leight will fire all the current writers and hire some new ones who actually know something about police procedures and about criminal law.
Worst finale EVER. Did not live up to the hype. They should put a fork in this show cause it is D.O.N.E.
No one can beat the Castle finale. Those people know how to tell a good story, which is something SVU hasnt been able to do in a long time without hyped has been guest starts.
Didn't live up to the hype, although I'm relieved that none of the "squad" was killed, although they might as well be since they've been missing most of the season. This whole season has lost its focus--in the previous seasons, there was never one single show that was "off". This whole season has had some yawners and some that were just way too OFF. I wish Mariska the best; I will miss her, but I understand; she has other priorities now, and this show has just left its original premise, but we have the re-runs, so that's OK, but the finale was just not all THAT. And not even everybody was there. The "ensemble" is what was strong about this show, and they've lost it. :(
I thought that one of the main characters was shot. And with that being said, I would like to add that the changes coming for next season, will likely contribute to the end of L & O SVU. I've been a fan from the beginning but I can't see Stabler with another partner. Whoever replaces Benson has to have the same chemistry, these two characters have.
Well, Mariska isn't really leaving, just cutting her hours but she will be in the second half of the new season aswell. I think we should rather worry about Chris Meloni not renewing his contract. After the finale I really want him back to see how he deals with the shooting.
and I agree; they cannot be replaced.
I think the finale was really well done actually. I think after about 275 episodes, they maintain to keep the storylines really fresh without seeming overly political. I feel the writers do a good job of fostering awareness of an issue, in this situation, gun laws in the United States, while not being in your face preachy about it.
In regards to the previous comment that this was more of a homicide case versus rape, well yes that's true. However, one must realize that a lot of violent crimes are interrelated.
In terms of their acting, I think Stabler and Bensen looking at each other towards the ends was just brilliant. When they stared at each other, there was a flow of emotions nonverbally exchanged between them - that's how powerful these cast members are.
Honestly, it is a damn good drama that's completely underrecognized and it's truly a shame because everyone - cast, crew, and writers - really outdo themselves.
Meloni - sign on for a 13th season. I think you would do great opposite J.Love and she definitely has amazing acting chops.
Agree didn't live up to the hype, a bunch of people get shot, no key characters who may or may not hang on for the summer. Liv looks disgusted Elliot looks disturbed.
More of the same, been a watcher for many years and enjoy the reruns. This thing may be about played out.