Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 3 Episode 10 Review: Trap

The task force is back on top just as a new racing gang comes to town on Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 3 Episode 10, “Trap.” It’s the perfect way to pull us back into our favorite Organized Crime team. 

What is even better is that this case gives Jamie the opportunity to prove he’s more than just an impulsive newbie on the team. We don’t often get the chance to see the story focus on someone other than Bell or Stabler.

Jamie the Racer?

So far we have only seen Jamie running headfirst into situations, thinking about the consequences after. So naturally, when Bell and Stabler decide to put him in the greatest undercover opportunity in the history of the task force it comes as a bit of a shock.

Over time, the writers convince us that Jamie is worthy of this opportunity by writing Jamie as more chill than he’s ever been. In fact, it’s as though in Stabler’s two-week absence Jamie has matured beyond his years and become the cop he’s always meant to be.

Of course, we can’t allow Jamie to be perfect the first opportunity out the gate — he does punch a cop — which makes this step for him believable. If his undercover behavior had been exactly by-the-book I personally would’ve called this episode a wash.

Watching Jamie blossom right before our eyes makes for some exciting car chases and intense moments that cause us to hold our breaths. I’m sure we’d all be lying if we said seeing him almost get caught with a wire didn’t have us watching on pins and needles.

The road is just starting with undercover Jamie and I for one am really excited to see where Law & Order: Organized Crime takes this. Are we going to see Jamie’s life in true danger or will he get through this scot-free?

To really keep us on our toes about this new case, Jamie is going to have to get his hands dirty. The big question is whether or not he will let his Stabler side out or his more controlled, logical side.

Stabler Talks

One of the biggest issue Law & Order: Organized Crime has is its inability to remain constant with how it treats Elliot Stabler. This character has been around for decades and yet the writers sometimes like to keep him in the same spot he was in when he was first introduced in the late 90s.

Character development is key for fans to continue following the stories these characters tell. For Stabler, that means working on his hard exterior and letting people in. 

Law & Order: Organized Crime has been really good at allowing Stabler to get close to Sargeant Bell in a way that would resemble a friendship. Unfortunately, that seems to be the only growth we get for him — until now.

“Trap” is great because not only does it show Stabler shutting down with the department shrink — doing the bare minimum to be cleared for active duty. But, it also shows Bell convincing him to make a follow-up appointment.

Only one other person in Stabler’s history has convinced him to work on his stunted emotions — Olivia Benson. The fact that Bell manages to get through to him is a huge step.

And while we only get to see him talk briefly to the shrink on a return visit, there is hope that more visits are to come. Stabler needs to unpack all his pent-up feelings about Kathy’s death and his kids growing up — leaving him alone with his aging mother.

It may be small but for this character, it’s tremendous progress. It would be great to see Stabler take this progress a step further and finally have that much-needed conversation with Benson about their feelings, relationship, etc. 

Fingers crossed that we get it by the season’s end.

 

What did you think of this episode of Law & Order: Organized Crime? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Law & Order: Organized Crime airs Thursdays at 10/9c on NBC.

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