Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 24 Episode 11 Review: Soldier Up

Before diving into what Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 24 Episode 11, “Soldier Up,” does right and how it delivers, let’s talk about the one thing the episode gets wrong.

Did Olivia Benson get hit so severely during Law & Order: SVU Season 24 Episode 10, “Jumped In,” that she forgot she speaks Spanish?

For over two decades, we have seen Mariska Hargitay bring her knowledge of languages into the show, allowing Benson to connect with different victims. Suddenly, she is oblivious to what Duarte is saying and needs Velasco to explain what “maestro” means.

There is a moment where I think maybe she is faking it — when she looks at Duarte after the kid she shot speaks Spanish. But the rest of the time, there is only confusion about what is happening.

Other than that slip-up, “Soldier Up” delivers as Olivia is attacked (again), and the anger she is carrying with her unleashes.

Anger that she lets out in a heartfelt scream that Mariska Hargitay herself improvises.

While Benson is extremely upset about what has happened to her, she never forgets who she truly is: the heart and soul of SVU. She carries that with her in every scene by reminding Duarte that it is best to act with empathy.

Throughout the episode, Law & Order: SVU makes us question what is best. Will Benson’s empathy win, or do we have to go down the darker path like Duarte? 

Because it is the Olivia Benson show, empathy ends up being the triumphant force when she gets to the kid who shot her and opens him up enough for him to be the key witness in their case.

However, she shows us that empathy isn’t always a soothing voice, a reassuring comment, or a hug.

In Benson’s world, empathy can be a punch in the face for the guy who put your attack in motion to bring Oscar Papa to justice.

“Soldier Up” brings one of the most significant cases Law & Order: SVU has tackled to the forefront. The introduction of a rape tree as a recruitment tool for a gang leaves us all shaken up, and it is hard to process over 100 unsolved rapes.

The audience’s disgust, rage, and sadness correlate to Muncy’s actions when she finds out. She immediately starts screaming at Duarte — kudos to Molly Burnett for the great acting during this scene.

She feels betrayed by the man she considers her mentor. He sent her to the streets to talk to victims and witnesses without telling her how deep the cases went and how terrible BX9 was.

But that moment is the one that shows Muncy, Benson, and viewers that this detective now really belongs in SVU. Something that she proves when she calls out for her captain and tells Duarte she is referring to Olivia.

It also gives her the confidence to use her resources, connect with the team, and move on from her previous mistake in court.

As sad as it is to find out Duarte has been sitting on hundreds of open rape cases, those unsolved cases give Benson the leverage she needs to convince McGrath to let her go after BX9.

Solving these cases will allow McGrath to get the hire-ups off his back while letting Benson go after the man she truly wants to catch: Oscar Papa.

In addition, it will enable us to see the development between Olivia and her boss.

When McGrath first became Olivia’s boss, we didn’t know how it would go. He tried to control her and change the way she did things — something that she, of course, wasn’t going to allow, going as far as threatening to leave the job.

However, as the episodes go by, we see a new dynamic. McGrath understands Olivia and allows her to be herself because he knows that will get him the results he needs. In return, Benson has learned to give him what he needs (in her way) to continue helping victims.

But this new understanding will not stop Olivia from coming back with sassy comments and establishing who is in charge.

“Soldier Up” has to be one of Mariska Hargitay’s best episodes. You can see an actor cares about the story they are telling when their acting amps up and they give it their all.

Throughout the episode, Hargitay delivers perfectly. From her comedic timing with particular lines (very rare in a show like this) to her anger, fear, and sadness.

The scene where she is talking about a mother’s love and mentions she was willing to die for her son and live for him is one of the most powerful beats of the episode.

And it is also essential for the fans who have seen Olivia Benson fight to achieve her biggest dream: motherhood.

This storyline isn’t over, and it will be interesting to see how it ends — especially after the promo for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 24 Episode 12, “Blood Out,” teasing the culmination of Benson and Stabler’s will they/won’t they.

Stray Observations

• It is nice to see Fin in charge, leading a team, and proving why he has been around for so long.
• Bringing in Carisi to help the case is the right move, as he understands how the team works and what he can expect from them. It also helps that he sees Benson precisely as she is and can reach out to her as a friend to check in on her and ensure she is okay.
• It makes sense that when everyone is telling Benson she needs to push the kid she shot, Fin has the last line and guides her in the right direction. But, of course, it had to be done in a very Fin manner by saying, “if three people tell you you’re drunk…”

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

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Law & Order: SVU airs Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.

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