Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 24 Episode 13 Review: Intersection
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 24 Episode 13, “Intersection,” is the 26th episode directed by Juan José Campanella and proves why he is a recurring director on the series. The shots of every accident are done in the perfect manner to make us viewers understand the scene better.
The red and blue lights reflected on the characters’ faces during the accidents help give the vibe of fear, anxiety, and tension that everyone is feeling with how the case is going.
Campanella understands the characters, the city, and what the viewers are looking for, so he delivers beautifully directed episodes that make for some of the best on the show.
Who is Velasco?
Raise your hand if you are confused by the Velasco situation.
During Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 24 Episode 12, “Blood Out,” it seemed like Churlish went to Benson because Velasco had given drugs to an inmate to get him to speak. However, now we find out he might have murdered someone.
So, do we forget about the drugs? Or is Benson going to bring this up as she investigates the veracity of his statement?
It looks like this chaos becomes a test for Muncy as well. Benson makes her listen to the recording in order to figure out whether Velasco is bluffing or telling the truth. Now, the captain will see whether Muncy is loyal to her or her partner.
If Muncy’s loyalty to Velasco is like Benson’s loyalty to Stabler, there is a chance Muncy may confront Velasco before Benson does. Is this what Benson may be looking for? Could she be testing both detectives?
Whatever the case may be, things are going to get really tense in Manhattan SVU.
Can We Keep Bruno?
Law & Order: SVU has felt like a revolving door of detectives and ADAs for a long time. With Amanda leaving and Muncy joining the team, it felt like things would be steady for a while.
That absolutely changed the moment Bruno came on the scene. He immediately made himself a likable character who would add to the storyline if he chose to stay with the squad.
Even though at first it feels to Olivia like Bruno is auditioning them to decide whether or not he joins the team, he brings something that has been missing since Amanda’s departure.
Amanda’s empty desk is a constant reminder that the team isn’t complete. As much as the show has tried to make us like Muncy, her recurring “days off” do not allow us as viewers to connect with her. Do we like her or are we still on the fence?
Bruno is different. He makes himself approachable and, just like Fin, we want him to stay.
His sense of humor matches Benson’s and it feels like (beyond Fin who has been around for two decades) she may have finally found someone who is at her level. Someone who will go to the end of the world for the victims and still play by Olivia’s rules.
The squad benefits from having Bruno around as he is able to provide key information to help the case move forward. This information introduces us to his ex-wife, showing us there is more to learn about Bruno.
As the case comes to an end, Bruno says he could somehow understand the perp’s marital struggles, but blames himself for pushing his wife away. If Bruno were to stay, it would be interesting to explore this storyline.
For Benson, it is hard to let new people in after watching so many of her friends and coworkers walk away. That is probably why she tells Bruno that to sit at Amanda’s desk he has to earn it.
She immediately puts him to the test and he proves he has what it takes to survive on her side of the city. The offer to take the desk at the end of the episode shows he has earned it, but will he take it?
Why Such Graphic Scenes?
After 24 seasons, everyone knows what Law & Order: SVU is about, so are the graphic and triggering scenes really necessary?
Many viewers have voiced their concerns regarding how triggering the scenes can get. “Intersection,” has its moment in the beginning as it shows when the first victim is assaulted.
Minutes later, her partner is talking about what happened and giving very specific details of the assault. Couldn’t the show skip the violent scenes and keep the narration? This might make it less triggering for people to watch.
Contrary to previous episodes, the perp is caught and justice served as there is a confession, a DNA match, and a ring found in his possession. Sadly, this means there isn’t enough Carisi on the episode.
Hopefully, the remainder of the season will bring us more court scenes and allow Carisi to shine outside of his relationship with Amanda.
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What did you think of this episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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[Show Title] airs Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.
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Lara Rosales
By day, Lara Rosales (she/her) is a solo mom by choice and a bilingual writer with a BA in Latin-American Literature known as a Media Relations Expert. By night, she is a TV enjoyer who used to host a podcast (Cats, Milfs & Lesbian Things). You can find her work published on Eulalie Magazine, Geek Girl Authority, W Spotlight, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, Nicki Swift, and Flip Screened.