Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 24 Episode 22 Review: All Pain Is One Malady

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 24 Episode 22, “All Pain Is One Malady,” repeats the formula from last week by bringing two cases to the screen.

While one of them is on-going and has somewhat of a resolution (or the beginning of one) at the end of the episode, the other one brings a little bit of hope for victims and the justice they deserve.

“All Pain Is One Malady” brings the season to an end with an open ending that pushes us to watch Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 3 Episode 22, “With Many Names.”

The Wrath of McGrath

On a regular episode of Law & Order: SVU, McGrath rarely shows his face, knowing Olivia Benson can handle every situation. She has made this very clear to him in the past.

However, this time around he basically refuses to leave the squad room until something is done. Because the FBI and Interpol are pressuring him, he feels the need to pressure his team.

Against Benson and her team’s best belief that they should wait to arrest the rapists until they get the man behind the site, every man who assaulted a woman in Law & Order: SVU Season 24 Episode 21, “Bad Things,” is arrested.

Despite Benson’s best instincts to take their time, this works out for the best and the victims will finally feel like they have been heard by the NYPD. But this is the only thing McGrath does right.

His anger and nerves push Jet to release a virus that she isn’t sure is ready to catch the bad guy.

The only two signs of a crossover during “All Pain Is One Malady” are the presence of Stabler and Jet.

Stabler has his best moment with Benson (more of that below for the fans who have been waiting decades for these two to get together), but Jet is the one that gets to shine through.

Not only does she prove to Law & Order: SVU viewers who don’t regularly watch Law & Order: Organized Crime the extent of her skills, it proves why she has earned her title.

However, her genius idea (as labeled by Benson) backfires when McGrath pushes her to launch the virus when she knows it isn’t completely ready.

Still, it is thanks to her skills that the team is able to capture a suspect and we feel a bit closer to finally shutting down that terrible site.

The Benson and Stabler of it All

If we’re honest, the one thing most of us are looking forward to when we hear the word “crossover” is what could happen between Benson and Stabler.

This “will they/won’t they” has had us on the edge of our seats for decades. And the first part of the crossover keeps us there.

Even though “All Pain Is One Malady” merely prepares us for what’s coming on the second part of the crossover, it gives us the perfect scene between Benson and Stable — a nod to 1.0.

It is in the intimacy of her office while eating Chinese food that they are able to have an honest conversation, giving us hope that something more may happen.

Law & Order: SVU definitely leaves us wanting more between these two characters and hopefully Law & Order: SVU Season 25 will deliver what we want.

The end of the episode warns us that something terrible may happen to either of them on Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 3 Episode 22, “With Many Names” after their names and photos popped up on the website.

Bruno and Fin

From the moment Bruno showed up on the show, we have noticed he does some of his best work while paired up with Fin. “All Pain Is One Malady” is the proof of that.

This time around, the two of them are focusing on the most recent case while the rest of the team focuses on Ohio. And the truth is that this is the best thing Law & Order: SVU could have done for the episode.

This case brings to the light the stigma that surrounds male victims. While the mother of the teenage boy has a terrible reaction (“how can you be a man now?”), Bruno reminds her nothing that happened was his fault.

These two very experienced men bring the empathetic side to the episode, making the victims feel heard and taken care of. The Bruno and Fin duo is one of the best things we have seen this season.

Even though it is bittersweet to see the season end, it is nice to end it with a small appearance from Rollins.

Since she left the squad room, there has been a void that none of the new detectives have been able to fill. Particularly with Benson who hasn’t found a friend like Amanda in anyone else.

Hopefully Law & Order: SVU Season 25 will bring us more of this character so many of us miss.

—

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

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

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

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Vote for Your Favorite TV Shows and Performers! The 2023 Tell-Tale TV Awards (Round 2)