Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 Episode 2 Review: Deliver Us From Evil

The best thing about Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 Episode 2, “Deliver Us From Evil,” is that the show knows how to handle the past and how it affects the present. There are many instances of this throughout the episode that really make this show a more cohesive outing.

First and foremost, Detective Stabler’s personal life directly connects with their current case on two fronts: a bombing that is a targeted attack, and Detective Bashir is a father. Having the episode open with a faith gathering at a mosque community center which is mirrored by Elliot helping his mother remember the Lord’s Prayer, is the perfect way to alert viewers that Stabler will be the main OCCB focus.

While it’s true that Stabler is almost always the focus, knowing from the start that he will be directly connected to the case makes things more exciting. Four seasons in, we rarely get a mention of Kathy anymore, but this one has many elusions to her and a verbal acknowledgment.

The Coming Together of Three Religions

While religion isn’t the main focus of this episode, it does have a guiding influence. The man murdered is an Islamic Imam, Stabler’s mother’s Christianity is featured, and the kid caught tagging the mosque is Jewish. 

The tagger, Asher, writes “Die Muslim Pig,” which leads the Hate Crime Division to believe it is just that. However, Bashir and Stabler soon realize that the kid has more to tell about the night of the bombing.

It is a rare moment when viewers get to see Stabler’s SVU training come out when speaking to a suspect. He approaches Asher not as a perp, but as a scared and lonely kid, which he is. The way Stabler handles this kid, never once questioning his motives, is not only a show of faith but also of understanding.

Stabler is a father himself, which makes him empathize with this kid who was just trying to make a little extra money since his dad died. Stabler never jumps to conclusions about Asher because of his Jewish faith, even when it is easy to conclude that religious hate could be a factor.

Ultimately, the Imam was killed because of his faith, but not by the very obvious choice — the Jewish boy.

Detective Bashir is More Than Expected

When a Muslim man is introduced as a detective for the Hate Crimes Unit, people are going to assume virtue signaling as a motive. It could easily be that this character has been created to further say the NYPD is diverse and utilizes certain backgrounds for very important work.

Fortunately, Law & Order: Organized Crime has never really pushed the agenda that people are there for the optics. Bashir proves to be a valuable asset to the case at hand, but it is never used as a “look, we have diversity working hate crime cases.” 

Instead, Bashir is written as a cop who knows something isn’t as it seems with this case within his community, so he seeks out the one cop he knows will bend the rules — Stabler. He isn’t doing this because his CO has asked, he’s doing it because his wife was part of the incident, and he just wants answers.

There are many instances throughout the episode where viewers can easily forget he is a detective for the NYPD at all. He blends so well into the civilian category that we often forget he’s there to do a job. 

One of the moments we are reminded of this is when Stabler goes to his apartment and asks about his CI. The use of that term is a verbal reminder that this casual-seeming man is a detective too. 

Having Stabler connect with him on a father-to-father level is just icing on the cake for their whole dynamic. The two men are doing what they can to keep their families safe each and every time they walk out their doors.

Okay, so really, we just love seeing Elliot Stabler holding a toddler and rocking her until she stops crying. But, the fact remains, that fatherly understanding runs deep with his connection to this case and Bashir.

Loose Ends

At first, this episode seems like a one-off case as the team regroups about Los Santos. However, as the case starts to come to an end, we realize there are still going to be some loose ends.

After all, there are now multiple dead bodies: the Imam, Asher, the cop assigned to Asher’s room, and the blonde guy’s co-conspirator. The other bomber is still in the wind, and Stabler doesn’t seem to be backing off anytime soon.

We can easily see a collaboration with Hate Crimes in the future. Which, considering the animosity between Bell and Bashir’s CO, things could get interesting.

Stray Thoughts:

• I went into this episode confused that Stabler has a brother, thinking maybe it was a detail I had forgotten. But nope, everyone is just as confused as the viewers about that.
• Has Reyes always been married? Again, another detail I’m not sure if I’m just forgetting or if we were just informed 
• MELINDA WARREN!!! Gosh, it is so good to see Tamara Tunie, even if it’s only for a hot second
• Dean Norris is the perfect casting choice for Randall Stabler
• I need to know more about why Randall doesn’t come around often and why he seems to have tension with everyone in the family

 

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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