Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 1 Review: Tunnel Blind

Celebrating a milestone like 25 years on the air comes with big expectations for a season premiere. Luckily, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 1, “Tunnel Blind,” delivers a 5-star premiere.

Even though Manhattan SVU currently has a captain, a sergeant, and two detectives (not nearly enough manpower nor female cops), they manage to work to the best of their abilities to solve a case that gets more complicated as the minutes go by.

With the episode coming to an end and Maddie still missing, it is likely to be a recurring topic throughout the season.

The title of the episode, “Tunnel Blind,” is indirectly referenced throughout because Benson is tunnel blind when she sees the victim being taken.

The light coming through the windshield as Olivia drives out of the tunnel is done so perfectly that it blinds the audience as well. Just like her, we’re confused by what we’re seeing.

For a split second, we get the feeling that Noah and Olivia will be in a car accident. We’re shortly proven wrong — thank goodness!

However, when she sees Maddie in the van, we know that things are going to get very complicated.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 1, “Tunnel Blind,” starts with flashbacks of Benson’s career throughout the years and a voice-over that states her commitment to her job and the victims.

This helps set up the mood for the episode, as Olivia will be so closely connected to the victim and her family after being the last person to see her alive.

One thing Benson has always prided herself in is doing right by the victims, but this episode makes her question that.

She felt that something was wrong but couldn’t do anything about it. Does this change all the work she’s done in two and a half decades?

As the audience, we know the answer to that question is no, but Benson still feels like she’s letting Maddie down. That blame follows her around throughout the episode.

This episode focuses on the feeling of blame. Benson blames herself for not being able to help Maddie when she saw her.

Realistically, as much as we know Benson has the instinct to know when something is wrong, she wasn’t able to a hundred percent know that simply by seeing the girl in a van.

Maddie’s mom blames the NYPD. However, it seems for a minute, the show forgets Olivia knows exactly what she’s going through.

When Maddie’s mom says they don’t know how she feels, we must remember that Olivia knows that feeling because Noah was kidnapped, too. Those forgotten details sometimes make us feel the inconsistency of the show, but luckily, they don’t change the story as a whole.

Lastly, the father blames himself for not being able to keep his daughter safe.

Something to highlight from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 1, “Tunnel Blind,” is the use of Maddie’s bracelet.

It is this object that ties the episode together. It’s the one thing Olivia notices of Maddie when she sees her in the van.

The one object that she can see in the photo Maddie’s mom shows her and that Maddie herself leaves behind for them to find and know she’s still alive.

When the case turns more complicated with dolls that look like Maddie being sold online, the bracelet once again ties it together. Those dolls have the same bracelet as Maddie.

And when Olivia is talking to Amanda, the former detective points out Olivia will be wearing the bracelet until they find Maddie.

The entire storyline is connected by some colorful beads in a friendship bracelet.

As the case continues to become increasingly complicated, the SVU squad encounters another (blonde) female detective who’s tracking the same perp.

For those who have been fans of Benson for a long time, this comes quite shockingly as Benson is usually protective of cases, working them close to home. It makes us see her growth when we notice she’s willing to collaborate.

However, if we’re going to have another blonde cop join the squad, could we instead get Amanda Rollins back?

With Kelli Giddish guest starring, we are reminded of the amazing chemistry she has with everyone on the show. Rollins is an amazing cop, and she proves that by being the one who gives Benson the idea of someone obsessed with the doll taking Maddie.

Just like Benson, we don’t want to miss Rollins too much. “Don’t make me miss you more than I already do.”

There are a few editing decisions that help bring the quality of the episode to the best.

On the one hand, when Benson is looking at the picture of Maddie, it all comes together with flashbacks of her seeing the girl in the van. Zooming in on the bracelet, once again, ties it all together.

On the other hand, when the detectives are showing Maddie’s parents photos of the van, it smoothly transitions between her mom and her dad.

This also helps follow the idea of the blame shared between the two of them.

One thing that deserves to be highlighted for Benson and Stabler shippers is the compass that Olivia now wears around her neck.

This little token of their relationship was given to her by Stabler on Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 3 Episode 22, “With Many Names.” It is also what ties the season finale and this premiere together.

Hopefully, it will serve as a clue that something will finally happen between the former partners.

Just like the episode started with flashbacks and Benson’s voiceover, when McGrath chooses to have a press conference to celebrate finding Tanya, we hear Benson once more.

This time around, her speech is about her own emotions and the things she’s able to do as a cop. Even though she feels like she’s failing Maddie, the audience knows what she’s capable of.

Starting off Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 with these speeches gives us the feeling that the season will remind everyone why Olivia Benson is such an important character.

After all, she deserves to be celebrated.

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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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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airs Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.

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