Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 5 Review: Zone Rouge

For those of us who thought Maddie’s case would be a season-long case, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 5, “Zone Rogue,” is here to prove us wrong.

After spending the first four episodes of the season watching Benson beat herself up for losing Maddie, we are able to watch her bring the girl home to her parents. Does this mean she will finally stop blaming herself?

Even though it is nice to see the case resolved positively, we wonder if the resolution is rushed and the episode does too much too fast.

Maddie Comes Home

Up until this point, Olivia Benson had spent all of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 focusing on Maddie. Even when she was pulled into another case, she was always thinking about the missing girl and making time for her parents.

So when Maddie is discovered on the train with George, there is hope that Benson will finally find her and bring her home. The way the case had been built up on previous episodes made us feel as if it was going to last all season.

However, things quickly change, and by the end of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 5, “Zone Rogue,” Maddie is home with her parents.

As happy as we can be as viewers to see this case be resolved positively, we can’t help but feel it was rushed to be resolved on one episode. They find George, recover his deleted texts, find Leonard, and find Maddie.

The built-up was too big for a case that comes to an end in a matter of 42 minutes. For something that mattered so much to Benson, it could have been explored on at least two episodes to give her time to come to terms with what has happened.

Nevertheless, it is great to see Maddie home and mostly unharmed.

One of the most meaningful moments from this episode happens towards the end during the press conference, bringing this case full circle.

When on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 1, “Tunnel Blind,” Benson finds Maddie’s bracelet, she starts wearing it to hold herself accountable. Later on, during Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 3, “The Punch List,” we see her leave the bracelet inside a music box for Maddie to find upon her return.

Right before Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 5, “Zone Rogue,” ends, Maddie lifts her arm and shows Olivia she is wearing the bracelet. Benson keeps her promise and brings Maddie home; now, the bracelet is back with its rightful owner.

This split second shared between the two of them is further proof that Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 is working to highlight Benson’s dedication to the victims and survivors. She will do whatever it takes to keep them safe and give them the justice they deserve.

Hopefully, now that the bracelet is back on the wrist it belongs, Benson will be able to work through her guilt better.

A New Detective on the Scene

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 5, “Zone Rogue,” is the introduction of FBI Special Agent Sykes. As exciting as it can be to have new cops on the squad, we wonder if it is the right decision and if it will be handled correctly.

Sykes is introduced, and with her comes a heavy and emotional background story that makes her the right fit for Manhattan SVU. The mention of her missing sister and the fact that she was never found is a hint of how hard Sykes will fight for the victims.

However, it makes viewers wonder if this particular storyline will be brought up again throughout the season. Could it be possible for her sister’s case to be reopened and for Benson’s team to help close it?

Given the fact that, at first, Fin is concerned with Curry’s addition to the squad, we wonder what his reaction will be now that Sykes is a full-time Manhattan SVU team member.

When Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 started, the most noticeable thing was that the squad had gotten remarkably small. “Zone Rouge,” however, introduces two new female cops to the team — which is exactly what had been missing.

But the moment Skyes is introduced, Curry is pushed to the sidelines, and her storyline seems to get lost in the background. Even though it is off to a good start by having her buttheads with Fin, that is soon forgotten. Instead of seeing a resolution, we just hear them talk about going to get beers.

Getting women on the team is extremely important, but it misses the point if the presence of one woman will leave the other one in the shadows. The show must find a way to allow everyone to shine.

The truth is that in recent years, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has struggled to find the perfect balance between the number of members on the team. One way or another, a squad member is left behind, and their storyline is forgotten.

It seems impossible, for example, for Velasco and Bruno both to have a significant amount of time onscreen on the same episode. One of them must always be missing for the other to be present.

Hopefully, as the season goes on, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will find a way to give everyone the screen time they deserve.

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

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