Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 Episode 7 Review: Original Sin

Not since Season 1 have we seen a multiple-episode case as intriguing and compelling as the serial murder case on Long Island. Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 Episode 7, “Original Sin,” continues to keep us on the edge of our seats with each new twist in the case.

This is an investigation that has been going on since Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 Episode 5, “Missing Persons.” And never once has the case slowed down or become tedious in any way.

In fact, as time passes the case expands and becomes that much more inviting, capturing our attention more and more.

Meredith Bonner and Stabler Have Gone Rogue

Since Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 Episode 6, “Beyond the Sea,” viewers have suspected that Meredith Bonner’s brother, Eric has something to do with all the dead women on the beach. It’s something that we’ve deduced, but the OCCB and Meredith haven’t put together yet.

Watching them all go through the motions to get more clues into the identity of the serial murderer is fun on a level that most of the shows within the Law & Order universe don’t know how to do anymore. The concept that Stabler is doing all this while on suspension is what adds to the drama and stakes of it all.

Now, Bonner’s father has dismissed her from the case as well, making both investigators rogue agents of justice. To be dead honest, it feels kind of superhero-like, which of course, adds to the already high stakes.

Throwing away our knowledge of what is considered legal and what is not, it’s fun to watch Stabler ignore his current career problems in search of a bigger truth. Fans of this character have come to love him for actions such as this. Therefore, we are ready and willing to watch it all unfold.

Bonner going against her father is a bigger development that comes as a nice surprise. We haven’t had much faith in her ability to think objectively up to this point — considering how involved she is in the small town being ripped apart.

So, for her to steal evidence and bring it all the way to Stabler is a big baller move. It makes us love her that much more. Add to it the sheer chemistry and trust Stabler and her have, and we have a recipe for excitement.

All in the Family

When it is finally revealed that Eric is their biggest suspect, we can see from Meredith’s face that she is living in a state of denial. Or is she?

Sure, the case against Eric is extremely compelling, but is he responsible for all of the murders? That’s what makes the final body being identified so important. 

All this time, both Eric and Judge Bonner have been the most shady characters involved. For two episodes now, the visuals and clues have directly pointed to Eric as the perpetrator and the Judge simply being the coverup.

However, perhaps that has all been a red herring. After all, the M.E. did mention that some of the victims were killed slightly differently from the others. That gives credence to the possibility that Eric killed a couple of them, but the elder Bonner is responsible for most of them.

My guess is that Judge Bonner started with his wife and then killed a few more women. Then, Eric, being stuck like glue to Judge Bonner, found out and as a result of keeping quiet, had some good old-fashioned Catholic guilt that he tried to wash away with “sacrifices.”

No matter what the final verdict ends up being Meredith is never going to be the same. She has never discharged her weapon before shooting her brother; that alone is going to stick with her.

Stabler’s Family Legacy

Once again, Stabler and Meredith find themselves on common ground. She is contending with all her family secrets just as Stabler is being crucified for his.

We’ve known for 3 episodes now that Stabler’s IAB investigation is moving at glacial speed. And now we know it’s because his investigator, Warren, has it out for him.

What makes this revelation great is that it pulls Captain Cragen back into NYPD business when he and Bell team up to find out why Stabler hasn’t been cleared.

This season has been feeding us between all the nods to Stabler’s history with Manhattan SVU. As we learn more and more about Stabler’s father’s actions, it’ll be great to see how his old team will step in to help his new team manage his situation.

Of course, the one person we really want to see step up and keep Stabler steady is Olivia Benson. Only time will tell what we can expect on that front.

Stray Thoughts:

• Stabler being displayed like Christ on the Cross as Eric tortured him is kind of poetic considering all that Stabler is being persecuted for currently.
• I never thought “Don’t wash away with the sea, sweetheart,” could be so downright creepy
• The amount of references to various belief systems this season has been interesting. I’m sure there isn’t anything in particular to it, but if it ended up being an overarching theme, that would be really cool.

 

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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