Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 Episode 12 Review: Goodnight

The distance between the OCCB and ATF and their target, Julian Emery, is quickly closing in. Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 Episode 12, “Goodnight,” slows things down substantially from last week in order to give the technology at play time to make an impact.

After all, Vargas has been an essential part of the team since Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 Episode 1, “Memory Lane.” And while his presence isn’t always appreciated by the less-flexible Stabler, we can’t deny the team has been stronger with him on board.

The juxtaposition of the OCCB working with ATF to find out the details on Emery’s next shipment with the Stabler brothers forcing Joe Jr. to detox makes for a balanced episode of professional and personal stressors, much like the whole season.

Vargas is The Man

For once, Vargas’ talents take the front row, center to what the whole team is trying to do. He knows technology like the back of his hand and can work miracles, which is needed considering how tech-savvy Julian Emery’s operation is.

After all, it has to be in order to avoid detection from government organizations such as ATF. We are talking high-quality tracking and recording jammers as well as detection technology that works faster than the average bear.

Vargas and Reyes aren’t in that server farm for more than a few seconds before Emery’s guys show up to stop them. It’s astounding how quickly their technology works. Thankfully, Vargas works faster.

Despite having been with the team since the start of the season, his actual process and skills haven’t been showcased much. Here in the farm viewers, as well as Reyes, get to see firsthand how incredibly intelligent Vargas is and how quickly he can think on his feet. 

Even without a warning he is able to get into Emery’s server, copy the data, and then get out all within a two-minute time frame. If we aren’t singing Vargas’ praises after this, can we really call ourselves fans?

The great thing about Law & Order: Organized Crime is that, on paper, it’s all about Det. Elliot Stabler, but in action, each character gets to shine at one point or another. “Goodnight” is Vargas’ shining moment, and boy, does he deliver.

We wouldn’t know anything about what Emery is smuggling into the United States with his latest shipment if it weren’t for Vargas’ quick work at the server farm. Hopefully he gets to take a long break after this. He’s earned it.

Joe Jr. Has Messy, Youngest Child Energy

Spending this season focusing on the Stabler brothers’ dynamic has been an equally fun ride to the two cases presented in tandem. And for Joe Jr. to be at the right hand of Julian Emery himself is one of the most compelling stories on television at the current time.

The ups and downs centered on Elliot and Randall not only trying to get the truth out of their brother on what he’s been up to the last few years but also to keep him out of trouble is unexpectedly fun. We keep thinking we’ve learned all we can about Joe Jr., and then the show comes at us with another twist to the narrative.

Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 Episode 11, “Redcoat,” revealing the full extent of Joe Jr.’s involvement with Emery’s operation, still manages to hit us by surprise for this very reason. The show has already been providing twists and big reveals about Joe Jr., building up our own mistrust of him.

Therefore, his working with the worst man possible surprises us, but not because we don’t expect him to be on Emery’s team. It catches us because of how close the two men actually are.

Learning just how far back their relationship goes and how deep it helps us to fully appreciate what Elliot and Randall are doing as they force Joe Jr. into a detox.

Once again, the detox isn’t surprising, but Joe Jr. escaping, going back to Emery to show proof of life, and then returning to Elliot in order to double cross the dangerous man is. It’s something Joe Jr. doesn’t seem capable of pulling off because he is a junky.

What’s great about all of this personal stress in Det. Stabler’s life is that it allows him to let his team take control of the Emery takedown operation. Despite everything he’s done over the years to try and be a more balanced family man, Det. Stabler still can’t quite get it right, but for now, focusing on his brother and how that helps the investigation work in his favor.

Regardless, all this personal and professional drama sets up next week’s finale to end the already stellar season on a high note.

Stray Thoughts

• I get a bad feeling about what Emery is going to do if he ever discovers Joe Jr. has turned traitor
• Curious about what’s really going on with Eli. The show makes a big deal about him needing to tell his father something, and then it’s just that he’s leaving school. Something else is up
• Are Jet and Reyes making their quick fling from the start of the season a thing again? Them arriving together and giggling has me thinking it’s possible

 

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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