Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 Episode 11 Review: Deductible

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Season 26, Episode 11, “Deductible,” is yet another episode that falls flat. Even though the storyline is interesting, and there’s plenty of Benson for all her fans to love, the episode flatlines.

Something is missing from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Season 26. The spark that used to make the episodes so good seems to have disappeared.

Maybe it’s because the show has been on for over two decades. But maybe it is because the squad doesn’t seem to fit together as they should.

Back in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 1.0 days, the chemistry was undeniable. While most fans tuned in for Stabler and Benson, the rest of the team felt just as important.

The characters blended in perfectly; they were one big, dysfunctional family.

When the time came for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 2.0, the feeling of found family felt even more important. Benson had built a family for herself with people who loved and cared for her.

Nowadays, the squad just feels like a room full of colleagues. And every time, one of them must be shoved out of the scene for the rest to have air time.

This is something that didn’t necessarily use to happen. Viewers were happy with the amount of time each character got because their storylines evolved through the episodes.

Now, there’s nothing personal to these characters (besides Carisi). Not even Benson has a personal life. Where’s Noah? Is she still going to therapy?

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Season 26, Episode 11, “Deductible,” works in the sense that it continues to show that after two decades, Benson is still dedicated to the victims. It makes sense that she’s the one to talk to Kyra’s brother.

It feels special when he asks who will take care of his sister, and she says she will. Once again, the show continues to move forward because Benson continues to be the one who pulls us in.

This episode particularly highlights that Benson has been working for several decades in a male-dominated field. That isn’t usually celebrated or discussed on the show, and it’s truly something that would give the storyline plenty more room to grow.

It would also give characters like Silva more room to grow and might allow viewers to understand her character. What we can tell so far is that she is built like Benson.

Silva isn’t afraid of facing perps and never backs down. Her loyalty and refusal to leave victims behind tie this new detective to her captain.

But beyond that, none of the new characters feel like they are making a home for themselves in the squad.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Season 26, Episode 11, “Deductible,” does point out two important aspects of a story like this one.

The first is that the victim gains her voice back by choosing to file a report. By telling Kyra that she gets to decide whether Hogan successfully gets away with assaulting her or not, Benson is helping her regain her power.

The second is the absurdity that lying about committing a crime can land someone in jail longer than for committing the crime. The system doesn’t work the way it should, especially when it comes to special victims.

But even with these moments, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit still feels dull. The show will need much stronger episodes if it wants Season 26 to be memorable.

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

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