Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 Episode 18 Review: The Accuser
The last few episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit have reminded viewers why they fell in love with the show in the first place, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 Episode 18, “The Accuser,” does exactly that.
Not only does the episode deliver a solid storyline, but it also uses it to explain how far the topic of sexual assault has come. While they prosecute the perpetrator for what she did, they explain how all of this could have been avoided if people knew at the time of her assault what we know now.
It seems the show finally remembers its essence and what it’s supposed to be doing with this storyline, and the way the case is handled. For the fans who have been around from the beginning, this is the kind of episode they’ve been waiting for.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has made it very clear that Olivia Benson is the heart, soul, rhythm, and rhyme of the show. Without her, the show would cease to exist.
However, at times, the show has forgotten that without everyone else who surrounds Benson, it would cease to exist as well. She wouldn’t be able to do as much as she does if she didn’t have a team to support her.
But it is episodes like this one that allow Benson to keep the main qualities of her character while giving room for other characters to shine. On Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 Episode 18, “The Accuser,” Benson pulls a Cragen and bosses from her office more than she is in the action.
She spends most of the episode in the precinct, receiving the information from her team and guiding them on what to do next. There are two particular scenes in which she has her moment, and they both happen when she is doing what she does best: connecting with the victims, making them feel safe, and uplifting their voices.
At the end of the day, Benson is a sign of hope in a sea of desperation. Having her around is key to making the series work, but it’s also important to give others room to grow and make the storylines stronger.
With the way this storyline goes, Bruno gets to shine.
Not too long ago, Bruno opened up to Benson and shared his own abuse story with her. Now that viewers know that, how he connects with Sam, understands his story, and helps him navigate the guilt he feels for what was done to him, makes even more sense.
Bruno has always been good at his job, but the sarcasm and the jokes seem like a barrier he uses to protect himself. It never made sense until he shared his own story.
That defense completely breaks when Sam needs him, and Bruno becomes more human, vulnerable, and approachable. The sarcasm combined with the way he treats this particular case are the qualities that make Bruno such a great character.
It is also because of these things that he has been able to fit in with the squad from the beginning. His chemistry with everyone around him is palpable, and his background story makes him the perfect piece of the SVU 3.0 puzzle.
Even though the squad isn’t complete on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 Episode 18, “The Accuser,” Silva’s absence isn’t a big deal. On the contrary, the team makes more sense this way.
Benson can step into the typical captain role, directing from her office and intervening when her expertise is needed. The rest of the team is paired up in a manner that works perfectly.
Curry sees the potential in Velasco and doesn’t get frustrated at the little fits of anger that pop in him here and there. Meanwhile, Velasco has a lot to learn from Curry and seems willing to do so because there’s admiration and respect for a superior officer.
Bruno and Fin make perfect sense. They have similar personalities, a sarcastic and blunt edge that gives them a laid-back attitude. But working with Fin has allowed Bruno to be honest, probably trusting someone in the NYPD for the first time in a while.
Everything about this episode works, giving us hope that Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 won’t be completely forgettable after all.
What did you think of this episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airs Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.
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Lara Rosales
By day, Lara Rosales (she/her) is a solo mom by choice and a bilingual writer with a BA in Latin-American Literature who works in PR. By night, she is a TV enjoyer who used to host a podcast (Cats, Milfs & Lesbian Things). You can find her work published on Eulalie Magazine, Geek Girl Authority, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, Nicki Swift, and Flip Screened.