Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 Episode 20 Review: Shock Collar
It is hard for fans to adjust to the idea that Amanda Rollins is gone from the squad room when she continues to come back for several episodes per season. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 Episode 20, “Shock Collar,” is one of those instances in which she is back and we wonder why she ever had to leave.
Every time Rollins pops back up for an episode, it feels as if she never left. On the contrary, it is still weird to see the team working without her. And this is only because the team still feels incomplete.
Even though the squad is pretty big nowadays, no one feels like a set piece of the team. With characters coming and going every episode, it is hard for fans to like them and see them as an integral part of the show. But every time Amanda returns, it feels like she is home.
Rollins and Benson’s chemistry is undeniable. There is an understanding between the two women that hasn’t been repeated with anyone else on the team. While Fin is an incredible part of Benson’s life, the inconsistency of his appearances makes it hard for their bond to continue to shine.
But every time Rollins returns, it seems Benson feels more at ease. She knows she can one hundred percent count on someone to have her back and understand where her decisions are coming from.
At this point, they know how the other woman thinks and what to expect from one another. Benson is capable of opening up to Rollins and voicing the concerns she might not share with anyone else. This time, she does so by wondering how a parent can abuse their child in such a way.
Most Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 episodes have been focused on Benson, making it seem she is the only one who can work and case and see the perp behind bars. However, when Rollins comes back, Benson lets her guard down and there’s someone else there to have her back and fight on the same level.
Truth be told, Amanda Rollins should be back as a full-time member of SVU.
Even though it is hard to get to know each character personally as they come and go on every episode, this time around, we were able to see that Velasco, Silva, and Curry work well together. As a matter of fact, Silva and Curry have the kind of chemistry that, if explored correctly, could become a fan-favorite duo.
Sadly, the show doesn’t spend enough time with each new character for us to like them enough. That might be one of the main issues we saw with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26.
While it’s extremely important to spend time with the victims and truly get to the bottom of a case, it is just as important to get to know the characters for the fans to enjoy the show they are watching. A more recent example of this is the appearance of the new chief.
In previous seasons, Benson’s chiefs were always a big part of her day-to-day life. Dodds, Garland, and McGrath always intervened one way or another, but this new chief doesn’t seem to be as involved. This case is the first time we see him call Benson or show up at a scene.
Hopefully, we will see more of him to understand his dynamic with Benson. This dynamic is an integral part of how Benson does her job, so it’s important for fans to see it onscreen.
Besides Rollins and Benson’s collaboration and the fact that Curry continues to prove why she’s also a captain, one thing that stood out is Velasco’s reaction to the case.
Most times, it seems the cops have been working these cases too long and have no visceral reactions to what’s happening. However, this case seems to be different for Velasco, and his reaction imitates our feelings as viewers.
When they receive a new video of Haley being tortured, Velasco turns around and chooses not to continue watching the video. That is the same reaction viewers have to what is being done to the little girl. From time to time, it is necessary to have these reactions from the detectives to remind us they are just as human as we are.
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.