Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 Episode 21 Review: Aperture
While Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 did a better job with the storylines in the second half of the season, the character development lacked tremendously. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 Episode 21, “Aperture,” is further proof of that.
The plot is good, but quite predictable. The moment we figure out the brother is lying, we know he is doing so to protect himself and not to avoid embarrassing his sister as he says.
But even with a good storyline, the episode lacks the warmth and growth we expect from the main characters.
For a while, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has sacrificed screen time for certain characters to give others the time. However, unlike on other shows, this doesn’t seem to work.
Beyond Carisi’s hostage situation and how he dealt with that afterward, we haven’t seen the personal lives of these characters at all. It seems the show has forgotten that is one of the main reasons fans tune in.
After all, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is known for the longest slow burn in history between Benson and Stabler. But even that seems to be quite forgotten on the show.
With the latest news of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit being renewed for Season 27, hopefully, the show will go back to its roots and give fans what they actually want from this show.
As Silva and Velasco will depart after this season, we wonder if that will give more room for other characters’ storylines to dig deeper.
The loss of Silva will go quite unnoticed after her character lacks the depth fans enjoy. Her facial expressions have remained the same throughout the season, and she hasn’t created a place for herself in the squad.
What must be highlighted on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 Episode 21, “Aperture,” is Curry’s participation. She is the only relatively new character who has managed to leave her mark in SVU and show she belongs there.
Maybe it’s her captain status or IAB experience, but she has the kind of presence that makes it clear she will do what it takes to solve a case. This episode is no different.
She digs into the investigation and works perfectly with both Silva and Velasco to bring more evidence to the table. Curry is the kind of character who pairs perfectly with almost everyone on the team.
As the only non-series regular, we wonder if she will step up to that title for the next season. So far, she’s the only character who has earned that place.
Another thing that stands out is Benson lying to the parents to get the evidence they need to solve the case.
It follows her MO of doing what it takes to solve a case, but it feels different when we usually see her side with the victims. However, her instinct is right as they find the evidence they need.
Her last scene with Atlas sums up perfectly who Benson is, and goes hand-in-hand with the season’s theme of making her the center of every case and showcasing why she’s been around for so long.
Hopefully, the upcoming season will also remember Benson has a personal life and give us a closer look at that. After all, fans just want to know their hero is happy.
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.