Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 16 Review: Vivid
Bruno is definitely becoming a lead detective in Benson’s squad, but that doesn’t mean that Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 16, “Vivid,” gives us plenty from the other characters to make us happy. Even though we still miss Fin, it seems the show is doing its best to make sure we care about every character who works with (for) Benson.
The best thing this season has done is prove to everyone that whoever comes to work with Benson ends up giving her their unconditional loyalty. Curry, even transferred out of the unit, is still “answering” to her. The moment she sees Griffin pull out old Benson files, she reports this information to the captain.
But the incredible twist is that even though Griffin owes Tynan a lot, his loyalty now lies with Benson. Truthfully, this isn’t surprising because, unlike Tynan, Benson has worked hard to build Griffin’s confidence and has come to trust him as well.
Griffin was placed at Special Victims Unit as an informant. From the very beginning, Tynan has wanted to use him to bring Benson down. However, this doesn’t seem to be going in her favor.
Since his discovery that his father might have been a dirty cop, Griffin has worked as hard as possible to uncover the truth. We see him confide in Benson when she confronts him about her old files. Instead of being mad at him, Benson shares older files and tells him to go ahead and share that as well.
Benson is surprised when Griffin gives her the case he is looking into that involves Tynan and his father. Unlike her, viewers have been expecting this moment. We have been watching Griffin’s loyalty and beliefs change as he continues to grow inside the unit.
He has come to realize that Benson has his best interest at heart while his “mentor” is only using him for her own benefit.
The stakes are higher now that Griffin is willing to risk it all. As Benson puts it, this new information is going to “blow everything up.” The war is about to begin, and Tynan will be shocked to discover that her mentee has switched alliances.
Truthfully, viewers know nothing can bring Benson down, not even Tynan.
It’s always eye-catching and intriguing to watch Benson and Rollins work together. Benson brings her empathy and experience, while Rollins brings her passion and temperamental behavior. One is more calm, cool, and collected, while the other isn’t afraid to piss off the suspects and bring out the worst in them.
It’s even better when we get to watch Benson and Rollins team up against a decision Carisi has made and (lovingly) bully him to do what they believe is best. This is what keeps this familiar dynamic going, reminding us that Carisi will always consider Benson his boss.
The two women do an incredible job on the case, but the truth is that the moment we see Breckin Meyer show up as Dr. Severson, we know he is the bad guy. There is something in his behavior and the way he carries himself that immediately makes us believe he is the rapist.
Lo and behold, we are right. He took advantage of his patients and raped them while they were under his care. This storyline does feel predictable, but Meyer’s performance, combined with Giddish and Hargitay’s, delivers a thrilling interrogation scene that makes the predictability worth it.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 has brought the show back to its glory. This season has been up to par with the kind of show we’ve always loved, reminding us why we’ve stuck around for over two decades.
Bringing in Tynan to spice things up and create a storyline that has been consistent from the beginning was the right move from the writing team. It has been intriguing, thrilling, and exciting to see someone try to come for Benson when we know how impossible that task is.
Now that Griffin has confirmed where his loyalty lies, it’ll be even more interesting to see how Tynan’s plan develops.
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 known as a Media Relations Expert. 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, W Spotlight, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, Nicki Swift, and Flip Screened.