Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 19 Review: Impropriety

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 19, “Impropriety,” delivers exactly what we’ve been expecting since Tynan joined the show. The blow she’s been waiting for is delivered to her on a silver platter and not by Griffin, but by Benson herself.

While Griffin tries to convince Tynan that Benson is a good cop and she’s undermining her, it’s that exact characteristic that delivers the downfall Tynan has been waiting for. Even though the satisfaction might not be the same because she can’t immediately terminate the captain, Tynan is happy to apply a suspension.

But during her meeting with Griffin, Tynan says something that can be easily argumented. She mentions that Benson has only ever been an ally to herself, but that’s so far from the truth that both Griffin and Curry are simultaneously putting their careers on the line for her.

Before diving back into the suspension of it all, there are two things we must highlight on this episode. The first one is Carisi’s work.

Unlike we’ve seen in the past, Carisi is actually thinking outside the box and finding ways to bring justice to the victim. His idea of placing all the lawyers in one room works perfectly, giving the team exactly what they need.

His line of questioning in court is quite great, taking into consideration that the judge keeps sustaining all objections against him and overruling him. Carisi is fighting an uphill battle, but for the first time, we don’t see him defeated.

On the contrary, we see an empowered Carisi, who has a fire lit under him the moment Benson is threatened with being held in comptent. Even though the law is in their favor, they have to fight a judge who doesn’t take no for an answer.

Peter Scanavino does some of his best work when Benson’s character is threatened.

The other thing we must highlight is Curry’s willingness to help Griffin. Of course, the common denominator is Benson; they’re willing to do whatever it takes to protect her.

She handles it in a funny, low-key way when she tells Griffin that she takes Venmo because he owes her, but she does take this seriously. Curry knows she’s, in a way, helping bring down the image Griffin had of his father.

The work she does with the former cop is the perfect example of the work she used to do at IAB. While we once hated it when she was looking at Benson, we love her for it now.

Even though she doesn’t get much from this interrogation, it’s enough to confirm the suspicion that Tynan is dirty.

If there is one thing we’ve learned in 27 years of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, it is that a Benson promise means everything. Her loyalty has always lain with the victims, so we’re not surprised to see her willing to go to prison to protect a victim.

The law, as Carisi states, is in her favor, but of course, with the judge they were assigned, this means nothing. While at first this feels like a mere plot to make the episode work better, it’s soon revealed that it’s a plot in Tynan’s scheme.

It is, however, absolutely ridiculous that the Chief of Ds would suspend one of her own for defending a victim. Isn’t that what they’re all working for? This is just a pathetic excuse to get rid of someone who said no to Tynan for the first time in her ruling time.

But what Tynan doesn’t know is that she’s just awakened a beast. Olivia Benson will not go down without a fight. And, unlike Tynan, she has an army of loyal subjects behind her.

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

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