Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Gradually Shifts Its Storytelling Focus Away From Olivia Benson (& That’s A Good Thing)
Law & Order: SVU season 26, episode 18, titled “The Accuser,” begins a gradual shift away from focusing on Benson (Mariska Hargitay), and that’s a positive development for the long-running procedural. Benson has been Law & Order: SVU‘s protagonist since the series began. Many of Law & Order: SVU‘s best episodes involve her attempts to support and encourage survivors while working on getting justice for them, although she sometimes goes too far in her zeal for helping others heal.
“The Accuser” quietly begins shifting the focus to other characters in addition to Benson. This intense story is one of Law & Order: SVU season 26‘s strongest, as it involves a teenage boy who has been abused by a man who runs a metal shop and a woman who is acting out because nobody took it seriously when she was abused as an eight-year-old. Instead of Benson supporting both of these survivors, Bruno (Kevin Kane) connects with Sam and offers him the same type of support that Benson would ordinarily give.
Bruno Being More Involved With Supporting Survivors In SVU Is A Welcome Change
Bruno forges the same type of connection with Sam that Benson often does with survivors. He gives Sam time and space to heal on his own, is receptive to his call, and is willing to meet privately with him. At that meeting, Sam begins to open up to Bruno about the sexual abuse he had suffered, which leads to Bruno reassuring and supporting him. The final scene, in which Sam confides in Bruno his fear that his trauma will cause him to become violent
Bruno’s behavior is so similar to Benson’s that it seems silly for her to worry about him meeting Sam without backup — she has done the same for many female survivors. It is more logical for Bruno to support Sam than Benson, however, because a teenage boy would be more likely to open up about this sensitive subject to a male detective. Additionally, Benson is focused on helping Angela, the former abuse victim arrested for the attack on her abuser, and it would be unrealistic for her to be able to assist both of these people at the same time.
Why Law & Order: SVU Showing Its Other Detectives Care As Much For Its Victims Is Better For Its Legacy
Mariska Hargitay’s Benson has been the face of Law & Order: SVU for a long time. She has been helping survivors for 25 years and has risen through the ranks
It’s not realistic or desirable for Benson to be the only one supporting survivors.
That said, Benson’s Law & Order: SVU season 26 team exists for a reason. It’s not realistic or desirable for Benson to be the only one supporting survivors. Doing so would make it seem like the series is about her desire to help others rather than a show that tells authentic, empowering stories about people who survive sexual assault. Having Bruno and other detectives show equal passion for helping survivors helps re-center the procedural. This new direction also allows Law & Order: SVU to live up to its opening promise that the unit consists of “dedicated detectives that investigate these vicious felonies.”
