Benson’s Law & Order Season 24 Reunion With SVU’s Divisive DA Failed To Address A Lingering Mystery
Olivia Benson crossed paths with a divisive defense attorney in Law & Order season 24, but the episode didn’t address the fallout from their last appearance together. Rita Calhoun (Elizabeth Marvel) has appeared in several of Law & Order: SVU’s best episodes, and is often a controversial figure because she represents the accused. She and Manhattan SVU’s Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) have tangled several times in the past, as Benson stands up for rape survivors and Calhoun defends the perpetrators.
Benson and Calhoun’s guest appearance was one of Law & Order’s most anticipated episodes for season 24. During this crossover episode, Benson testified for the defense in a case involving a rape victim who was accused of murder. This story put Calhoun and Benson on the same side for the first time since Calhoun defended Benson against William Lewis. However, Benson and Calhoun barely interacted; instead, Benson confronted members of the Law & Order cast about their perceived lack of empathy for the defendant.
Law & Order Season 24, Episode 2 Ignored Benson and Calhoun’s History
Benson and Calhoun didn’t have enough time together in Law & Order season 24 despite their contentious relationship. Calhoun has been a thorn in Benson’s side since season 14 of Law & Order: SVU. Calhoun almost always defends wealthy men accused of rape, including those she knows are guilty. Benson’s disgust with her came to a head after Calhoun unsuccessfully defended a corrupt judge who had raped several women. During their final confrontation, Calhoun advised Benson that standing up to powerful men was dangerous and that Benson should learn to “lie back and pretend you’re enjoying it.”
This happened the last time Calhoun appeared in the franchise before she and Benson worked together in Law & Order season 24. However, no mention was made of the incident or any animosity between the characters. Instead, Benson appeared as a defense witness in a case involving a client of Calhoun’s, putting them on the same side for the first time since the argument. The only time they interacted was in court or the District Attorney’s Office.
Addressing Calhoun’s SVU History Could Have Made Her Case In Law & Order Season 24 Better
Law & Order missed an emotional gut punch by ignoring Calhoun’s history. Calhoun’s job was to defend a woman accused of killing an innocent man, and she argued that the woman believed the man had been stalking her. She took matters into her own hands because she had gotten no help from the police department after she was raped. Taking this case was a marked departure from Calhoun’s past habit of defending clearly guilty rapists, yet there was no acknowledgment of this fact.
Unfortunately, Calhoun’s history was not acknowledged, so it is unclear whether she took this case because she passionately believed in it or if it was just another paycheck to her.
Bringing in Calhoun’s history could have made her choice to defend a victim in Law & Order more powerful. It could also have redeemed Calhoun if she had acknowledged that she was wrong to think that, as a female defense attorney, she had to defend rich scumbags to protect her career. Unfortunately, Calhoun’s history was not acknowledged, so it is unclear whether she took this case because she passionately believed in it or if it was just another paycheck to her. It’s curious, however, if this matter will be revisited in Law & Order: SVU season 26.
