Now this is Law & Order: SVU.
Season 27 has felt like it’s missed the mark over and over, but not this time.
Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 14 offered a compelling story that highlighted the series’ attempt to provide hope and empowerment for survivors, despite a few questionable scenes.
(NBC/Virginia Sherwood)
Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 14 Felt Like a Real Missing Child Case
The investigation into who this missing boy was and how to find and rescue him was one of the most tense in a while.
From the beginning, finding Avery was going to be a long shot. The TARU detective didn’t even know if he could find a signal to trace, and once he did, it didn’t bring the detectives any closer to finding the boy.
Benson wasn’t even sure whether she was looking at a girl or a boy, making the search even more difficult, and the detectives spent most of Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 14 going through a frustrating process of elimination, knocking on every door that could possibly lead to the missing kid.
That frustration was perfect. It kept us right there with Griffin, who wanted this case solved ASAP and couldn’t stand how long it was taking.
My favorite part of the search was the tech that didn’t quite work well enough to help the detectives find Avery.
The signal booster was supposed to tell them if they were close to the camera feed, but without the ability to determine a direction or filter out unrelated signals, it was mostly useless.
I love it when procedurals include technology in their crime-fighting efforts. I always find the tools they use and their limitations interesting, and tech often presents compelling obstacles.
In this case, the signal device provided some near misses, making the search even more frustrating.
But the worst thing was that the police didn’t know about the letter Avery’s mother had received, which might have helped them narrow down who their victim and perpetrator were much faster.
Griffin’s Backstory Was Compelling, but I’m Glad He Didn’t Go Too Far
Law & Order: SVU is often at its best when one of the cops is struggling with their personal connection to a case.
I haven’t had much use for Griffin on Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 14, but giving him the story he got this time made him more relatable.
I especially appreciated that he wanted to take a stand against the idea that non-speaking means non-thinking or non-intelligent.
When I was teaching non-speaking autistic kids, I ran into the same prejudice, and correcting it is something I’m also passionate about, so I’m grateful that SVU made that point.
Griffin seemed at risk of doing something stupid because the case wasn’t moving fast enough, though, and I’m glad he didn’t.
It was bad enough that Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 14 had Rollins call for backup AFTER she’d entered the perp’s apartment alone. We couldn’t afford Griffin going too far.
That Rollins sequence led to an entirely unnecessary chase that ended in tragedy. I would have rather the kidnapper answered for his crime.
I’m also not happy that Rollins always takes unnecessary risks.
Giving Benson a coded message was clever, but it shouldn’t have been necessary.
SVU is short-staffed right now, but that doesn’t mean we needed yet another scene of Rollins in a dangerous situation.
The Rescue Was a Relief, but I Had Mixed Feelings About It
Being locked in a cage and at the mercy of a violent stranger would have been traumatic for any child, and an autistic child who has sensory sensitivities likely would have an even worse time.
Avery seemed extremely calm for a child in that situation. He flinched a little when Bruno came in, but he was otherwise entirely cooperative.
It was a relief that the cops finally found him — that search scene was tense, and I was holding my breath the whole time — but I had trouble believing he would so easily accept being picked up by a stranger or communicating with one through the monitor.
The story deserved a happy ending, and I loved Benson’s focus on using stories to empower other survivors and help them heal, but I wasn’t convinced that Avery’s behavior was accurate, and that pulled me out of the scene right when I needed to be immersed in it most.
To be fair, a severely traumatized child would have changed the tone of the ending, and Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 14 was clearly going for a joyful reunion and a win for Griffin.
Still, Avery’s more realistic response might have given Griffin an additional beat to demonstrate that he knew how to communicate with him.
What did you think, Law & Order Fanatics?
Did Avery’s behavior seem realistic to you? How did you feel about the case?
Hit the comments with your thoughts, and don’t forget to share this article with your friends so they can join the conversation.
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