This article contains a mention of a sexual assault.
Notice! This article may contain spoilers Law and Order: SVU season 26, episode 8, “Cornered.”Dominick Carisi’s recent behavior in Law and Order: SVU it’s a reminder of what separates it from its ADA predecessors. Carisi’s recent storyline involved a substitute teacher looking inappropriately at Rollins’ daughter and other young women, causing the ADA to confront the man. During Law and Order: SVU In the fall finale of season 26, Carisi is in a hostage situation in a supermarket. Both examples revolve around Carisi’s need to help others and stand up to bad guys without just using his experience as a lawyer.
Carisi’s character arc leading up to the events of “Cornered” presents an intriguing confrontation for the ADA as he goes through physical and psychological implications as he tries to stop the thieves. Both the malicious man plot and the supermarket robbery episode exhibit Carisi’s strengths as a lawyer and former police officer who is willing to do anything to help others when it comes to personal safety and life and death scenarios. Secretly, Law and Order: SVU Season 26, Episode 8 also highlights her unique edge as Olivia Benson and her team’s current ADA.
Carisi uses her police skills on Law & Order: SVU Season 26, Episode 8
Carisi being in danger further enhances his character arc
When Carisi confronts a malicious man during her multi-episode arc in Law and Order: SVU In season 26, he uses his experience as a former police officer to approach his alleged perpetrator and take steps to stop him from harassing any woman, including Rollins’ daughter. Carisi takes this situation personally because he is a caring protector of his family and a public servant who insists on ensuring everyone’s safety. Carisi also learns an important lesson in this case by understanding that even people who make mistakes, like the malicious man, should seek help to learn from their mistakes.
…Carisi uses his experience as a former detective and lawyer to negotiate with the thieves and ensure the safety of the hostages.
In “Cornered”, Carisi is placed in a more extreme situation when he is taken hostage in a supermarket by two robbers, who also hold the delicatessen owner and two young women captive. Carisi is scared during this crisis because although he was a police officer who had experience with other dangerous scenarios like this, he is now a lawyer and family man who has long been removed from physical danger. However, Carisi uses his experience as a former detective and lawyer to negotiate with the thieves and ensure the safety of the hostages.
Carisi’s recent situations with the malicious man and the supermarket robbery are key to his characterization because his raw emotions and facing danger head-on in recent episodes have rarely been seen for some time. This allows him to reveal his vulnerabilities and his strengths as a lawyer and former police officer when placed in precarious situations. In addition, however, Law and Order: SVU season 26 may have created a bigger arc for Carisi moving forward.
Carisi is the only law and order: SVU ADA who started as a detective with Benson’s team
Carisi’s experience as a police officer and lawyer makes him versatile
Unlike previous ADAs like Casey Novak and Rafael Barba, Carisi is unique because he has views on both sides as a lawyer and former detective. Carisi initially tries to negotiate with the thieves as a lawyer, giving up his watch and wallet, as well as securing a light prison sentence in Law and Order: SVU season 26, episode 8. However, when the main robber, Boyd Lynch, sexually assaults one of the two women in the store, Carisi returns to being a detective, becoming defensive towards the robbers and refusing to follow their demands.