This article contains spoilers from Law and order Season 24, episode 2.Olivia Benson crosses paths with controversial lawyer in Law and order Season 24, but this episode does not address the fallout from their last appearance together. Rita Calhoun (Elizabeth Marvel) has appeared in several films. Law & Order: SVUbest episodes, and is often a controversial figure because she represents the accused. She and Manhattan SVU’s Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) have fought several times in the past, as Benson defends rape victims and Calhoun defends criminals.
Benson and Calhoun’s guest appearance was one of Law and orderthe most anticipated episodes of season 24. In this crossover Benson testified for the defense in the trial of a rape victim charged with 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 had little contact; instead Benson was confronted by members Law and order spoke out about the alleged lack of sympathy for the accused.
Law & Order Season 24 Episode 2 Ignores Benson and Calhoun’s Story
Benson was shocked by Calhoun’s behavior during their last meeting
Benson and Calhoun didn’t spend enough time together in Law and order Season 24, despite their contentious relationship. Calhoun has been a thorn in Benson’s side since season 14 of the series. Law & Order: SVU. Calhoun almost always defends wealthy men accused of rape, including those she knows are guilty. Benson’s disgust with her reached its climax after Calhoun unsuccessfully defended a corrupt judge who had raped several women. During their final confrontation, Calhoun advised Benson that standing up to powerful people was dangerous and that Benson should learn to “sit back and pretend you like it“
This happened the last time Calhoun appeared in the franchise before she and Benson worked together in Law and Order Season 24. However, neither the incident nor any animosity between the characters was mentioned. Instead, Benson took the stand as a defense witness in a case involving Calhoun’s client, 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 SVU Calhoun’s history could improve her case in Law & Order Season 24
Her defense of a rape victim would have been stronger if her previous history had been acknowledged
Law and order missed an emotional gut punch by ignoring Calhoun’s story. Calhoun’s job was to defend a woman accused of killing an innocent man, and she claimed that the woman believed the man was stalking her. She took matters into her own hands because she did not receive any help from the police after the rape. Acceptance of the case was a marked departure from Calhoun’s past habit of defending clearly guilty rapists.However, there was no recognition of this fact.
Unfortunately, Calhoun’s story has not been recognized, so it is unclear whether she took on the cause because she believed in it passionately, or if it was just another paycheck for her.
Drawing on Calhoun’s story could help her choose to protect the victim in Law and order more powerful. It could also redeem Calhoun if she admitted that she was wrong to think that as a female lawyer she had to defend rich jerks to protect her career. Unfortunately, Calhoun’s story has not been recognized, so it is unclear whether she took on the cause because she believed in it passionately, or if it was just another paycheck for her. It is interesting, however, whether this issue will be considered again in Law & Order: SVU Season 26.