This article contains discussions of violence, abuse, and sexual assault.
Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Law and Order: SVU season 26, episode 6, “Rorschach”Law and Order: SVU episode 6 of season 26 missed the perfect opportunity to resolve a conflict from a previous episode. Entitled “Rorschach”, This episode featured one of the Law and Order: SVUthe saddest cases. It seemed reminiscent of the real-life Gabby Petito murder, as it was about a young woman who was beaten and raped while traveling across the United States in a van with her boyfriend. It was later proven that her boyfriend physically and emotionally abused her in the days leading up to the attack.
Although “Rorschach” focused mainly on proving the boyfriend’s guilt, there was also a subplot about the victim’s fate. She was in the ICU throughout the episode and was declared brain dead, but her mother did not want to take her off life support. This subplot provided an opportunity for Benson to revisit his conflict with the DA’s office in Law and Orderbut unfortunately the program did not follow through on this idea.
Benson’s SVU Season 26 Episode 6 Explanation of Victim’s Connection to Previous Law and Order Case
‘Rorschach’ Repeated Law & Order Season 24 Episode 4 Plot
Both “Rorschach” and Law and Order the 21st season, episode 4, offers fictionalized versions of the Petito case, with the Law and Order version focused on a missing social media star who was traveling in a van. However, there is a stronger connection between the two episodes than both being inspired by ripped-from-the-headlines cases. In “Rorschach”, Ellie’s mother refused to take her off life support, but a doctor told Benson that Ellie would never recover. This debate was also at the heart of the legal argument in Law and Order season 24, episode 4.
In Law and Order In Season 24, Episode 4, prosecutors argued that they had the right to bring murder charges against a suicide bomber who caused a woman to be brain dead, even though life support prevented her from passing away completely. Therefore, doctors at Law and Order: SVU took the same position as the prosecutors in Law and Orderwhile Ellie’s mother agreed with the defense’s position that recovery was unlikely but had not been ruled out. It would have been logical for Benson to contact the DA’s office to get their opinion on Ellie’s situation. given this story.
Benson contacting the DA’s office could have resolved the unresolved conflict
Things were left unresolved after she tipped off the press on Law & Order Season 24 Episode 2
Benson clashed with the prosecutor’s office in Law and Order season 24, episode 2, when they prosecuted a rape victim for murder. This was one of Law and Orderbetter episodes because of this intense conflict. However, Benson burned bridges with the DA’s office when he leaked confidential information to the press to pressure them into dropping the charges. However, this rupture must not be irreparable, and this new Law and Order: SVU case would have been the best way to fix it.
The DA’s office might not want to talk to Benson, but if she apologized for her role in the earlier incident, it could at least have made progress toward reconciliation.
Benson could have contacted the DA’s office to get their opinion on the issue of brain death, both to help Ellie’s mother and to figure out how best to get justice for Ellie. The DA’s office might not want to talk to Benson, but if she apologized for her role in the earlier incident, it could at least have made progress toward reconciliation. It is regrettable that Law and Order: SVU did not explore this potential story thread, which would have enriched the connection between the two programs.