‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ – ‘Combat Fatigue’

4/19/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT -- "Combat Fatigue" Episode 25010 -- Pictured: (l-r) Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson, Ice T as Sgt. Odafin "Fin" Tutuola -- (Photo by: Scott Gries/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 25010 of ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

One particular behavior that criminals are now taking part in that has become both troubling and fascinating all at once, is how they are doing their best… to fight back in the courtroom against what they see to be a system that is stacked against them. Wherein they now represent themselves and create a stir during a trial to stick it to the man and prove their innocence, despite sometimes having overwhelming evidence against them. And what makes this fascinating, is the sheer fact that they are even attempting this since it often showcases their guilt and ineptitude, and it is troubling simply because… these acts are disruptive and scary in a place where decorum and the process should rule the day. Which does beg a question, in that… how do we combat it?

Because clearly, individuals interested in going this route, are looking to rattle the saber and will keep at it until it works for them, and well, it just so happens that one of the best crime shows around… offered up its own take on how best to combat this rising trend. For Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, featured this very problem in ‘Combat Fatigue’. For a disgusting man named George Brouchard, who was on trial for human trafficking, among other crimes, was close to walking free as an innocent man. Simply because he was a man that understood the power of charm, and of course… wanted his freedom since he was deluded and did not believe he did anything wrong. So, he used that charm to set in motion a grand plan to be free. Since his wares made a juror fall in love with him, which resulted in a hung jury and gave him a new trial. Where he was able to represent himself and get out on bail and his plan… was to use his charm and confidence to finish the job.

All of which brought about chaos for Carisi and Captain Benson. Because they understood what was at sake, were fully aware of what he was up to and were watching everything reach the precipice in real time. Because the mother of one of the victims of George’s machinations, named Eileen, was doing everything and anything within her power to try and get George to slip up and go to jail for all time, including breaking the law, and the team was of course… frayed and concerned as to what lie ahead. All of which spoke to a real helplessness to this newfound problem in our world. As though combating it is not a possibility since innocent until proven guilty applies in such matters, even when it is obvious that the accused will be found guilty at the end of the day and well, that’s when this story offered up the solution in question. One that was far simpler than we might expect regarding how we beat this problem.

In that, we simply take the high road and stick to the facts. Because what men like George try to do… is rattle people in the hopes of having a backfire moment so they can be seen as the victim and use that sow doubt and enjoy their freedom accordingly. Which was why George needled Ellie, and Benson’s team, and even his victim… Maddie. To have that control and to manipulate. But alas, no one let that happen, and even at her lowest, Ellie’s dark desires were kept at bay and the end result for their efforts… was an exposed George. One who was finally seen by the jury as a manipulative monster and not some kind of victim that needed to be saved from a cruel system… and off he went to jail after being found guilty and that made, for a satisfying ending to this story. One complete with a genuinely lovely lesson. Because truly, the high road does have merit and does indeed disarm when one holds steadfast to it.

All of which brought forth an episode, that oddly had some real-world echoes in play. For in many ways George and his antics resembled the Darrell Brooks trial that took place late last year, wherein Brooks represented himself and tried to sow doubt and chaos in the courtroom to garner sympathy and/or a mistrial and his judge was quick to take the high road and be mindful of his plan to ensure that he received a fair trial, and justice was served in that case as well, giving credence to the message. But that aside, this was also an engaging episode through and through, simply because George was a scumbag and we all wanted nothing more than to see justice served and this team made that happen in a powerful manner, one that has us ready for another fight for justice when the show returns from a tiny hiatus on May 2nd. Until next time.

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