‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ Recap – ‘Tenfold’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT -- "Tenfold" Episode 26007 -- Pictured: (l-r) Ciara Monique as Wallen, Kevin Kane as Det. Terry Bruno -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 2607 of ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’. To revisit the previous episode, clickhere. This article also contains discussions regarding sexual assault which may be triggering for some individuals.
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We like to believe that we as a society, see one another in an equal light. For that is, the promise of America and the American Dream, that all can forge ahead as one, but alas… we know deep down that is not the case. For some are deemed unworthy of equality and so many others are judged for the path they chose and that is unfortunate, because everyone deserves a chance to walk their own path free from judgment and free from scrutiny. But that just isn’t the case in America, and for proof… well just take a moment and think about how we view sex workers in this country.

In fact, there’s a fair chance those two words made eyebrows raise for someone out there reading this. Because it is a polarizing set of words. Because of how we judge sex workers in America. For they are seen as less than the sum, as people who make awful choices in life and are somehow not worthy of a good life because they take part in one of society’s old and most lucrative businesses. But that’s just wrong to think that way, for sex workers are people too and deserve every chance to grow and live, and how we view them and the chance they deserve is top of mind today because it was put on display in the next episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on NBC. 

A feat that ‘Tenfold’ accomplished by having Bruno and Fin reunite with the person who was involved in the first case they worked, Wallen… who… was a victim of sexual assault in this case. For a sour deal with a John, since Wallen was a prostitute, enraged him enough to exert that kind of gross power over her. But the issue at hand, was that this guy was no easy catch. He had alibis for days and his own family were protecting him because they didn’t think a hooker was worthy of the police’s attention. Not to mention, Wallen felt no worth for herself, and really wanted to just hide over this. But Bruno and Fin would not let it go and wanted her to find justice and thankfully, they helped her to understand her worth, and that helped them to put this guy away and bring about justice for the forgotten.

But what mattered most here, was the sheer fact that this episode really pointed out how we view sex workers in the modern world. Since there were so many discussions about Wallen’s worth, and her profession and how that should disqualify her from justice. Which was gross to hear, but truthful about our world. Because we do see sex workers as second-class citizens, because of the strange puritanical nature of Modern America. But this did remind us in a powerful fashion, those views are outdated and dumb and that sex workers are indeed people, and we cannot emphasize that enough. People who yes, work a job that we don’t understand but who says we have to? Because that’s their life, and their business and we quite frankly, should be worrying about bigger problems in America.
 
All of which made for a powerful and insightful episode, one that really did speak to the two worlds America thrives within, the everyday folks, and the ones who take the non-traditional path, and this show deserves a round of applause for taking the time to bring up that commentary and to really showcase the world as it is and remind us… of how it is indeed justice for all in this country. Not to mention, this episode also deserves recognition for giving Carisi some closure, and for connecting the past here with Wallen and for also showing us how tough these types of cases can be for brave investigators that stop at nothing to help others, and now that this case is closed, it is onto the next one and all the depth it will undoubtedly have to offer. Until next time.

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