‘Law & Order: SVU’ Finale: Who Kissed? Plus, Whose Job Is in Jeopardy? (RECAP)
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the Law & Order: SVU Season 22 finale “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing.”]
Love is in the air in the Law & Order: SVU finale … but just for the couple getting married — Sergeant Fin Tutuola (Ice-T) and Sergeant Phoebe Baker (Jennifer Esposito) — or others as well?
Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), Detective Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish), ADA Sonny Carisi (Peter Scanavino), Detective Katriona “Kat” Azar Tamin (Jamie Gray Hyder), and Deputy Chief Christian Garland (Demore Barnes) aren’t the only ones at the wedding. Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) is as well, and considering the “I love you” he dropped to his former partner and mobster Richard Wheatley (Dylan McDermott) noting that Stabler’s wife wasn’t the love of his life on Organized Crime, what might that mean for his relationship with Benson? Is that even addressed?
It is, sort of and briefly. Stabler arrives late to the wedding, only to find out that the couple called it off: They decided they’re happy just as they are. How’d they meet, he asks Benson. She was his first partner, she tells him, and the former partners exchange a significant glance before toasting to partners. (Considering both series were renewed and Organized Crime airs after SVU, it’s not too surprising that nothing happened.)
Virginia Sherwood/NBC
However, fans of Rollisi have much more to be excited about. Carisi was supposed to officiate the ceremony and spent all episode trying to write the perfect speech. The poor guy is so disappointed he won’t get to say it, but Rollins offers to listen and pretty much has a lightbulb moment as he reads it.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to witness and celebrate the union of Phoebe Baker and Fin Tutuola. Fin and Phoebe were each other’s first partners, over 20 years ago,” he says. “A partnership is a lot like a marriage: You fight, then you make up. But at the end of the day, you always have each other’s backs. And if you had to, you’d take a bullet for each other. A bond like that, that never goes away.”
Rollins gets emotional, Carisi wipes away her tears, we’re wondering why he’s not kissing her already … and she kisses him! And what about Carisi’s girlfriend Nicole? Well, she bows out of attending the wedding and the two aren’t exactly on the best of terms, so clearly that relationship is over.
Virginia Sherwood/NBC
But it’s not all happy news. Garland is deposed for the Jayvon Brown case. (Jayvon was falsely accused of assault and filed a lawsuit against the NYPD.) “There’s going to be a price,” he says ominously.
Oh, is he right. What he says in his deposition does not go over well with 1PP. Chief McGrath (Terry Serpico) yells at him in his office about going on record apologizing for systemic racism and saying they need bias training. He was under oath, Garland says. But to McGrath, Garland thinks he’s better than the rest of them, and “loyalty’s a two-way street.”
Benson and Carisi notice that Garland’s not doing too well (grabbing his chest, which, in TV terms, means potential heart attack coming) as he’s bracing for COMPStat the following day. They also watch as officers shun him as he walks by. It’s awful.
Virginia Sherwood/NBC
It gets worse. McGrath calls him out on rape numbers being up, but Garland argues that just means more victims are coming forward. They want that. McGrath refuses to hear it and instead lists Garland’s “faults”: he has an overinflated sense of self-worth, as well as a lack of discipline, investigative competence, and leadership. According to McGrath, he sees failure written all over him. (Who else can’t wait for McGrath to be taken down?)
Then, at the wedding, Garland tells Benson he’s taking a few days off to have a few tests done. (Uh-oh…) His dad, who’s retired, also told him that the old guard may be coming for him, to force him out. But “whatever they try, I’m not going to go quietly,” Garland assures Benson.
How are you doing, Rollisi fans?
Law & Order: SVU, Season 23, Fall 2021, NBC
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G
Best 2 minutes of the show. Hope the relationship lasts longer than that kiss. It’s about time already. Now let’s get Stabler and Benson to stop teasing us
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R
I'm so on the fence about Stabler and Benson. While I also want them to do something, I feel like it'd be forced and seen as fan service at this point.
I'm so split! >_<
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R
ummm, we the Rollisi fans are out here dyyyyying! it was the best 2 minutes I've ever seen on tv. absolutely worth the 7 year wait!
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O
I actually cried along with her while he was reading his speech. Then when he was wiping her tears, c'mon - kiss her already Carisi! Then she kissed him...omg Amanda, finally!! He's loved her for so long - through her pregnancies, working their cases, even watching another man propose to her. She may have realized her feelings for him a little later but better late than never! I just hope that this kiss turns into something real. They deserve better and so do we. As for Benson and Stabler, they obviously have a love for each other and they gave acknowledged that but I don't see them together as a couple. I don't think it would work. I think he is more of a lone wolf. Happy for Fin and Phoebe, they have to do what's right for them. They know what works and what makes them happy. Very worried for Garland though. I predict that he'll only make it through a few episodes next season.
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R
Maybe he has been a lone wolf bc he was w/ a woman that didn't understand him and they almost divorced over it. Liz gets that he is his own person and they understand each other. "The perfect "partnership"
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G
You are right he has love her for so long. Now i wonder what will they do with that when they come back on. I hope she don't hurt him.
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O
I can assure you us Rollisi fans were screeching with joy at the TV!!! We’ve been waiting for this for so long! It was such a sweet and special moment! Love the little look and wine moment between EO too. So good!
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Finally...omg so cute together ❤️
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E
I was so happy that Rollins and Carisi kissed it was about time and happy that Benson and Stabler were each other's dates as well. I'm sure they'll be next, hope so anyways.
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G
I am a Rollisi's fan. A lot of people criticize Amanda Rollins for saying that she hurt Carisi and doesn't deserve it. You just have to remember that she comes from a difficult childhood and many find it difficult to rebuild after such a childhood. It took a long time for her to get back on track and believe that being happy is possible. She had two children with two other men, so what? Doesn't she have the right to happiness for all that? The world would be very sad if a single mother was not entitled to anything, right? The only one concerned, Carisi, has no problem with that. On the contrary, he loves his daughters as they were his. We can only wish them happiness.
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G
This show has become such a soap opera and it's really a shame.
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O
I’m a true fan and SVU is always on my tv even if Im not watching. The finale was great except Olivia’s dress! On my word who wore is worse?
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B
I’ve never been an Amanda fan so I am not in support of Ralisi. I think Carisi can do better. Not a Benson/Stabler fan either. Happy for Fin though😊.
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