‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’: Do You Think Wheatley’s Alive? (POLL)

Dylan McDermott as Richard Wheatley in Law & Order Organized Crime
Virginia Sherwood/NBC

[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 2 Episode 14 “…Wheatley Is to Stabler.”]

Law & Order: Organized Crime has officially closed the book on the Wheatley arc, touting the “next chapter” in the promo for the next episode, but how exactly did it end for Richard (Dylan McDermott) and Angela (Tamara Taylor)? We only know the definitive fate of one of them.

In “…Wheatley Is to Stabler,” Richard tried his hardest to destroy Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni). Among the misdeeds: forcing Stabler to “confess” to “the litany of [his] crimes and abuses” — while being recorded — and having the detective’s mother, Bernadette (Ellen Burstyn) kidnapped. She’s OK, but Stabler’s past behavior seems to be what kicks off the next arc for Stabler. “There’s going to be a department investigation and charges for your actions in relation to Richard Wheatley,” Sergeant Ayanna Bell (Danielle Moné Truitt) tells him at the end of the episode.

As for the Wheatleys, just as they seem to be getting away, Stabler, after rescuing his mother, caught up to them on their way to the airport. “This is not going to end the way you think it is,” Stabler told Angela when she answered his call. Amidst Richard telling her he loved her, Stabler dropped a bombshell on her: Her ex-husband killed their son Richie (Nick Creegan). “He’s just trying to you,” Richard claimed. “One of us is lying to you,” Stabler told her. “I think you know which one it is.”

Dylan McDermott as Richard Wheatley, Tamara Taylor as Angela Wheatley in Law & Order Organized Crime

Virginia Sherwood/NBC

And Angela did. “The day we first met, do you remember what we spoke about?” she asked Stabler. Grief, he recalled. “It’s what we shared. And it seems we still do. Do you remember what I said to you about grief?” she continued. “That it gets better,” he said. “I lied,” Angela told him — before driving off a cliff!

So that was the end of the Wheatleys, right? Maybe not. After all, Angela’s body was found, but Richard’s was a different story. “Nobody thinks it’s remotely possible he could still be alive,” Bell said, but Stabler didn’t seem so sure.

It does seem like Organized Crime has left the door open for McDermott to return as Richard in the future. (He’s joining the cast of FBI: Most Wanted in April, but that doesn’t mean he can’t return to the world of Law & Order in the future, even though they’re in the same universe.) There were a few moments in the episode that foreshadowed the possibility that this is just the end of a chapter in the Stabler and Wheatley book. “It’s not over,” Richard told Stabler at one point. “It’s just beginning.” Plus, to Angela, he said, “I always win in the end, don’t I?” Sure, that could be his hubris talking, but until we see his body open on a table in the morgue for an autopsy, anything is possible.

But what do you think? Do you think Richard Wheatley is still alive? Vote in the poll below.

Law & Order: Organized Crime, Thursdays, 10/9c, NBC




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  1. B

    BlueRadio

    I think he managed to get away somehow, hopefully setting up for a possible return at a later time. But DO NOT RECAST RICHARD WHEATLEY! Either bring back Dylan McDermott or kill Richard off!

    18

  2. O

    OrangeFish

    Disappointed that there wasn't a better end to that story arc. And it would be wrong to bring Wheatley back

    16 2

  3. O

    OrangeCandy

    I had a feeling that this was going to end with Richard and Angela a Sort of kind of, "Murder Suicide" thing. Angela did it for herself and Elliot to be free of Richard. I love the actor who plays RW, but enough is enough with those two back and forth please!! Bring in other story lines! But.., somehow Richard may be out there. There is a saying " bad grass never dies".

    12

    1. P

      PurpleCocktail

      I agree, enough of that storyline. Dylan McDermott did an awesome job as did Christopher Meloni but a new story is needed.

      15 1

  4. O

    OliveFlower

    I believe he jumped out prior to it crashing. That way he can return if FBI Most Wanted doesn’t work out. He can come back same person, same vendetta, new face! He was just that evil!

    12

  5. R

    RedTurtle

    My greatest fear is that he's still alive, and we'll be stuck with more of this arc for some overly long term in the future. Please move on to something else, and maybe even give a little more thought to stories that begin and end in the same episode.

    9

  6. O

    OrangeTree

    I think he could be alive no body was found. Although I agree going over a cliff not likely but this is television so who knows. Plus I agree his daughter is still out there somewhere so he could connect with her down the road!

    6

  7. O

    OrangeMagnet

    Wheatley is alive. Jumped out of car right before it went over the cliff. Called his daughter to pick him up. Stabler will be watching over his shoulder for a while or until they discover his body.

    Meanwhile - the Marcy killers were still in full action. In case no one noticed. I wonder when the congressman will be taken down.

    5

  8. G

    GoldAnchor

    I believe organized crime is going to keep Dylan McDermott character alive so if he does come back into the future he is going to take revenge on Elliot by hurting Olivia it'll be Payback for his ex-wife Angela. Because Richard Wheatley sole purpose is to destroy Elliott with a passion and to make him pay

    4

  9. C

    CyanScissors

    Wheatley is alive. In case he decides to leave FBI show he has an open. But, what about his Daughter. Remember awhile ago Angela told her to disappear for awhile.

    4

  10. O

    OrangeRaindrop

    I think he is alive. I loved the charater and I think he should be brought back.

    3

  11. B

    BlueBoomerang

    Dead. Leaving show. Just enough uncertainty to keep Stabler guess and looking over his shoulder.

    3

  12. O

    OliveSailboat

    I think he is still alive and this time is gonna go after Liv I think they will end him

    2

  13. B

    BlueBandAid

    Wheatley is ALIVE...

    WOLF IS NOT FOOLISH ENOUGH TO KILL HIM OFF...

    DICK WOLF IS GENIUS!!!!

    2

    1. G

      GoldWheel

      Dylan Mcdermott is supposedly going over to the FBI most wanted series.

    2. B

      BlueCone

      You are right about Mr. Wolf, however this storyline just took too long and I think he knows it. There was no closure for the Stabler family with the death of their mom and wife. Perhaps that’s why there is a new showrunner for Organized Crime. Perhaps she is going back to her full time gig on Showtime, the L-word was renewed.

      I just hope that this show gets better because my last comment mentioned that I was Dun Dun with it. It just isn’t making sense to me.

  14. G

    GreenSushi

    He’s still alive. Villains like that always survive.

    2

  15. G

    GoldMustache

    I think that Richard is still alive. They never found his body. They only found Angela's. He jumped out of the car before she went over the cliff into the water

    2

    1. B

      BlueLocomotive

      Agree...called daughter and is alive. But stable will feel guilty about Angela

      1

  16. O

    OrangeGuitar

    Wheatley could not possibly be alive. Him and his wife drove off a cliff in an act of suicide. How could he have escaped the car before hitting the bottom of the cliff and still be alive?

    2

    1. P

      PurpleButterfly

      If he's not dead, he should be. Law and Order played out this story long enough. They need to stay fresh. Just how many seasons do they think his story could last.

      5

    2. B

      BlueSword

      They landed in water. Not entirely impossible. Improbable, but not impossible. Honestly, I would have like it to be a rocky bottom at the end, that way it would be definitive. But I'm 97% sure he died

      1

  17. O

    OrangeGuitar

    You know he isn’t dead and all the hype about ending that story was just crap! I am done with this version of Law and Order.

    We know he survives and calls his daughter to pick him up because she is alive and well and hidden somewhere.

    3 1

    1. B

      BlueSnow

      If he is alive, then they have to recast him. Dylan McDermott left the show to lead FBI: Most Wanted. Otherwise, Wheatley's dead or they're just leaving it open ended.

      5

      1. C

        CyanTag

        Yup. Required plastic surgery could be an easy route to a re-cast.

        2

  18. B

    BlueSnow

    Yes, but only because Dylan McDermott is taking over FBI: Most Wanted. Unless they plan on recasting Wheatley, he's dead.

    2

  19. O

    OliveCone

    1

  20. G

    GoldChilli

    Of course he's alive contact FBI most wanted they'll tell you where he is. 😉😄😄

    1

  21. O

    OlivePaw

    He's dead too his body traveled a bit further from crash probably. I can't imagine anyone surviving such a crash.

    1

    1. B

      BlueLocomotive

      Or he opened the door before crashing un the water

  22. B

    BlueSnow

    To me Personally! I think he is alive underground some where! Waiting for the moment to rise and confuse people! Then he'll strike! And that will be his downfall! Because! SUV/Organize Crime do not PLAY!!!!!! Richard your DONE!! Get him Elliott!!!!! This is SPARTAN!!!!!

  23. O

    OrangeTree

    Agree

  24. G

    GreenPretzel

    ...or it could've all been a dream...in soap opera land

  25. P

    PurpleBug

    I think Wheatley is still alive and Dana and him will return along with his other son.

  26. G

    GreenWrench

    but do you really think he killed his son are just made it look like it and then took it off the air for him to escape some were because they didn’t show his body either

  27. G

    GreenWrench

    I think he’s still alive this man just appear from anywhere he probably be back in a couple of years from now unless they find his body but not until

  28. O

    OliveTooth

    Was he in the car with Angela? If she said he was, she could have been lying to Stabler. It’s what she does best. Looks like Dana, her half brother, Ryan & ex-wife, Pilar are the only ones surviving. Since Dylan McDermott is on FBI now, it should remain a mystery but he shouldn’t return.

  29. C

    CyanPopcorn

    He’s alive. We will see him again down the lane.

  30. O

    OrangeCandy

    I had a feeling they’d allow Richard to survive, somehow. I think he jumped out before the car crashed into the water 😩. It just seemed like it was too simple to surrender. He wasn’t going to let Angela live if she pulled over.

  31. C

    CyanDog

    I agree I think he’s still alive either he jumped out of the car or swam to the shore. Until he is dead in the morgue I think he still alive! Most likely be up at his old tricks again!

  32. P

    PurpleDucky

    I think he’s dead. Hate to see the actress leave the show tho’. Hopefully she’ll appear in another series soon. 😃

  33. R

    RedWrench

    I'm afraid he's still alive. We'll see him down the road. Interested to see him in his new role on FBI Most Wanted.

  34. O

    OliveCone

    He's alive and coming back

  35. G

    GreenButton

    Well, we will be seeing wheatly again when FBI begins. This time the comments will be he looks exactly like Wheatly with a different name. And the show goes on. My concern right now, Are they trying to hook up Taylor with Stabler? I hope not. If so I hope Benson grows longer fingernails.

  36. R

    RedCarrot

    Wheatley is alive no doubt

  37. B

    BlueSnow

    I think he should be dead end of story I'm over the BS they put us through he should of been dead long time ago

  38. C

    CyanPumpkin

    Wheatley is Dead.....They need to move on.....Dylan McDermott is a wonderful actor but, there needs to be a large change....

  39. G

    GreenBowtie

    i hope he did die because im done with him he's annoying

  40. R

    RedButton

    I'm sure he is alive and they will keep this old, often done storyline to redo later. A fresher story line would have been to have definitively have killed Richard and brought Angela back. Elliott being obsessed with Richard has gotten old and tiresome.

  41. R

    RedGoggles

    Dead. No way could he get out of the car.

  42. C

    CyanBus

    Thelma & Loiuse

  43. B

    BluePaw

    Next season they'll introduce a new supervillain called Ronald Whortley played by Dermot Mulroney.

  44. G

    GreenWrench

    Where's the poll?

    1 1

  45. G

    GreenElephant

    Hope not

  46. R

    RedGoggles

    I don't think he survived, it it is possible. I hope they find his body soon

  47. O

    OrangeTag

    I don't want dlyan to leave on law and order I want him to stay on there .AndI have feeling that he's alive!!