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SVU This Week

 SVU is having a great run, despite COVID, and this week's "What Can Happen in the Dark" seems to be a stand-out.

Good writing is grounded in memorable characters; the new SVU gives us a mysteriously addled construction worker (Andy)....who drinks too much and finds himself injured on the job.

Everything begins to come together. Andy was once a theater artist, but of course he can't do much on Broadway during COVID. The abrupt, unwelcome transition seems hard on him. A doctor's inspection uncovers injuries that can't be job-related, including a torn perineum. Did Andy's construction colleagues assault him? Is Andy having an abusive secret homosexual affair?

In fact, Andy's wife is the assailant. This starts to become clear when Andy accidentally uses a pronoun he doesn't mean to use. And he keeps saying, "Whatever she claims....that's the truth" -- which doesn't fill Olivia Benson with confidence.

The courtroom scene gets crazy. A lawyer asks Andy: "Why didn't you throw your wife off of you? Why didn't you get up and leave the room?" Andy takes a recess and begins drinking covertly at the bar across the street. Back on the stand, embarrassed by his own drunkenness, Andy nonetheless pulls it together to reveal that his wife has been texting him throughout the day. "Tell what happened, and I'll go for full custody. I'll win. You'll never see your kids again."

This is a haunting hour, and Andy's scenes are especially well-written. I'm looking forward to the season finale next week.
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