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The Newest SVU

 This week's SVU ("Lime Chaser") is about being an adult. It's a theme that runs through two different stories.


The first concerns people in their twenties who are staging a "Divorce Party." The marriage occurred in a hasty way, during COVID, and the ship is now sinking. "What happened is that I thought he would change, and he thought I wouldn't." It's interesting to see this couple together in a bar, very briefly; there is obvious affection, because of the party, but also, one person antagonizes the other by demanding a free drink. The other visibly hesitates--before deciding that the ten-dollar charge in dispute isn't really "a hill worth dying on."

The variation on this "growing up" theme is in the Muncy/Churlish story. Muncy doesn't want to work with Churlish because of a grudge. Olivia Benson becomes something like a Pre-K teacher, policing rows of desks ("If you have something to share, share it with the class"). It's not clear that the grudge will fully die--but Muncy rescues Churlish during a tense "bar" moment. (Muncy distracts the dastardly bartender by shouting, "Free drinks for anyone who is unemployed and sitting up front!") It's also fun to see one of the SVU veterans encouraging Churlish to extend an olive branch by picking up a tab. ("But I don't drink!")

These stories could just involve a parade of explosions, car chases, and torture sequences. Instead, there is a consistent interest in people--an interest in how New Yorkers actually behave. I still like that. 
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