October Surprise Recap – Law & Order: SVU

You really have to wonder what the writers for Law & Order: SVU are thinking sometimes. And “October Surprise” (October 22, 2013)  is one of those times. People are still laughing about Anthony Weiner’s ill-advised mayoral bid, but they decide to rip that one from the headlines. This is supposed to be a drama, isn’t it? They even managed to squeeze in an Amanda Bynes tweet — the “murder my vagina” one, that people still laugh at and think was batshit crazy. (Do you think Drake watches L&O?). So it is a little hard to see this and say, wow, they did a fine job dramatizing that story. Nevertheless, here’s how they did it:

A guy named Eddie gets accused of rape after getting in a fight with a woman named Lindsay who was wielding a pair of scissors. Lindsay claims she was trying to break up with Eddie but he wasn’t having it,  threatening her. Eddie claims she said she was pregnant and even though he didn’t think it was his, they got into an argument over her wanting an abortion. As a Catholic, he wasn’t going to pay for that. The fact that he had 2 grand in his pocket says otherwise.

ADA Barba learns of the altercation from Alex Muñoz, a childhood friend who is running for mayor. Turns out that Barba, Eddie and Muñoz were all childhood friends: the “Three Musketeers of Jerome Avenue.” Muñoz wants Barba to help Eddie.

Another visit with Lindsay by Olivia Benson and Nick Amaro yields more weirdness. She says she first met Eddie when he came by her shoe shop with his wife (Eddie hasn’t seen his wife in a while). Later, he came alone. She says the pregnancy story Eddie fed them is crazy. Finding Amaro more simpatico than Benson, and since her water vapor cigarette is annoying Benson, Lindsay asks to speak to Amaro alone. She says she may drop the charges. All of a sudden, it’s now just a misunderstanding.

Fin and Amanda Rollins turn up bad stuff on Lindsay. She has a history of targeting wealthy men and stalking and harassing them, making boil your bunny threats. Her ex-shrink tells them about texts demanding that he come back and murder her vagina. Bu there will be no more interviews with Lindsay. The foot model has flown to Tel Aviv, with another member of the Muñoz campaign, to embrace a new career as a political consultant.

Nick Amaro has become so suspicious of Eddie and Muñoz that he thinks it would be wise for Barba to recuse himself from the case. Amanda and Fin try to talk to Eddie again, but no dice. Muñoz’s wife is apparently another old friend, one that chose Muñoz over Barba. She shows up to speak to Barba but gets it into her head that Barba has it in for Muñoz because of her.

Okay, so where are we so far? Conflicting stories, conflict of interest, electronic cigarettes, check. Fatal Attraction reference, Amanda Bynes tweet, check. A phony rape accusation (anyone notice how Benson didn’t go into the woman has to be telling the truth mode on this one?). Accuser splits after getting a cushy political position in Israel (nod to disgraced NJ governor, Jim McGreevey, who got his Israeli lover, Golan Cipel, a political job).

Even though they have no rape case anymore, the SVU detectives continue to investigate the case. In fact, Amanda Rollins proceeds to attempt to entrap Muñoz while he is at a political fundraiser in a tux. Barba still  does not want to believe it’s Muñoz. But Muñoz is only to happy to send Rollins photos of his hairy chest and his junk. Fin has to shield his eyes at the sight of “the full Muñoz.” Barba is appalled.

When confronted by Barba, Muñoz claims he’s being set up by political enemies. In Amaro”s eyes, Barba has more or less tipped Muñoz off. Amaro tells Barba he could be charged with obstruction. Barba scoffs, and Amaro gets in some Latino guilt jabs about how Muñoz stayed in the hood and became a man of the people while Barba went to Harvard. Muñoz is playing him, Amaro says. Barba sarcastically thanks Amaro for the “bodega psychoanalysis.”

Rollins uncovers a lot more indiscreet online activity by Muñoz, using the screen name “Enrique Trouble.” (Anthony Weiner’s was “Carlos Danger.”) Fin recognizes a woman porn star who, it turns out, is now working for the NY Gaming commission. Barba decides to have a heart to heart with Eddie, to try to make him see that his loyalty is misplaced and he better start worrying about his own culo. Through Eddie, they learn that Muñoz has been sexting with someone else out in a Yonkers high school named Jodie Lanier,  sending her money. Jodie turns out to be a 15-year-old sophomore.

Barba goes to see Muñoz at the Five Boroughs Police Association Ball, taking him out to inform him that he’s now in deep shit. That little episode with the minor means he is in possession of child porn. Muñoz thinks he can talk his way out of anything with counter-accusations and shifting the blame. Barba says he is trying to give him the opportunity to bow out gracefully. Well that’s not happening.

Muñoz continues on the offensive, claiming it’s a setup at an outdoor press conference, while Barba continues to experience mixed emotions. Benson tries to make him feel better.

One of Muñoz’ supporters, Reverend Scott, confronts Barba at the courthouse, telling him what a mistake this is going to be because Muñoz is the only candidate who will help the poor and save city schools. Barba says there’s nothing he can do — it’s out of his hands now.

At his arraignment, Barba, Benson and Amaro look on as Muñoz gets $10K bail, despite his attorney’s request for ROR. Well, he had all that money for the ladies, so we’re sure he posted it.

In this Episode:

Mariska Hargitay – Det. Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Det. Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish – Det. Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino – Det. Nick Amaro
Raúl Esparza – ADA Rafael Barba
Kirk Acevedo – Eddie Garcia
Vincent Laresca – Alex Muñoz
Annaleigh Ashford – Lindsay Anderson
Karen Olivo – Yelina Muñoz
Leslie Odom Jr. – Rev. Scott
Grace Van Patten – Jodie Lanier