'Law & Order: SVU' Season 23 Episode 13: Carisi, Rollins's relationship is finally OUT
‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ returned to NBC after taking a break for almost 3 weeks and aired the 13th episode of the ongoing Season 23. The previous episode saw Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and the team investigating a case about a gay MMA fighter who was brutally beaten by a couple of people. It was all about how people from the LGBTQIA+ community are still facing horrifying crimes in today’s world.
However, the latest episode was much more personal for Olivia because it included a young woman who wants to know more about her birth parents and contacts Benson for help. Ashley met a woman named Michelle and soon after the meeting, she went to the Special Victims Unit to report rape after she was conceived. But, the shocking thing is that the rapist is her “father”.
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She explains everything to the Unit and tells them how she raped and impregnated Michelle. After the incident, Ashley was given up for adoption and was now trying to fight on the behalf of Michelle. The entire unit tries to talk to Michelle, but she doesn’t want to pursue the case. In the end, Benson talks to her and tells her why she should pursue the case. Michelle finally gives in and says she will take the case forward.
Elsewhere, Carisi (Peter Scanavino) and Rollins (Kelli Giddish) are talking about their relationship and how to take it forward. Carisi was ready to publicly announce that they are a couple, but Rollins want to keep quiet. But Carisi is adamant and puts pressure on Rollins to open up about the relationship.
On the other hand, Benson, Rollins, and Michelle go to a bar for re-enactment. Michelle talked about what happened that night and recalled old, painful memories of being sexually assaulted when she was just 15 years of age. The entire conversation and re-enactment lead them to the Wilcox family, who hosted the party that night. One of the members of the Wilcox family, Josh Wilcox, visited the police and was ready for the interrogation. At that time, he told police that he had a crush on Michelle and had “consensual sex” with her that night. However, everything changed when police re-interviewed Michelle, who said that there was a possibility of them fooling around after doing drugs and she got pregnant.
But Benson believed that Michelle was raped. Josh was ready for the DNA test and when the results came back, it was revealed that Josh was not the father. SVU asked her if there was anyone else present at the party and he took the name Cole Ethan, a famous business leader. They organized a meeting between Michelle and Cole, but Cole realized that the meeting was being recorded so he decided to ask Michelle for her number. She said no and SVU members had to intervene.
Cole was ready to meet police with his attorney at the police station. Meanwhile, Benson and Carisi discussed the case with Chief Justice Lorraine Maxwell, who shared her own story of being raped by a wealthy socialite decade do. She wanted them to take Cole down. Cole came to the police station and was arrested. They had Michelle’s confession, the tape, plus Josh was willing to testify.
A few moments later, Cole finally got a chance to meet Ashley and shower her with some family photos. Ashley and Michelle were relieved with the admission of guilt.
In the end, Rollins finally told Benson that she is in a relationship with Carisi and she was really happy for both of them. The duo felt relieved that their relationship was in the open and they don’t have to fear anything or anyone.
