HOME / ENTERTAINMENT / TV

'Law and Order: SVU Season 22: Did NYPD probe cases without masks? Internet says ‘keep your covidiocy away’

In some of the scenes, detectives Amanda Rollins, Olivia, Fin, and Katriona Taemin were maskless while questioning suspect Lexi, knowing that she flouted Covid-19 rules and went out in lockdown

The most-watched crime drama on our television, 'Law and Order: SVU' returned for its Season 22 Episode 3. Besides the usual investigation into a heinous crime pertaining to sexual abuse and murder, the edgy show shed extensive light on the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In 'Remember Me in Quarantine', The SVU interrogates a group of college roommates when one of them goes missing during Covid-19 lockdown. It also saw the return of fan-favorite guest characters like the astute and competent medical examiner Dr Melinda Warner (Tamara Tunie). The episode depicted a brutal murder of a 20-year-old exchange student whose friends said she just packed up her stuff one day and left without informing anyone. When interrogated by NYPD it was revealed that she stayed in the room and maintained super social distancing due to the pandemic before she left. It is revealed she was in very strict quarantine before she was aiming to go back to Italy, from where she belongs originally. Now Italy, as we all know, was the worst hit in the pandemic which is why Maria could not go back and missed her father.

The episode had people telling Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) that “this year, people have lost their minds.” This amplified how pandemic severely affected people’s lives. Further, Lexi, one of Maria reveals that the pandemic got on her nerves as she could not go out or visit her mother. This was the reason she brought in an unknown man (Shawn) into her house to have stress-relieving s*x within the mundane lockdown period.

The show ended revealing how Maria was murdered for violating quarantine and not maintaining social distancing as she gets involved in a threesome with Lexi and Shawn flouting all pandemic rules. This enraged Perry, who had feelings for her, and ultimately sees her act of consummation as a betrayal. In the end, he brutally kills her by keeping her in a deep freezer. 

Meanwhile, the entire show depicted the NYPD detectives led by Caption Olivia Benson probing the case and asking suspects Lexi, Shawn, Perry, and Brad about the murder while standing close to them that too without masks in many scenes. In some of the scenes, detective Amanda Rollins, Olivia, Fin, and Katriona Taemin who were questioning Lexi, did not wear masks or took precautions knowing that she flouted Covid-19 rules and went out in lockdown. 

Now, that the show has explicitly shown Covid-19 in many of its twists and turns, it has caused a furor on the Internet. Many fans point out that the NYPD who itself preaches on maintaining social distancing and wearing masks in pandemic did not do so in the show. Showrunner Warren Leight tweeted about the episode that they released after Covid. “ “Remember Me in Quarantine was our first episode back after we shut down for Covid. Shot in early September, with the city just beginning to emerge from a horrible six months. We wanted to prove we could come back, for our crew, our fans, our city. #SVU.” A user wrote, “SVU is making covid episodes that are basically Olivia Benson asking suspects why they raped someone when they're supposed to be social distancing.” 

A user pointed out that the NYPD detectives were not wearing masks, “I'm mad they are screaming social distance but they are walking around with no damn mask on. That's worse than my boss talking about Covid everyday but refuses to wear a mask in our 6 X 9 space.” Another concurred, “Okay I understand this is a tv but in the svu episode they’re talking about covid and social distancing etc but they’re also not wearing masks talking to everyone?” One user said, “They are speaking so closely to each and without masks #SVU.” Another user slammed SVU cast, saying, “Ok if this is a #COVID19 episode of #SVU then why is no one wearing masks indoors? I missed the beginning I’m feeling lost @mishawhalen help. Also, I would never live with someone like Lexi. Go hurt yourself by congregating and going out keep your covidiocy away from me.” 

Law and Order: SVU season 22, episode 4 releases on January 7th at 9/8c.