Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) People vs. Richard Wheatley (2021) User Reviews

This episode makes sense if...

[critic-97-417657 · 8/10 · 11 December 2021]

You read between the lines.

There's something else happening with this entire situation. Barba behaves in a way that is completely out of character so likely has been brought in, likely as a spy/insider. The judge, despite a single day of deliberations and no decision, has decided there's no likelihood of a judgement. Wheatly's son has been instructed to not cooperate while isolated in custody (an environment where likely only law enforcement is present), Wheatley full on threatens the DA in front the the jury yet gets off.

Something else is happening and they're building the scenario.

People vs. Richard Wheatley

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 24 February 2022]

I feel like Barba's return could've been better, but good to have him back.

The Richard Wheatley character has been great on both SVU and Organized Crime.

Law and order me some good episodes this week

[theomniman-59622 · 8/10 · 11 December 2021]

Another solid entry in the long running series that is law and order svu. Really loving the Stabler crossovers almost every week. Whoevers idea it was to do the 2 shows like that is a smart fella. Nice to see barba back after all this time. Looking forward to the rest of the season and organized crime as well.

Patience

[DannyP88 · 10/10 · 12 December 2021]

Not everything is as it might first seem on the surface. The troll reviews be damned... The writers for SVU & OC are building some very intriguing story lines of late... For one, there is a lot more going on with Rafael Barba than him simply defending a scumbag client. And Nicky Torchia is doing an outstanding job as Eli Stabler, playing the role with simmering low-key intensity.

Heaven Forbid Producers Change the Formula

[chrisreece-14896 · 10/10 · 15 January 2022]

Most of the negative reviews here are from people married to the procedural formula. Not every episode needs to be Crime-->Investigation-->Case-->Conclusion. There is nothing wrong with focusing on characters we've come to see for over a decade.

I am elated that Stabler is back and that he is a mess, happy to see Barba, who is my all-time favorite ADA, though I was fond of the alcoholic lady they had back during Stabler's first round.

Another strong SVU 3.0 episode

[whoneedsascreenname · 9/10 · 13 December 2021]

Law & Order SVU "fans" seem to fall into two camps these days -- haters who used to love the series but now spam review pages -- and loyal viewers who are thrilled to see a classic show evolve.

This particular case-of-the-week is an outlier -- a courtroom showdown between Carisi and his former mentor Rafael Barba as they square off in the trial of mob boss Richard Wheatley, (Dylan McDermott) who typically operates as Elliot Stabler's nemesis on the adjacent series "Law & Order Organized Crime."

Of course any enemy of Stabler means high stakes for Benson too, the kind of tension SVU has missed in recent years. In this ep she's also at odds with old pal Barba, (guest star Raul Esparza) whose decision to rep Wheatley hurts her deeply.

Though the manner in which SVUxOC intertwine could sometimes be choppy last season (notably on the SVU side) this particular episode was part of a seamless crossover that played like a feature film, including a coupla heartstopping twists.

As Benson's evolution from ace detective/third wheel in her partner's life, to badass single mom Captain (SVU 2.0) played out over the last two decades, not all of it measured up to the show's 1.0 brilliance. But now is a new day entirely -- juiced by OC's more sophisticated look and writing, plus OG sparks whenever Benson & Stabler share the screen.

Mariska Hargitay, who as Olivia holds the primetime TV record for playing one character continuously (23 years), seems more engaged than she has in years, the variety of recent scenes with McDermott, Esparza, Danielle Mone Truitt (Ayanna Bell), Allison Siko (Kathleen) and Chris Meloni clearly energizing her.

Despite the courtroom theatrics, "The People vs. Richard Wheatley" will likely be best remembered as the episode that finally progressed -- ever so slightly -- the EO storyline. After she calls out Stabler for months of selfish behavior, he quickly straightens up in the adjoining OC episode.

These two have what can never be manufactured in any lab: Rare chemistry, even now as seniors (in the second hour Stabler is revealed to be a grandfather), all of which remains interesting viewing because how the he!l often do TV characters get to work out their stuff over decades?

Really solid episode!

[TIN-370-918327 · 10 December 2021]

The previous reviews are interesting, because to me this show just gets better and better, especially this season.

Barbra did was Barbra does best, get under peoples skin and Liv's response to that was 100% true to character.

The only thing I don't get is how Richard Wheatley manages to get away with everything, he's so slimy.

I can't believe after so many years we're getting a true Liv and Stabler story. Obsessed with this.

Shah and Matt

[yazguloner · 10/10 · 26 December 2021]

The trial of the first season of "Organize Crime", which started in 22 seasons in Svu, is held. All events in organized crime are summarized with the court. And the signal is given when they will happen.

Although it is claimed that it is not related to Svu, this section is really a the Rock, heavy and solid section. Therefore, thanks to Stabler and organized crime, Svu's private life, a story, has emerged. And it's a very, very right move.

I love watching Organized Crime and Elliot Stabler. I also love the Stabler and Organized Crime crossovers in Svu. Let it run this way.

And Rafa... Rafael Barba... Legend... It's a very, very good choice move. He is a great Shah and matt.

The encounters are very, very powerful: Liv and Elliot, Elliot and Barba, Liv and Barba, Carisi and Barba, Carisi and Weatley, Weatley and Olivia, Elliot and Weatley... interrogations on the court ... all the rock ... solid... It was a pleasure to watch all this.

Barba's words to Liv, "the jury is back"... is like the old days. But, ironically, this time it's on the opposite side.

Exactly what real SVU fans want!

[taracheyann · 10/10 · 16 December 2021]

Seeing Olivia and Stabler on screen together is beautiful! Thier chemistry can not be bought. Not too mention, Olivia is on the road to happiness finally and not lying about her feelings! I love it!

Ending was the worst

[rickyrammer · 10/10 · 10 December 2021]

I was not happy to see Barbara defending Mr. Wheatley I do not like Barbara anymore he was a good but now he is a bad guy in my books mr. Wheatley should have been found guilty let's see what happens in the next episode.

Didn't like this episode

[Film-Extra · 6/10 · 11 December 2021]

Was boring for me. I'm over the storyline, trying to push an agenda to boost ratings for their new show. Almost turned off the episode a few times. One of worst episodes of the season.

Really SVU Getting Ridculous

[shelbythuylinh · 6/10 · 10 December 2021]

Sure tempers flare. And really not the first nor will be the last. But that over in the very much. Is how that Stabler would mellow out after a decade. Still he showed his hotheaded anger there. No wonder he didn't make Captain like his former partner and friend Olvia did.

Still it seems Richard Wheatley overconfidence and arrogance there may doom him in the long run. But now he thinks he has the system defeated to his own advantage.

But now Babra that was a ADA but now a defense attorney and really had to be forced to get hard on his former co-workers there. And losing all respect from the people he used to work for, in particular Olivia's.

Sadly the verdict is not what it was and that it makes you think if the judge, jury, lawyers except for Carisi were bribed?!

Worst SVU ep EVER

[kymberleigh-77180 · 1/10 · 21 December 2021]

This is NOT an SVU ep, it's a damn Orginized Crime ep. Personally, I am so sick to death of Dick Wolf trying to force me to watch organized crime. I've never been an Elliott fan and this episode had no place in the SVU cinaverse. SVU has never had anything to do with Richard Wheatley and this should not be an SVU episode. Basically, if you want to understand this episode, you have to go back and watch two seasons of organized crime. That is distinctly not right! Just because Barba appears as wheatley's lawyer doesn't give it enough weight to make it an SVU episode. Worst episode ever in 23 seasons.

Badly written mess.

[Racingphan2 · 5/10 · 17 December 2021]

Bringing back Stabler has turned out to be a big mistake. At least with the organized crime storyline.

The story is a convoluted abysmal mess.

Barba is still great, but this is awful.

Truly becoming unwatchable. Definite spoilers!

[raymond867-207-823229 · 1/10 · 11 December 2021]

Where to start with these crossover episodes (again!), so many plot holes and just plain old ridiculousness! It's like the characters have all lost there minds. This time 'round you have former DA Barba returning as a crusading defense lawyer zealously defending the man who murdered the wife of someone he used to work with and at the same time acting as though all of his old police colleagues are now corrupt officers who "framed" an innocent Richard Wheatley.

And this whole scenario of Stabler's son then being framed for murder in such an unbelievable way is just lazy writing. Hell, the CIA couldn't have engineered that setup with that precision! Well, except the hidden cameras appearing anyway. And of course the tech (in the employ of the NYPD) that has mad skills better than the CIA, that can find the owners of the apartments where the murder frame up happened, figure out they have cameras hidden in them, send an email to the "tech startup" that installed the cameras, get a response from the owner of the company in like 20 seconds capitulating to a lame threat in the email and giving her full administrator access in another 10 seconds to the entire company servers is laughable! Oh, and of course finding the damning evidence proving the frame job of Elliot's son Eli in about 10 more seconds...sure that could happen.

And now how about that courtroom scene when Richard Wheatley's son who is in prison testifying about how his dad murdered Kathy Stabler (and other horrible deeds) on camera suddenly starts to stare off camera as if he sees an asteroid about to smash him and then changes his testimony to clear his dad and NOBODY in the courtroom questions this as it happens. It is left to all of us viewers to stare at the screen in the same manner and scream "Don't you see what is happening? Say something!!!) But no, they move on looking dumbfounded as if "what the hell just happened?" Duuuuhhhh....

Oh, and I could go on and on (Richard Wheatley standing up in court and exclaiming that he wants to testify - to his detriment...) but I'll just finish with the ridiculous ending with Angela Wheatley dropping her cane and her neuro deficit like an evil character in a bad B movie. What a plot twist - oy vey. Apparently the writers are saying that she can fool Neurologists and other trained medical professionals. The problem is that this is fantasy, there is something all doctors use called the malingerers' test that NOBODY can fake or fool, let alone fool a bunch of detectives who already don't trust her at all.

After all of these seasons of suspending disbelief every time one of the main characters would get kidnapped, or accused of a crime they didn't commit, have a family member involved in some crazy crime scenario etc., I can't do it anymore. This season with the return of the Elliot Stabler character, my brain can no longer enjoy the stories and characters on SVU.

too clean too polished

[JonanthanNewOrleans · 5/10 · 17 December 2021]

I miss the old SVU from 10-15 years ago , back then it was dark , real , in the gutter , etc... now days it's all bling bling , hot shots , polished , and too much political correctness , such a pity it has turned that way.

L & W: SVU

[grasswhisperer · 1/10 · 11 December 2021]

After watching almost all of the episodes of all of the permutations of L & O, I have now decided that I am done with it. IMO, this season (and last one, too) feels like the show has "jumped the shark". Bringing Meloni (Stabler) back has made this show almost unwatchable. It's time, IMO, to shut it all down. I am sure Hargitay has made plenty of money and will survive without it. The storylines, the writing, and, even, the acting has gone stale. On top of that, I can't believe they are bringing back the original show. That seems so wrong though we are seeing it more and more often. I don't watch those shows and I am leaving these, too. All these revivals are an insult to all of us.

Histrionic Soap Opera Where Everybody Loses Their Temper and Shouts at One Another

[bkkaz · 2/10 · 10 December 2021]

Oh, SVU, how low you've sunk.

It's a genuine soap opera now. All they need to do is bring back a character everyone thought was dead but actually has been in a Brazilian jungle all these years after a plane crash.

There's more of that go-nowhere tease that Stabler and Benson have something going on. They're going to be wheeling each other around the old folk's home by the time they have that first inevitable kiss.

And then there's the cliche where somehow the bad guy and the good guy end up in the men's room together. Exactly how sloppy is the NYPD, and how many times has the series used this cheap dramatic cliche to get them in each other's faces before -- at just the right moment -- they're pulled apart? It happens almost as often as Benson shaking her head at something she doesn't like.

The only thing good about tonight's episode is they brought the marsupial Rafael Barba back, looking even more like a forest creature with that ridiculous sponge of hair on the lower half of his face. He was always an arrogant dirtbag strutting around in his weird little vested suits and spouting off legal platitudes as though he's paid by the word. Here, he decides to represent the scum villain for some made up claptrap about how if the rich can be "railroaded" by the justice system, anyone can. What? Since when did he become a rodent of the people? But it's all great. His sketchy character was always annoying as an ADA. At least here he's all out with it. (But, wait, there's a silly, unbelievable twist, too.)

So much over-the-top acting, so many halting line deliveries, so much unsubtle music, so much gesturing and pounding of fists on railings and tabletops to emphasis every poorly written word.

Oh, SVU, what hath become of you?

Organized Crime episode masquerading as L&O

[treyintexas · 1/10 · 11 March 2022]

I was already sick of the Organized Crime soap opera. Being tricked into watching another episode under the guise of a law & Order episode has me fuming.

Soooo, I HAVE to watch OC??

[sornum · 1/10 · 30 October 2022]

This is the second time I have spent an episode trying to figure out what I'm missing. So, I guess the requirement now is that I must watch L&O Organized Crime? No thanks. I DVR these episodes and, thanks to my work schedule, I sometimes don't get back to the series for months. I don't DVR any other L&O series. Which means these crossovers are impossible for me to understand what the heck is going on! Who decided this was reasonable? They should be fired.

I'm also over Stabler at this point. Enough forcing his unevolved Neanderthal jerk routine down our throats. You try to prove how up you are on current events then shove this idiot back at us as if he's a great cop! Figure out if you are for or against law enforcement then get back to us with better writing and better plots.