Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 Episode 6 Review: Beyond the Sea

The investigation into a serial killer heats up, and so do Stabler’s nightmares on Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 Episode 6, “Beyond the Sea.”

What makes this episode interesting is the overall feeling that nothing is quite what it seems, no matter what is happening. There is something completely off about this beachside town on Long Island.

From the chief’s initial wariness about Detective Stabler moving in on her territory to her father’s insistence that it be kept quiet. Whether he means the murders or the town’s secrets is hard to discern right away.

Stabler Needs Therapy

It’s unsure whether or not Stabler is still seeing his therapist, like we saw him do frequently last season. However, if he is, something needs to change because it doesn’t seem to be working.

Ever since Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 Episode 4, “The Last Supper,” Stabler has been spiraling further and further into instability. The fact that the IAB investigation hasn’t reached its conclusion yet doesn’t seem to be helping.

But now, Stabler is having nightmares that flit from his wife dying to that Los Santos kid dying to Bell being shot. It’s clear that he’s not handling any of it well.

Instead of taking a second to assess why he might be having these dreams, Stabler plows full steam ahead into investigating Rita Lasku’s death. And while he seems to be doing his job well enough right now, he’s on the brink of some kind of breakdown.

Never mind that this small town Police Chief is treating him as if he isn’t on suspension as an NYPD detective. None of this bodes well for his future or his overall mental health.

A Murderous Secret

When we first meet the town judge, who is also the Police Chief’s father, Clay Bonner, we are immediately given the ick. There is something sinister just under the surface of this man, and Keith Carradine plays into that phenomenally well.

It doesn’t help that the first time I see this character, I keep seeing Agent Lundy (from Dexter) in my head. Carradine soon dispels any previous roles he might be recognized for when he opens his mouth and tells a group of the town’s male elite that their activities need to stay under wraps.

Sir, you realize there have been multiple bodies found, right? The idea that Bonner believes the town’s reputation is more important than solving the murder of almost a dozen women makes us sick.

Law & Order: Organized Crime makes it abundantly clear that men like Bonner and Cahill are disgusting and should be dealt with accordingly. Whether it’s Chief Bonner pushing back against her father’s insistence that she let the case go or it’s Stabler criticizing these men every chance he gets.

At first, it seems as though what Cahill and Bonner are doing with Cahill’s parties is mutually accepted by everyone in town. However, Stabler talks with a few people in town, and it becomes evident that the only people who accept those parties are the ones in attendance.

The Plot Thickens

When we meet Eric Bonner, he initially doesn’t set off any alarm bells until Clay Bonner goes out of his way to cover up some of the evidence. The fact that Eric’s father is willing to do such things proves that he must’ve been involved in the murder plot somehow. 

I’d hedge my bets that he’s the one doing most, if not all, of the killings. I still can’t decide if he’s done all of them because only some of them had the sign of the cross on them on top of being strangled to death.

In the episodes that follow, it’ll be interesting to see how deep Eric’s involvement goes. Cahill being fingered for all the murders and Heidi’s kidnapping does seem like a stretch, but he’s hardly innocent.

Are we upset that Cahill is dead? No. But, are we on Chief Bonner and Stabler’s side with thinking things are far from over? Yes.

Stray Thoughts

• What does Stabler still being suspended, Bell being out of commission, and Reyes taking a leave of absence mean for the OCCB team?
• I know we were a bit wary about the interim captain, but I kind of like her.
• I’m gonna need Olivia Benson to come shake Stabler and remind him that his actions have consequences and could end his career if he’s not careful.
• All this mention of Stabler’s dad getting suspended…something is coming down the pipeline. I can feel it.

 

What did you think of this episode of Law & Order: Organized Crime? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Law & Order: Organized Crime airs Thursdays at 10/9c on NBC.

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