Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 9 Review: Children of Wolves

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 9, “Children of Wolves,” is definitely the best episode of the season. One reason might be that Mariska Hargitay is in the director’s chair.

Whenever Hargitay steps behind the camera, the show delivers the best storylines with powerful images. Could it be that she knows the show better than anyone?

We must applaud Hargitay for a well-done job, delivering the episode that likely saves the season.

Hargitay Directing, Benson in Charge

Hargitay’s directing always gives the screen a sense of belonging. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 9, “Children of Wolves,” makes us feel like this is finally the show we love.

Throughout Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25, it’s felt as if something has been missing. The season doesn’t feel as powerful as it should to celebrate a milestone.

But under Hargitay’s watchful eye, everything changes. Benson is front and center leading the investigation, but we see a different side of her.

We see a woman who is exhausted from fighting the worst of humanity day in and day out, but she’s also a woman who’s not willing to give up.

The closeups of Benson’s face in the rain as she talks to Seth give the audience goosebumps and remind them of who this woman truly is.

Not only is Hargitay doing amazing work behind the camera, she is doing it in front as well.

We see a different side of Benson when she drives Seth to the park with Velasco, claiming they will do a forensic reenactment.

It is a more violent, dark side of the captain. A side we have seen before when she had to fight William Lewis. Something that could have been brought back on after Noah mentions the man.

Even though she doesn’t go further than pushing Seth around, it is good to see Benson still has a fire in her, and she won’t give up on the victims.

That is the woman we have been rooting for the last two and a half decades. This is the kind of action we’ve been waiting to see all season long.

Before discussing Cairisi’s presence and Noah’s storyline, we must highlight the episode’s transitions and connections.

The first transition between Benson reading Little Red Riding Hood to Noah to the girls walking in the park is done beautifully. The red of the book turning into the red of the girl’s hoodie helps connect everything.

But the connection isn’t only done visually. Throughout Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 9, “Children of Wolves,” the show keeps returning to the story.

It is done by mentioning the wolf and ripped clothes, and comparing the group of four boys to a wolf pack.

And particularly when Benson and Seth are talking, and she compares him to a wild animal. He has the choice to turn himself in or become an animal.

The Carisi We Love

Not everyone was happy when Carisi transitioned from detective to ADA. For some viewers, the new job didn’t suit him.

During Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25, we haven’t seen enough of Carisi to say whether he is doing a good job. There are times when his skills as ADA don’t pay off.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 9, “Children of Wolves,” shows why Carisi was actually a great detective. It seems easy for him to slip back into his old shoes and take charge at the scene.

He knows now (after struggling in the beginning) how to talk to the victim’s parents and give them the support they need. He also knows exactly what kind of evidence is needed.

The episode balances out the ADA and the detective, proving Sonny can do both. Yet this is the first time all season that it feels like he belongs at SVU and on the show.

Everything he does throughout the episode proves why the audience loves him so much and why he actually deserves more screen time.

Carisi’s screen time, of course, comes at a cost. Both Fin and Sykes are missing from the episode.

Fin is missed. He is always missed when he is gone. His one-liners, knowledge, and comradery with Benson are key elements of the show.

On the contrary, Sykes isn’t missed. This character seems to be still finding her place in the story, which means viewers don’t miss her quite yet.

Like Carisi, Velasco gets more screen time on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 9, “Children of Wolves.” Instead of being an interruption, he is important to the case.

He is the one who witnesses Benson’s semi-Stabler moment, and hopefully, that will be addressed later on.

Noah’s Story

Since Benson adopted Noah, we have been wondering when the topic of Johnny D would come up. It makes perfect sense that it happens during a milestone season.

When Noah starts the episode by talking about Maddie’s kidnapper, William Lewis, and Johnny D, we know he will eventually ask about the latter being his father. But the truth is if someone can understand what being the child of a rapist feels like, it is Noah’s mom.

It is absolutely remarkable that Carisi points this out to Benson. Since Rollins’s departure, Carisi has become Benson’s confidant, which is extremely helpful on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 9, “Children of Wolves.”

When Benson mentions she’s afraid Noah isn’t strong enough to find out his biological father is a rapist, Carisi reminds her she was strong enough. That is what the audience has been thinking since the beginning of the episode.

We know Olivia survived, and she is raising her son to survive, too.

The beauty of Noah sitting down with his mom to learn about his story is that he points out his story has a happy ending because it’s him and Olivia.

That is the celebration this milestone season should be doing of Olivia Benson.

This woman who, from the very beginning, has mentioned all she ever wanted was a family to belong to. Noah is her family. Noah is her happy ending.

But her family is also her team. Someone like Carisi who reminds her how strong she is. A Fin who always has her back.

There is Amanda, Nick, and Barba, who have always stood by her no matter what. And even a Stabler, who seems to be missing from her life these days.

Benson has a happy ending, and it’s time we let her thrive in it. Hopefully, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 will finally do that.

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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airs Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.

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