Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 13 Review: Duty to Hope

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 13, “Duty to Hope,” brings the season to an end. However, the episode isn’t finale-worthy, which suits a milestone season that didn’t feel like a milestone.

If we are completely honest, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 is probably one of the show’s slowest and most boring seasons. That is hard to say about a show that has been around for so long and has delivered some amazing storylines.

When the show had to step up and meet the expectations, it wasn’t able to do so. Instead, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 leaves us wanting more (or wishing for a do-over).

Few were the times throughout the season that it felt good to watch the entire team work together. Most episodes left us wondering why one or more detectives were missing, or Carisi had just been a phone call.

But “Duty to Hope” satisfies that desire to watch the squad work as a team. They all have a purpose on the case, work in sync, and receive the screen time they deserve for the story they are telling.

Even though he has moments when he interrupts another scene, Velasco feels more than just an interruption. There is a reason why he is there, and we’re happy to see he still belongs at SVU.

Fin has more screen time than we’ve seen him have in a long time. Once again, he reminds us he isn’t taking anyone’s BS and will always stand for what he believes is right. By keeping Toby’s secret, he stays true to himself.

Curry feels officially part of the team. She is there for a reason. Even though it’s still weird to have two captains in one precinct, she isn’t here to take Benson’s place, and we appreciate that.

And Bruno will always be Bruno. Shows up for his team, is good at his job, and delivers the corniest jokes we’ve ever heard.

The team working perfectly together is a highlight, but it doesn’t make the episode memorable. On the contrary, this is the kind of episode one forgets, which is quite rare for season finales (especially on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).

The season does come full circle when Benson attends Maddie’s birthday party, and her parents thank her for everything she has done for the family. It feels like the closure Olivia needs after having spent almost all season focused on Maddie.

But even that is forgettable.

The only thing most viewers will remember (especially Benson and Stabler shippers) is that Benson takes off the compass she’s been wearing all season to give it to Maddie’s mom. Another reminder that Benson’s priority has always been the healing of the victims and their families.

After doing this, she finally calls Stabler. This is the first time Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 has made both characters interact. Before “Duty to Hope,” the two had been leaving unanswered voicemails.

Is this enough? Is this small interaction between the two the kind of happiness Benson has been trying to find since the end of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 24?

Is a season finale the right time to introduce a new character? “Duty to Hope” shows the answer is no.

Carisi’s new boss has quickly become a very unlikable ADA. She doesn’t believe the team is doing their best, takes the smallest evidence to charge an innocent man, and refuses to listen to Benson.

One episode isn’t enough to give viewers the time to get to know a character, but she doesn’t seem to fit in the group. She is no Barba, Cabot, or Novak, and her attitude makes us feel like she will never be one of them.

The new ADA seems more interested in making a name for herself than bringing justice to the victims.

This kind of character should have been introduced a few episodes earlier for fans to make up their mind about her. Introducing her in a season finale raises the odds of the audience turning against her, especially when she is up against a character like Benson.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 Episode 13, “Duty to Hope,” isn’t the kind of season finale the show has us used to. However, it is no surprise when the entire season has been so disappointing.

The remarkable thing about Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 25 is that it continued to prove Benson’s duty to the victims and survivors. It showed once more that this woman would do anything to help those who needed her.

But we are left wondering when her turn will come. This healing she keeps talking about doesn’t seem to be happening much on camera, and it would be nice for fans to see that.

Maybe Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 will finally deliver.

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

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