Written By Julie Martin and Warren Leight
Directed By Michael Slovis
After having expressed interest in taking the upcoming Sergeant's exam, Amaro learns that One Police Plaza does not want to promote him as he is considered "damaged goods" due to his involvement in several past incidents. As Johnny D's (Charles Halford) criminal case finally goes to trial, Benson goes against Barba's advice by disclosing that Johnny is the biological father of Noah, endangering the final stages of the adoption and giving Johnny a potential defense. A shootout in the courtroom kills one court officer and wounds Amaro, the judge, and another officer, but Amaro returns fire and kills Johnny D. Realizing that he is unlikely to advance within the NYPD and that the department may use his injuries to force him into early retirement, Amaro resigns in favor of moving to California to be closer to his children.
Tropes
- End of an Era: The episode features the departure of Nick Amaro, Olivia's second partner in the series.
- Happily Adopted: Noah’s adoption is made official.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: Both Olivia and Amaro vow to remain friends for life, despite him leaving New York and the SVU for California.
- Hypocrite: Pilar lies over working only as a “maid” and did no sex work under Johnny Drake. Barba calls her out on this since she gave a practice testimony on admitting to being a Sex Slave but she refuses to change her testimony. Once Ariel reveals all of the horrors she went through, Pilar yells at her for being a “liar” and shames the judge for allowing her to take the stand.
- Jury and Witness Tampering:
- The star witness of the trial, Timmer, gets his throat cut by another witness, presumably because she was paid to do so.
- Another witness, Pilar, is either too scared or too loyal to go through with testifying against Johnny D and reverses her story on the stand.
- Killed Off for Real: Johnny D.
- Limited Advancement Opportunities: Amaro's past incidents in the previous season have made it highly unlikely for him to be promoted. Considering his incidents in "Amaro's One-Eighty" had mitigating circumstances, it was likely his beating of Simon Wilkes that ensured this for him.
- Oh, Crap!: When Ariel convinces the other girls to testify against Johnny D, his expression goes from one of smug satisfaction to panicked fury.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: When Barba is trying to keep the conflict of Noah’s parentage out of the trial, he invokes attorney-client privilege, which clearly doesn’t apply because he is neither Noah nor Olivia’s lawyer.Mr. Braun: When did you became aware of the child's parentage, Counselor?Barba: Your Honor, that may fall under attorney-client privilege.Judge Barth: While you're both working on this case for the city of New York, I doubt that. But how about I spare you the embarrassment and possible ethical jeopardy of answering, and you agree to drop the objection on this line of questioning.
- Put on a Bus: Amaro, to California to be with his kids who now reside there.
- Season Finale: The show's sixteenth.
- Snark-to-Snark Combat: Barba and the opposing defense lawyer, Mr. Braun, get in a few good quips.Mr. Braun: [looking around Barba’s office] Hmm. Nice digs. My tax dollars at work.Barba: Taxes? Don't most of your clients pay you cash?
- Tranquil Fury: When Johnny D’s lawyer drops off a petition to have Noah’s adoption halted, Olivia hides her obvious fury behind a calm smile.
- Will Not Tell a Lie: Much grief comes Benson's way because the truth about Noah's parentage came out. Olivia has learned in the past that Keeping Secrets Sucks (specifically during her entire ordeal with William Lewis) so she was determined to reveal the truth about Noah's parentage despite advice from Langan & Barba (but it comes out anyway).
