The search for a missing witness leads Fin and Kat down a dangerous path. Chief McGrath puts pressure on Garland and Benson to get a conviction.
Tropes
- The Bad Guy Wins: In the macro, the VIP sex trafficking ring that the SVU have spent the past few episodes investigating manage to continue unimpeded with none of them identified save for Howard and Gold. In the micro, Gold manages to invoke Screw the Rules, I Have Connections! to get the charges against him dropped after throwing Howard to the wolves.
- Blatant Lies: Chief McGrath tells Benson that no one has more respect for Garland than he does, despite the fact that she heard him yelling at Garland about his deposition in "Wolves in Sheep's Clothing".
- Disney Death: Kat sustains a center mass shot and flatlines en route to the hospital, but ultimately survives the injury.
- Karma Houdini: Myron Gold ultimately gets all the charges against him dropped due to the interference of his wealthy clients, meaning he doesn't have to identify any of them and the entire ring gets off scot-free.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: McGrath tells Benson that from now on, SVU needs to focus on "the real rapes"note .
- Put on a Bus: This episode is the final appearance of Jamie Gray Hyder as Kat Tamin and Demore Barnes as Deputy Chief Garland.
- Resigned in Disgrace: Garland resigns his position as SVU's Deputy Chief to avoid being fired due to his calling out the NYPD's history of systemic racism in the previous episode.
- Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: Gold manages to avoid being charged for any of his crimes in this episode and the previous one by threatening to sell out his VIP clients, who hurriedly intervene to order his release.
