The Special Victims Unit spends New Year's Eve investigating an Amber Alert. Meanwhile, Carisi faces off against Barba in an emotional courtroom battle.
Tropes
- The Bus Came Back: Raúl Esparza returns as Rafael Barba after his departure in the season 19 episode “The Undiscovered Country”. (He had previously made a brief guest appearance in "Redemption In Her Corner".)
- Everyone Can See It: Kat offers to stay at the crime scene while Rollins goes home, since she has kids, and Amanda says it's fine, they're home with Carisi. Kat's response is sky-high eyebrows and an incredulous look, prompting Amanda to dismiss it as him not having other plans.
- Friendly Enemy: Carisi, despite being on the opposing side as his former mentor, Barba, holds no animosity for him and they still consider each other friends before, during, and after the trial.
- New Year Has Come: The episode starts on New Years Eve, with everyone discussing plans for it.
- Not Me This Time: Chili might be a child whoring pimp with a white box truck, but he didn't kidnap Nydia.
- Papa Wolf: Mickey kills Ajay for raping Nydia, getting her pregnant and slipping her abortion pills.
- Ship Tease: Carisi mentions he'll be alone for New Years, and Rollins invites him over to her place. She falls asleep cuddled up with him on her couch. Judging by how not-awkward she was when her phone went off and woke her up, that's not the first time that's happened.
