In the Season 2 premiere, Stabler's daughter witnesses a crime scene, while the squad must deal with the results of their psych evaluations.
- Abusive Parents: Andrew Croft was a foster one to Michael, who testified that he could tolerate it, but not when Croft brought Craig Prince.
- Black-and-Grey Morality: In the Season 1 finale Stabler told his first shrink hat he fantasized about killing perps, which got him in trouble. He talks about this and the current case with his current shrink Dr. Skoda (J. K. Simmons). His perp-killing fantasy hits him hard when it turns out the victim of the week was killed by the 16-year-old the victim molested for years. Additionally, he explains to Skoda that this case got to him because his daughter saw the body.
- Conflicting Loyalty: The security chief for Radial Velocity is a decorated Vietnam veteran who is torn between getting justice for Michael and protecting Craig, his boss. He chooses to get justice for Michael.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Craig Prince is the head of Radial Velocity, who killed a boy in Belgium and, with Andrew Croft, abused Michael. He's also under investigation for embezzlement of classified funds as he's living well beyond his means with a new co-op and an Audi A8 luxury sedan.
- Failed a Spot Check: Andrew Croft, the Asshole Victim of the Week, was given a firewall covering his real name and criminal convictions, because he was an expert in weapons, which were needed during the Gulf War. His original identity caused trouble with immigration. When the war was over, the firewall was supposed to come down, but for reasons that are never explained, this failed to happen, leading to Croft being able to adopt Michael from the foster system.
- The Informant: Munch's informant revealed the truth about Andrew Croft.
- Meaningful Name: Ralph Noble does the right thing and helps SVU with the investigation.
- Put on a Bus: Jeffries. The findings of the Morris commission (her admission in the Season 1 finale of going home with a suspect) get her put on desk duty, and she becomes so frustrated with this that she transfers out of SVU.
- Red Herring: The motive for the murder had absolutely nothing to do with his ties to national security, and everything to do with Michael enduring the abuse, and the fact that his abusers also killed a boy in Belgium.
- Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: Craig Prince until Michael outs him in a grand jury.
- Shout-Out: Elliot comes into work in a Hawaiian shirt, leading Munch to snark:Munch: Jimmy Buffett in town?
- Sympathetic Murderer: Michael was abused by the Victim of the Week and Craig Prince.
- We Used to Be Friends: Danny used to be friends with Michael until the former was molested by the latter's foster parent Andrew, and he did nothing about it. He looks guilty when Stabler points out how long the abuse had been going on.
