Directed by David Platt
Written by Judy Mc Creary
Detective Lake, previously wounded in a shootout with another officer, escapes from the hospital and takes hostage the sole remaining witness of an old murder case he had been investigating on his down time.
This episode provides examples of:
- And Starring: "With Special Appearance by Judith Light as Elizabeth Donnelly and Viola Davis".
- Asshole Victim: The cop who Chester allegedly killed, Edward Kralik, was a rapist Dirty Cop.
- Black-and-Grey Morality: Putting the law into your own hands against despicable people to achieve justice is the dilemma of the episode.
- Book Ends:
- The episode begins and ends with the main characters going to a crime scene and seeing Chester Lake as the suspect.
- Chester Lake's introduction has a Ship Tease with him and Casey. The final scene of the episode is them looking at each other.
- Dirty Cop: The episode's Asshole Victim and Villain of the Week are both rapist cops.
- Double-Meaning Title: Referring to a Cold Case and the term "Revenge is Best Served Cold".
- Downer Ending: The episode ends with Fin and Elliot on bad terms, Casey suspended, and Chester in jail.
- End of an Age: The episode ends Diane Neal's five-year tenure as main character.
- Headbutting Heroes: Fin did not appreciate Stabler branding him as a possible accomplice of the rogue Chester. It got so bad that he requested for a transfer.
- A House Divided: Due to Chester shooting a fellow cop, it causes tensions within the respective department. Elliot and Fin also had a fallout due to their different handling of the situation.
- Ironic Echo: Casey Novak's introduction is her having qualms about working Special Victims cases only to be told that the affection she's showing towards her new job is what makes her the right person for it. In this episode, Casey's compassion for her work is what gets her suspended.
- Karma Houdini: Kralik's partner, Thomas Krane, who also participated in the rape, is released due to a mistrial and later gets to walk away scot-free because of Casey's mishandling of the case. But it's ultimately averted when Lake murders him in the end.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Lake's decision to go rogue to solve a case he couldn't let go of and every single move he makes from then on is what kicks off everything that happened in this episode
- Put on a Bus: Diane Neal and Adam Beach depart the show as regulars after this episode.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: See the below Rejected Apology.
- Rejected Apology: In fairness to Elliot, he apologizes to Fin for thinking he's a possible accomplice to Chester. Unfortunately for Elliot, Fin was greatly offended by it and proceeded to give him a verbal beatdown for his trouble.Elliot: [to Fin] Look, the situation got a little heated and I want to say I'm sorry about that.Fin: You're a bulldog, Stabler. Quick to assume, slow to admit when you're wrong. Makes for a good cop, but a lousy human being.Olivia: Fin, hear him out.Fin: Stay out of it, Liv. That being said, I know what it cost you.Elliot: Appreciate that.Fin: I'm not done. The problem is you will still be the same rat bastard tomorrow and nothing you say will ever change that.
- Rogue Protagonist: Chester Lake decides to go Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right! and breaks several protocols.
- Season Finale: The show's ninth.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Deconstructed. Both Casey and Chester decided to put justice in their own respective hands, but as civil servants, it causes damage to their careers.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: The squad spends the whole episode trying to clear Lake's name and prove the shooting of the dirty cop was in self defense. Once it's done, Lake goes and shoots the other dirty cop in cold blood and is sent to prison for that.
- That One Case: Chester Lake's unresolved first case is what drives the entire episode.
- Wham Episode: Chester decided to go Cowboy Cop and eventually performs a Vigilante Execution on a the Villain of the Week, getting himself imprisoned. Casey is suspended from her duties due to presenting dated evidence. Fin and Elliot have a fallout due to dealing with the Lake situation resulting to the former requesting a transfer.
