Written By Warren Leight and Julie Martin
Directed By Alex Chapple
Bayard Ellis (Andre Braugher) asks the SVU squad to reopen an investigation when the recovering addict daughter (Samira Wiley) of a man convicted of incest and rape 17 years prior recants her original testimony, claiming it was all a lie that her mother forced her to say in court. When the original motion to vacate the charges is denied, the squad turns to retired Captain Cragen for help in uncovering evidence that was never presented during the original trial.
Tropes:
- Ambiguous Ending: Michelle is now no longer sure whether a rape did (or did not) happen to her 17 years ago. She admits to Benson that she has no memory of what really happened to her and she's unsure whether what she has are Fake Memories and which parent gave it to her. Benson's parting words to Ellis is that of doubt on whether they did the right thing or not.
- Before My Time: Benson notes that she doesn't know who McCormack is and notes that he's probably from before her time in NYPD. Carisi then makes a cheeky remark at the supposed rarity of anything in NYPD being before Benson's time.
- Establishing Character Moment: When Derek Thompson is introduced, he was teaching a fellow-inmate how to read which established the fact (or at least the perception) that he was a good man.
- Old Cop, Young Cop: During the meeting between Ellis, SVU, and former Captain Cragen, Carisi's idealism is in heavy contrast to the apparent cynicism/caution of everyone else in there. This is capped off by Ellis commenting that Carisi must be new to SVU.
- Amaro and McCormack were partners back in the day of the student-teacher variety, replete with Noodle Incident.
