"Blood Brothers"

Guest Star Kyle MacLachlan

This week on Law & Order SVU , the show opens on a packed church with Catholic school uniformed Hispanic kids in the pew watching a morality play. Suddenly, one of the angelic school girls grimaces in pain, tries to stand, but falls down unconscious. Her friend, a fellow uniformed school boy, Arturo (Anthony Keyvan) runs to her aid, screaming “Ella!”  What’s wrong with the girl?  Cue the ER doctor. This week’s show mimics the headline-grabbing scandal of Arnold Schwarzenegger. The show’s title is an obvious give away. This is not a summary of the episode, but a recap of the five best moments of the show.

Here’s the countdown to the Five Best Moments of the Show.

#5 Best Moment of the Show. Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Nick Amaro (Danny Pino) walks up to the ER doctor, “She’s 13 years old. What’s wrong with her, doc?” “There’s nothing wrong with her. She’s pregnant.” Stunned silence.

#4 Best Moment of the Show. Captain Craigen (Dann Florek) tells Benson to interview the girl and her grandmother, and to “Take Amaro with you. His Spanish is slightly better than yours.” Benson’s hair bristles and gives him push back. Amaro tries to make nice, “Besides the Spanish, abuelitas love me.” The scene ends with Benson giving him the glare. Yes, Benson, we all know he’s no Stabler, but give the new guy a chance, huh?

#3 Best Moment of the Show.  Benson is questioning the girl on her own. Ella hesitates to answer. “Who hurt you, Ella?” “You won’t believe me” “…just tell me who it was.” “It was God. I didn’t have sex. This baby is a miracle.” Cut to Benson’s face. She is obviously in shock.

#2 Best Moment of the Show.  Benson and Amaro trace the flowers delivered by the florist to Ambassador Raines (Kyle MacLachlan). He is a politician with a sophisticated family and unlimited resources. “Do you know this girl?” “Did she say she knows me?” Defensive, much?

Finally, the #1 Best Moment of the Show. The detectives find the dead body of Ambassador Raines’ 13 year old son, Tripp. There is no doubt the boy was the victim of a ‘love triangle’ crime, perpetrated by the boy who truly loves Ella, the son of Ambassador Raines’ housekeeper. The 13 year old boy, Arturo Rivera, is seated in the police interrogation room. Tears stream down his face, as he reveals his anguish at a biological father who refuses to recognize him. “I could have made Ella a princess. I’m a Raines, just like Tripp.” A warning to viewers, this is a five hanky scene. The boy is a good actor. You feel the depth of his unrequited search for his father’s love. His mother, seated next to him, is unable to speak, finally realizing the full ramifications of her extra-marital affair with her employer; her bastard son has killed his half-brother. The boy reaches out pass the symbolic one way mirror that separates him from his biological father, “I just wanted you to call me your son.”

The show hung on the acting chops of a 13 year old boy, actor Anthony Keyvan. Nicely done, Tony. Bets are there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. The boy just wanted his father to love him.

Next week on Law & Order SVU , a serial rapist strikes again. Detective Rollins recognizes his m.o. on his latest victim in Central Park. Detective Benson thinks it’s just another NYC rapist. The guy in custody is a straight arrow. He’s got a family, a job. Who’s right?