| "Amaro's One-Eighty" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | SVU, Episode 15.11 | → |
| Production number: 15011 First aired (US): 15 January 2014 First aired (UK): 9 March 2014 First aired (CAN): 15 January 2014 First aired (AUS): 6 March 2014 | ||
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| Teleplay By Kevin Fox Story By Julie Martin & Warren Leight Directed By Nick Gomez | ||
Summary[]
Detective Amaro's badge is on the line when an arrest leads to gunfire.
Plot[]
SVU attends a private celebration at Benson and Cassidy's apartment where Cragen announces Benson's promotion to sergeant. Despite previous concerns, she'll still be allowed to supervise SVU -- a relief for everyone. Amaro and Rollins, both tipsy, walk back together in good spirits -- until a pursuit interrupts them.
Officer Shannon McKenna and Officer Mike Dragen are chasing a suspected drug dealer when Dragen gets hit by a cab. Amaro takes charge, and, in a nearby building, he and Shannon end up in a stand-off with the suspect in a hallway that has a 90-degree turn in it.
After bullets fly, and Shannon gets hit by a bullet, Amaro blindly returns fire around the 90-degree corner of the hallway -- only to find a wounded 14-year-old African boy named Yusuf Barre around the corner, and no evidence of a gun. But Yusuf did have some Khat with him. Khat is an eastern African amphetamine that Somali pirates use to make themselves fearless.
Without evidence of Yusuf having a gun, the shooting spurs controversy, and ignites a media circus. Reverend Curtis Scott appears as Yusuf's advocate, and internal affairs (IAB) usurps the investigation, with Scott and IAB both intent on smearing Amaro as a prime example of excessive force.
Leading the IAB charge, against his will, is none other than Detective Brian Cassidy, positioned to test his mettle in exchange for a spot in IAB. Cragen thinks that the new mayor is looking for a poster boy for excessive force, and that IAB is there to serve up Amaro as a sacrificial lamb. Didi Denzler is Amaro's delegate. It turns out that one of the bullets hit Yusuf's spine, and paralyzed him from the waist down.
Cassidy interviews all the detectives, and it becomes clear that IAB Lt. Ed Tucker wants a trial, even though Amaro followed protocol. When an edited cellphone video from the incident paints Amaro in a bad light, and Tucker says that Amaro had a blood alcohol content of about .05 almost 2 hours AFTER the shooting, Amaro smells a setup brewing.
IAB demands that he turn in his badge with the latest news -- Officer McKenna was hit by a ricocheted bullet from her own gun. In other words, there's no missing gun; Amaro shot an unarmed teenager.
While Amaro struggles to reconcile his by-the-book actions with his conscience, the SVU fights to keep Internal Affairs from jumping to conclusions. The case becomes a public spectacle, and Amaro must decide if fighting for his badge is the best decision for his family.
After the case, Cragen announces that he's retiring, and that Benson is taking his place in charge of the SVU. He turns the keys to his office over to Benson.
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Mariska Hargitay as Sergeant Olivia Benson
- Danny Pino as Detective Nick Amaro
- Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins
- Ice-T as Detective Odafin Tutuola
- Raúl Esparza as A.D.A. Rafael Barba (credit only)
- Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen
Recurring Cast[]
- Dean Winters as I.A.B. Detective Brian Cassidy
- Greg Germann as A.D.A. Derek Strauss
- Elizabeth Marvel as Attorney Rita Calhoun
- Robert John Burke as I.A.B. Lieutenant Ed Tucker
- Mel Harris as Eileen Switzer
- Leslie Odom, Jr. as Reverend Curtis Scott
- Gbenga Akinnagbe as Father Biobaku
- Mary B. McCann as Delegate Didi Denzler
- Cathy Moriarty as Captain Toni Howard
- Nancy Ticotin as Cesaria Amaro
- Stephen C. Bradbury as Judge Colin McNamara
- Alison Fernandez as Zara Amaro
- Joselin Reyes as Paramedic Martinez
Guest Cast[]
- Vicky Jeudy as Officer Shannon McKenna
- Tina Fabrique as Grand Juror #1
- Hubert Point-Du Jour as Berko Barré
- Linda Thompson Williams as Nateesha
- Laura Chaneski as Nurse
- Luc Owono as Mr. Barré
- Lorry Francois as Mrs. Barré
- Aubrey Joseph as Yusef Barré
- Frank Alfano, Jr. as Officer Mike Dragin
- Jared Kemp as Teen #1
- Jeremiah Craft as Teen #2
- Phil Eichinger as Reporter #1
References[]
Quotes[]
- Amaro: That was Munch. He thinks I should just take a plea. Get this over with.
- Cragen: He said that?
- Amaro: He said just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean I don't have enemies.
- Cragen: Well, that sounds like Munch.
Background information and notes[]
- This episode marks the last regular appearance of Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen, leaving Mariska Hargitay as the only remaining original cast member.
- This is the first episode in which Olivia Benson is labeled as Sergeant, as well as the first in which she wears the sergeant's shield.
- Derek Strauss mentions the time Amaro punched a man who he thought was an affair with his then wife. Strauss is referring to Jason Harris, who Amaro punched in the episode "Street Revenge".
- Strauss also mentions the last time Amaro shot someone was when he was saving a lady officer. That time, he saved Benson from Graham Winger in the episode "Hunting Ground".
Episode scene cards[]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mercy Hospital |
Home of |
Office of |
Grand Jury |
Grand Jury |
| Previous episode: "Psycho/Therapist" |
"Amaro's One-Eighty" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 15 |
Next episode: "Jersey Breakdown" |