For many decades, it seemed like no one could challenge Olivia Benson, as no one was ever on the same level. Season 24 Episode 6, “Controlled Burn,” throws this out of the water with the introduction of Lena Hess.
It looks like Captain Benson finally has a nemesis of her same caliber. No, we don’t want to see the bad guys winning, but it is interesting to see someone challenge Benson in a way no other perps have.
Lena Hess is a woman who seems to understand Olivia — or at least she tries to — and will make the Captain face the cruel reality of the world in a way Benson doesn’t usually do.
When Amanda Rollins first joined , we didn’t know where she would end up. She was a rookie in the squad room, trusted perps when she shouldn’t have, and doubted the victims more than once.
However, that Rollins is long gone, and we now have an incredible detective who trusts her gut and is always advocating for the victim. But above everything, she is finally advocating for herself.
Throughout Season 24, we’ve seen her struggle with the aftermath of her shooting and dealing with “a monster in the closet.” These were all clues to Kelli Giddish’s last episode, airing December 8.
“Controlled Burn” offers us peace as we see Amanda back in charge. She is first seen teaching a class, then kicking ass, hunting down perps, and interrogating suspects side-by-side with Olivia and Carisi.
At the beginning of the episode, we are given an insight into Amanda’s thinking process, which we had only seen once when dealing with Greg Yates.
As she is giving a lecture, we understand that Rollins has always been interested in how perps think and why they make their choices. This comes full circle when she asks the perp why he choked these women.
It goes to show Amanda has grown as a detective. When she first joined , she wouldn’t have dared ask herself these questions; there was a fear stopping her. Now, she goes above and beyond to understand whycertain things happen.
The same thing she is probably doing to process what happened to her at the beginning of the season. Olivia Benson tells her, “whatever it is you’re doing, keep doing it,” and, as we all know from the first few moments of “Controlled Burn,” that is sex with Carisi.
Benson and Rollins’s relationship has kept us on our toes since Amanda joined . The women butted heads more than once without realizing they were more similar than they understood.
However, as the seasons went by, the two developed a beautiful friendship that can be thoroughly appreciated on “Controlled Burn.” When they are out in the field, they have each other’s back no matter what happens.
With a straightforward look, they know where the other woman is going next in the line of questioning. But they also know how to complement each other in the areas they might be lacking.
Olivia Benson brings the experience and compassion, while Amanda Rollins brings the fight and the fire.
However, this doesn’t stop with the cases. This episode shows us that parenting takes a village and these two women are each other’s village.
While Lena Hess hates all men and believes the world would be better without them, she raises fear in Benson for the world and her son. Even though she jokes about how lucky she is to raise daughters, Rollins reassures Olivia that Noah will be fine because he has her as a mother.
In past seasons of , Olivia Benson has faced many suspects. They all entailed a journey, but it had been a long time since someone challenged Benson’s thoughts and capabilities.
Yes, we know Benson is up for the task, and she can (hopefully, in future episodes) bring Lena Hess down. But in the meantime, this new nemesis will make her rethink everything she has worked for.
It is interesting to see how Benson reacts to this new character as it shows us that even after 24 seasons, there is room to grow, question, and explore the line of work she’s been in for decades.
These are the kind of guest roles we want to see as fans. Characters break the show’s routine and make us wonder where the storyline could go next.
For a while, it seemed impossible, but it looks like is renewing itself.
Stray Observations
- During it was nice to see more of Fin in charge. Luckily, “Controlled Burn” doesn’t disappoint and continues to put Fin exactly where he belongs.
- Hopefully, Velasco’s disappearance from the episode means he is dealing with his feelings after “Breakwater.”
- “Professor Rollins does have a ring to it.” Is this a premonition? Are they giving us a clue as to what Amanda will be doing when she leaves the show?
- Grace Muncy continues to surprise us; hopefully, we will see more of her in the upcoming episodes. At least she’s still wearing her blazer.
- Please, David Graziano, bring Lena Hess back for a few more episodes and let Olivia Benson act to her full potential.
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airs Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.
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Lara Rosales
By day, Lara Rosales (she/her) is a solo mom by choice and a bilingual writer with a BA in Latin-American Literature who works in PR. By night, she is a TV enjoyer who used to host a podcast (Cats, Milfs & Lesbian Things). You can find her work published on Eulalie Magazine, Geek Girl Authority, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, Nicki Swift, and Flip Screened.
