[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the Law & Order: SVU Season 26 finale, “Post-Rage.”]
Heading into the Legislation & Order: SVU finale, we all know two issues: Benson’s (Mariska Hargitay) squad is about to lose two detectives, Velasco (Octavio Pisano) and Silva (Juliana Aidan Martinez), and he or she’s about to get her shut pal, Rollins (Kelli Giddish), again full time within the fall.
Instantly, the finale reveals that Velasco has been promoted to detective second grade; Benson leads him to the shock celebration beneath the guise of the 2 grabbing a drink after work. Benson known as the chief to let him know he’s demonstrated sturdy case work, and, Curry ( Aimé Donna Kelly) provides, he’s earned the respect of his superiors. In different phrases, Benson says, he’s proven command presence. With that, the squad toasts to him.
The following day, they’re known as to the scene of a basic psychiatrist, Gretchen (Betsy Brandt), who was raped and bludgeoned; somebody fired a gun in the home across the time of the assault and it appears to be like just like the accountable celebration had a post-rage comedown. He made her snug with a blanket and pillow, and Benson explains that it’s precise remorse. Some really really feel unhappy and attempt to undo the crime, even name the police. Moreover, pages have been ripped out of her pocket book, indicating she might have identified her attacker. Her assistant can’t give them a lot as a consequence of HIPAA, however does inform them that the pages got here from per week’s value of session notes from across the holidays. Gretchen’s husband died just a few years in the past, and he or she did have dinner with Dr. Gary Schwartz (Michael Torpey), who’s however hasn’t acquired any indication she is. He tells them about their sport at dinners, to play who has the extra difficult affected person, in addition to the truth that he walks her residence to spend extra time along with her.
Gary’s the one to level them within the course of Anthony, who has been in couple’s remedy along with his spouse with Gretchen, beginning across the holidays. He’s been arrested for home violence a pair occasions, however his spouse refuses to testify. Gretchen doesn’t keep in mind a lot after her attacker urgent his thumbs into her eyes (she has surgical procedure for a indifferent retina), nor did she see him, however she does appear sure Anthony is the one who has her gun, which has gone lacking for the reason that assault. And he or she seems to be right; he’s armed when the squad follows him. Although he appears to give up, he then jumps off to his loss of life. Nonetheless, it seems that he has an alibi for the night time of the assault.
Moreover, simply because the squad goes over different sufferers of Gretchen’s who might have performed this, touchdown on a mysterious Keith Sparks, whom the psychiatrist barely remembers, phrase is available in of one other therapist being raped — however this one was murdered. The reason for loss of life is blunt pressure to the top, and he or she was additionally coated with a blanket (however moved to the sofa). Her eyes had been gouged out. Somebody is blinding therapists, and Gretchen simply obtained fortunate.
Gretchen, who’s now staying with Gary, brings up the net portal by way of which Keith made his appointment. That provides them an e mail deal with, however chances are high that Keith Sparks isn’t even his identify, Benson and Curry know. The latter additionally thinks they should look past New York for different victims, and he or she’s proper: They get a success on somebody from Connecticut in December simply after one suspect falls by way of, and that case stays open for the reason that police couldn’t tie anybody to the crime.
That’s the one which leads them to their man: This therapist saved detailed information, and one in all her sufferers referred a coworker who then moved to Manhattan. “Ted” is “Keith,” as Gretchen confirms. Once they observe him down, he runs, however they chase him down till he’s compelled to give up.
Benson and Fin (Ice-T) interrogate him, and he ultimately admits that he blinded the ladies as a result of he didn’t wish to be seen for who he actually is. He was offended concerning the lies concerning the world, and no quantity of psychiatric assist provided him the readability he needed. As an alternative, he noticed it as psychological manipulation that took him aside, and he was by no means put again collectively. He made the ladies harm as a result of they only talked fairly than free him from ache, and he needed them to really feel ache, too, however he didn’t wish to do it.
Virginia Sherwood / NBC
The season ends with the promotion ceremony for Velasco and 15 others, and as Benson watches, she remembers his time with SVU. However the present doesn’t really write out Velasco or Silva, so we’ll have to attend till the Season 27 premiere for explanations.
What did you consider the Season 26 finale and the way it didn’t write out Velasco and Silva? Tell us within the feedback part beneath.
Legislation & Order: SVU, Season 27, Fall 2025, Thursdays, 9/8c, NBC