Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Ep. 10 Review: "The Return of a Stabler"

Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10 dives into the aftermath of Joey Stabler’s death in Episode 9 and, while doing so, closes out the season in style…even if it’s on a sad note. Featuring the types of remarkable performances and emotional moments this series is known for, ‘He Was a Stabler’ is a strong season finale. Although, admittedly, the particularly dark path this hour sends Elliot Stabler down can, at times, be difficult to reconcile with the modern-day version of the character. In fact, there are a couple of moves he makes on his quest for vengeance that, frankly, had me wondering if I’d tuned into some parallel universe where Christopher Meloni was cast as Chicago P.D. ‘s Hank Voight. But, thankfully, El has just enough people keeping him just enough in check in this hour that he doesn’t completely lose himself forever.

Additionally, although “grief-strick Elliot Stabler does a ton of out of character stuff” is certainly ground we’ve covered before, Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10 still manages to feel like an entirely separate journey. There are a lot of subtle differences we could talk about there, but the one, major change is Elliot himself. He does open up to McKenna in that diner, and he doesn’t tell anyone who cares about him to “back off” (still mad about that one). Essentially, there’s no pushing people away for the sake of pushing them away and further isolating himself. Instead, he leans on those he can in the only way he’ll let himself — by asking for their help with the work. So, there’s still evidence of character growth — even in a place that may feel, and even be, a bit of a backslide.

And that, combined with (eventually) having our team back together, the personal beats this series does so well, and — it can’t be stressed enough — the performance quality, is what makes this season finale work. Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10 does all of the above while also letting Joey be the hero he spent so much time trying so hard to be that he fooled everyone into thinking he really was double-crossing his brother. It’s that last part that might just elevate the episode from “eh, good but I was concerned in places” to something much more special. If nothing else, it’s a little bit of kindness, a little bit of comfort, after so much pain.

MORE: Now that it’s over, what did everyone think of Season 5? For me, Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 8 and Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 2 were probably the strongest episodes.

“Good to have you back.”

After a few episodes that were good, yet lacking one very important thing — the team — Sergeant Bell’s upbeat call out to “Bobby!” to tell him how it’s good to have him back basically had me like “yes. Same. And also, good to have Bell back!!!!!” In spite of Stabler’s very dark turn into UnStabler territory that takes up most of this finale, Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10 feels far more like an actual Organized Crime episode, simply because these two are here. But that doesn’t mean it’s all sunshine and roses. (How could it be?) In fact, some of this finale’s best moments happen to be those where Ayanna and Bobby are at odds.

I’d obviously prefer it if Joey never died — or, at the very least, if the team had been together all along. However, with that being said, there’s something very smart about the way the arc uses the lack of Bell and Reyes, followed by first putting Elliot back in touch with Bobby, and only way later having him actually be able to come to Ayanna. I don’t believe Elliot could’ve ever sunk so low as to going full Eddie Ashes on Vincent Mathis if things were normal. There’s also a very real possibility that, without Reyes kind of gently prodding him the whole time they’re sneaking around, he might not have showed whatever tiny bit of restraint he did along the way.

And, well. To jump ahead, without Ayanna right there , staring back at an oh-so-emotional Elliot as he has Emery in his sights, giving him that tiny nod, I’m not sure he would’ve lowered the gun without firing it. (I mean, just look at the Stabler family track record on shootings.) As always, Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10 reminds us that Bell is the best partner.

MORE: Reyes was definitely better at lying to Los Santos in Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 4 than is at lying to Bell in this finale.

“ What were you doing?”

But back to Bell and Reyes.

Although everything I’ve ever said about Bell and Stabler’s partnership being the best is true, that doesn’t mean everyone from Stabler, to Reyes, and even Vargas isn’t going to be in some big trouble after the events of Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10. It also doesn’t mean that Bell can’t read Reyes like a book — especially when he’s being so painfully obvious. Once Bobby starts his very reluctant participation in Elliot and Tim’s vigilante justice (if we can even call it that), he is basically a walking red flag. That guilt and discomfort is eating him up, to the point where no matter how much he tries to sneak around, and no matter what kind of lie he tries to tell, he’s not fooling anybody. Least of all Bell.

Considering Reyes is someone whose life depends on being a smooth liar whenever he goes undercover, it’s a choice — and a very good one — for Rick Gonzalez to make Bobby such a terrible actor here. When Bell sits on his desk and asks a very pointed question about not hearing from Stabler; Reyes unconvincingly says something about Stabler having “a lot on his plate.” At that point, Ayanna’s words are all about concern for Elliot and simply asking Bobby if he’s heard from the guy. But, uh, her face is basically screaming, “now, I know something’s up and you’re lying. So spill.” And Reyes looks…we’ll call it caught . To say the least.

(Side note: “AWOL is not his vibe”? Really? Olivia Benson would like about a decade’s worth of words.)

Basically, when Reyes is stumbling his way through making up excuses and stories, he also fails so hard at controlling his “oh, sh—” and “deer in headlights” reactions to Bell’s questions. And that sort of tension, of being on opposite sides of a game of deception that nobody’s winning, builds with each interaction. It’s actually one of the most interesting things about Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10. The next time we visit the team and see how suspicious Bell is, Vargas is just sneaking back in — anxiously, I might add — from his meeting with Stabler. Put that together with Reyes trying (unsuccessfully) to keep a phone call a secret from Bell, and if her suspicions were simmering before, they’re now working up to a boil.

Once again, Danielle Moné Truitt gives us all these subtle, yet very telling, indicators that Ayanna knows far more than she’s letting on. Here, Ayanna looks suspicious as she moves through the scene…and comes across as almost bored with Bobby’s bad lie about talking to his C.I. So, she very, very pointedly asks (again) if her detective has talked to Stabler. And when Reyes looks…eh, essentially like a child caught lying about the non-existent dog eating the homework he never did, Truitt takes just the right amount of time to pause before she delivers Bell’s warning — again, subtle, and without actually coming right out and saying she knows something’s up — to Reyes.

Truitt and Gonzalez show so much emotion there, with so little time and (probably only seemingly) so little effort. It’s painfully easy to see how worried both of their characters are about Elliot, but they also give us a lot of information about where the characters are with each other. Bobby obviously feels bad about all the lying, while Ayanna’s…conflicted. Because, sure, she’s the boss. But she also just gets it. So, she lets all that lying go. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t visibly disappointed.

But a personal favorite moment — and probably the favorite for a lot of viewers — is when Bell has finally had enough of pretending to play the fool while all the foolery unfolds around her. Truitt is so much fun as a Sergeant Bell, fully in boss mode, who’s well and truly done with the games. Absolutely loved everything about the way she delivers all those lines, especially the “you know what? Nevermind. I don’t think I can stomach you coming up with some bullish — cover. I know you’ve been helping Stabler. You too, Reyes .” Something about the way she holds that hand out and moves it around on the “stomach it” part of all that, the tone of voice when Bell addresses Reyes, and the way she tilts her head just so — and the even deeper tilt when Stabler comes in, stuttering about consequences — is just way, way too real.

Admittedly, it’s a little bit overly convenient that Elliot comes in right in the middle of Bell finally letting the other two guys have it. (Though, he most definitely deserves that look the boss gives him at the time.) But Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10 has a number of those “saved by the bell” moments that, from a TV standpoint, at least make the transitions work smoothly. With so much going on, it’s a good enough way to switch between different parts of the story. Some of those “oops! Got a phone call” or “oops! Here comes Elliot” moments are a little bit more convenient than others. But at least here, during this spectacular scene, we get everyone back together in one place…

…and Elliot back to his senses after spending most of the finale being a total mess. Bonus: He shows up just in time for Bell to already be in the middle of handing everyone their you-know-whats, so he gets his much-deserved talking-to at the same time instead of in the middle of all the tough stuff that comes next. (Or, worse, never.)

MORE: This team has had too many changes in Season 5. We still can’t believe we lost Jet in Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 3 .

“…in a very bad situation…”

So, let’s talk about the journey Detective Stabler goes on in this season finale. First off, the person we see at the very beginning — and, indeed, for much of hour — is almost unrecognizable. As I mentioned in the intro, it was very much giving the type of “ends justify the means,” totally-unethical type of stuff Hank Voight gets up to on a regular basis. When Elliot is threatening Mathis, so much of what we see is this utterly cold, detached, practiced calm that might scare even him . And yet, while Meloni gives us all of that, the terrible amount of pain Ellliot’s in still makes an appearance. Even in the most soulless acts, that soul creeps in from time to time.

Take, for example, when El tells his hostage he doesn’t want to be here. It’s genuine, and raw, and just sad . Of course, that…is all right before he’s right back to his calculated, matter-of-fact, emotionless threats when he lights that match.

Later, when Stabler and McKenna try to pay Tony Yared a visit and one of his guys tries to take a swing at Elliot, the reaction is pure instinct. It’s easy. Quick. When Yared refuses to answer his questions and says he can “eat sh—” instead, the kick is casual. Just there. Something easy to fall back on, muscle memory from the “poster boy for rage” days. It’s only when the other man claims not to know Emery that the passion comes out — and that’s when it’s well and truly rage. Deadly, terrifying, rage. Needless to say, all of this is difficult to watch, especially knowing how much Elliot Stabler had grown and changed prior to Joey’s murder.

But Meloni does such a good job of showing us that this feels like an out of character Elliot Stabler because he is out of character — out of body, almost — that it’s almost easy to be like “Elliot, WTF” and move on. Almost. Some “Elliot Stabler, WTAF are you doing” moments in Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10 are…too much for me.

Why? Well. Here’s a thing I said when we first met McKenna back in Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 6 : “If it doesn’t upset you that a cop would use a child against his mother…like that, ask yourself why . And, for what it’s worth, Elliot Stabler knows better .” Guess I have to repeat myself here because, seriously, bluffing or not, all of the above applies to Elliot scaring Emery’s ex and child like that. Weirdly, McKenna seems to be the one who’s willing to go down this path of terrible policing with Elliot — but hints, gently, at urging caution here and there. And one of the main times he does that is just before going to see Allegra and Giles.

There’s something sacred about Elliot Stabler and kids, the way he’s always managed to be so gentle and caring with them, even in the midst of some of his less-admirable moments. It’s just as Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10 is about to damage that long-loved El/kids dynamic forever that the hour finally takes a turn. Stabler and McKenna may have Emery telling his son he’ll “be fine in life” while basically saying goodbye. Them having these conversations in front of Giles at all may be horrifying. But. Elliot just can’t help himself from directly comforting the boy on his way out, telling him his dad’s also working to get back to him. In a twisted sort of way, given the deal Emery nearly makes for himself by the end of this finale, that’s sort of true.

Ultimately, Elliot’s own family that wakes him back up. Not instantly, no. But when Elliot goes to meet with Randall, and Randall tells him off (in a fantastic turn for Dean Norris), the character is the most himself he’s been the whole hour up until that point. And his previously almost soulless determination…slips. Meloni makes a show of Elliot having to force that mask back into place before going through with the aforementioned visit to Giles and Allegra. Later, it’s that phone call from Randall about Joey’s NYPD application that well and truly forces a lot of emotion back in — and makes the task of snapping back into all-business mode that much more difficult.

Arguably, it’s what makes him finally see some sense and listen when McKenna suggests getting backup for the final confrontation. From there on out, Meloni fully becomes the Elliot Stabler we know again. And, of course, that explosion when Emery’s on the verge of slipping through Elliot’s fingers, his brother’s murder written off as “just some collar,” is one of the most overtly, powerfully emotional bits in the entire finale. The outright anger is a dark emotion, but to borrow Elliot’s metaphor from the vulnerable, honest confession during the diner scene, the lights are back on here. Elliot’s in there; he’s just hurting. And, in fact, even when it seemed like his soul had left him for so much of Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10, there were tiny embers, just waiting for something to help them ignite all along.

MORE: Definitely perfer the Elliot who immediately “adopted” the little girl in the Organized Crime Season 5 premiere .

“Let it play out, huh? This is what happens.”

No discussion of Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10 would be complete without taking a little bit of time to discuss Emery himself. In the first place, while I don’t want what sliver of justice we were ultimately able to carve out here to vanish, I will miss having Tom Payne’s performance as such a joyfully evil, arrogant villain to look forward to. Payne was fantastic in Season 4, and despite his return feeling a little rushed at times, he’s been just as good in Season 5. And in this finale, that final race to catch him was so well done. The snow, the trenchoat blowing around him as he used his “business partners” as shields while trying to slip away one more time…it’s like straight out of a superhero film. Love it.

Something about the buildup to Emery’s undoing, the few scenes of the man about to lose it all — and knowing he was desperate to salvage his deals — indicated this fight to the finish was going to be different, though. When he learns that Stabler and McKenna are paying his ex and his son a visit, his deranged smile as he chuckles over the name Stabler indicates a true unraveling. This might just be the first time Elliot has gotten ahead of the other man, and as he hears, through the phone, that the cop he’s been playing all this time — and whose brother he just murdered — is a changed man, that usual arrogance gets replaced with some real, true concern. Especially for the kid.

But then…we have the scenes in that interrogation room. Payne and Meloni are so good together, I’m again going to have to say I wish there was a believable way to keep Payne here forever. Payne plays Emery so smug, as cool and collected as ever, in that first scene. We probably should’ve known, between that and all the orders to bring Emery in alive , that he knew something Elliot didn’t. And indeed. Just as I was beginning to think something was up, here came the feds ruining everything for Elliot. (And let’s just applaud Meloni’s explosion with the “HE KILLED MY BROTHER” scene here, yet again.)

When Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10 brings Elliot back into that room, though, it’s now him with all the knowledge — and Emery who gets caught unawares. Emery’s so gleeful there, thinking he gets to rub salt in Detective Stabler’s wounds. The lighting in the scene is particularly interesting — and is so vital to the storytelling throughout this finale. We begin with a bright spotlight on the Big Bad while he thinks he’s won, while he’s lit from within by the thrill of victory. But then, as Elliot gets to deliver the news, the doubts begin to work their way into Payne’s eyes, and the light doesn’t feel quite as bright…And, after the realization fully dawns on Emery that he’s been defeated, that glow’s utterly gone. Door closed. A shadow falls.

What a way to bring that iconic villain’s delicious devilry to a close.

MORE: Tom Payne really has been such a phenomenal “Red Coat.”

More on Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10

• I love that very first shot of Elliot, looking out over his city. Not only is it beautifully shot, but we pretty much instantly see just how sad and utterly lost the character is. It’s even more devastating when you pair it with the little scene at the end.
• “I’m not telling you sh— cause you’re not gonna do sh—. You can’t. You’re a copper.” Tell me you’ve never met the NYPD, or really any real-life cops, without telling me.
• …then again, he’s a white dude so.
• “Vincent Mathis. You’ve been doing this kind of work for a very long time. You’re a dangerous man. Been around. Seen things. Done things…” Just the way Meloni unzips that jacket…oh, we’re in for some hurt -hurt.
• “…the F— is wrong with you” indeed . ELLIOT STABLER WTF.
• Alternate episode title, actually: Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10 ‘ELLIOT WTF.’
• “…going kitchen sink on this, but so far, I got bupkis.” Vargas, dropping the same Yiddish word as Penelope Garcia ( Criminal Minds: Evolution ) this week! This was done for me, personally!
• “He must really be hurting. ‘Cause that’s not like him.” Uh. Wait until you see how “not like him” he is right now.
• Truitt and Gonzalez did a really great job with that little exchange at the beginning, though. So much caution and delicately showing concern for Elliot without actually saying, like, “yes, I’m worried about him.” But we know .
• …and then, Bell not only jumps right back into business mode when Tanner shows up but also, um. How do I put this? She’s not to be F—ed with when it comes to Elliot. I’ll go with that. Because, uh…
• “ Non -lethal force only. Understood?” “Understood.” And like, the way Truitt delivers that one-word response, and the little bit of narrowed eyes, is very much like “but why are you giving me orders?” And then: “One other thing. I’m just gonna ask this straight up. Is Stabler gonna steer clear of this one?” “He’ll be fine,” with that forced smile . (It…is not a smile.)
• I, too, would turn down light frosting on donuts.
• REYES’ FACE WHEN HE SEES WHO’S IN THAT BACKSEAT. AND THE SCOFF.
• “What are you doing???” A QUESTION.
• It’s both his reaction to seeing McKenna there — and the way he shakes his head before asking what Stabler needs — for me. Very much “WTF am I getting myself into, but F—, I have to.”
• No but seriously, when McKenna talks again, and Reyes raises that one eyebrow…very much “you talking to me? F— off.” LOVE. IT.
• “12 years at SVU, worst part of the job was knocking on that door.” Heartbreaking: Organized Crime has caught onto Suits’ trend of making “12 years” meaningless.
• But on a more serious note: “Yeah, telling the family their loved ones weren’t coming home. When they were finally able to look at you, the light’s gone. The light in their eyes, it’s vanished. Like…their soul’s left their body, you know? And you’re the one who’s killed them…I haven’t, uh, told my mother about Joey.” Just…Meloni. Is so good. I can’t. It’s like Stabler’s own light is gone in the moment. I really loved the little gesture with his hands, as well as the long pause before admitting he hasn’t told his mom.
• So much emotion, too! Those red, red eyes from a sleepless night AND all that pain he can’t tap into. You also get a sense he’s lost, just…looking back over all those years, while lost in his current misery…
• “What you’re planning on doing, I’m with you. But you got to know, revenge doesn’t bring light, just a different kind of darkness.” Beautiful writing. We also know, from our first meeting with McKenna, that this is, uh, coming from experience.
• These two bozos holding up their badges at the same time would be funny if it weren’t for, you know, everything else.
• “I am going to rip this ear right off of your head.” Hm. Yeah, ok. I believe him. The raw power in the way he’s squeezing that thing…ELLIOT WTF.
• Gorgeous use of light and shadow: Reyes in front of that industrial fan. He’s down in the darkness with his boy right now. Love me some imagery.
• “What the he—’s wrong with you? Our brother’s dead, and you just disappear, leaving me to keep the family together on my own?” Wait until he hears about little brother Elliot’s other disappearing act.
• “Take it down a notch.” Love Norris’ QUICK and forceful cut in with the “F— that!” (And I agree with Randall.)
• “I’m working on something.” And then, the most disgusted sound of disgust ever.
• Someone please hug Randall. The sadness in Norris’ eyes when his character’s telling Elliot not to go after Emery, that Joey wouldn’t want it… ouch .
• Montauk? Did they sell the other beach house or.
• I mean, I know the feeling of wanting to hurl your phone at a wall like that. Some of us can’t afford to replace them as often as Emery can, though.
• “Kyle, this is all I have left of my brother. Please do this for me.” Dear Lord, Meloni sells this. Like, I want to say something about Elliot being an emotionally manipulative MF here, but…can’t. There’s just too much sadness; he really, really is just being open and honest.
• From perky Randall, pretending everything’s good…to totally deflated when Bernie mentions Joey. SOMEONE HUG HIM.
• Hi. Friends. Ellen Burstyn? A GIFT.
• “It’s admirable to reach down and lend a helping hand to your fellow officer. But don’t let him pull you into the deep end along with him.” I would die for her.
• “The rice is still warm.” “Yeah? That an exact science?” Yes, actually.
• That mirror shot, though. TAKE A LONG, HARD LOOK AT YOURSELF, ELLIOT. WTAF ARE YOU DOING.
• “Can you imagine being without your mom, too? It’d be awful, right?” WHAT ARE YOU DOING ELLIOT F—ING STABLER.
• The grin on Stabler’s face when he goes over to the phone and just smugly , like a real S.O.B. (not saying this fondly this time), starts talking into the phone…
• So many little expressions from Meloni in that car. El’s breaking, losing that protective shell of anger and hate. Bit by bit.
• “Save it.” I LOVE HER.
• “Now, we can sit here and discuss all the ways that I F—ed up, or we can get after Emery.” El. Babe. Exactly zero networks, streamers, podcasts, or otherwise are going to give you enough episodes to discuss all the ways you’ve F—ed up.
• That hand to Elliot’s chest, asking him if his head’s on straight though.
• “Turn around. Look at me. LOOK AT ME!” He is so…there is SO. MUCH. “VENGEANCE IS MINE” in this man’s eyes.
• Thank you, Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10, for letting Bell roar a “freeze a—hole.”
• “The choice was taken from me.”
• God. The pleasant way Emery says everything, even when he’s saying he “forgot that bit” re: murdering Joey .
• “HE KILLED MY BROTHER! HOW MUCH MISERY HAS HE BROUGHT INTO THIS WORLD? HOW MANY PEOPLE HAS HE KILLED? AND YOU WANT TO LET HIM WALK?”
• Bell looks about as sick as I am from that.
• “Let it play out, huh? This is what happens.” Right at Bell, who looks awful after he leaves. I’ve missed her so much. But OUCH.
• “And then, we shake the devil’s hand and hand him a cigar.” That tone is very “F— you.” Love that for me.
• “You are a glutton for punishment, Detective Stabler.” Heartbreaking: The worst person you know just made a great point. (And the lowest low blow by bringing up Joey.)
• “It turns out that my, uh, worthless wretch of a brother was actually working against you over the last six months.” The way he struggled to call Joey that, even as a way of throwing it in Emery’s face.
• “Because whatever my brother’s problems were, he was a Stabler. And he just put your a— away for the rest of your life.” In which I cried too much and needed to pause.
• “I learned recently my brother Joey wanted to be a cop. [But] I think the choices he made in life got in the way of that. Today, he was a cop.” THAT TINY BITTERSWEET SMILE. SHUTUP.
• PAIN.
• The whole scene where Elliot tells Bernie — without actually telling her — has got to be one of the most achingly human things I’ve seen on TV. A mother knows. Elliot didn’t actually have to say it; he just needed to confirm it by not denying it. Absolutely heartbreaking work from Burstyn (a gift ) and Meloni. Just insane talents, the both of them.
• After the diner scene, there’s also something very poignant about Elliot not actually notifying Bernie. He neither knocks on the door nor actually tells her because, despite knowing he also can’t keep lying, he just… can’t do the thing.
• “For Joey? What — what kind of ceremony?” Like, he can’t even look at her? And wow, so much emotion on Burstyn. All this from her, while Meloni’s keeping Elliot gripping tightly on whatever control over himself he can get.
• “She has great moments. This is one of them.”
• “You know, you boys used to always ask me who was my favorite. In my mind, it just always seemed to me that that my favorite was the one who needed me the most, you know? And — Joey’s cry was the loudest.” Hm. Yep. Ugly crying again.
• “Look at all those lights. God, what a beautiful city. To Joey.”
• …and to Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5.
• What an awful, gutting note to end on…but great finale.

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 10 ‘He Was a Stabler’? Leave us a comment!

All 10 episodes of Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 are now streaming on Peacock .