The Organized Crime Control Bureau says goodbye to a beloved member in Season 5, Episode 3, titled Paranza Dei Bambini, a term referring to young people caught up in a world of crime, suggesting that they are lured into that life by forces beyond their control.
(Spoilers ahead.)
ADA Dominick 'Sonny' Carisi (Peter Scanavino) is back, reprising his role from last season, where he works alongside Stabler on the first day of the Los Santos trial, the gang that was distributing fentanyl-laced cocaine. Carisi had previously told Stabler that while the fentanyl lab bust was a big get for the OC team, he would require a high-level witness to make his case. The “bossman” of the operation had died of fentanyl exposure during the bust, and his brother Carlo was overseeing their affairs.
Stabler convinced the bossman’s widow, Bryanna Pescador, to testify on her condition that he would keep her family safe through witness protection. Bryanna’s children are unhappy with the decision, only exacerbated when her daughter Kiki hears that Stabler was partly responsible for her father’s death. Bryanna’s son, Lucas, fired shots at the OC team members in the house, injuring Sgt. Bell, and forced Stabler to tackle Lucas, who suffered a head injury.
Subsequently, Stabler’s gun and badge were stripped as he was placed on suspension.
Nine months later, Carisi is told that his star witness, Bryanna, has recanted and is no longer willing to testify against her brother-in-law. Stabler suspects witness tampering, but both he and ADA Carisi know that would be a hard sell to the judge, considering they had no evidence.
Carlo asks to meet with Det. Stabler and alerts him to “a new player in town” who puts Carlo at risk.
Though the judge dismisses the case against Carlo, his freedom is short-lived when he is shot by a bailiff.
"Lost Highway” – LAW & ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME, Pictured: (l-r) Danielle Moné Truitt as Sgt. Ayanna Bell, Rick Gonzalez as Det. Bobby Reyes, Tate Ellington as Vargas, Ainsley Seiger as Jet. Photo: Virginia Sherwood/PEACOCK ©2024 PEACOCK. All Rights Reserved
Elliot’s time in Naples
Turns out we only needed to wait five years to see flashbacks of Elliot’s time in Naples, and seeing him with hair again seems strange! He possesses a fluency in Italian that we don’t often get to enjoy. If only we got to see him use those linguistic charms on Olivia Benson.
During the flashback, we also see Stabler’s dead wife, Kathy, as she prepares to make dinner without him. Fans will remember the heartbreaking conversation Elliot had at her grave in the season 4 finale.
During a raid, Stabler arrests Isabella Spezzano (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), who is caught murdering her husband, a Comorra (Italian mafia organization) member, and she eventually becomes his criminal informant. She cuts a deal to give up her brother, Rocco, in exchange for freedom, not in Italy, but in America.
Ayanna reminds Stabler that she and his brother Randall are closer than ever by mentioning his MRI appointment for the traumatic brain injury he suffered while rescuing Bunny in the season 5 premiere. He reiterates to Randall that he does not want his work and personal life to intersect, but we all know the OC team is a family, and family looks out for one another.
The OC team loses another member
That's why Bell shows up to see Jet, who isn’t ready to rejoin the team’s investigation following her attack in Season 5, Episode 2, Dante’s Inferno. She mentions a job offer from the FBI, and while she tells Ayanna that she turned it down, Bell rightfully says, “Obviously you’re still thinking about it.” Bell senses Jet’s hesitation to leave the team she’s worked alongside for the past 4 years and reassures her, “Jet, Stabler came to you because you’re the best at what you do. He asked you for a favor and you gave us four years. This is your first big job. And you knocked it out of the park. Sometimes you’ve got to find a new park and play a new game. It’s okay. You don’t have to stay for us. Do what you gotta do."
"Lost Highway” – LAW & ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME, Pictured: Ainsley Seiger as Jet. Photo: Virginia Sherwood/PEACOCK ©2024 PEACOCK. All Rights Reserved
When Stabler asks Reyes for a status update on Jet, he admits that the pair has broken up and he is worried about how she’s doing.
Jet clears her desk and begins her transition from the OC team. She and Stabler share a hug.
For the past 4 years, Jet has been loved by Organized Crime fans, and hopefully, Bell's words to Stabler: “She needs some time…I just hope she’s able to make her way back to us,” means that we haven’t seen the last of Jet Slootmaeker.
After Bryanna and her daughter Kiki are questioned by Bell and Reyes, they are the target of masked gunmen which ends with Bryanna dead and her daughter in surgery. Stabler attempts to apprehend the suspect, Fernando Russo, but he escapes by falling off the roof of the building to his death.
Meanwhile, while Randall is making his mother’s bed, he stumbles upon a ringing phone hidden away in the nightstand, showing a call from a restricted number. When he answers and hears no voice, he asks, “Joey?” but the phone call is ended.
Eli is gradually adjusting to his new career but a run-in between his father and his FTO leaves Eli the butt of a joke and he is teased as “baby Stabler” suggesting he cannot hold his own on the job and is being sheltered because of Elliot.
Elliot is returning home when he spots Eli and Becky doing the same. As Eli goes to unlock the door, two masked gunmen speed by the trio, firing multiple bullets.
Is anyone else suspicious of Isabella’s grandson, Roman Spezanno, because I got a vibe…
How did you feel about this episode? Do you think Elliot, Becky, or Eli was hit by any of those bullets?
Let me know below!
Law & Order: Organized Crime airs on Thursdays on Peacock.
