Smoked (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
Encyclopedia
"Smoked" is the 24th episode and season finale of the twelfth season
of the NBC
legal drama
, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
, and the 272nd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 18, 2011. Promotional materials for the episode described it as "one that's not about a murder for hire or a raid; but an episode that brings down the house."
), Detectives Olivia Benson
and Elliot Stabler
are called in because she was scheduled to testify in their high-profile rape
case. As the detectives continue to investigate the correlation between the murder and their case, they discover unlikely friendships that will lead them to the truth. Unfortunately, as their investigation gets closer to the truth, it will put everyone at the precinct in jeopardy.
Once they get the suspects in custody, there is a shootout in the Special Victims squad room as the murder victim's daughter, Jenna Fox, came in shooting with a gun she got off the street. She shoots the suspects in the holding cell, and she shoots social worker Sister Peg (Charlayne Woodard
), killing her. Stabler is forced to shoot Jenna, and she dies in his arms.
"Smoked" was written by Jonathan Grenee and Daniel Truly, and directed by Helen Shaver
. This was the last episode to be produced under the direction of show runner Neal Baer
, who departed the show to make a three-year deal with CBS
. Baer will be replaced by former Law & Order: Criminal Intent
executive producer-show runner Warren Leight
.
This episode was the first episode to only feature Christopher Meloni
, Mariska Hargitay
, and Ice-T
; the other members of the cast were absent from this episode. Only a week after this episode aired it was announced Christopher Meloni would be leaving the show, unable to come to terms with his contract. Days earlier, Mariska Hargitay asked for a lighter workload; she will continue her role as Detective Benson for thirteen episodes next season
before her character is promoted to a supervisory role. B.D. Wong, who was absent from this episode, departed the cast as well to work on the new NBC
drama Awake
.
Neal Baer told Michael Ausiello
when asked about the 12th season finale; "We go out with a bang," he enthused. "It's my last episode for SVU—I'm leaving after 11 years to go to CBS—and it leaves us with a death; it leaves us with one of our beloved characters doing something that will change the way they see being a cop; and since I'm a [doctor], I get to rag on cigarettes, so that's terrific!" The month before Ausiello hinted that there would be a fatality on the show. At the start of 2011 when SVUs future was in the air, Baer had to say on Hargitay and Meloni's status on returning with the show: "They're the longest running drama duo in TV history," Baer continues, "and I think [they'll be around] as long as they can keep playing new angles within the parameters of the show." And as the credits showed that Baer did not write "Smoked", he commented; "I don't have plans to write some farewell show,” he laughed. "It will just be a really good, twisty, turny and hopefully memorable episode."
Until "Smoked", actress Charlayne Woodard
had not portrayed the Sister Peg character on SVU since the eighth season
episode "Underbelly", where a fourteen-year-old girl who was brutally beaten, raped, and killed shared the same dog paw tattoo as two other young female homicide victims.
that night and beat out Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
on CBS
which drew approximately 8.26 million total viewers and had a 2.0/5% share in the 18–49 demographic. Users at TV.com
rate the episode 7.8/10, their reviews mixed.
Dani Mari of DaemonsTV.com generally reviewed "Smoked" positively, "The one thing I had a problem with this episode was the involvement of the ATF. I am not sure how it helped the storyline with the exception of adding yet one more person that contributed to Nanette’s death. Additionally, it was a bit farfetched that the ATF would let Stabler, a New York SVU detective, take a lead role in a sting operation over two years old and worth millions of dollars."
Lucy Tonic of Yahoo felt differently about this episode, "'Smoked' ends with chaos in the precinct, resulting from a literal smoking gun, yet it's unfortunate that writers tried to introduce the issue of America's gun problem within the last ten minutes of the episode. Sadly, the conclusion of Law & Order: SVU Season 12 was predictable and more dramatized than needed."
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 12)
The 12th season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit premiered on September 22, 2010 on NBC and concluded on May 18, 2011. The timeslot was moved from 10 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the NBC broadcast in 2010...
of the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
legal drama
Legal drama
A legal drama is a work of dramatic fiction about crime and civil litigation. Subtypes of legal dramas include courtroom dramas and legal thrillers, and come in all forms, including novels, television shows, and films. Legal drama sometimes overlap with crime drama, most notably in the case of Law...
, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
, and the 272nd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 18, 2011. Promotional materials for the episode described it as "one that's not about a murder for hire or a raid; but an episode that brings down the house."
Plot summary
When a woman is murdered during an afternoon shopping trip with her daughter Jenna (Hayley McFarlandHayley McFarland
Hayley McFarland is an American actress, singer, and dancer. She recently portrayed the character Emily Lightman on the television program, Lie to Me.-Biography:...
), Detectives Olivia Benson
Olivia Benson
Det. Olivia "Liv" Benson is a fictional character on the NBC police procedural drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Mariska Hargitay. She is the former partner of Elliot Stabler. In Season 13, her partner will be Nick Amaro...
and Elliot Stabler
Elliot Stabler
Det. Elliot "El" Stabler is a fictional character on the TV crime drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Christopher Meloni. He was the partner of Olivia Benson before retiring, following a shooting.-Character overview:...
are called in because she was scheduled to testify in their high-profile rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
case. As the detectives continue to investigate the correlation between the murder and their case, they discover unlikely friendships that will lead them to the truth. Unfortunately, as their investigation gets closer to the truth, it will put everyone at the precinct in jeopardy.
Once they get the suspects in custody, there is a shootout in the Special Victims squad room as the murder victim's daughter, Jenna Fox, came in shooting with a gun she got off the street. She shoots the suspects in the holding cell, and she shoots social worker Sister Peg (Charlayne Woodard
Charlayne Woodard
Charlaine "Charlayne" Woodard is an American film, stage and television actress and playwright. She has written four plays, titled Pretty Fire, Neat, In Real Life, which she starred in, and "Flight"....
), killing her. Stabler is forced to shoot Jenna, and she dies in his arms.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Christopher Meloni Christopher Meloni Christopher Peter Meloni is an American actor. He is best known for his television roles as NYPD Detective Elliot Stabler on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and as inmate Chris Keller on the HBO prison drama Oz.-Early life:Meloni was born the youngest of three children in... |
Det. Elliot Stabler Elliot Stabler Det. Elliot "El" Stabler is a fictional character on the TV crime drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Christopher Meloni. He was the partner of Olivia Benson before retiring, following a shooting.-Character overview:... |
| Mariska Hargitay Mariska Hargitay Mariska Hargitay is an American actress, best known for her role as New York City sex crimes Detective Olivia Benson on the NBC television drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role that has earned her multiple awards and nominations, including an Emmy and Golden Globe.The daughter of actress... |
Det. Olivia Benson Olivia Benson Det. Olivia "Liv" Benson is a fictional character on the NBC police procedural drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Mariska Hargitay. She is the former partner of Elliot Stabler. In Season 13, her partner will be Nick Amaro... |
| Richard Belzer Richard Belzer Richard Jay Belzer is an American stand-up comedian, author, and actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as John Munch, which he has portrayed as a regular cast member on the NBC police drama series Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as in guest... |
Sgt. John Munch John Munch Sergeant John Munch is a fictional character played by actor Richard Belzer. Munch first appeared on Homicide: Life on the Street. Upon that series' cancellation, the character was transplanted to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the first spin-off of the Law & Order franchise... (absent) |
| Ice-T ICE-T * Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains... |
Det. Odafin Tutuola Fin Tutuola Det. Odafin "Fin" Tutuola is a fictional character and protagonist on the TV drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, played by Ice-T.The character's name is taken from the book The Palm Wine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola, a member of the Yoruba people of Nigeria... |
| B.D. Wong B.D. Wong Bradley Darryl "BD" Wong is an American actor, best-known for his roles as Dr. George Huang on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as Father Ray Mukada on HBO's Oz, Henry Wu in the movie Jurassic Park, and for his starring role as Song Liling in the Broadway production of M... |
Dr. George Huang George Huang (Law & Order) Special Agent George Huang, M.D. is a fictional character on the TV drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He is portrayed by B. D. Wong.-Character overview:... (absent) |
| Tamara Tunie Tamara Tunie Tamara Renee Tunie is an American actress. She is best known for her portrayal of attorney Jessica Griffin on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, and medical examiner Melinda Warner on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit... |
Dr. Melinda Warner Melinda Warner Dr. Melinda Warner is a fictional character on the show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, played by Tamara Tunie. Tunie was originally a recurring cast member until she was added to the main credits in season 7. She became a recurring cast member again in season 13.-Character overview:As the... (absent) |
| Dann Florek Dann Florek Ezekial Dann Florek , professional name Dann Florek, is an American actor and director.-Early life:Florek was born in Flat Rock, Michigan. He attended Eastern Michigan University, but never graduated... |
Capt. Don Cragen Donald Cragen Donald "Don" Cragen is a fictional character in the police procedural and legal drama television series Law & Order and its spinoff Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, played by Dann Florek.-Character appearances:... (absent) |
Production
Helen Shaver
Helen Shaver is a Canadian actress and film and television director.-Early life:Shaver was born and raised in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, a small city located near London, Ontario, with five sisters...
. This was the last episode to be produced under the direction of show runner Neal Baer
Neal Baer
Neal Baer, MD is an American pediatrician and television writer and producer. He is best known for his work on the television shows ER and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Education:...
, who departed the show to make a three-year deal with CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. Baer will be replaced by former Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama...
executive producer-show runner Warren Leight
Warren Leight
Warren Leight is an American playwright, screenwriter, film director and television producer. He is best known for his work on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Lights Out and the showrunner for In Treatment and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit....
.
This episode was the first episode to only feature Christopher Meloni
Christopher Meloni
Christopher Peter Meloni is an American actor. He is best known for his television roles as NYPD Detective Elliot Stabler on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and as inmate Chris Keller on the HBO prison drama Oz.-Early life:Meloni was born the youngest of three children in...
, Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hargitay is an American actress, best known for her role as New York City sex crimes Detective Olivia Benson on the NBC television drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role that has earned her multiple awards and nominations, including an Emmy and Golden Globe.The daughter of actress...
, and Ice-T
ICE-T
* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...
; the other members of the cast were absent from this episode. Only a week after this episode aired it was announced Christopher Meloni would be leaving the show, unable to come to terms with his contract. Days earlier, Mariska Hargitay asked for a lighter workload; she will continue her role as Detective Benson for thirteen episodes next season
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 13)
The 13th season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit debuted on September 21, 2011 on NBC.This season Law & Order: SVU will be broadcast without any other running U.S. Law & Order series...
before her character is promoted to a supervisory role. B.D. Wong, who was absent from this episode, departed the cast as well to work on the new NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
drama Awake
Awake (TV series)
Awake is an upcoming science fiction crime drama television series that will air on NBC starring Jason Isaacs. On May 16, 2011, NBC announced that the show would serve as a midseason replacement during the 2011–12 television season...
.
Neal Baer told Michael Ausiello
Michael Ausiello
Michael Ausiello is an American television industry journalist and actor. He was a Senior Writer at TV Guide and its companion website, TVGuide.com. On May 28, 2008, Ausiello left TV Guide for Entertainment Weekly and posted his first blog for Entertainment Weekly on July 2, 2008...
when asked about the 12th season finale; "We go out with a bang," he enthused. "It's my last episode for SVU—I'm leaving after 11 years to go to CBS—and it leaves us with a death; it leaves us with one of our beloved characters doing something that will change the way they see being a cop; and since I'm a [doctor], I get to rag on cigarettes, so that's terrific!" The month before Ausiello hinted that there would be a fatality on the show. At the start of 2011 when SVUs future was in the air, Baer had to say on Hargitay and Meloni's status on returning with the show: "They're the longest running drama duo in TV history," Baer continues, "and I think [they'll be around] as long as they can keep playing new angles within the parameters of the show." And as the credits showed that Baer did not write "Smoked", he commented; "I don't have plans to write some farewell show,” he laughed. "It will just be a really good, twisty, turny and hopefully memorable episode."
Until "Smoked", actress Charlayne Woodard
Charlayne Woodard
Charlaine "Charlayne" Woodard is an American film, stage and television actress and playwright. She has written four plays, titled Pretty Fire, Neat, In Real Life, which she starred in, and "Flight"....
had not portrayed the Sister Peg character on SVU since the eighth season
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 8)
This article contains a list of episodes for season 8 of the television series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Cast:*Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler*Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson*Richard Belzer as Det. John Munch...
episode "Underbelly", where a fourteen-year-old girl who was brutally beaten, raped, and killed shared the same dog paw tattoo as two other young female homicide victims.
Reception
In its original American broadcast on May 18, 2011; "Smoked" was approximately viewed by an estimated 8.98 million households with a 2.9 rating/7% share in the 18–49 demographic. SVU was the highest rated program on NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
that night and beat out Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior was an American police procedural drama on CBS. The show debuted in 2011 as a spin-off from the successful Criminal Minds, which premiered in 2005. This edition's profiling team also works for the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Behavioral Analysis Unit in...
on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
which drew approximately 8.26 million total viewers and had a 2.0/5% share in the 18–49 demographic. Users at TV.com
TV.com
TV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...
rate the episode 7.8/10, their reviews mixed.
Dani Mari of DaemonsTV.com generally reviewed "Smoked" positively, "The one thing I had a problem with this episode was the involvement of the ATF. I am not sure how it helped the storyline with the exception of adding yet one more person that contributed to Nanette’s death. Additionally, it was a bit farfetched that the ATF would let Stabler, a New York SVU detective, take a lead role in a sting operation over two years old and worth millions of dollars."
Lucy Tonic of Yahoo felt differently about this episode, "'Smoked' ends with chaos in the precinct, resulting from a literal smoking gun, yet it's unfortunate that writers tried to introduce the issue of America's gun problem within the last ten minutes of the episode. Sadly, the conclusion of Law & Order: SVU Season 12 was predictable and more dramatized than needed."