WARNING: SPOILERS ahead forLaw & Order: SVUseason 26, episode 12, “Calculated.”
This article contains references to sexual trafficking and exploitation of minors.
Law & Order: SVUseason 26, episode 12, “Calculated,” gives the character replacing Rollins (Kelli Giddish) a story that demonstrates that she should be more central. When a teacher catches a teenage boy with a nude photo on his phone, Silva (Juliana Aidén Martinez) initially complains to Benson (Mariska Hargitay) about having to investigate such a small crime. However, this incident soon points to one ofLaw & Order: SVU’s creepiest caseswhen the team discovers an admissions coach is tricking students into sending him nudes to sell to pedophiles across the country.
When the perp makes a deal with Carisi (Peter Scanavino) to expose many pedophiles engaged in similar activity, Silva is recruited to pretend to be a 14-year-old online to lure the offenders into a trap. However,Law & Order: SVU’s Silvais upset when the last one they arrest is an intellectually disabled man who has a mental age of 10 and becomes determined to get him released despite the evidence against him.
Silva Has Been Tragically Underused In Law & Order: SVU
Although Silva was hyped as an important new member ofBenson’s team inLaw & Order: SVUseason 26, she has barely had any screen time. After being introduced in theLaw & Order: SVUseason 26 premiere, Silva disappeared altogether for several episodes, and in many others, she has been little more than a background character. She is used so little that her name isn’t instantly recognizable. This is as bizarre as it is tragic, considering Silva is intended to be a replacement for Rollins.
Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Finally Starts To Justify Rollins' Replacement
Law & Order: SVU season 26, episode 10 finally did something with the character meant to replace Amanda Rollins, justifying her existence.
Silva’s recent appearances have demonstrated that she is an asset to the team, making it frustrating that she is so underused. In “Calculated,” she again shows her skill in developing rapport with younger victims when she offers support and comfort to a teenage girl with an angry mother. She also has great instincts, which is why she instantly is concerned when her online conversation with Matthew seems more like a child than the pedophiles the sting is supposed to catch.
Law & Order: SVU Season 26, Episode 12 Case Highlights Silva’s Importance To Benson’s Team
She Is The Only One Fighting For A Disabled Man’s Rights
Silva butts heads with the rest of the SVU team throughout “Calculated,” especially after she takes up Matthew’s cause. It’s clear she’s right about Matthew, however. He has a mental age of 10, only brings condoms to their meet-up because she tells him to, and asks her if the cops waiting to arrest him are other friends of hers who are joining them to hang out. Infuriatingly, throughout this episode ofLaw & Order: SVU,Silva’s teammates respond to all of her concerns by telling her SVU cases aren’t as straightforward as the homicide cases she used to work.
If not for Silva’s hard work despite all the opposition, Matthew would remain behind bars despite not understanding what he did wrong.
However, Silva doesn’t let her colleagues' dismissive attitude deter her. She demonstrates the same passion for justice as Benson does by working with both her and the family to get Matthew’s charges dropped so that he can go home. After she is successful,Matthew asks her to come over sometime to play Skyrim with him, highlighting that she was right about his innocence. However, if not for Silva’s hard work despite all the opposition, Matthew would remain behind bars despite not understanding what he did wrong.
Silva’s Developing Dynamic With Benson Is Good For Law & Order: SVU
Benson Is At Her Best Mentoring A New Cop
Silva goes to Benson for help getting Matthew’s case dismissed, yet she doesn’t trust her boss to take care of the situation. True to her word, Benson forces Carisi to help her track downLaw & Order’s Nicholas Baxter (Tony Goldwyn) and confronts him in the parking lot about the case.Silva seems surprised that Benson kept her wordand got the charges dropped. However, this incident likely proved to her that Benson can be trusted to do what she says she will do, which builds a foundation for an interesting dynamic between them.
Silva’s relationship with Benson offers the first opportunity for Benson to shine as a mentor in two years.
Benson’s strengths inLaw & Order: SVUinclude mentoring and encouraging others. She was starting to have an interesting dynamic in season 24 with Grace Muncy in which she attempted to rein in her subordinate’s impulsivity, but that ended when Molly Burnett’s character left the department. Thus, Silva’s relationship with Benson offers the first opportunity for the veteran SVU character to shine as a mentor. The new dynamic between Benson and Silva could lead to compelling conflicts, especially if they don’t share ideals, but ultimately, it’s safe to say that they will always work together to do the right thing.
