This week’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit delivered a specific message to its viewers, raising awareness of suicide among police officers and sexual assault victims. The story brought back Captain Olivia Benson‘s ex-boyfriend Ed Tucker, played by guest star John Burke. Unfortunately, the episode came to a tragic end, leaving fans at home shocked.
“The Longest Night of Rain” began with a party, as Tucker invited Benson (Mariska Hargitay) to his retirement party. There, she learned Tucker got married and was prepared to start a new life outside internal affairs. However, things took a turn when former officer Rachel Wilson (Holly Robinson Pete) arrived and accused Tucker of ignoring her rape report. Afterward, Wilson went back to her car and took her own life.
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I’m seriously bawling right now!! 💔💔😭😭 It’s like Elliot and Olivia… But not as painful. I loved Tuckson… But my all time favorite of course My favorite is always #Bensler 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯 pic.twitter.com/pOQbni9HFo
— 🖤🐅 -Ash- 🐅🖤 (@TeamLopeOnBB) January 31, 2020
Investigating Rachel’s case brought Benson and Tucker back together again, forcing Tucker to come clean about several things to Benson. At one point, he told Benson he is dying of cancer, which is why he needed to make things right for Rachel.
I’m still crying. It was very emotional. Why Liv has to suffer? She doesn’t deserve that. 😭😭😭😭😭🤕🤕
— Morgana Longo Daniel (@Morgs2102) January 31, 2020
While the SVU team succeeded in getting Gary Wald (Michael Gaston) for assaulting Rachel, suicides continued throughout the police department. Even Officer Kat Azar’s (Jamie Gray Hyder) former sergeant took his own life after they talked to him about what happened in the vice squad.
Ooof, what a heartbreaking episode. Props to @Mariska and @BobbyBurke for the amazing acting tho!
— Dr. Jen Hofmann (@drjscully) January 31, 2020
The victory at the end was short-lived. Tucker took his own life as well.
“He took his own life with his old .38,” Benson told Fin (Ice-T). “I just don’t know what to do with that.”
“It’s a lot of rain in one place.” 😭💔😭 hold tight to your loved ones, friends. #SVU was especially powerful tonight. Phenomenal episode @WolfEnt 🙌 pic.twitter.com/AXBHxQbxWS
— SB (@sarahbefff) January 31, 2020
“There’s nothing you can do, Liv. It just is,” Fin said.
“He left his wife a letter, his pension, his benefits… He told her that he didn’t want her to spend the best years of her life taking care of a dying man,” Benson said through tears. “He had brain cancer.”
No one better than @BobbyBurke…
We are all so grateful to you for your thirty SVU episodes, and especially this one. https://t.co/7iWxMClhfx
— Warren Leight (@warrenleightTV) January 31, 2020
“I didn’t know,” Fin said. “But suffering, Liv… It’s not how we want to be remembered.”
“I know… I know,” Benson said. “It’s just a lot of rain in one place.”
Fin offered to drive Benson home, but she asked for a minute to collect herself. After Fin left her office, Benson took out a picture of herself with Tucker, smiling in Paris. The episode ended with Benson looking at that photo before providing information on contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
New episodes of Law & Order: SVU air Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on NBC.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Photo credit: Heidi Gutman/NBC
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LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT — Pictured: "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" Key Art — (Photo by: NBCUniversal)
