earth law order special victims unit earth thirteenth season premiere police procedural television series law order special victims unit episode overall originally aired nbc united_states september episode inspired sexual assault case italian diplomat arrested hotel maid accuses rape district attorney office brings case trial increasingly complicated defense questions maid credibility struggles cope aftermath squad room shooting episode written directed episode air left series leading marks appearance added main cast alongside june following departure episode featured guest appearances reprised role earth received positive reviews cast changes received mixed reactions according nielsen ratings episode original broadcast watched million viewers plot hotel maid accuses italian diplomat detective interviews hospital detective recently transferred finds evidence assault hotel room ice race airport arrest plane departs italy quickly hires lawyer claims diplomatic immunity positively identifies lineup warner office forensic exam results confirm dna matches recovered crime scene assistant district attorney warn defense team claim court fabricated accusation monetary reasons ask completely replies later police prosecution learn tape recording admits lot money assaulting weakening credibility accusation insists raped trial defense presents evidence convicted prostitution years ago denies charge says gang raped soldiers killed husband credibility defense presents surprise witness advised gang rape application political asylum jury rape charge finds guilty unlawful imprisonment says likely serve year prison return administrative leave squad room shooting noticing detectives squad room reminds captain shooting justified tells submit psychiatric exam return work having involved prior end informs filed retirement papers leaving good stunned leaves interrogation room breaks tears production earth written directed episode produced direction replaced showrunner twelfth season episode series leading left cast negotiations new contract failed june subsequently added cast detectives respectively episode marks debut character character introduced episode august announced reprise role original episode inspired arrest head considered runner french presidential election accused sexually assaulting maid manhattan hotel pleaded guilty charges quit post presidential candidacy subsequently case weakened prosecutors said admitted lying grand jury events surrounding attack portrays like character italian plays defense attorney similar real life attorney new showrunner said incident inspiration episode case don believe ripped headlines believe actual story ripped real life case twists turns headline news wound annoying said initial draft changed joked story fast moving worried final scenes shot live day episode airs noted shows emotionally driven loaded reception ratings original broadcast september earth watched million viewers acquired rating share demographic meaning seen year olds year olds watching television time broadcast decrease ratings compared season premiere watched million viewers came timeslot csi crime scene investigation revenge watched program nbc night reviews reviews plot generally positive new_york_times described episode restrained acted interesting extremely close tracking case felt verdict disappointing dramatic terms gave episode rating calling episode typical fare felt episode missing typical argument detectives provided perspectives issue usually represent division audience members site felt crime little current episode original broadcast month charges dismissed cast changes met mixed reviews felt departure relief tightly wound character intensity taken way track found hard imagine said absence turned episode best showcase partner olivia given years called addition big gain felt uncertain addition writing scene tried sweet talk information jailed suspect weak moment episode mixed feeling supposed breathe new life series wrote end interesting character
Scorched Earth (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)