S4E14 is the best episode so far in a very turbulent season

I should've taken notes along the way from the start, but I didn't know there would be so much to take from this season. I just don't have the time to go back and rewatch almost ten hours of the show, but I'll jot down what I remember here:

• With how progressive ogan usually is, it was weird to see him hint at having an issue with a woman captain. His whole "woman's instincts?" thing in the rale case (I believe it was) felt out of character, but I'm glad Briscoe chimed in to back up the Captain Van Buren.

• There was this episode where Ben Stone speaks up for Ms. Kincaid when the opposing lawyer condescendingly asks what Kincaid's name was even though they had met before. Kincaid has this look in her face that I couldn't really read. On one hand, it's great that Stone was willing to speak up for her, but that's a double-edged sword since she can speak for herself. This could either be an issue or a plus depending on who's watching: Either that scene played out well and added depth to our characters and situation or it played out wrong and Kincaid should've told Stone that, yes, she definitely can speak up for herself and she doesn't need him doing it for her.

• Given just the context of the show, I think Van Buren fills the shoes of Donald Cragen well. I like here as much as I can like a new character who I'm not given enough information on. Either I'm forgetting them or the show hasn't given much backstory to her. I feel like I knew enough about Cragen in 15 episodes to connect with him. With that said, I'm also reminded that I love Craven because of SVU, not necessarily the first seasons of this show. This show is playing like a prequel for me and it's an add-on to SVU.

• Briscoe hasn't exactly grown on me, but he's become more endearing in his own way. I was just thinking about Greevey and how I do miss the dynamic when he was on the show. When he was, I think the Law side of things was a lot more interesting. They had conversations, they had dilemmas, they had arguments. Since season 2, the writers have left the detectives with crumbs of drama and gravitas (though still great enough to love) co.oarws to what the Order side is getting. Though I am relishing the drama between attorneys, I do wonder how things would look like if they were more balanced.

Mmmm, I'll make a separate post for "Censure". I do want to cover it since it centered Kincaid, but I'm still mulling over what I really think. I'd rather think it over than just blurt whatever I have tumbling in my head right now. I think the character at this point deserves that consideration.