Written By Dawn DeNoon, Lisa Marie Petersen, and Gwendolyn M Parker
Directed By Richard Dobbs
While investigating the accidental death of a popular singer's young son, Detective Benson realizes that parental neglect could kill the boy's sister as well and risks her career to get the girl help.
Tropes
- Functional Addict: Ricki Austin is a high-functioning drug addict.
- Gory Discretion Shot: Corbin runs towards traffic and a car is about to hit him. The camera then switches to the people chasing Corbin screaming his name, then turning away as we hear tires screech. The next shot, the boy is covered in white cloth being wheeled away to the coroner's office.
- Halfway Plot Switch: Benson and Stabler are brought in to investigate Corbin's death, under his parents' belief that he was molested, which led to his death. It turns out he wasn't, and then the episode is about Ashley.
- Hollywood Restraining Order: Ricki files one against Olivia after Ashley gets too attached.
- It's All About Me: Ricki is so worried about her image that she hides her neglect of her children behind non-disclosure agreements, donations to schools to prevent Ashley from seeing a therapist, filing a restraining order against Olivia, etc. When faced with the prospect of having her daughter taken from her, Ricki asks Olivia why she's doing this to her. Olivia clarifies that this is not about Ricki, it's about Ashley. Even after the trial, when Olivia further clarifies the above statement, Ricki tells her if she ever gets near Ashley again, she'll have her badge.
- It's Personal: Implied by Elliot about why Olivia is trying so hard to help Ashley. Olivia denies it, but it's hard to disagree with him.
- Lonely Rich Kid: Ashley has wealthy but neglectful parents.
- Mo' Money, Mo' Problems: Zig-Zagged. The episode deals with a family where the parents are rich, famous, drug-addicted music stars. The children are so emotionally neglected that when the son dies, the M.E. finds an ulcer and signs of compulsive nail-biting, and the daughter constantly acts out, often injuring herself, and becomes emotionally attached to anyone who speaks to her. The parents have enough money to make sure others keep the kids fed, clothed, and otherwise physically taken care of, and buy the silence of anyone who notices the kids' emotional problems. So, being rich is great if you're a neglectful parent, but sucks for the kids of neglectful parents.
- Nom de Mom: Corbin and Ashley use both their parents' surnames.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Ashley's teacher actually recognizes the timeouts that Ashley gets for acting out aren't going to address the root cause and personally called both her parents and the principle to get her some therapy, being disappointed when Ricki and her husband effectively bought their way out of having to do anything about her issues. Unfortunately, she's not enough of an authority figure to do anything else.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: After concluding that Corbin was not abused and Ashley isn't being abused either, Stabler simply bows out of the investigation. Specifically, after the precinct gets a call from Ashley and Benson says "We'll be right there", he hands her his car keys, saying "Don't look at me."
- Self-Harm: Ashley self harms to get her parents' attention.
- Sudden Downer Ending: Olivia risks her career to try to help Ashley. The ending gives a small hope spot that Ricki may have finally realized she needs to pay attention to her daughter, only for Olivia to receive news that Ricki played at a concert the very next day after the court hearing. In short, Olivia ultimately risked her career for nothing.
- There Are No Therapists: Played with. Jared and Ricki gave Ashley’s school a new library specifically to keep her out of the school counselor's office.
- There Should Be a Law: Stabler points out that Ashley is not being abused or criminally neglected, only for Benson to counter that Ricki doesn't love her. Her subsequent involvement in this case essentially boils down to Ricki being a bad mother.