We discovered one thing new about Vince Riley when his troublemaking brother got here to city on Regulation & Order Season 24 Episode 3.
His brother, Matt, was a thorn in his aspect all the episode, beginning together with his expectation that the police detective bail him out.
Ryan Eggold performed this annoying character completely, and Riley lastly made the appropriate choice on the finish of the episode, however cops enabling their troubled relations is a trope I’d like to not cross my display screen once more for some time.
Vince Riley Is Not The First Regulation & Order Detective to Have A Troubled Household Member
This trope is widespread within the Regulation & Order universe, particularly on Regulation & Order: SVU, the place it’s already been used twice.
Not solely did SVU’s Amanda Rollins have a troubled sister that no person favored, however Benson had a half-brother for whom she stored dropping the whole lot.
In each instances, making an attempt to be there for his or her member of the family solely put the detective prone to dropping their job.
Rollins was most likely essentially the most ridiculous, as she virtually went to jail behind her sister, framing her for homicide.
However I keep in mind holding my breath and praying Benson didn’t smash the whole lot for herself as a result of she stored leaving conferences on the squad room concerning the present case to go rescue her half-brother from no matter mess he’d gotten into.
Suffice it to say, I’m burned out by this explicit trope after the best way it was dealt with on SVU!
Moreover this, why is it that Blue Bloods is the one present the place I’m sure the cops wouldn’t give a self-destructive member of the family each doable cross due to the connection?
It doesn’t do the self-destructive particular person any good to consistently get bailed out.
It’s additionally not good for the police’s picture for cops to consistently be making an attempt to make modifications go away or in any other case defend their relations from the results of their actions.
These Tropes Additionally Unfold Detrimental Stereotypes About Folks With Dependancy Points
An extra downside with this Regulation & Order trope is that it reinforces adverse concepts: that folks with habit issues are all manipulative, egocentric liars.
It’s true that some individuals who abuse medicine or alcohol are manipulative and egocentric, however not everyone is.
Dependancy is a critical psychological well being difficulty, and I’m certain that Regulation & Order doesn’t wish to discourage folks from getting assist.
However when the franchise reveals cop after cop bending over backward to assist an addicted sibling (why is it at all times a sibling, too?) who may be very clearly manipulating them, it paints a lopsided image that may discourage some from reaching out for help to cease consuming or utilizing.
Oddly, one other Dick Wolf present is counteracting these stereotypes consistently.
Chicago Med has been doing an outstanding job with Hannah’s psychological well being storyline, together with her temptation to make use of and her choice to go to NA conferences as an alternative.
Rollins herself did this with playing habit (though she had a relapse that led to a foolish story about her working undercover in a playing ring).
But, in terms of siblings of addicts, the Regulation & Order franchise tells the identical story time and again, and it’s annoying.
The Worst Half Is How Apparent The Manipulation Is
In actual life, these individuals who manipulate others into paying for medicine or bailing them out are typically expert liars who can activate the attraction as wanted to get what they need.
Nevertheless, these drug-addicted siblings are tremendous apparent about it, and Matt Riley was one of many worst offenders.
All through the episode, it was not solely apparent that he was going to screw his brother over however how he was going to do it.
He frequently made guarantees that he had no intention of retaining, solely to alter his thoughts on the final minute and again out of the deal.
When he turned off the spy digital camera as a result of he “didn’t wish to be a snitch,” that ought to have been the tip of Riley trusting that his brother would ever flip issues round.
He ought to have instructed Nolan to do no matter he needed to concerning the gun cost, washed his fingers of the entire thing, and located the proof he wanted for his case another method.
As an alternative, Riley gave him probability after probability, dangling the promise of exoneration to get his brother to cooperate.
He virtually tanked Nolan’s case by providing his brother as a witness, just for Matt to flake out on the stand.
The least Riley ought to have carried out is warn Nolan that his brother had a historical past of backing out of those offers on the final minute in order that Nolan could be ready for Matt to say nothing helpful whereas beneath oath.
Fortunately, Riley wised up after Matt pulled that final stunt in courtroom, however by then, the harm was carried out.
I cheered when he knowledgeable Matt they had been going forward with the drug costs. Hopefully, Vince has discovered his lesson and gained’t fall for any extra of Matt’s tips later within the season.
That’s a part of this tiresome trope, too. The manipulative characters by no means disappear except they die or are killed.
Rollins needed to reject her sister at the very least thrice earlier than we removed her for good. Let’s hope it doesn’t take Matt that lengthy to get the message.
What do you suppose, Regulation & Order fanatics? Does this trope trouble you too, or do you suppose it’s simply par for the course on police procedurals?
Hit the feedback along with your ideas!
Regulation & Order airs on NBC on Thursdays at 8/7c and on Peacock on Fridays.
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