Law & Order SVU Finale Recap 5/25/16: Season 17 Episode 23 “Heartfelt Passages”

Law & Order SVU Finale Recap 5/25/16: Season 17 Episode 23 "Heartfelt Passages"

Tonight on NBC Emmy Award-winning producer Dick Wolf’s crime drama, Law & Order: SVU airs with an all Wednesday, May 25, season 17 finale called, “Heartfelt Passages.” On tonight’s episode, in the conclusion of the two-part 17th-season finale, lives are threatened when the detectives and ADA Barba (Raúl Esparza) intensify their investigation of a corrections officer accused of rape.

On the last episode, Female prison inmates made accusations of sexual assault against a corrections officer, so the SVU detectives arrested him, but then the suspect’s union targets the SVU squad and ADA Barba. Did you watch the last episode? If you missed it, we have a full and detailed recap right here for you.

On tonight’s episode as per the NBC synopsis “when the investigation of Corrections Officer Gary Munson (guest star Brad Garrett) deepens, he and his union take drastic actions that threaten the lives of ADA Barba (Raul Esparza) and the SVU squad. Also starring Mariska Hargitay, Ice T, Kelli Giddish and Peter Scanavino.”

Tonight’s season 17 finale looks like it is going to be great and you won’t want to miss it, so be sure to tune in for our live coverage of NBC’s Law & Order: SVU at 9:00 PM EST! While you wait for our recap hit the comments and let us know how excited you are about the season 17 finale?

Tonight’s episode begins now – Refresh Page often to get the most current updates!

Tonight’s episode of Law & Order SVU kicks off with Barba in court – Gary Munson has been indicted for rape and attempted rape, plus over 19 counts of forcible touching and sodomy. Barba is a petition for the judge to remand Gary Munson’s bail because he is a flight risk. The judge refuses to remand Munson’s bail, but he raises it to $500,000. Olivia runs into Gary Munson’s wife in the bathroom at the courthouse. She tells Olivia that she got herself tested for STD’s and she is filing for divorce. She’s freaking out because the police union is raising money for Gary’s bail and she doesn’t want him to get out. Mrs. Munson tells Olivia that she is scared of her husband – Olivia advises her to get out of the house before Gary gets out of jail.

Olivia runs into Gary Munson’s wife in the bathroom at the courthouse. She tells Olivia that she got herself tested for STD’s and she is filing for divorce. She’s freaking out because the police union is raising money for Gary’s bail and she doesn’t want him to get out. Mrs. Munson tells Olivia that she is scared of her husband – Olivia advises her to get out of the house before Gary gets out of jail.

Olivia and her team head back to the precinct for Dodds’ going away party. She gets a phone call from Lisa Munson, she tells Olivia that Gary is home and she is worried. Olivia says that she and Dodds will be there in a minute. Olivia hangs up and Gary gets aggressive, he tells Lisa that if she thinks she is leaving him…she is dumber than he thought.

Olivia and Dodds arrive at the Munson house, Lisa answers the door and she is acting strangely – Gary is right behind her. Lisa insists that everything is fine, and she doesn’t need the police. Olivia refuses to leave and she and Dodds talk their way into the Munson house.

At the courthouse Barba runs into Munson’s lawyer and the union leader for the correctional officers. The union rep warns Barba that starting a fight with the CO’s is not in his best interest. Gary’s lawyer wants to cut a deal – Barba scoffs at the idea. He threatens them and says that Gary is doing hard time and he is going on the registry. At the Munson house, Lisa heads upstairs to pack her stuff and Olivia and Dodds stay

At the Munson house, Lisa heads upstairs to pack her stuff and Olivia and Dodds stay downstairs with Gary and the kids. Gary is drinking – Dodds tries to talk to him about doing what is best for the kids.

Barba gets in the elevator at the courthouse. The man that threatened to crack his skull last week hops into the elevator with him. He threatens Barba again and says that he is going to wind up with a bullet in his skull. The elevator door opens and the man makes a run for it. Barba pulls the alarm and tells a nearby cop to lock down the video. At the Munson house, Olivia takes the kids outside to put them in the car. While she is outside, Gary pulls a gun and takes Lisa hostage. He makes Dodds take off his gun and threatens to shoot Lisa. Olivia tries to get back in the house but Munson won’t unlock the door –he tells Olivia to take his kids far away. Olivia calls for back up – Dodds’ father arrives, along with Fin and SWAT team and Lisa’s father.

At the Munson house, Olivia takes the kids outside to put them in the car. While she is outside, Gary pulls a gun and takes Lisa hostage. He makes Dodds take off his gun and threatens to shoot Lisa. Olivia tries to get back in the house but Munson won’t unlock the door –he tells Olivia to take his kids far away. Olivia calls for back up – Dodds’ father arrives, along with Fin and SWAT team and Lisa’s father.Meanwhile, inside Gary is getting frantic now that the house is surrounded by cops, Dodds tries to talk some sense

Meanwhile, inside Gary is getting frantic now that the house is surrounded by cops, Dodds tries to talk some sense into him. A gunshot rings out and the police storm the house. Dodds is down – he was shot in the stomach. Gary shouts that he didn’t shoot him, the gun just went off. The EMT’s rush to Dodds side and get him in the ambulance – he doesn’t look so good.

Rollins and Carisi arrive as the ambulance is leaving. Olivia is a wreck – she starts crying and says that it is her fault because they didn’t search Munson and she left Dodds alone in the house with him. They rush to the hospital and Dodds is in surgery, Carisi runs off to donate blood for transfusions. The doctor tells Dodds’ father that it doesn’t look good and if there is any family he needs to call – then they should be there. Fin is in denial, he is certain that Dodds will be just fine.

Dodds wakes up in his hospital bed and his dad is by his side – the first thing he asks about is whether Lisa Munson is okay. He reassures Dodds that she is just fine, her and her kids. Meanwhile, Dodds fiancé Alice shows up at the hospital and rushes to his room. Dodds is awake – but he’s not making a whole lot of sense. Olivia is worried and calls the doctor in – they rush Dodds off to get a Cat Scan.

Meanwhile, Rollins and Carisi are trying to track down the guy that is threatening to kill Barba. They ID him and his name is Phillippe, they put away his brother two years ago. Olivia tells them to start knocking on doors and find him – and wear bullet proof vests.

The doctor returns and says that there were blood clots in Dodds’ brain and he had a massive stroke. He’s on life-support, he’s not going to make it. Dodds’ father starts sobbing and Olivia comforts him – Dodds is gone, and they are just keeping the machines on to preserve his organs for donations. Olivia heads out in the hallway to tell her team.

A few days later they hold Dodds’ funeral with police honor – Carisi helps carry his casket. He gets an official NYPD sendoff. Aterwards, all of the officers head out for drinks together. Rollins, Olivia, and Fin all share stories with each other about Dodds. Carisi takes Barba aside and tells him that they have units posted on Phillippe’s block and they are going to catch him. Dodds’ father is not taking his death well – Olivia explains that Dodds just wanted to be a hero like his father.

Phillippe is finally arrested and Barba ID’s him in the line-up. He tells the cops that someone paid him $250 every time that he threatened Barba, but he won’t say who sent him.

Olivia heads to her therapist – she is not taking Dodds’ death well and she blames herself. The therapist tries to reason with Olivia and tells her that there was no way she would have survived a 6’8 man with a gun and nothing to lose. Olivia doesn’t understand why she gets to live, and Dodds didn’t. Her therapist tells Olivia that it was Dodds’ time…and it wasn’t her’s.

Tonight’s episode ends with Olivia and Tucker at the park with Noah. He tells her that he put in transfer papers – and he is leaving Internal Affairs. Tucker tells Olivia that the three of them have a good thing going – him, Noah, and Olivia. He invites her and Noah to go on vacation with him to Paris, and they share a kiss.

THE END!