Stabler leans into his military network to search for the source of a Middle Eastern heroin pipeline making its way to the U.S. Joe Jr. takes drastic action when his brothers try to stage an intervention. Reyes returns to the squad.
Elliot and Randall stage an intervention for Joey. They know he is getting high with heroin. They break into his safe and see the drugs. They also worry he's selling because of the money he has. However, their younger brother isn't willing to admit he has a problem. He refuses to go to rehab. Randall has experience. He went through these same issues with his eldest daughter. They managed to work it out. He knows precisely what Joey needs. Bernie is grateful Joey didn't have to grow up in the same kind of home as Randall did. Of course, he's still named after the man who caused that turmoil for Bernie and Randall. Elliot was oblivious to the truth for a long time. He has to step up as a brother now. He must provide the support Joey needs. He blames himself for being distant from his family for so long. The estrangement from Bernie ended long ago. With his brothers, the dynamics are still tense. Joey is in trouble. The help Elliot is looking to provide doesn't always reflect that personal nature. He wants to keep things to himself. He can't do that when surrounded by people who know him so well.
Stabler believes the way to help his brother is to take down the smuggling operation bringing the heroin into the country from Afghanistan. He has the military background to fit into this world. He goes undercover once again. That too presents as a comfort for him. He has been in this situation many times. The circumstances are different. He knows what he's doing. He detaches from one life in order to completely fall into another. He becomes Hank, the veteran looking for purpose in a new city. He infiltrates the Boone family farm with ease. While the group goes through the early stages of testing him, he immediately proves his loyalty by being willing to dispose of a body. These people are inherently worried their actions are being monitored. They adhere to a strict schedule. They revere traditions. They have roots in this area that stretch back to the Revolutionary War. They have a duty to serve. They also must protect what has always been in the family. The honey business is sacred. It's up to Angus and Mama to uphold it no matter what.
Overall, it's relatively easy for Stabler to make these connections and become closely embedded in the group. He attends a therapy group with ties to the military unit that patrolled the specific fields growing the drugs in Afghanistan. The leader just so happens to be the son of someone Stabler once served alongside. That history remains painful. It's not something Stabler brings up a whole lot. He has moved on with his life. He's incredibly lucky. He wasn't injured and denied treatment for his pain. He isn't desperate to remain of service and value. He found new purpose in the NYPD. He has respect amongst his unit. He still goes rogue far too often. Bell immediately wants to pull him because of Sam suddenly going missing. That too is a sudden development. The various stories are connected through a shared history in Afghanistan. As such, it already seems inevitable that they will come together in some way. The show is coming off such a high with the Bonner family arc in Westbrook. That was the best the show has ever been. And now, it's tasked with creating something new. The groundwork was there for the Stabler family drama. Everything else immediately comes across as quick progress to get to the heart of the drama.
All of this largely showcases the Stabler family behaving the same way they always do. Even their awareness of their instinct to run away isn't original anymore. It's simply what they do when they don't want to address anything real. Joey can't get any money from Bernie. Instead, he retreats to selling prized possessions of the family. Meanwhile, Stabler dives completely into this case which he brought to the task force. Bell was originally giving out orders to investigate criminals operating on Wall Street. He offered something more tantalizing. She knows the truth. Stabler deflects from his personal drama. He wants to solve this mystery and arrest the criminals before delving even further into helping his brother. The deflection has an understandable rationalization to it. It isn't particularly healthy especially given the prominence of his family this season. Everything was going to come to a head at some point. That's become more apparent and precarious now. The show still has to deliver. It's more consistent in doing so with Stabler than the other characters. Bell can't chase suspects like she has in the past. Meanwhile, Reyes returns without anything remarkably being different whatsoever. The team is full once more. Yet they are still always in danger. That's the formula. Stabler is driving the entire action even though he's not in charge. He operates with that authority. The team trusts him. The stakes remain personal just like they have been for awhile. That too is nothing new. That also means Stabler can't have the same reaction as always either.
