Hotch And The Hotchlings, In Themetaphorgirl’s Criminal Minds Boarding School Au ( PSOLC)

Last song: the Barbie soundtrack, when I saw the film at the cinema

Favourite colour: I love most colours except hot/bright pinks. So I’ll go for rainbow 🌈 

Currently watching: Magpie Murders, based on the Anthony Horowitz novel, lots of nerdy quiz shows, and I have the latest season (12?) of Call the Midwife and Season 16 of Criminal Minds:Evolution to start when I get home. May have a Criminal Minds rewatch before starting that though.

Last movie: Barbie, which I loved, bar the last few minutes, where it ruined the message completely. Loved the visuals for Barbie Land, the narration, the songs… 

Currently reading: The Inheritance Games and re-reading Magpie Murders

Sweet/spicy/savoury: usually sweet, but sometimes get salty cravings. I am a big spice wimp

Relationship status: chronically single

Current obsession: swimming and nerdy quiz shows

Last thing I googled: the new ( to me, at least) Pret à Manger cold chocolate drink

Currently working on: planning out a missing episode from Season 4 of Criminal Minds where Hotch’s eardrum bursts and he has to stay behind with Penelope. Bonding ensues and it is a much better experience than Gideon’s time with her. 

9 people you'd like to get to know better ♡

i can always count on @olivinesea to fulfil my desire to talk too much about myself in tumblr asks like this. thanks pal!!

last song: Lies from the Chasing Lights album by The Saturdays, in a moment of nostalgia for British girl bands that i liked in university (which as it turns out was only The Saturdays lol)

favourite colour: i tell kids my favourite colour is rainbow because i generally like all of them. it’s easier to tell you that i’m not fond of most shades of orange.

currently watching: Six Feet Under by myself, The Wire and VEEP with my husband, Recess over Sunday morning coffee & bagels, The X-Files with a friend. very soon starting a rewatch of Gilmore Girls, for the fall vibes. i watch too much tv, perhaps.

last movie: Barbie in theatres (i love how much Barbie cries). Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. at home (like meeting a pen pal in person for the first time)

currently reading: Cosmoknights vol 2, a large variety of picture books for work, and Judy Blume (so many i haven’t read before!)

sweet/spicy/savoury: savoury, for that salty umami goodness

relationship status: not to be gross on your dash, but i’ve been with my best friend and favourite person for ten years and it is friggin great.

current obsession: overwhelmingly human (English) names for pets. one of my kid friends from work (my job is great) told me their turtle is named Vanessa.

last thing i googled: a Black Russian, to confirm that it is indeed a drink.

currently working on: oh, i always get inspired by songs, so i have loads of drafts that are just song lyrics with the phrase “this is about [these people], figure it out!!!” but one of those drafts is shaping itself into a pretty angsty hotchniss mess, as per usual. maybe no satisfying happy ending, either.

ahhh, to tag or not to tag, the anxiety-inducing question. please feel no pressure to do these, but i tag @sequinsmile-x @danadeservesadrink @louisaland @scorpsik @beebeelank @bevfank @storiesofsvu and anyone who sees this and wants to answer them (tag me so i can read them if you do!)

PSOLC vignette « Grades »

OK, so this is inspired by the amazing @themetaphorgirl ‘s PSOLC ( Criminal Minds AU) as we discussed a situation with Hotch and Emily in the same class and she gets a better grade than him, though he put in way more effort. I haven’t written in aaaaaages, so 1m super rusty, but I had fun and feel like I nailed Strauss’s character

“ Did you hand in your essay OK, Bubba?” Alex asked Hotch as she sat down at the table, deftly readjusting Spencer’s tray once she had put hers down too.

“Yeah, thanks Birdie. Once you looked through it for me I typed it up and printed it, then I handed it in last week.” he replied, stirring raisins into his oatmeal.

Emily’s head jerked up, eyes wide and her spoon halfway to her mouth. She quickly regained her composure.

“Uh, Hotch, what’s today’s date?” she asked.

“It’s the 22nd, Emily. And yes, it is the date our 2000-word  essays are due in for Strauss. The essays she assigned us last month that are worth 40% of the semester’s grade.” he replied, shaking his head and frowning at his classmate’s disorganisation.

“Oh, I knew that, I do actually listen in class sometimes, Hotchner! And it’s no biggie! I’ll write it in French and Chapel.” Emily responded nonchalantly, her eyes reflecting her panic and stress. «  We’re studying the present indicative of first group verbs and adjective agreements, which is obviously very difficult, but I’ll make it work » she announced, trying hard to sound convincing but failing miserably.

“Alexandra Catherine Miller, room-mate extraordinaire,  what can you tell me about the leitmotifs in To Kill A Mockingbird? Just asking for a friend!” she asked Alex, eyes wide, fluttering her eyelashes and smiling, tilting her head to the side.

“Oh, that’s easy! I read it when I was 7, but the main themes are…”, Spencer interjected, gesticulating wildly, his eyes shining with excitement, as Alex placed a finger on his lips to quieten him.

“Sorry, Emily, but I really can’t help you now. I asked you if you wanted help when Hotch asked me to look through his first draft, and you told me you had ‘almost started it’, so you’re just going to have to face the consequences” Alex answered, a sympathetic look on her face. 

« But if I don’t get an A, I’m going to fail! And Strauss offers no make up tests or extra credit! I hope you’ll come to my funeral as Strauss is going to eviscerate me. » she replied, biting her lip as she realised just how much of a challenge she had to face.

Hotch muttered something that sounded suspiciously like “you made your bed, now lie in it”.

Penelope looked aghast.

« Well, I am so glad I only have Strauss for debate. She sounds like the kind of person who has a favourite child! » she shared, shuddering at the thought of having more classes with her most terrifying teachers. 

Just before the bell for second period rang, Emily dashed into class, almost tripping over Chris Callahan’s legs and narrowly avoiding crashing into Kate Carter’s  neighbouring desk before flinging herself into her assigned seat towards the back of the class, clutching several sheets of rather crumpled notebook paper. 

Ashley Seaver smiled sympathetically at her before resuming her chat with Jordan Todd about the new crime series with the hot male lead that they were both obsessed with.

The final bell rang, cutting their conversation short. The class fell silent immediately.

“ Pass your essays up to the front now. Some of you have already handed them in, but I needn’t remind you that is no guarantee of a good or even a passing grade. “ Strauss announced, shooting a pertinent look at Hotch.

“Miss Carter and Mr Callahan, how many times  have I told you that there’s no PDA in my classroom?” she scolded, glaring at the offending students, who were holding hands.

“And no, don’t answer that, it’s rhetorical! Get out your grammar books, page 82 and complete the sentence parsing that we started last class. There is no need to talk.” she announced, having gathered all the students’ work in a pile on her desk.

The class got to work and their teacher turned her attention to the papers in front of her, scowling at some and shaking her head at others, that she liberally annotated with her red pen.

Two weeks later

“ Well, on the whole, I was disappointed with your essays. As Juniors, you really should have mastered these basic concepts by now. You do realise, if you go to college, your professors will make me look like a Disney princess. I have a feeling that college might not be the right fit for everyone here” Strauss declared, casting a disapproving look around the class.

“However, there was one standout essay that I gave an A to. I had to take some points off for presentation, but the student in question provided some excellent analysis. It’s the only A I have given so far this semester. Emily Prentiss, I did not expect work of such caliber from you. » she continued.

She then proceeded to return work by grade.

«  A valiant attempt. Mr Hotchner, but you should definitely ask Miss Prentiss for some pointers for the next assignment » she said, handing Hotch his paper that had a big red B+ on it. 

He shot Emily a dark, murderous  look, but she just grinned and thumbsed up when their eyes met.

As the bell for lunch went, Hotch uncharacteristically shoved his books and papers haphazardly into his backpack, pushed his chair against his desk with more force than necessary and stomped out.

Emily was smiling broadly at their usual lunch table, chatting to Penelope about hairstyles as Hotch arrived, slamming his tray down.

Alex looked over at him with a concerned look, but he just prodded his mystery meat violently, eyebrows knitted tightly together.

«  Hi Hotch! Are you still hung up over your grade from Strauss? I’m sure I can help you do better next time » she said sweetly.

«  Just how did you get an A? » he questioned angrily.

Rossi looked up from his mashed potatoes, intrigue written all over his face.

«  Emily! How did you do it? Strauss hardly ever gives A’s! Please teach me your ways, you… witch! » he exclaimed.

«  I’ m just naturally brilliant, I guess. Perhaps I should request a transfer into the AP class. And don’t ‘Emily’ me! » she replied smugly.

« That’s a great plan, Emily. Except a) there are no places left in the AP class, and b) your last grade was a C minus, I believe? » Hotch declared.

She sighed and returned her attention to her plate of food.

Hotch would hopefully get over it by the time they graduated, she mused.

The Hotchners in Into the Gotchaverse! ( minus Jack). Inspired by a prompt for Hotch’s birthday week, called “Daisies”. Hotch and Penelope have taken the triplets ( Scarlett, Stella and Theo) for a picnic and Penelope has taught them to make daisy chains, with resounding success. 

Elliot calling Eli and leaving a voicemail teling him how proud he is of him and that he loves him.

5x1

Please reblog and put in the tags your hair type (straight, wavy, curly, coily) and if you sleep with your hair in a ponytail/bun or leave it down PLEASE I’m so curious

PSOLC ( Criminal Minds AU) drabble- based on the amazing themetaphorgirl’s fic

«Oh my goodness, have you all been living under a rock all your life? » Penelope exclaimed, having commandeered the comfiest armchair of the seventh floor common room, where she was sitting regally, wrapped in a blanket as if it were a cape and brandishing the remote like a sceptre.

« James Blake, how are you the only other person in this room who has actually read the Harry Potter books? » she continued, visibly surprised.

Emily shrugged, muttering «  Uh, because we’re not nerds!» just loud enough to be heard,  then resumed painting her nails a distinctly non regulation electric blue, sitting cross-legged on a cushion.

«  Just pick a movie, Penelope! » , Hotch grumbled from the table across the room, briefly glancing up from his History essay, eyebrows knitted together and his lips forming a tight line.

« OK, OK, but before I do, let me go get something! ». She got up and rushed off in a blur of pink fluffy slippers and glitter. She returned minutes later, brandishing her laptop and a mysterious-looking, brown, crumpled and patched piece of material.

Glances of confusion were exchanged, until Derek broke the bemused silence from his spot on the floor where he was lying, with a puzzled «  Baby girl, what the hell is that? ».

«  Ta-da! » Garcia replied, showing off the item with visible pride. «  Uh, James, a little help here, and some enthusiasm wouldn’t go amiss either, especially if you’re a true Potterhead! » she added, seeing everyone’s bemused faces.

«  That’s the Sorting Hat, guys, it tells you which house you’ll be in at Hogwarts, Harry Potter’s school », James explained, as Penelope nodded enthusiastically.

«  So, there are 4 houses, each with their own distinct character traits, and the Hat decides where you should go. Obviously it takes your preference into consideration, and you don’t necessarily have to possess the qualities of your chosen House, they can be ones you admire or want to have... So everyone’s going to take the test before we start the movie, OK? ».

“ Sure, Penny!” JJ chirped, uncurling herself from the couch to go over to her friend. «  Could you just remind me of the different Houses and their traits, please? ».

Penelope quickly explained the differences between Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin before placing the Hat on JJ’s head. She pulled her fishtail braid over her shoulder and sat in the armchair.

Penelope deftly flipped open her laptop, tapped a few keys and then cleared her throat.

«  I, of course, will be reading the questions so no-one will be tempted to cheat! » she declared.

After several questions, everyone started suggesting the answer they thought JJ should choose.

«  Well, that’s the last question, Jayje! Which House do you think you’ll be in? «  Penelope chirruped, clearly pleased.

«  Um, Gryffindor, I guess », JJ volunteered shyly.

«  Oooh, I hope you’ll be in Hufflepuff, like me! But you could be a Ravenclaw, and yeah, Gryffindor would be a good fit too... » Penelope said, swiftly moving the cursor to the « Reveal my House » button on screen!

After a few seconds of waiting, Penelope glanced at the screen and looked up, visibly crestfallen.

«  What’s up, Pen, did I do it wrong? I swear I answered honestly! » JJ said, evidently upset at her room-mate’s distress and removing the wide-brimmed wizard hat from her head.

« Alas, we have a Hat Stall, you’ve tied between Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor! So you just get to pick. Don’t feel obliged to say Hufflepuff just because I’m there! » Garcia explained.

JJ deliberated for a moment before deciding on Gryffindor. «  Thank God, the suspense was killing me! «  Emily sighed sarcastically.

«  Good choice, always trust your first instincts! Now, who’s next? ». Penelope’s gaze swept over the group. Alex and Spencer were huddled together, heads bent over a thick novel at the opposite end of the couch that JJ had returned to, Dave was focused intently on his laptop screen, James was half asleep in the other armchair, Hotch was scowling at his History book, surrounded by crumpled up pieces of paper and several pages of notes. Derek was absent-mindedly spinning a basketball as he perused his phone.

Her eyes met Emily’s.

«  Alright, Garcia, let’s get this over with! «

At Emily’s words, everyone looked up.

«  Yeah, I’ll go after Prentiss, baby girl! » Derek promised. «  Sorry, got distracted by my fantasy football league choices! ».

Emily got up, picking up the hat and plonking it on her head as she seated herself in the armchair. From her nest of pillows and blankets on the ground, Penelope reset the quiz page and began.

«  OK, first question: black or white? ».

«  Black, duh! » Emily responded.

Penelope continued through, before finally announcing that Emily was officially a Slytherin.

«  I bet I’m Gryffindor, sweet girl! » Derek guessed when his turn was almost finished.

«  Right you are, my hunk of Hershey’s chocolate! » she trilled, having checked his results. He bent down to hug her before letting the next person go.

Alex, James and Spencer all followed, and were all, unsurprisingly, placed in Ravenclaw, though James and Alex both had strong Hufflepuff scores too. Spencer had had to take the Hat off half-way through, as it kept falling down over his eyes and even completely covering his face.

Dave had to be dragged over, but high-fived Emily when he too was placed in Slytherin.

«  Hotchy, it’s your turn now! Everyone else has had a go, even Dave and Emily! Pleeeease let me find out the inner workings of your mysterious mind! » Penelope pleaded, eyes widening with a butter wouldn’t melt  expression spreading across her face.

«  We’ll even stop waving and shouting «  Hey, Haley! » at random times during the day, especially if she’s not actually in the vicinity. Oh, and Prentiss won’t get dress-coded any more this week, and JJ will eat greens with every meal without complaining too, promise! » she begged.

Hotch sighed deeply and rolled his eyes. The «  Hey, Haley! » game was absolutely no fun.

«I have wily ways to bend you to my will, you know! » she mock threatened, approaching him as if to tickle him.

«  Fine, I’ll do your quiz. Just keep it clean! And.Don’t. Call. Me. Hotchy! » he replied tersely. He gingerly placed the silly accessory on his head. Penelope beamed at him and began.

This time, everyone joined in, trying to influence his answers, gently teasing him.

«  And that, Hotchy, was the final question! Where do you think you’ll end up? »

«  Uh, I don’t know! Everyone thinks l’m ambitious, so Slytherin? Can we please just get it over with as we haven’t even started the movie yet? »

«  Well, the Hat has spoken! You’re in... ».

Penelope paused for dramatic effect.

«  Hufflepuff! Yay, you’re with me! We’re a seriously under-represented House, there’s hardly any merch for us, but at least our emblem and House colours are correct, unlike poor Ravenclaw! Oh, and our common room is near the castle kitchens, perfect for midnight feasts! » she babbled, flinging her arms around his neck, knocking the hat off his head in the process. He patted her arm and then went to sit on the couch. Spencer had fallen asleep in Alex’s arms, and he took the sleeping child from her onto his lap.

Garcia put a DVD into the player and pressed play.

As the first Harry Potter movie started, Hotch looked around at the diverse group around him and smiled. Alex had joined James on the floor, he was adjusting blankets and pillows to ensure she was comfortable, Emily and Dave were bickering amicably over the correct pronunciation of some Italian word, Morgan and JJ were tossing Cheetos in the air and trying to catch them in their mouths, whilst Penny was now wrapped in a blanket, on the armchair, mouthing the words along with the actors, staring intently at the screen.

He shifted a snoring Spencer in his lap, smoothed the boy’s hair off his face and settled in for what was going to be the first of eight films.

Into the Gotchaverse

Halloween Season 9 additional scene

« Oh, Sir, you don’t have to do that! », Penelope exclaimed, seeing her boss pick up the now full trash bag and deftly closing it with the plastic tie.

« It’s fine, Penelope. You’ve just hosted a wonderful evening, so the least I can do is help you clean up. », he replied, donning the bright purple gloves with feathery trim used for doing the dishes.

He swiftly filled the sink, added dish soap to a sponge and began washing the plates, glasses and silverware that had been used over the course of the evening.

Penelope busied herself putting away leftovers and they worked in companiable silence, occasionally bumping shoulders as Penelope got containers out, opened the fridge and put away unused utensils.

Once she was satisfied that everything had been satisfactorily stored in its proper place, she came to join him at the sink, drying what had already been washed.

Hotch began humming quietly, earning him a surprised look from Penelope.

« Sorry, Penelope, I’ll stop if it’s bothering you. I always seem to sing or put music on when I’m doing chores, it makes them less boring somehow. » he apologised.

« No, please don’t stop, it’s lovely! I had no idea you were so musical! You also have great taste, Blackbird is such an underrated Beatles song! » , she trilled, grinning widely.

As the two of them finished tidying up the kitchen, they sang together, voices harmonising on ABBA, Queen and Beatles songs.

« Well, I think that’s everything. I’ll take the trash out for you on my way out. » said Hotch. « Thank you again  for a wonderful evening, Penelope. » he continued.

« Thank you, Sir. Please don’t leave yet, I’ve got something for you, for your birthday! » Penelope replied, rushing to her bedroom and rapidly opening and closing cupboards and drawers before returning.

« It’s not much, but I hope you like it » she announced, handing over a red gift bag with a flourish. «  And yes, I know you don’t want a big fuss made of you and your day at the office, but it and you should definitely be celebrated! » she uttered, gesturing wildly with her hands and smiling broadly.

Hotch blushed and smiled, activating his dimple.

« Thank you very much, Penelope. You’re so thoughtful, and I appreciate your discretion. If your presents for Jack are anything to go by, it will be perfect! » he replied, opening his arms for her to hug him.

She squeezed him tightly, reaching up impulsively to kiss his cheek and leaving a scarlet lipstick mark there.

«  You’re welcome, Sir. Now let’s get you home before the witching hour and I turn into a pumpkin! Drive safe! » she declared, releasing him from her embrace and guiding him to her front door, then ushering him into the hallway.

« Goodnight, Penelope, see you at work tomorrow », he replied, waiting until the door had shut behind him to touch his cheek and discovering the vibrant red makeup mark she had left on his cheek.

His technical analyst certainly was one of a kind, he mused.

Season 21 SVU thoughts

Aww, the good luck/semi-goodbye party for Sonny was perfect. He definitely deserved it and was happy to be surrounded by his work family ( he seems to be universally adored, with good reason).

He’s unsurprisingly doing a great job as ADA, and he always goes above and beyond for the victims. I loved that he contacted his former law professor. He really does keep in touch with everyone and gets on with 99% of people. His righteous anger at injustice/stupid laws is really touching, he’s so morally upstanding and it makes me love him more.

He still seems to be a cop in some episodes, so maybe the episodes are yet again out of order on the site I am watching them on? 

Wish he had more time with Amanda outside of work. Those two are my favourite pairing and I am dying for them to get together. 

The new DA, Hadid, is great, and the new recruit, Kat, seems to be proving her worth/doing a good job. The new unit boss seems like a decent guy too, and it is interesting to have so many female characters in the precinct at once. Fin is officially outnumbered. 

SVU is still recycling its guest stars, with Zach Gilford playing a douchebag again, but this time as a grown man, not a teen like he was in Contagious ( Season 6, a favourite episode of mine).

Loved Amanda having Billie christened and choosing Olivia and Carisi as godparents for her. I think Carisi is guideparent to Noah too, alongside Barba and Amanda, unless I am mistaken? Olivia had a Unitarian blessing ceremony for Noah a few years ago, Carisi was definitely there.

His story to the religious judge about his mum getting pregnant and having an abortion in her 40’s was very moving, but I wish we know how old he was at the time. Did his mum tell his dad she’d miscarried? 

Arrghh to people letting Olivia in/her giving them a chance and then they leave or die! I was particularly upset when Stone left, I thought he would have been a great match for Olivia, they had a lot of chemistry and similar values. 

The episodes are interesting. It’s good to have minorities represented and not judged as they were in earlier seasons.

Also the jump in tech is incredible. Even going from Season 12 to 16, the computers/phones/devices the team uses are so much more developed than the slightly older episodes. 

SVU Further post Season 9 AU ideas

After having watched Season 16 to 22 of SVU after stopping at the end of Season 12, and seeing Elliot back, Kathy dying and bits of OC, I just keep thinking about what if Kathy and Elliot weren’t together shortly after Eli’s birth. I always felt they ultimately would have ended up divorcing at some point after Eli came along, as they only got back together because of Kathy’s pregnancy, and Elliot was still working all hours in Season 10/11/12 and Kathy nearly left him again! 

So my brain went to what if she died following complications from the accident, so in the Season 9 finale or early Season 10. She could have had to have an operation for some side effect/condition she developed after the accident, so she goes in for surgery in the Season 9 finale, we see her go into surgery, with one or several of the big kids/his mum/Liv waiting with him, the doctor comes out and calls for Mr Stabler and Dun Dun, cut to black. Season 10 finale, we see the doctor talking to Stabler and whoever is with him. There are tears and hugs. Then we have the funeral, Liv  and the team are there. Elliot ends up becoming a stay at home dad ( something he seemed interested in doing in at least one episode) while Olivia navigates training a new partner and moving up the ranks, eventually becoming Captain. 

There could still be all the drama with Kathleen and Dickie, plus some from Lizzie as she was criminally underutilised. 

Maybe Elliot works as a private consultant so can still help out with cases, and Olivia is over at the house more and more. They eventually get together romantically and have at least one kid together ( either biologically, or they can adopt Calvin and/or Noah, kind of following the show). 

So that leaves room for the new team members to come along as they do in canon, there can be some adoption/fostering drama… 

El and Liv would definitely be friends with Carisi and Rollins. He has very similar values to Carisi, so I can see them being buddies. And it would mean Billie and Jesse would have another strong male presence in their lives, which wouldn’t be a bad thing. 

Obviously it would impact some of the storylines, like William Lewis wouldn’t happen fully. I haven’t seen Seasons 13-15 so not sure how I could rewrite that, but I’d like to try! 

I have so many other missing scenes of family life ( Stabler and his kids, Liv and the young Stablers, Carisi and the Rollins girls…) that would be easier and more fun/less traumatic!

SVU Season 16-17 rewatch

Season 16 is really good as a way to get to know the characters if, like me, you stopped watching after Season 12 ended and weren’t sure if it was worth continuing with.

I am very glad I did!

Amaro is just Stabler 2.0, as far as I can tell, but with a little more self-awareness as he realises he needs anger management classes and realises he needs to get out of the force for his physical and mental well-being and that of his kids. 

Olivia was obviously very attached to him, so I felt bad for her as she just keeps losing people. Working with Amaro evidently helped her get over Elliot leaving, and it seems like her relationship with Amaro was healthier than the one she had with Elliot. 

Amaro’s been linked romantically to Amanda, I believe? They are very similar from their upbringing and the way they internalise everything, so I c1n see why they would be drawn to each other.

When the two of them are talking/working  together and Carisi comes to give them some info/an update and they simultaneously answer that he’s not interrupting was funny. 

There’s a courtroom scene where Amanda is being questioned/cross-examined and she is asked about doing the right thing/having enough emotional support/what it means to be a good person and she’s looking in Carisi’s general direction. Very subtle, but made me squee!

I love that he hangs out with her and Fin outside of work, at the video games convention. Fin is still calling him noob/newbie at this point, so perhaps Rollins invited him? Those two always know all the celebrity gossip and who the famous people they need to talk to are. It ties in nicely to their later hang outs where they watch trashy reality TV together. Carisi I can see reading all his sister’s magazines and going to the movies with them to watch rom-coms growing up, as he seems to know a lot about them/says he loves them in the ep with the former teen actress and the producer.

Do we ever get the story about how Sonny was saved by the priests at his Catholic church? He mentions it in the big vlogging/TV religious family episode. I always saw him as a good student. For example  he’d be top of the class but would always ask questions so the other shyer kids who might not have understood and didn’t dare to ask would understand. Or he would tutor them. He seems to work very hard and be very focused, so I think he would be a favourite of the teachers. 

We know he was bullied physically and probably verbally too ( by Bobby Bianchi, at the very least), maybe because he was a bit of a goody-two-shoes. I really can’t see him ever getting into trouble at school or at home. We know he wanted to be a priest, so maybe he just spent a lot of time at church events to escape the bullying/find some real friends.

I was so prepared to hate Mike Dodds but he is very humble, is a bit annoyed to be there because of his dad’s nepotism and he refuses to be a tattle-tale. He apologises when he oversteps his boundaries, listens to feedback and generally gets on with everyone on the team. If he hadn’t had a fiancée, I’m sure he would also have fallen in love with Olivia too! 

Olivia is a very good Lieutenant. I see a lot of Cragen in her, as he would often give the team one-on-one pep talks and always tried to do the right thing when it came to members not doing things by the book. 

Maybe it got lost in translation, or I just struggle to pay attention to and understand the courtroom scenes, but Barba apparently says “Booyah, Fordham Law!” as a comeback/closing argument in a Season 16 episode, but I have never seen it though this is my second time watching. 

He was funny too when Carisi gives his personal and legal opinion on something and Barba says “That’s just your opinion, but yes, it’s correct”. 

Barba also wears fun, brightly coloured socks which are visible when he puts his feet up on the desk. I thought that was a fun way to show that he’s got a soft/emotional/fun side. Maybe because I know how he behaves in later eps towards Olivia, but I definitely find him less cold/unlikeable than I did during my first viewing. 

Something I read about was that potentially the show was going to have Barba and Carisi become romantically involved. Apparently the actors and writers were on board, but the network head said no. 

This would have deprived us of Rollins and Carisi though, and that would have been a big loss. Maybe someone like Dodds could have been gay and had a fiancé, thus having an openly gay member of the team and maybe some tension with Dodds Sr there. However,  Fin’s son Ken gets a storyline in that vein, when he and his husband have a child. 

On the tu/vous ( informal and formal you form) thing, Carisi uses tu with Amanda when she is at the hospital. This may be because they are of the same rank, but it definitely shows a level of friendship/closeness. 

Olivia, on the other hand, uses vous with everyone! Even Dr Huang, who she runs into with Barba, and she’s not in the office. She uses vous with Dodds Jr, even though she outranks him!