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Law & Order Season 21 Episode 8 Recap “Severance”

Don’t miss Celebrity Myxer’s recap of Law & Order Season 21 Episode 8 “Severance.” When the CFO of a Fortune 500 company is found strangled in her home, Bernard and Cosgrove work to connect multiple dead ends to find her killer. The prosecution is faced with an uphill battle as McCoy and Price butt heads over a choice that could cost them the case. Here’s what you missed!

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Watch Law & Order Season 21 Episode 8 “Severance”

Previously on Law & Order Season 21 Episode 7, the authorities and prosecution worked a case similar to real-life events. The episode was likely based on the Ethan Crumbley case, a 15-year-old Crumbley committed a mass shooting at his high school in Michigan. The parents were blamed for the child’s malice.

Bernard and Cosgrove are confronted with several suspects in the shooting of a headmaster at an elite private school. The investigation lead them to a troubled teen who was being pressured by his father to stand up for himself. Ultimately, the prosecution shifted towards the father (who equipped his son with the gun) and they found him guilty.

Warning… Spoilers below!

On Law & Order Season 21 Episode 8, the Chief Financial Officer of a Fortune 500 company, Alexus Morphew, is found strangled to death in her home. She received a ring at her door and knew the person who killed her…

Toxic Workplace

The investigation showed how much Alexus was a workaholic. She worked for the Telsa-equivalent of tech companies, Questarc. In speaking with the CEO, Ethan Merrick, he pointed detectives to a disgruntled former employer who verbally and physically confronted her. He was fired because Alexus suggested there were several men in the C-Suite at the company and needed diversification, yet he was offered a handsome severance package to leave. In speaking with the man they learned of his alibi and he claimed that she had plenty of enemies and pointed them to Alexus’ assistant.

Detectives speak to a man about the murder victim on Law & Order Season 21 Episode 8

Detectives speak to a man about the murder victim on Law & Order Season 21 Episode 8

The assistant told them about a possible affair she was sneaking away to meet a man. This leads them to Robert Fletcher, an investigative reporter who worked with Alexus on a story to take down the CEO of her company, Ethan Merrick.

Detectives dug deeper into Ethan as his workplace was toxic. They hauled Ethan in for interrogation and found that he lied about his initial alibi on the night of Alexus’ murder. Ethan claimed to be secretly dating an employee and didn’t want the optics to leak. He offered a DNA sample which cleared him. Combing through security footage revealed another man lurking near her home, Gus Imelski, the founder of a solar company who was to sell his company to Questarc.

Detectives visited Gus and he claimed to not have killed Alexus and pointed them back towards Collin Baker, the consultant they initially spoke with. They confronted him with a lie that he told, he claimed he never met Alexus in person and only spoke with her via Zoom calls. They found scratches on his arms and then haul him down to the police station…

Blame It On The Government

At Collin’s arraignment, his attorney pleaded he be released on bail, that he was heavily medicated because he suffered from severe migraines, and that he wasn’t a flight risk as his wife was a physician and could care for him at home. The judge remanded him. Collin started to crack up a bit after hearing the judge’s orders. ADA Price felt he was building for a mental defense later on…

However, in the judge’s chambers, the voluntary DNA submission Collin gave was tossed out. Price’s opening statement painted Collin’s picture at work. He overvalued Gus’ company Questarc would potentially purchase by more than $100 million. Alexus found out and terminated the deal… establishing a motive. During the case, Collins outbursts and was forced out by guards.

The defense then changed their plea to a mental disorder, Havana syndrome. An expert came to the DA’s office to describe the mental disorder, as it was a valid condition. It was described as the person’s brain being zapped by microwaves. DA McCoy subpoenaed the Deputy Director of the CIA who asked him to shuffle the blame for Collin’s actions onto the Agency. McCoy didn’t offer any promises.

Havana Syndrome

 

Detectives uncover plenty of dead ends trying to find her killer. When they do apprehend the suspect, his plea will be one to challenge the legal system!

ADA Price and DA McCoy disagree on the prosecution's strategy on Law & Order Season 21 Episode 8

ADA Price and DA McCoy disagree on the prosecution’s strategy on Law & Order Season 21 Episode 8

McCoy took the pivot to Price and they butted heads on the best prosecutorial route. McCoy knew the defense would muddy the waters and shift the blame on the government. Price was convinced the man is lying and was confident he could win… McCoy permitted him to proceed.

While at trial, of course, the defense compared Collin’s condition similar to that of CTE which football players often suffer. Price swatted at that defense with the data… no other Havana syndrome sufferer was compelled to murder.

When his wife approached the stand, she explained how his behavior lately had grown more violent and the outbursts were more frequent. Price attacked her for being a certified physician yet missed his signs. He pressed that the symptoms weren’t as severe as the current claim…

When Collin testified he claimed to visit Alexus’ home to talk about the valuation, experienced a blackout, emerged to see her dead, and ran home in fear. Price ripped at Collin’s excuses and he actually admitted to the crime happening yet maintained his condition forced him to do it and he apologized for it.

The jury found Collin not guilty by reason of mental disease…

What did you think of Law & Order Season 21 Episode 8? Let’s talk about Law & Order in the comments below! Missed any of the episodes? Catch up with our recaps!

Air Date: May 5, 2022

Law & Order

  • Sam Waterston as District Attorney Jack McCoy
  • Anthony Anderson as Detective Kevin Bernard
  • Jeffrey Donovan as Detective Frank Cosgrove
  • Camryn Manheim as Lieutenant Kate Dixon
  • Hugh Dancy as ADA Nolan Price
  • Odelya Halevi as ADA Samantha Maroun
  • Shayvawn Webster as Dani Vertiz

Guest Cast

  • Audrey Harden as Julia Baker
  • Stephen Reich as Terry Bellatoni
  • Francie Swift as Diana Marcus
  • Noah Kieserman as Gus Imelski

Catch a new episode each week on NBC, stream the next day on Peacock, check out the listings dates below. Stay right here, stay mixed in for Law & Order Season 21 Episode 9, Bernard and Cosgrove must sift through fact and fiction to find the killer of a young Manhattan socialite! Drop your email to get insights into your inbox…

Will There Be A Law & Order Season 22?

Yes! Law & Order Season 22 has been renewed. See when it will return...

Law & Order Season 21 Episode Guide

Season Episode Title Air Date
21 10 Black and Blue” Law & Order Season 21 Finale May 19, 2022
21 9 The Great Pretender May 12, 2022
21 8 Severance May 5, 2022
21 7 Legacy April 28, 2022
21 6 Wicked Game April 14, 2022
21 5 Free Speech April 7, 2022
21 4 Fault Lines March 17, 2022
21 3 Filtered Life March 10, 2022
21 2 Impossible Dream March 3, 2022
21 1 The Right Thing” Law & Order Season 21 Premiere February 24, 2022

Photo credit: NBC

About the Author
Sir Anthony is the Managing Director and Chief Editor of Celebrity Myxer. He has nearly two decades of experience as a journalist and is an expert content writer.

5 comments on Law & Order Season 21 Episode 8 Recap “Severance”

  1. Sal says:

    It’s Francie Swift, not Francie Smith.

  2. Sal says:

    She was also in the episode Merger around 1999.

  3. Amanda Brooks says:

    Who is the actor that played Ethan Merrill character?

  4. Veronique W. says:

    It’s CTE not CET.

    1. Sir Anthony says:

      Thanks for that.

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