Law & Order: SVU season 21 episode 4 promo: A crisis of state lines

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We had a sense that Law & Order: SVU season 21 episode 4 was going to be a compelling, gut-wrenching episode of the show. Now, thanks to the latest promo from NBC, we have a better sense as to precisely what the team is going to be dealing with.

At the center of “The Burden of Our Choices” is a 13-year old girl, one who has fled from Ohio to New York City. Why has she done this? The promo below suggests that her pregnancy may have a good bit to do with it. She has an opportunity to make a different decision in New York than she did back in Ohio, and this, plus her age and the attitude of her parents, make this case impossibly complicated. Can the parents force her to keep her unborn child … or can the law? These are some of the questions that will be asked in what should be a very topical hour of TV.

Granted, you can make the argument that stories within this vein are almost always going to be topical to a certain degree, given that it’s been a subject of public discourse for so many years now. Yet, the magic of SVU is continuing to find ways to reinvent itself and make their stories timeless, while also existing within a certain era. Remember that there are probably cable stations out there that will continue to air this episode and others for many years from now, and much of what we’re seeing here needs to be relevant towards that. The big question within this episode seems to revolve around state laws and jurisdictions — with that, expect it to be heavy on the legal side of things.

Beyond the case itself, remember that this episode is also going to feature the return of Peter Hermann as Trevor — anytime that we have a chance to see him step into the world of SVU again, it’s a cause for great happiness. It’s a part of what makes this show what it is at this point — an incredibly deep bench full of people they can bring back at just about every turn.

What do you want to see on Law & Order: SVU season 21 episode 4?

Be sure to share some of your thoughts and theories for how this could go below! Once you do that, remember to stick around to score some additional updates. (Photo: NBC.)

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