The episode pits Detective Olivia Benson against Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Casey Novak. Both let their extreme personal biases completely blur their professional judgment. 🎭 The Double Meaning of "Blinded"
Benson is furious that Novak is attempting to help the man who severely injured her partner. [S9E7] Blinded
Stabler is literally blinded for most of the episode due to his head injury. This triggers a protective, vengeful streak in his partner, Olivia Benson. 2. Casey Novak's Emotional Blindness The episode pits Detective Olivia Benson against Assistant
Saul Picard (played by guest star Arye Gross), a violent, schizophrenic artist who abducts a young girl. Stabler is literally blinded for most of the
Novak desperately wants to prove that Picard is incompetent to stand trial due to his mental illness.
During the arrest, Picard flies into a schizophrenic rage and severely injures Detective Elliot Stabler by slamming him through a car window. Stabler suffers a concussion and temporary blindness .
Olivia wants the maximum punishment possible for Picard and explicitly wants to see him sent to Louisiana, where he would face the death penalty for his crimes.
