Everything You Need To Remember Before Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Premieres
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is heading into a landmark 27th season on television, and there is a lot for fans to remember before the season premieres. The spinoff will be part of a Law & Order Thursday lineup for NBC, fronted by the only remaining original cast member, Mariska Hargitay, as Olivia Benson.
Benson is the captain of the SVU squad, which will continue to tackle new cases on a weekly basis as they have in previous seasons. While the cases might be new each week, the lives of the main characters provide some continuity for the show, and that is what the audience needs to remember before SVU season 27 returns.
Carisi Is Still Dealing With His Trauma
Carisi in the courtroom with his hand to his chin in Law & Order SVUCredit: Image via NBC
One aspect of the job that Law & Order: SVU has not been shying away from in recent seasons is the possibility of ending up with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. While Olivia dealt with its effects on her work in the past, it is now Assistant District Attorney Carisi (Peter Scanavino) who has been experiencing symptoms.
Carisi ended up in the middle of a hostage situation at the beginning of season 26 when visiting a bodega to get flowers. After surviving the ordeal, his confidence was shaken, and safety became a paramount concern for him.
That meant in later episodes of SVU season 26, Carisi was seen nearly falling apart in the middle of court proceedings and expressing his anxiety through his efforts to keep his kids safe. SVU season 27 will likely continue to deal with the fallout, especially since his wife, Sergeant Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish), will be a bigger part of it.
Deputy Chief McGrath Stepped Down
Chief McGrath (Terry Serpico) with his arms crossed in Law & Order SVU.Credit: Image via NBC
Deputy Chief McGrath (Terry Serpico) acted as something of a foil for Captain Benson in SVU. The Deputy Chief, however, stepped down from his position in season 25. While fans were not sad to see McGrath leave SVU, they were surprised he was not replaced in season 26.
That has left something of a void in the chain of command in SVU, a series known for exploring Internal Affairs investigations and committee oversight on cases. Law & Order: SVU season 27 will finally see the debut of a new Deputy Chief for the show.
Law & Order: SVU Silva and Velasco standing in front of yellow crime scene tapeCredit: Image via NBC
In the middle of SVU season 26, it was announced that both Detective Velasco (Octavio Pisano) and Detective Silva (Juliana Aidén Martinez) would not be returning to the series in season 27. While Detective Silva did not get a storyline to conclude her time with the unit, Velasco did.
Velasco received a promotion at the end of season 26, complete with a party recognizing him. SVU provided him with a great send-off, though he has not officially made his exit yet. Pisano has still been filming for early episodes of Law & Order: SVU season 27, so his official exit is still on the way.
Benson And Stabler Are Still Figuring Out Their Relationship
Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler in Law and Order SVUCredit: Image via NBC
One of the most divisive storylines 26 seasons into SVU is the nature of the personal relationship between Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni). Stabler was Olivia’s original partner at SVU before leaving following season 12. The Law & Order: Organized Crime spinoff has allowed him to return.
His return to the franchise has seen some crossover between the two shows, and has seen him admit his deeper feelings for Olivia. Olivia, however, has maintained that she is not ready for more than friendship with him repeatedly in the last few seasons of the show.
Stabler and Benson are still figuring out how to move forward in their friendship, their working relationship, and in the potential for romance. While some fans feel it may be too late in the franchise to continue their story, others are rooting them on.
With Law & Order: Organized Crime not producing any new episodes while SVU season 27 is airing, an outright crossover between the two is unlikely, but Stabler appearing in the season could provide movement on their personal storyline instead.
Familiar Faces Are Returning
Benson leaning on Cassidy in Law and Order SVUCredit: Image via NBC
In fact, Stabler is set to return for at least one episode of SVU season 27. He is also not the only familiar face returning to the show that fans might not have expected to see.
With Velasco back for the start of the season, Terry Bruno (Kevin Kane) upped to a series regular last season, Renee Curry (Aimé Donna Kelly) upped to a series regular for season 27, and Amanda Rollins returning full-time, SVU is going to be full of familiar faces.
Beyond those characters who were recurring last season, however, the show is also bringing back some classic SVU characters for season 27. Brian Cassidy (Dean Winters), who previously worked undercover and became a detective for IAB while dating Olivia, is back for at least one episode in season 27.
Dr. George Huand (DB Wong), who debuted as an FBI agent and psychologist on loan to SVU in season 2, has returned to guest star a handful of times since he left the show, and he will be back for at least one episode of SVU season 27 as well.
Dann Florek, who plays Donald Cragen, and who retired from SVU in season 15, has also been spotted on set while the show has been filming, but he has not officially been confirmed to return. Even so, fans will be seeing quite a mix of classic and new cast members for the show in the new season.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 27 will premiere on NBC on Thursday, September 25 at 9:00 PM with new episodes following weekly.
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Jean de Segonzac, David Platt, Peter Leto, Alex Chapple, Juan José Campanella, Norberto Barba, Constantine Makris, Martha Mitchell, Arthur W. Forney, Michael Slovis, Steve Shill, Alex Zakrzewski, Michael Pressman, Helen Shaver, Mariska Hargitay, Michael Smith, Ted Kotcheff, Fred Berner, Jonathan Kaplan, Holly Dale, Jonathan Herron, Jud Taylor, Adam Bernstein, Jim McKay
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Judith McCreary, David Graziano, Michael S. Chernuchin, Daniel Truly, Jonathan Greene, Amanda Green, Lisa Marie Petersen, Allison Intrieri, Lawrence Kaplow, Jose Molina, Matt Klypka, Michael R. Perry, Samantha Corbin-Miller, Barbie Kligman, Robert F. Campbell, Candice Sanchez McFarlane, Gwendolyn M. Parker, René Balcer, Robert Nathan, Wendy West, Speed Weed, Ryan Causey, Chris Brancato, Christos N. Gage
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