When Law & Order: Special Victims Unit returns for its new season this month, one of its two main stars will be gone. Chris Meloni opted not to return. There's also talk that the other star, Mariska Hartigay, has opted not to have as much screen time this season. The Law & Order franchise has seen the turnover of many, many stars, but this will be the first time that the duo of Benson and Stabler won't be working side by side on SVU (aside from a few episodes where one of the leads was on holiday).
But the show will be returning to NBC this year as the last remaining Law & Order left on the air. Two new detectives will be joining the squad room and we'll see the return of some familiar faces. Here's what's in store for SVU.
What About Stabler?
New showrunner Warren Leight told TV Guide that when SVU returns Stabler will be on administrative leave. The episode will explain what ends up happening to the character. As for whether Chris Meloni will ever return to give Stabler a proper send-off, we really don't know. Leight says he's definitely not in the first six episodes, so we may or may not see him again, depending on what happens between him and the network.
What About Benson?
Benson will spend the premiere and several episodes after it dealing with the effect of Stabler being gone. How she'll readjust after having a partner for 12 years will take up the first quarter of the new season, according to TV Guide. Benson will be showing the new detectives the ropes because she's one of the senior officers in the squad room.
Two New Dectectives
Speaking of the newbies, two new actors are joining the cast this season. First up is Kelli Giddish, who will be playing Amanda Rollins. Rollins is supposed to be a very smart, technical detective. Then there's Nick Amaro (played by Danny Pino). Apparently Amaro will be very good at reading people and this will come in handy when trying to elicit confessions.
Familiar Faces Returning
Stephanie March and Diane Neal will both be reprising their roles as DAs Cabot and Novak. It seems like Leight wants to reemphasize the legal aspects of the show and bring back two iconic DAs to strut their stuff in the courtroom. Chances are they both won't be appearing in the same episode, but will be switching off on trying cases. Capt. Cragen will also be trying to regain control over his squad room again after the events of last season's finale.
Below is a trailer for the new season. Law & Order: SVU returns with all new episodes on Wednesday, September 21 at 10:00 p.m. ET on NBC.
Honestly, I was under the impression they were just going to write Stabler out of the series as "After blowing a hole the size of a grand canyon in a kid, he couldn't cope with being a cop anymore." (or something to that effect, you get the idea).
Why complicate matters when the finale presented a perfect opportunity to write him out of the series?
The show DEFINATELY will not be the same without Chris Maloni.
creo que todos sabemos porque no va a dejar de ser policia, si las cosas se ponen feas, que ese creo yo, tienen la posibilidad de volver a traerlo. me encanta mariska pero sin chris no es lo mismo. y no me gusta nada kelli giddish
I hope that Eliot. Returns its gonna suck of he don't
please please please bring back stabler if as a guest p.s they made the show
Olivia and stabler make the show what it is. Without them both as a team this show could end up being horrible. I have watched every single episode since the first day. This show is awesome. And the writing is amazing. Please keep the same cast together.