WARNING! SPOILERS ahead for Law & Order: SVU season 26, episode 22, "Post-Rage."
Law & Order: SVU season 26, episode 22, titled "Post-Rage," paved the way for a landmark 27th season for the long-running procedural. Ever since the news broke that two main characters were leaving at the end of Law & Order: SVU season 26, there has been widespread speculation about how they would be written out and why the series decided to let them go. Additionally, Law & Order: SVU will be getting a new head writer for season 27, so these changes are likely due to new directions the series will be moving in.
Benson and her team dealt with one of Law & Order: SVU's creepiest cases during the finale, in which they had to track down a violent serial killer whose crime spree began in a different state. However, the episode ended on a happy note for one departing character. Although SVU didn't leave any overt hints as to how it will proceed, this character's departure cleared the path for a popular character to finally return to the procedural full-time in Law & Order: SVU season 27.
Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Finale's Case Explained
A Violent Attack Led To The Discovery Of A Serial Killer Targeting Therapists
Benson's Law & Order: SVU team is called in after a therapist is raped in her home, barely escaping with her life after the perp stabs her. While the victim's assistant is not forthcoming about potential suspects, citing HIPAA laws as a reason not to share patient lists, the therapist herself quickly identifies a suspect, but soon after he jumps off a bridge while evading arrest, he is proven not to be the man they are looking for.
Law & Order: SVU Just Paved The Way For Amanda Rollins' Return (& That's Why NBC Needs To Renew It For Season 27)
Law & Order: SVU cleared an obstacle to Rollins' return to the Special Victims Unit in season 27, which gives NBC a strong reason to renew the series.
The team does not get a break in the case until another attack, this one fatal, occurs. Benson realizes they are dealing with a serial killer who attacks therapists and gouges out their eyes, symbolically blinding them. After finally identifying the perp, Velasco and Fin apprehend him after a thrilling rush-hour chase through the streets of Manhattan. However, this story may continue next season, as Benson and Fin's manipulations to get a confession may not be legal and Carisi updates Benson at the end of the episode about the perp's plan to use an insanity defense at trial.
Velasco Gets A Promotion & Explains His SVU Exit
The Character Gets Stronger Goodbye Scenes Than Most
"Post-Rage" opens with the staff surprising Velasco with a party at a local bar. Benson breaks the news to Velasco that he has made Detective Second Grade and everyone celebrates, with Silva joking that it's tradition for the promoted detective to buy drinks for everybody all night long. Velasco is as touched as he is surprised by the gesture, but the team soon must get to work on their next case. Throughout the episode, Fin teases Velasco about his new rank. At one point, he also warns Velasco to be careful so that he doesn't mess it up.
Although Velasco used the given name of Joe throughout his run, the ceremony confirms that his legal first name is José.
Velasco is not in any serious danger of losing his rank and performs irably throughout the case. After the perp is arrested, Benson attends a ceremony in which Velasco gets his official designation. While watching him proudly, she flashes back to various conversations she had with Velasco during his time in her unit. These flashbacks both honor Velasco's growth and confirm that he is no longer going to work for the Special Victims Unit now that he has received his promotion.
How Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Writes Out Kate Silva
The Episode Doesn't Mention Her Exit At All
Kate Silva (Juliana Aidén Martinez) is also leaving Law & Order: SVU ahead of season 27, but the episode does not address her exit at all. Silva is mostly a background character throughout the hour. She helps celebrate Velasco's promotion and finds information about the current case, but does not have a storyline of her own, and there is no foreshadowing about her leaving the unit. This is unfortunate, as it's already known that Martinez is the other series regular leaving Law & Order: SVU. Silva's exit isn't a surprise, considering she has gotten poor writing all season long.
However, this oversight means that her exit will be explained via dialogue in season 27 rather than Silva getting a proper exit story. This is unfair to the character and is a mark against the outgoing writing team.
Silva should not be treated as more expendable than Velasco, especially considering her rich backstory and her connection to the deputy commissioner.
Additionally, the disturbing and graphic case could have easily been grounds for Silva to decide this type of work was not for her and transfer to another department.
How The Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Finale Sets Up Rollins' Return
With Benson Short At Least One Team Member, Rollins Can Easily Come Back
Rollins (Kelli Giddish) does not appear in the season finale. However, it's already been reported that Rollins will return full-time to Law & Order: SVU season 27, and Velasco's promotion makes it easier to explain. While Rollins could continue to work for the Intelligence Unit, it's more likely that she will re the Special Victims Unit, and Benson should now have room available to accommodate that request. Thus, Rollins should be able to return to her old role without many problems.
Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Latest Rollins Appearance Points to a Disturbing Trend
Law & Order: SVU season 26, episode 17's latest Rollins guest appearance is part of a negative trend around how the series uses her character.
Rollins had considered returning to the Special Victims Unit at the end of Law & Order: SVU season 25, but Benson filled the position with someone else. However, now, Benson will have two open seats, as both Velasco and Silva are leaving the unit. There is therefore nothing stopping Rollins from transferring into the unit, although the NYPD istration might question her commitment if she transfers so soon after reing the police force.
What To Expect From Law & Order: SVU Season 27
The Long-Running Procedural May Finally Go Back To Basics
Law & Order: SVU season 27 will be headed by a female showrunner, Michelle Fazekas, for the first time in the series' history. Although it is not completely clear what direction Fazekas plans to take the show in, it's likely that she wants to return to the formula that made Law & Order: SVU a success for over a quarter of a century. Hopefully, this will include shorter cold opens, cases being given higher priority than personal stories, and more courtroom action.
The only thing that has been announced so far about Law & Order: SVU season 27 is that Rollins will return as a full-time member of the cast. This decision corrects the serious mistake the procedural made when it wrote Rollins out.
Like many NBC shows, Law & Order: SVU will face budget cuts, which may make it more challenging to produce.
However, it will continue to offer stories that combine procedural elements with and encouragement for real-life sexual assault survivors.
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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- Release Date
- September 20, 1999
- Showrunner
- Robert Palm, David J. Bruke, Neal Baer, Warren Leight, Rick Eid, Michael S. Chernuchin, David Graziano
- Directors
- David Platt, Jean de Segonzac, Peter Leto, Alex Chapple
Cast
Christopher Meloni
Mariska Hargitay
WHERE TO WATCH
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit centers on the NYPD's Special Victims Unit, a specialized team of detectives who investigate and solve cases of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence. Under the leadership of Captain Olivia Benson, the unit deals with complex and sensitive crimes, balancing empathy for victims with the pursuit of justice.
- Writers
- Dick Wolf
- Franchise(s)
- Law and Order
- Creator(s)
- Dick Wolf
- Main Genre
- Crime
- Seasons
- 26
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