Summary
Law & Order: SVUrecently offered a casting update that contains disappointing news about Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish). Rollins was part of the series from seasons 13 through 24, leaving halfway through her final season. She has made several guest appearances since she left to become a teacher, the last of which seemed to set up a return. Because of this and her close relationship with Mariska Hargitay, there was widespread speculation that she would be part of theLaw & Order: SVUseason 26 team.
Rollin’s exit was one of thesaddestLaw & Order: SVUepisodesin recent memory. Although she was far from a model employee when she first began, she and Benson developed a close friendship. Naturally, Benson was devastated when Rollins left to take a teaching position. Thus, when Rollins quit her teaching job and tagged along on a Manhattan SVU case, it seemed to open the door for her return. However,Rollins' return was never guaranteed, especially since the episode ended without Rollins being rehired. Still, it is disappointing that Rollins isn’t included in Benson’s new team.
Why Kelli Giddish’s Law & Order: SVU Exit Is Controversial (& Bad)
Kelli Giddish’s character Amanda Rollins will leave the show in Law & Order SVU season 24 and fans are (understandably) not happy about this exit.
Benson Gets A Full Team In Law & Order: SVU Season 26
Her Department Is Fully Staffed For The First Time In Years
Benson has had a lot of staffing problems after Rollins' exit. Six months after Rollins left, newbie Grace Muncy (Molly Burnett) transferred out of the unit, and throughout the second half of season 24 and all of season 25, the Manhattan SVU captain has had a rotating team of temporary detectives from the Bronx SVU. Many of these detectives stayed for only a few episodes. The majority of detectives who came and went were female, making it feel as ifLaw & Order: SVUwas trying to find the perfect Rollins replacement and ushering failures out the door.
Law & Order: SVUseason 26 promises to reverse this trend, as Benson now has a full team. Not only is Bronx SVU alum Bruno (Kevin Kane) going to become a permanent part of the team with Benson, Fin, and Velasco, but a new female detective is joining the squad. This gives Benson four permanent detectives to work with, which means thatthe job Rollins could have taken during her last appearance is most likely filled now.
Can Rollins Still Appear In Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Despite Benson’s Team?
No Guest Appearances Have Been Announced Yet
Law & Order; SVU’s Rollins has made several guest appearancessince the character left the squad, so there’s no reason she couldn’t return in this capacity again. She is still married to Sonny Carisi (Peter Scanavino), who is the main ADA working on various SVU cases. This leaves the door open for Rollins to come and go as the story demands. Thus, while the series has not yet announced any guest appearances for season 26, it’s possible that Rollins will return once again sometime during the year.
Rollins is a popular character, so it would be a mistake forLaw & Order: SVUseason 26to completely eliminate her. It doesn’t appear she will be a series regular despite star Hargitay’s hope that the series would reverse its decision to write Rollins out. However, guest appearances are better than nothing, and those are still likely once the new year gets underway.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Cast
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a television series that premiered in 1999. Set in the criminal justice system of New York City, it follows an elite team of detectives who investigate sexually-based offenses, focusing on their efforts to solve complex cases and seek justice for victims.
