Regulation & Order: SVU returns within the 2025 TV schedule with a winter premiere to observe up on the autumn finale hostage scenario that was traumatic for Carisi. Regardless of its standing as arguably TV’s most profitable fashionable procedural, SVU goes to select up on that storyline to begin 2025, and Peter Scanavino spoke with CinemaBlend about how Carisi is coping with what he went via… or not coping with it, because the case could also be. After I rewatched the autumn finale to arrange for the interview and winter premiere, I completely get what the actor means.
Thankfully, it is not exhausting to rewatch older episodes of SVU with a Peacock subscription, however that is nearly all that is lucky from the Season 26 fall finale that aired again in November. I felt instantly after watching it final 12 months that it was each one of many standout episodes of the season and presumably Scanavino’s most interesting work on SVU out of greater than 200.
That feeling did not change after I rewatched the episode, referred to as “Cornered,” however the abrupt change from the disaster being an easy Regulation & Order hostage scenario to one of many hostages being pulled away to be assaulted whereas Carisi might solely hear… properly, that hit more durable this time, which is saying one thing after how exhausting it hit the primary time round! Carisi was understandably a large number on the finish of the episode, so after I spoke with Peter Scanavino, he opened up concerning the time bounce forward to the winter premiere on January 16:
It is undoubtedly just a few weeks, as a result of he is clearly again at work. I do not suppose he’d be proper again at work after the deli episode, however he is again at work. He is type of going via the motions, however he is bought this drawback the place he is simply type of sleepwalking via life, in a manner. That is type of his challenge now. He is modified, however he nonetheless has to do all of the issues that he needed to do earlier than, and the way he is in a position to navigate it.
The winter premiere is known as “First Gentle,” and can characteristic Carisi’s makes an attempt to maneuver on from what he went via whereas additionally going through the information that one of many man accountable modified his plea. The sneak peek episode clip (seen above) reveals that he isn’t taking it properly, but additionally signifies that Rollins and Benson are evaluating notes to keep watch over him. Kelli Giddish visitor stars within the episode as properly for the second time in Season 26.
Carisi himself in fact is not making an attempt to case in opposition to the person from the hostage scenario, with Regulation & Order‘s new DA Nick Baxter getting a shout out within the clip. The truth is, in line with Peter Scanavino, his character hasn’t been making an attempt any instances over the course of the time bounce. He previewed:
He is again being an ADA. I do not suppose he is had one other case since that one, so this episode is his first case that he is actually taking over. As a result of he is been again at work, however not fairly actually participating because the ADA, like he was earlier than. That is the primary case again.
Kelli Giddish guest-starring in “First Gentle” is an effective signal that Carisi is likely to be getting the help he wants however cannot essentially whereas working as an ADA, but it surely was additionally clear on the finish of the autumn finale that his highway to restoration wasn’t going to be very easy. Peter Scanavino went on to share how the individuals round Carisi have reacted to the tempo of his progress, saying:
I feel all people’s very affected person, however once more, you will be affected person, but it surely’s his line of labor. It is not about him, and whilst you wish to be delicate to what he is going via, he nonetheless has tasks and issues that he has to do, and if he’s failing, that has repercussions for different individuals, not simply him. And so I feel it is type of affected person, but additionally there’s some robust love concerned, and possibly some some individuals near him say some issues that he wants to listen to.
Carisi wasn’t prepared for “robust love” when final we noticed him in 2024; might that be precisely what he must get again to his previous self to begin out 2025? That is still to be seen, however followers can depend on one other standout efficiency from Scanavino within the winter premiere, which airs on NBC on Thursday, January 16 at 9 p.m. ET.
As at all times within the 2024-2025 TV season, SVU episodes launch between Regulation & Order, which has a presumably career-ending twist for one character to resolve, at 8 p.m. ET and Discovered Season 2 with a Station 19 alum on the way in which at 10 p.m. ET. As for Regulation & Order: Organized Crime Season 5… properly, the wait continues to be on for Christopher Meloni’s present to debut as a Peacock Unique.