| "And The Empire Strikes Back" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | SVU, Episode 23.01 | → |
| Production number: 23001 First aired (US): 23 September 2021 First aired (UK): 16 May 2022 First aired (CAN): 23 September 2021 First aired (AUS): 2 December 2021 | ||
 | ||
| Written By Julie Martin & Warren Leight & Bryan Goluboff Directed By Norberto Barba | ||
Summary[]
As the investigation into a sex-for-housing scheme expands, Benson's loyalty to Garland is tested. Rollins and Carisi try to keep their witnesses on board when a powerful congressman is identified as a suspect.
Plot[]
plot
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson
- Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins
- Ice-T as Sergeant Odafin Tutuola
- Peter Scanavino as A.D.A. Dominick Carisi, Jr.
- Jamie Gray Hyder as Detective Katriona Tamin
- Demore Barnes as Deputy Chief Christian Garland
Recurring cast[]
- Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler
- Octavio Pisano as Detective Joe Velasco
- Stephen Bradbury as Judge Colin McNamara
- Aime Donna Kelly as IAB Captain Renee Curry
- Terry Serpico as Chief Tommy McGrath
- Ben Rappaport as Justin Howard
- TJ Lee as Celia Long
- Saverio Guerra as Paulie Banducci
- Angelic Zambrana as Rosa Estrada
- Ryan Garbayo as Ruben Ortiz
- Glenn Fleshler as Myron Gold
- Isabelle Poloner as Jenna Evans
- Jeffrey Schecter as Attorney Art Blumfeld
- Carrie Kim as Céline Tatou
- Trian Long-Smith as Lamai Garland
- Zabryna Guevara as Dr. Catalina Machado
- Ashley Taylor Greaves as Officer Gabrielle Taylor
- Chrystle Anjelee as Hayden Smith
- Kadia Saraf as U.S. Attorney Anya Avital
- Tim Hardiman as Chief Hardiman
- Colton Osorio as Felipe Estrada
Guest cast[]
- Amber Ardolino as Rep #1
- Tug Watson as EMT
- Bob Leszczak as High-Ranking Police Officer (uncredited)
References[]
- William Dodds
- Lulu Davis
- Diego Morales
- Angela Wheatley
- Richard Wheatley
- Dua Lipa
- Lizzo
- Billie Eilish
- Matt Gaetz
- Olivia Rodrigo
Quotes[]
- Tutuola: Nothin' sadder than rich white people congratulating themselves.
Background Information and Notes[]
- During Benson's talk with IAB, flashbacks are shown from the Law & Order: Organized Crime season 1 finale "Forget It Jake; It's Chinatown". They include Sergeant Ayanna Bell shooting Detective Diego Morales and the first meeting of Richard Wheatley with Olivia Benson.
- This episode marks the first appearance of Joe Velasco.
- In this episode, Benson is seriously injured and left unable to walk without crutches. This plot was written in so Hargitay could still appear on the first few episodes of the season after she was seriously injured as a result of a fall, being unable to walk without crutches.[1]
- Goof: When Benson has her hallucination that Stabler is part of the ambulance crew rescuing her, he's wearing the beard he grew for his undercover assignment on Law & Order: Organized Crime but Benson could not have hallucinated Stabler with a beard because she hadn't seen him with a beard yet. In fact, she had just had seen him without a beard a few hours ago when they were at the wedding in the previous episode.
- Actors Terry Serpico and Kadia Saraf had their first meeting during this episode. They would go on to get married in real life with Mariska Hargitay and her husband, actor Peter Hermann, in attendance.
Episode scene cards[]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Compstat |
The Alpha Grill |
Harlem Meer |
Conference Room |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Surveillance Suite |
Mercy Hospital |
Arraignment Court |
Grand Jury Room |
Footnotes[]
| Previous episode: "Wolves In Sheep's Clothing" |
"And The Empire Strikes Back" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 23 |
Next episode: "Never Turn Your Back On Them" |