As Law And Order: SVU Moves On With Carisi, I’m Flashing Back To What Kelli Giddish Told Us About Reuniting With Mariska Hargitay

As a long-time fan who has witnessed the evolution of SVU since its inception, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia and excitement with the return of Kelli Giddish as Amanda Rollins in Season 26. It’s been a while since we last saw her, and her abrupt departure halfway through Season 24 left a noticeable void. But now, she’s back in the NYPD fold, albeit not in Special Victims this time around.


In Season 26 of “Law & Order: SVU,” Kelli Giddish’s character, Amanda Rollins, didn’t take long to make a return, and this reappearance isn’t linked to her teaching or a family moment with the Rollisi clan. Instead, she’s back with the NYPD in a narrative development that hints at Giddish’s continued involvement as the season unfolds, although she’s not yet back on Special Victims. As “SVU” delves further into Carisi’s side of the Rollisi storyline, involving a young character named Jesse, I find myself reminiscing about Kelli Giddish discussing her reunion with Mariska Hargitay on set.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but keep Rollins at the forefront of my thoughts, especially with NBC announcing the upcoming episode titled “Constricted,” set to air on October 24. Intriguingly, it seems there might be a side story unfolding between Carisi and Jesse, as hinted in the official description.

A romantic date ends with a teenager fighting for her life in the hospital. Carisi can’t help bringing the case home with him as he envisions the dangers ahead for his growing daughters.

Refreshing my memory of Kelli Giddish referring to Peter Scanavino as a “baby whisperer” on set, not long after she expressed her joy about rejoining the SVU family in an interview with TopMob, brought back the sentiment she conveyed. During our conversation about her eagerness to resume playing Rollins and catch bad guys again, I inquired about her feelings upon returning after much discussion surrounding her departure from the show during Season 24, and she divulged:

It’s delightful to hear that many people are excited about my return, and it certainly boosts my confidence when they say, “We want Rollins back!” It’s truly an honor to be invited back and to rejoin the team. Coming back is like returning home for Thanksgiving dinner. [laughs] Plus, I get to work with Mariska again!

In the long-running “Law & Order: SVU” series, Kelli Giddish, who played a significant role across many episodes of the franchise, was conspicuously missing midway through Season 24. This absence marked a pivotal moment for the show, and it had a noticeable impact on character Olivia Benson in particular. Initially, there was a frosty atmosphere when they met again later that season, as Benson grappled with the sudden loss of her daily companion, Giddish’s character.

It appears that there’s no ice between the off-screen pals Kelli Giddish and Mariska Hargitay. In the latest episode of Season 26, Benson showed support for Rollins in her new role with the NYPD’s Intelligence Bureau. You can watch it now if you have a Peacock subscription. Giddish expressed excitement about rejoining the entire SVU crew, stating:

Looking forward to reuniting with my entire team, including the camera crew, props personnel, and everyone else I’ve collaborated with for numerous years. It’ll be great catching up on their lives, especially the progress of their children. Plus, I get the opportunity to step into this fascinating character once more, who continues to evolve and grow. Each time, the challenges she faces are unique and the creators have done an excellent job in keeping her development engaging.

The return episode for Kelli Giddish, where she was introduced as a new sergeant in the NYPD’s Intelligence Bureau, seemed to me less like a standalone episode and more like an audition for a potential spin-off series. Even if there won’t be another series like “Law & Order: Organized Crime” for Giddish similar to Christopher Meloni, I view it as a positive sign that the story feels unfinished and ripe for further exploration.

For now, there’s no word on when we can expect Rollins to return in Season 26, but the upcoming episode of SVU delves into the Rollins/Carisi family dynamics. With October 24 fast approaching, fans will need to tune in to discover what twists and turns NBC’s enduring drama has prepared for us. Given Carisi’s long history with Special Victims Unit, spanning over a decade as both a detective and an ADA, it seems almost natural that he would be worried about Jesse and Billie at this point. Here’s a sneak peek at the case that will likely trouble him:

Find out what’s coming up for Carisi and Rollins, including potential appearances together by Kelli Giddish as a guest star. Don’t miss new episodes of Law & Order: SVU every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on NBC, following Season 24 of Law & Order at 8 p.m. ET. For a refresher on Giddish’s tenure as a regular, catch up on the complete library of SVU available for streaming on Peacock.

Read More

2024-10-24 16:07