Law And Order: SVU’s Fall Finale Was A Devastating Showcase For Peter Scanavino As Carisi, But I’m Confused By The Winter Premiere Promo

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As a dedicated fan who has been following Law & Order: SVU since its inception, I must say that “Cornered” was a rollercoaster of emotions that left me reeling. Peter Scanavino’s portrayal of Carisi was nothing short of exceptional, making me question if he had a hidden camera in my living room for research!

Heads up! The fall finale of NBC’s Law & Order: SVU titled “Cornered” is filled with spoilers. You can watch it right now if you have a Peacock subscription. Enjoy the stream!

The TV series “Law & Order: SVU” isn’t known for being a cheerful show, and the episode titled “Cornered” was exceptionally distressing as it subjected Carisi to intense trials that culminated in a hostage scenario to conclude the 2024 TV season. Although Carisi didn’t suffer the most among those trapped, he exited the ordeal visibly shaken, and the episode may have been Carisi’s most harrowing on SVU. Interestingly, this intense experience might also be the strongest demonstration of Peter Scanavino‘s acting skills. However, I find myself perplexed by the trailer for the winter comeback set to air in the 2025 TV season.

What Carisi Went Through In “Cornered”

In this episode, I had a feeling the tension would reach great heights, especially since it marked Kelli Giddish’s comeback as Amanda Rollins, recalling her significant appearance during what seemed like a backdoor pilot in Season 26. However, I underestimated the level of concern I should have felt for Carisi – and that’s quite remarkable! Coincidentally, Carisi found himself in a hostage crisis while grabbing flowers for his paralegal on her birthday at a deli. The situation only grew more dire as he negotiated with the criminals, all while concealing his past as an NYPD officer turned prosecutor.

frankly, the hostage crisis was so gripping it almost slipped my mind that we were watching an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which for 26 seasons has focused on “sexual offenses being considered particularly heinous.” It wasn’t until the character Boyd, armed and ogling Tess (one of the hostages), displayed behavior reminiscent of past episodes, that I was reminded of this.

In that difficult situation, Carisi found himself holding Deonte at gunpoint, trying to calm him down while Boyd was attacking Tess in another room. At the same time, he was doing everything he could to shield Benson from being offered as a hostage for him. The tension grew increasingly unbearable as events spiraled out of control. Eventually, Carisi managed to convince Deonte to shoot Boyd. Using his NYPD training, he then disarmed the criminal, but in the process, he himself began to break down under the strain.

By the close of the episode, Carisi persistently yet unsuccessfully attempted to assure Benson and Rollins that he was fine, perhaps only managing to deceive himself in the process. He declined the SVU captain’s proposal for a session with her therapist, instead expressing a desire to be with the children. However, Rollins discerned that Carisi was too distressed to do so. When they were alone, Rollins inquired of Benson if Carisi truly seemed okay, to which Benson responded bluntly “No.” And indeed, he was far from it.

Why The Winter Premiere Promo Confuses Me

To start off, I’d like to provide a bit of background for my confusion regarding the winter premiere promo: Peter Scanavino delivered an exceptional performance throughout this episode, leaving me quite shaken. I usually manage to watch SVU without being disturbed myself, but “Cornered” was an exception. I must also acknowledge the impressive portrayal of Tess, played by guest star Paige Herschell, whose frightened screams upon escaping the deli were particularly intense. Additionally, Kelli Giddish’s presence added a significant emotional layer to the episode, especially considering Rollins’ professional demeanor earlier in Season 26.

In summary, despite the fact that SVU is typically a series with occasional crossovers or multi-episode arcs, the episode ending with Carisi struggling to keep it together while Rollins and Benson acknowledge he wasn’t alright seemed to set up a plotline that would continue into the upcoming year. This could have been somewhat hopeful speculation on my part, as I was eager to witness more of Scanavino’s acting abilities beyond the courtroom.

In my opinion, this particular episode of SVU really shone, yet it’s uncertain if I’d rewatch due to the ordeal faced by the character. This is what made me slightly surprised upon viewing the winter promo displayed below:

In the sneak peek for the upcoming SVU return in the new year, Carisi appears to be in perfect shape throughout all the shots. It’s quite surprising since I thought he might seem deep in thought after the heart-wrenching conclusion of “Cornered,” where Rollins and Benson expressed their concerns about his wellbeing. I didn’t anticipate SVU to follow a continuous narrative like Season 5 of Law & Order: Organized Crime, but I hope that the series will delve into this storyline during the latter part of Season 26.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve got to admit, the fall finale of Law & Order left me hanging for one character, and it packed an extra punch after SVU pushed Carisi right up against his limits. For now, we can only keep our fingers crossed until both shows return in the new year, premiering on Thursday, January 16. And just like before, the original series kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, followed by SVU at 9 p.m. ET, both airing on NBC.

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2024-11-22 15:07