Law & Order: SVU’s First Female Showrunner Is Here To Shake Things Up!

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The clock is ticking until “Law & Order: SVU” joins forces with another Dick Wolf production, but there’s more to talk about before the next episode in 2025. Previously, Michele Fazekas has been selected as the first female showrunner for “SVU.” This news has me buzzing in anticipation of Season 27, especially since she penned an unforgettable episode that delved into Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler’s (Christopher Meloni) intricate relationship.

Michele Fazekas As New Showrunner

Although a confirmation for Season 27 of SVU hasn’t been made as of now in my writing, Deadline suggests that Michele Fazekas, the current showrunner of Gen V and previously an executive producer on SVU, is set to lead the longest-running drama among Dick Wolf’s nine ongoing television shows. Currently, David Graziano will complete Season 26, but Fazekas is expected to take over for the 2025-2026 TV season. Given these circumstances, it seems likely that we can anticipate SVU returning for Season 27.

This move is groundbreaking, given that SVU has had numerous showrunners during its 25 years on air, and all of them have been male until now. Since Mariska Hargitay has starred in every one of the 26 seasons and a significant portion of the over 550 episodes revolve around women as victims of crimes involving “sexually-based offenses” that are “considered especially heinous,” I’ve long advocated for more female representation on the show.

For a while, SVU had a shortage of female characters following Kelli Giddish’s departure as Amanda Rollins and Molly Burnett’s exit as Muncy. However, Season 25 partially resolved this problem by introducing Curry. I’m excited because Michele Fazekas will now make history as the first woman to be in charge of the show.

While it’s important to note that significant transformation may not be immediate with Michele Fazekas as showrunner, her extensive resume has given me a boost of optimism. Among other roles, she served as a producer for SVU during seasons 4-7 and wrote 25 episodes, including “Fault” from season 7. This episode can now be streamed with both Peacock and Hulu subscriptions.

“Fault” Is An Iconic Episode For Olivia Benson And Elliot Stabler

If you’ve been a dedicated fan of “Law & Order: SVU,” especially fond of the dynamic between Benson and Stabler, or perhaps hooked by watching marathon episodes on cable TV, chances are you recall “Fault” as one of the pivotal episodes during Christopher Meloni’s tenure. This isn’t just because Lou Diamond Phillips delivered an exceptional performance as the villainous Victor Paul Gitano in this episode, who was a murderer, rapist, and kidnapper; but rather, it stands out for its impact on the series during that era.

In Season 7, Benson and Stabler’s relationship became challenging, and in “Fault,” it was evident that Stabler chose to ensure Benson was safe when her throat was slashed over saving a young boy. Unfortunately, the boy ended up being murdered before the NYPD could reach him, causing immense guilt for the detective.

In the subsequent scene of the episode penned jointly by Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters, the partners found themselves in a tense standoff with Gitano brandishing a gun and aiming it at Stabler, while a young girl’s life hung in the balance. Benson stood ready with her weapon, facing a critical decision. Eventually, a sniper intervened, discharging a shot that saved Benson from having to make a difficult choice. However, later on, Benson confessed to Stabler that she wouldn’t have been willing to put his life at risk by taking the shot herself.

The pair prioritized their personal bond over their professional duties, leading to a chaotic yet impactful episode titled “Fault.” Benson eventually chose to seek a new partner following Stabler’s confession about something personal. However, this decision didn’t last forever, but it certainly added complexity to the conclusion of Season 7 for the detectives, thereby creating tension that carried over into Season 8.

If you still need convincing that “Fault” was an exceptional episode during the SVU era before Christopher Meloni departed, let me add that I could recite its plot from memory without even needing to look it up! (Yes, I’m one of those fans who initially became hooked by cable TV marathons frequently re-airing this episode.) Being a fan of procedurals and well-rounded characters, I wholeheartedly support more episodes like that!

Discover current favorites on NBC and Bravo, plus revisit beloved shows like Law & Order: SVU by becoming a subscriber of Peacock TV. Starting at just $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year, you can upgrade to the Premium plan for an ad-free experience and the ability to download titles for offline viewing. Take advantage of this offer now!

Since Michele Fazekas co-wrote an episode in 2006, a lot has altered over time. However, her ability to weave substantial character developments with traditional SVU cases in the past gives me confidence that she could do so once more in the future, despite the majority of the regular cast on SVU changing after Season 7.

At this point, there’s still a lot more of “Law & Order: SVU” Season 26 to anticipate, such as the crossover episode with “Law & Order,” which coincidentally airs on the same night as the highly-anticipated fifth season premiere of “Law & Order: Organized Crime.” Even though Christopher Meloni’s new series within the franchise will primarily be available on Peacock, the Season 5 premiere will also play on NBC in its original time slot. Make sure to catch up with Olivia Benson on NBC Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET!

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2025-04-02 03:38