Law & Order: SVU’s Only Way to Do Justice to Olivia Benson? Following Grey’s Anatomy’s Lead
She deserved to take some days off after everything that’s happened.
One of the main benefits of a show that runs as long as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit does is the ability to follow the life of a central character through all the years. In other TV shows or movies, where directors don't have two decades' worth of material, flashbacks have to be filmed and inserted manually. With SVU, fans can pick any moment and watch it as a flashback.
Of course, managing a show like this comes with its own set of challenges. With 24 seasons behind you, you always have to keep in mind some of the major milestones of the character and be on the lookout for potential triggers. Also, there's only so much you can tell in a show without completely changing the premise.
This is why many Law & Order: Special Victims Unit fans are in awe of what the team behind the show has been able to do. However, with all due respect, it feels like there's nothing more they can say, do, or get into without completely ruining the main character, Olivia Benson.
The controversy surrounding Benson, who has been portrayed by Mariska Hargitay for the past 24 years, began long before today. As the character rose through the ranks of her unit, she became more and more difficult to understand at times. This is to be expected given the nature of her job, and perhaps the changes are even realistic.
However, they are not fun to watch. If anything, even the most loyal fans who have stuck with the show from the beginning have to admit that it only becomes watchable when Benson is out of the frame.
There is a solution to this problem that doesn't require canceling the show altogether.
If Law & Order: SVU decides to follow in the footsteps of another media giant, Grey's Anatomy, and sidetrack the main character, the show may get a much-needed reboot. Done incorrectly, this could lead to a backlash, but it is better to lose viewers over the change than to ruin such a beloved character.
As of today, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has been renewed for its 25th anniversary season. Although there is no information on when the next chapter of the series will air, many expect it to be the last, at least in this particular format. Keep an eye out for any important news or behind-the-scenes updates!