Law and Order: SVU: The Post-Christopher Meloni Era

By Simon Tse

Last week marked the beginning of a new era.   Law and Order: SVU premiered its 13^th season without Christopher Meloni.  Christopher Meloni portrayed the lead character Elliot Stabler for the first 12 years of the show.  Unfortunately, Meloni left the show at the end of the 12^th season. 

 

(Christopher Meloni left the show at the end of the 12^th season, but he will be appearing in Zack Synder’s  “Superman: The Man of Steel” movie.)

This week’s episode focuses on two stories:  A maid being attacked by an Italian diplomat and how Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargity) deals with losing a partner.  The entire episode felt exactly the same as any other episode I have seen from the previous seasons. Even though the maid story is interesting, the second story was far more interesting.  This episode was intended to introduce new and past characters to the show and focuses more on Hargity character. Fans of Olivia Benson will feel a bit emotional towards the end of the episode.  The new characters somehow fit well with the show, but it will take time for long time viewers to get adjusted.

(Detective Rollins (left), played by Kelli Giddish, joins the cast for the 13^th season and Mike Cutter (right), played by Linus Roache, made his return to television after appearing in the original Law and Order series).

Overall, the new season is going to feel like a different show because of the absence of Christopher Meloni.  Some time change is good because it brings new blood to the show.  If you have never watched Law and Order:SVU, then this is a good time to start.  Long time viewers might feel disappointed (The premiere was only watched by about 7 million viewers compare to C.S.I. 12 million viewers.), but give this season some time to develop with the new characters.  Who knows?  It might actually be good.  I will definitely keep watching because they will be introducing another new character.