# Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 21

The twenty-first season of the American crime-drama television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit premiered on Thursday, September 26, 2019, on NBC and concluded on April 23, 2020. This made the series the longest-running U.S. prime-time drama in history. The season is produced by Wolf Films and Universal Television; the showrunner being Warren Leight.
This season is the first not to feature Philip Winchester as Peter Stone since his introduction in the nineteenth season, following his departure at the conclusion of the previous season.
On March 13, 2020, the production of the twenty-first season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Twenty out of the original twenty-four episode order were completed before production was suspended. The twentieth episode served as the season finale.

## Cast
### Main

* Mariska Hargitay as Lieutenant / Captain Olivia Benson
* Kelli Giddish as Senior Detective Amanda Rollins
* Ice-T as Senior Detective Sergeant Odafin "Fin" Tutuola
* Peter Scanavino as Assistant District Attorney Dominick "Sonny" Carisi, Jr.
* Jamie Gray Hyder as Officer Katriona "Kat" Tamin (episodes 8–20, recurring episodes 1, 4–7)

### Recurring

* Betsy Aidem as Dr. Sloane
* Erin Anderson as Defense Attorney April Andrews
* Demore Barnes as Deputy Chief Christian Garland
* Lauren Biazzo as Detective Marina Cruz
* Ami Brabson as Judge Karyn Blake
* Stephen C. Bradbury as Judge Colin McNamara
* Marisa Brau-Reyes as Defense Attorney Edwina Myerson
* Matt Buechele as Officer Donnie Jones
* Ryan Buggle as Noah Porter-Benson
* Robert John Burke as Captain Ed Tucker
* Charlotte Cabell & Vivian Cabell as Jesse Rollins
* Erica Camarano as Officer Rachel Ortiz
* Tom Coiner as Officer Chuck Inslow
* Vincent Curatola as Judge Al Bertuccio
* Peter Gallagher as Deputy Chief William Dodds
* Ashley Taylor Greaves as Officer Gabrielle Taylor
* Amy Hargreaves as Dr. Alexis Hanover
* Peter Hermann as Defense Attorney Trevor Langan
* Yvonna Kopacz-Wright as Dr. Darby Wilder
* Kecia Lewis as Judge Constance Copeland
* Mouzam Makkar as Defense Attorney Dara Miglani
* Sonia Manzano as Judge Gloria Pepitone
* Michael Mastro as Judge Serani
* Lou Martini Jr. as Defense Attorney Ron Freddo
* Marissa Matrone as Judge Maria Ana DeFeceo
* Edelen McWilliams as Crime Scene Unit Technician Martin
* Olga Merediz as Judge Roberta Martinez
* Lindsay Pulsipher as Kim Rollins
* Zuleikha Robinson as Bureau Chief Assistant District Attorney Vanessa Hadid
* Jeremy Russial as Defense Attorney Robert Kluger
* Jeffrey Schecter as Defense Attorney Art Blumfeld
* Ari'el Stachel as Sergeant Hasim Khaldun
* Jenna Stern as Defense Attorney Elana Barth
* Joseph Lyle Taylor as Defense Attorney Mickey D’Angelo
* Michael Tow as Defense Attorney Josh Wang
* Tamara Tunie as Chief Medical Examiner Melinda Warner
* Aida Turturro as Judge Felicia Catano
* Nicholas Turturro as Detective Frank Bucci
* Ernest Waddell as Ken Randall
* Jasmin Walker as Defense Attorney Marame Touissant
* Stephen Wallem as Nurse Rudy Syndergaard
* Michael Weston as Simon Marsden
* Delaney Williams as Defense Attorney John Buchanan

### Guest

On July 9, 2019, it was announced Jenna Stern would reprise her role as Elana Barth in the season premiere. On July 13, 2019, Leight revealing that Peter Gallagher would also reprise his role as Deputy Chief William Dodds in the first episode of the season. Ian McShane guest-starred in the season premiere, as "a charming and high-profile media mogul who takes on Olivia Benson and the SVU squad after being accused of sexual assault". On July 30, 2019, it was announced that Ariel Winter would guest star in the second episode of the season, titled "The Darkest Journey Home". On August 23, 2019, it was announced that Amy Hargreaves would recur as Dr. Alexis Hanover, a psychologist tasked with teaching the team a new technique, which requires each of them to recall past traumas from their own lives. On October 4, 2019, it was confirmed that Demore Barnes would recur as the new Deputy Chief of SVU Christian Garland, who is described as intelligent and analytical and immediately makes an impression on the detectives during his first case. Dorothi Fox appeared in the sixth episode, titled "Murdered at a Bad Address", as a patient. Margaret Cho appeared in the seventh episode of the season, titled "Counselor It's Chinatown", as a massage-parlor manager swept up in a sex-trafficking sting operation.

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 459 | 1 | "I'm Going to Make You a Star" | Norberto Barba | Warren Leight & Peter Blauner | September 26, 2019 (2019-09-26) | 2101 | 3.84 |
| The Special Victims Unit investigates an attempted rape accusation made by an aspiring young actress (Carmen Berkeley) against Sir Tobias Moore (Ian McShane), a powerful media mogul. The investigation becomes intense, and Benson soon finds herself in the middle of a cat-and-mouse game between herself and Moore. Meanwhile, several changes happen to the Special Victims Unit precinct as Carisi becomes the precinct’s new assistant district attorney, and Benson is promoted to Captain by Dodds, who is transferred to Traffic and Safety Task Force in Staten Island. ||||||||
| 460 | 2 | "The Darkest Journey Home" | Jean de Segonzac | Julie Martin & Warren Leight | October 3, 2019 (2019-10-03) | 2102 | 3.44 |
| A terrified and traumatized young woman (Ariel Winter) claims she was raped, which prompts the Special Victims Unit to investigate. Benson works with her to help her remember the details of the rape and her rapists. Meanwhile, a psychologist visits the Special Victims Unit precinct and teaches Benson, Rollins, and Tutuola a new witness interview technique that will help with future cases, which involves the detectives facing their past traumatic experiences while experiencing the technique. ||||||||
| 461 | 3 | "Down Low in Hell's Kitchen" | Timothy Busfield | Teleplay by : Monet Hurst-Mendoza & Brendan Feeney Story by : Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Julie Martin, & Warren Leight | October 10, 2019 (2019-10-10) | 2103 | 3.42 |
| The Special Victims Unit are called in to investigate when a gay celebrity (Mathis Brooks) claims he is raped by a serial rapist the squad is looking for. However, as time goes on the Special Victims Unit become suspicious of the celebrity’s story, who may not be telling the truth about being attacked. Meanwhile, the Special Victims Unit meet their new Deputy Chief, who immediately makes an impression on the squad and Noah tells Benson that he wishes to join a dance class instead of play baseball. ||||||||
| 462 | 4 | "The Burden of Our Choices" | Martha Mitchell | Teleplay by : Julie Martin & Micharne Cloughley Story by : Warren Leight & Julie Martin | October 17, 2019 (2019-10-17) | 2104 | 3.46 |
| A troubled, runaway teenager (Kira McLean) is found safe and sound and the Special Victims Unit are called in when they learn she is pregnant and she came to New York for an abortion. However, her religious parents clash with the Special Victims Unit, particularly Rollins and refuse to cooperate, which starts Rollins to start suspecting the family is hiding something. Meanwhile, the squad get together for Billie Rollins’ baptism and Officer Katriona Tamin transfers in as a detective-in-training, having assisted on a past case. ||||||||
| 463 | 5 | "At Midnight in Manhattan" | Peter Werner | Teleplay by : Kathy Dobie & Micharne Cloughley Story by : Brianna Yellen | October 24, 2019 (2019-10-24) | 2105 | 3.73 |
| The Special Victims Unit find themselves busy one Friday night with three separate cases involving a woman being brutally raped by her husband, a transgender woman being raped by a man she met that night and a young wealthy woman raped by a driver. The detectives find themselves stressed with the heavy workload, particularly Tamin who struggles with investigating her case and mostly Rollins, who lashes out at Carisi, claiming she is upset that Carisi left his position as a detective and became an assistant district attorney. ||||||||
| 464 | 6 | "Murdered at a Bad Address" | Michael Smith | Teleplay by : Denis Hamill Story by : Denis Hamill, Julie Martin, & Warren Leight | October 31, 2019 (2019-10-31) | 2106 | 3.98 |
| The Special Victims Unit are called in to investigate after a teenage girl is sexually assaulted in the projects. DNA from the rape kit is linked to a double murder from 16 years ago and a case from 2003 is opened again after discovering the man imprisoned for the murder may very well be innocent. Meanwhile, Benson reunites with her troubled brother, Simon Marsden, who wishes to get to know Noah. Unfortunately, Simon dies of a drug overdose, leaving Benson distraught. ||||||||
| 465 | 7 | "Counselor, It's Chinatown" | Leslie Hope | Teleplay by : Kathy Dobie & Lisa Takeuchi Cullen Story by : Julie Martin & Warren Leight | November 7, 2019 (2019-11-07) | 2107 | 3.59 |
| When an Asian human sex trafficking ring is discovered by the Special Victims Unit after a rape victim claimed to have been a victim of the ring’s actions, the detectives go undercover to bust the human sex trafficking ring alongside a fellow detective. Meanwhile, tensions grow between Hadid and the Special Victims Unit as Hadid starts to prove more difficult to work with after she blames the detectives for not arresting the victim to imprison the pimps. ||||||||
| 466 | 8 | "We Dream of Machine Elves" | Jonathan Herron | Teleplay by : Brendan Feeney & Monet Hurst-Mendoza Story by : Julie Martin & Warren Leight | November 14, 2019 (2019-11-14) | 2108 | 3.79 |
| The Special Victims Unit are called in when a young woman is found raped and drugged to the point where she is in a psychotic state. The detectives soon realise that there are several victims linked to the same case and are led to a dodgy therapist with a secret past. In order to catch him in the act, Rollins goes undercover as an aspiring student and discovers several shocking things. ||||||||
| 467 | 9 | "Can't Be Held Accountable" | Norberto Barba | Teleplay by : Brianna Yellen Story by : Julie Martin & Warren Leight | November 21, 2019 (2019-11-21) | 2109 | 3.81 |
| The Special Victims Unit get a request from a fellow detective named Frank Bucci to stop a man named Steve Getz (Vincent Kartheiser) who he believes is sexually grooming his teenage daughters. In an attempt to catch him in the act, Tamin goes against Benson’s orders and goes undercover as the girls' aunt. The detectives soon arrest Getz despite the girls pleas not to but when Getz is let go, an angry Bucci takes matters into his own hands which soon puts Rollins into an extremely dangerous situation. ||||||||
| 468 | 10 | "Must Be Held Accountable" | Laurie Collyer | Teleplay by : Brianna Yellen & Denis Hamill Story by : Warren Leight & Julie Martin | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) | 2110 | 3.70 |
| As Rollins is kidnapped by an angry Frank Bucci and taken to a motel in retaliation for Getz not being charged for raping his daughters, the Special Victims Unit investigate as to why such a bad man like Getz was not charged as they try to track Rollins’ location. They soon discover that the judge who acquitted Getz as well as Getz’s defense attorney may be hiding some sinister secrets themselves which may be the reason why Getz was acquitted in the first place. ||||||||
| 469 | 11 | "She Paints for Vengeance" | Mariska Hargitay | Teleplay by : Kathy Dobie Story by : Kathy Dobie & Julie Martin | January 16, 2020 (2020-01-16) | 2111 | 3.60 |
| The Special Victims Unit investigate the sexual assault of a stripper. The stripper, Monica Russo, is angry due to her case being dismissed before by a detective who believed the case wasn’t important because she was a stripper, which makes her difficult to work with. When trial comes, Carisi deals with the rapist’s attorney, former judge Elana Barth, who is tough and harsh in the courtroom. Meanwhile, Rollins struggles to get over the trauma from her ordeal with Bucci. ||||||||
| 470 | 12 | "The Longest Night of Rain" | Michael Smith | Teleplay by : Peter Blauner Story by : Peter Blauner & Warren Leight | January 30, 2020 (2020-01-30) | 2112 | 3.63 |
| While celebrating Tucker’s retirement party, a police officer (Holly Robinson Peete) walks in uninvited and makes a scene. The Special Victims Unit soon discover that she was raped by a former Internal Affairs officer that Tucker cleared and they launch an investigation, which starts roughly when the police officer commits suicide. Meanwhile, Tucker confides in Benson some devastating news about himself that ends in complete tragedy. The episode is followed by a public service announcement that reads: If you are in emotional distress, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 It's free, confidential, and available 24/7. ||||||||
| 471 | 13 | "Redemption in Her Corner" | Batán Silva | Teleplay by : Monet Hurst-Mendoza & Brianna Yellen Story by : Julie Martin & Warren Leight | February 6, 2020 (2020-02-06) | 2113 | 3.25 |
| A boxing coach comes under suspicion of statutory rape after Tamin suspects that he is having sexual relations with a sixteen year old girl. Tamin steps over the line several times, which frustrates Benson. The case takes an unexpected turn when one of the coach's students assaults the coach and the detectives dig into the students troubled past, which reveals years of broken family trust and damage. ||||||||
| 472 | 14 | "I Deserve Some Loving Too" | Jean de Segonzac | Teleplay by : Denis Hamill Story by : Denis Hamill, Julie Martin, & Warren Leight | February 13, 2020 (2020-02-13) | 2114 | 3.32 |
| The Special Victims Unit arrest an ICE Agent on charges on rape after an undercover sting operation. However, the detectives are led to his boss, who they discover is trading green cards for sex despite the women not wanting to have sex. Meanwhile, Rollins and a Sergeant involved in the case become close when the Sergeant takes Rollins out to a romantic dinner. ||||||||
| 473 | 15 | "Swimming with the Sharks" | Martha Mitchell | Teleplay by : Lisa Takeuchi Cullen Story by : Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Warren Leight, & Julie Martin | February 20, 2020 (2020-02-20) | 2115 | 3.36 |
| The Special Victims Unit investigate the alleged rape of the CEO of a company (Radha Mitchell). Upon catching the accused, the case takes a bizarre twist when he accuses the CEO of crying rape to hide the fact she was stealing money from the company. They are soon led to the CEO’s business partner who claims that the CEO raped her and the detectives soon discover that everybody involved in the case are hiding something. ||||||||
| 474 | 16 | "Eternal Relief from Pain" | Jean de Segonzac | Peter Blauner | February 27, 2020 (2020-02-27) | 2116 | 3.30 |
| Amanda Rollins reunites with her sister Kim after three years of not seeing each other and learns that Kim is possibly facing time in prison and asks for her help. Amanda also learns that Kim has been extorted by her doctor and that Kim has a son. Amanda and the Special Victims Unit soon find themselves investigating Kim’s doctor, who may be extorting not just Kim but several women. ||||||||
| 475 | 17 | "Dance Lies and Video Tape" | Leslie Hope | Teleplay by : Micharne Cloughley & Brendan Feeney Story by : Brendan Feeney, Julie Martin, & Warren Leight | March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26) | 2117 | 3.80 |
| When a surveillance video of two ballet dancers sharing an intimate moment is uploaded to a pornography website, the Special Victims Unit is called in after the female dancer claims no consent was given for the video to be uploaded and begs for it to be taken down. The detectives soon meet a ballet teacher who may be a serial predator using his ballet dancers for more than just ballet but also for sexual pleasuring. ||||||||
| 476 | 18 | "Garland's Baptism by Fire" | Norberto Barba | Cheryl L. Davis & Micharne Cloughley | April 2, 2020 (2020-04-02) | 2118 | 3.53 |
| When a member of Garland’s church is arrested for embezzlement charges, the Special Victims Unit are led to the church’s reverend, who may not only be responsible for embezzlement but also for the statutory rape of several teenage girls and Garland, Benson and the squad battle their emotions with the charges which involves the reverend’s wife standing by her husband and expressing her anger towards Garland and the detectives. ||||||||
| 477 | 19 | "Solving for the Unknowns" | Christopher Misiano | Brianna Yellen & Kathy Dobie | April 16, 2020 (2020-04-16) | 2119 | 4.06 |
| The Special Victims Unit tackle a hard case trying to capture a serial rapist that uses a date rape drug to assault his victims while they are under the influence of the drug. With little to no evidence of his attacks, the detectives struggle to find the rapist and make an arrest. Meanwhile, Rollins is finally promoted to a 2nd Grade detective. ||||||||
| 478 | 20 | "The Things We Have to Lose" | Juan Campanella | Warren Leight & Julie Martin | April 23, 2020 (2020-04-23) | 2120 | 3.69 |
| As Sir Toby Moore is finally brought to trial, the Special Victims Unit face challenges with past cases. Tamin meets Lakira Beca again who alerts her that Paul Davies has raped another transgender woman, Rollins is reunited with Ivy Bucci after arresting for cocaine possession at a party and Tutuola’s career is put in jeopardy after fatally shooting a father who attempted to murder his wife and son. ||||||||

## Production
### Development

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit was renewed for a twenty-first season on March 29, 2019. Production for the season started on July 9, 2019. On April 23, 2019, it was announced Warren Leight, who was showrunner for the series' thirteenth-seventeenth seasons, would return to the series as showrunner, while Michael S. Chernuchin would become showrunner for another Dick Wolf show, FBI. On July 9, 2019, Leight posted a photo on Twitter revealing the first episode's title "I'm Going to Make You a Star". On November 4, 2019, it was announced that Jamie Gray Hyder would be promoted to main cast as Detective-in-training Katriona Tamin from the eighth episode. Hyder had a recurring role from the start of the season.

### Special

An hour-long retrospective, The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU, aired on January 2, 2020.

## Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 21 :
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "I'm Going to Make You a Star" | September 26, 2019 (2019-09-26) | 0.7/4 | 3.84 | 0.8 | 2.99 | 1.5 | 6.83 |
| 2 | "The Darkest Journey Home" | October 3, 2019 (2019-10-03) | 0.7/3 | 3.44 | 0.8 | 2.91 | 1.4 | 6.36 |
| 3 | "Down Low in Hell's Kitchen" | October 10, 2019 (2019-10-10) | 0.6/3 | 3.42 | 0.8 | 2.82 | 1.4 | 6.24 |
| 4 | "The Burden of Our Choices" | October 17, 2019 (2019-10-17) | 0.6/3 | 3.46 | 0.7 | 2.85 | 1.4 | 6.31 |
| 5 | "At Midnight in Manhattan" | October 24, 2019 (2019-10-24) | 0.6/3 | 3.73 | 0.8 | 2.84 | 1.4 | 6.57 |
| 6 | "Murdered at a Bad Address" | October 31, 2019 (2019-10-31) | 0.7/4 | 3.98 | 0.7 | 2.74 | 1.4 | 6.72 |
| 7 | "Counselor, It's Chinatown" | November 7, 2019 (2019-11-07) | 0.6/3 | 3.59 | 0.8 | 2.95 | 1.4 | 6.54 |
| 8 | "We Dream of Machine Elves" | November 14, 2019 (2019-11-14) | 0.7/4 | 3.79 | 0.8 | 2.94 | 1.5 | 6.74 |
| 9 | "Can't Be Held Accountable" | November 21, 2019 (2019-11-21) | 0.7/4 | 3.81 | 0.8 | 2.80 | 1.4 | 6.62 |
| 10 | "Must Be Held Accountable" | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) | 0.7/4 | 3.70 | 0.8 | 2.91 | 1.5 | 6.61 |
| 11 | "She Paints for Vengeance" | January 16, 2020 (2020-01-16) | 0.6/4 | 3.60 | 0.8 | 2.76 | 1.4 | 6.36 |
| 12 | "The Longest Night of Rain" | January 30, 2020 (2020-01-30) | 0.6/4 | 3.63 | 0.8 | 3.06 | 1.4 | 6.69 |
| 13 | "Redemption in Her Corner" | February 6, 2020 (2020-02-06) | 0.6/4 | 3.25 | 0.6 | 2.74 | 1.3 | 5.92 |
| 14 | "I Deserve Some Loving Too" | February 13, 2020 (2020-02-13) | 0.7/4 | 3.32 | 0.8 | 2.89 | 1.4 | 6.22 |
| 15 | "Swimming with the Sharks" | February 20, 2020 (2020-02-20) | 0.7/4 | 3.36 | 0.7 | 2.90 | 1.4 | 6.27 |
| 16 | "Eternal Relief from Pain" | February 27, 2020 (2020-02-27) | 0.6/4 | 3.30 | 0.8 | 2.79 | 1.4 | 6.10 |
| 17 | "Dance Lies and Video Tape" | March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26) | 0.7/4 | 3.80 | 0.7 | 2.74 | 1.5 | 6.55 |
| 18 | "Garland's Baptism by Fire" | April 2, 2020 (2020-04-02) | 0.6/3 | 3.53 | 0.7 | 2.63 | 1.3 | 6.17 |
| 19 | "Solving For The Unknowns" | April 16, 2020 (2020-04-16) | 0.7/4 | 4.06 | 0.8 | 2.76 | 1.5 | 6.83 |
| 20 | "The Things We Have To Lose" | April 23, 2020 (2020-04-23) | 0.7/3 | 3.69 | 0.7 | 2.73 | 1.4 | 6.40 |