How could you do that, Dick?
For those who have been living under a rock for the past 25 years, this iteration of Law & Order focuses on the Special Victims Unit, which focuses on sex crimes, noting the unique nature of these crimes and the impact they have on the victims. SVU premiered in 1999 and now holds the distinction of being the only live-action primetime television series created in the 90’s that continues its uninterrupted run today.
25 seasons later, fans and critics alike remain hooked on this amazing show, despite changes and some character departures that have shocked us all.
Notable Character Departures
Any long-running television series will inevitably say hello and goodbye to various characters over the course of its run. Main character Eliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) was a shocking loss when he departed at the end of Season 12, leaving secondary protagonist Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) to take over. Fans were delighted when Stabler returned as a recurring character in Season 22, and so far he has stuck around.
Sgt. John Munch (Richard Beltzer), Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek) and psychiatrist George Huang (BD Wong) were other exits that fans did not see coming and felt like they left a hole. But the loss of Detective Grace Muncy (Molly Burnett) was one where fans were left with a sense of betrayal and the question, “Why?”
Why Was Muncy’s Departure So Sad?
Spoiler alert: She does not die. So while fans are thankful that their beloved spunky detective is alive and well, her leaving SVU to take a job in the DEA task force still hurt. From her first appearance in season 24, she was a fan favorite. Muncy was bold, brave, and despite personal tragedies and being a victim of sexual assault herself, she continued to push through.
She only appeared in a total of 21 episodes, which is unusual for SVU, as most even recurring characters last longer. For a major character to leave after such a short run left fans feeling betrayed. This was exacerbated by the feeling that she was not given a proper send-off like other leads before her.
How Does the Deleted Scene Make Her Departure Sadder?
Considering that one of the main complaints from fans is that Muncy was not given a proper sendoff, you might think that a deleted scene showing her departure in more detail would provide some closure and soften the blow. But that’s not the case.
First of all, it was only released in response to the outrage from fans over her abrupt departure. Second, it shows her locking eyes with fellow detective Joe Velasco (Octavio Pisano) as she says goodbye, and the tension is palpable. It has left fans wondering why, and feeling that Muncy’s tenure was cut too short before any potential for a deeper relationship between the two could be explored.
Want more #SVU? Check out this bonus scene from last night's #SVUxOC crossover season finale pic.twitter.com/GobP4x72I7
— Wolf Entertainment (@WolfEnt) May 19, 2023
On a slightly humorous note, some fans have fought back with a slew of Muncy and Velasco fanfiction, taking it upon themselves to give the characters a longer and more meaningful arc.
