We Need Kelli Giddish Back on ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Long-Term, Not Just One Season!

Kelli Giddish is officially returning to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as a series regular for Season 27 — and hopefully for the long term. After her Season 24 exit, Giddish’s Amanda Rollins made a few standout guest appearances, including an episode this season that reunited Rollins with Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), leaving fans missing the duo and hoping they’d be back together soon. Now that wish has come true, and with Rollins back full-time, fans are hoping this isn’t just a short-term fix.

No one is more thrilled than Hargitay, who recently said: “It is so purely joyful to me. She is a formidable actress and an incredibly creative partner… It feels like home with her.” As the show heads into its 27th season with a new creative team behind it, bringing Giddish back as a full-fledged character, and, for the long haul, is one of the smartest moves SVU could make.

Amanda Rollins Is One of the Most Essential Characters in ‘Law & Order: SVU’ History

Although SVU is an iconic show, even the most beloved series can become harder to watch when there’s too much turnover. In recent years, SVU has cycled through many cast changes, and while it’s important to give new actors opportunities, recapturing that “lightning in a bottle” chemistry isn’t easy. After the jarring departure of Christopher Meloni, though, the show managed to do just that with the introduction of Nick Amaro (Danny Pino) — and, most notably, Giddish’s Amanda Rollins.

Giddish became one of SVU’s most emotionally resonant characters since her Season 13 debut. Her evolution from a flawed, impulsive detective to a confident, emotionally mature leader gave the series a fresh dynamic and a character arc fans connected to deeply. Losing her in Season 24 was a major blow to the team dynamic and the show’s emotional core. Rollins brought a grounded performance that balanced Benson’s steady leadership and Fin’s (Ice-T) quiet wisdom and helped make the squad feel like a true family again.

Perhaps most importantly, Rollins brought something rare to network TV: a complex, authentic female friendship with Olivia Benson. Their supportive, sometimes complicated bond gave the show warmth and emotional depth. Without it, SVU felt like a part of Benson was missing, much as it did after Stabler’s departure. Now that Rollins is back, her dynamic with Benson can help restore that vital thread, while also giving Rollins the space to continue growing as her own character, not just popping in for occasional guest appearances.

‘Law & Order: SVU’ Fans Are Ready for Stability with Amanda Rollins

With a show that’s entering its 27th season, it’s natural to wonder how much gas is left in the tank. Being a ripped-from-the-headlines series, SVU will always have new stories to pull from, and with Mariska Hargitay still at the helm, the show can likely continue as long as she wants to. But whether there are more seasons ahead or fewer, stability is what SVU needs as it begins what could be its final chapter.

The return of a character like Amanda Rollins proves not only that Hargitay was right to advocate for Giddish’s continued presence, but that it’s what fans want, too. In an era where audiences are gravitating toward serialized storytelling over traditional broadcast procedurals, SVU’s character arcs and relationships are more important than ever. The procedural elements remain the show’s backbone, but its emotional resonance, built through long-running characters like Rollins, is what keeps viewers deeply engaged.

Now, for the first time in the show’s history, SVU will be run by a woman. Michele Fazekas, an SVU alum, will take over as showrunner in Season 27. Rollins’ return offers a rare opportunity to evolve the series without forcing change. Her previous exit gave her a natural out that can now be woven back into the story, and her experience as a professor of criminal behavior can add new layers to her work in the squad. Meanwhile, her relationship with ADA Carisi (Peter Scanavino) and their young son can be explored without that becoming the sole focus of her character. Rollins deserves to return as a fully realized part of the team, and this new chapter gives the show a chance to do just that.

After 26 seasons, SVU still has stories to tell. But great procedural storytelling depends on relationships and characters that fans can invest in. Amanda Rollins has earned that investment, and with her back in the squad room, SVU has a chance to recapture some of the magic that made it a genre standout in the first place. Here’s hoping that when Season 27 wraps, Kelli Giddish’s name is still in the credits for Season 28 and beyond.