With Law & Order: SVU already renewed for its 24th season, fans can look forward to many more episodes of this beloved series. This series has a strong fanbase, being the longest-running live-action primetime series still on television (via Insider). Many fans still swear by the show, praising it for its entertainment and diverse nature.
However, some Reddit fans miss old aspects of SVU, reminiscing on the old nature of the crime show. Though still beloved by many viewers, the old ambiance and cast of characters is something to be desired.
The Old Station
The SVU squad room in recent episodes is very high-tech and organized, reflecting more modernly advanced times. However, there are some fans that miss the atmosphere and ruggedness of the original station.
One Reddit user, MF1090, said, “The older station looked like a police station. The new one looks like a spa’s office.” While the update to the scenery may have been appropriate for the time, fans appreciate the character of the old squad room.
Different Camera Shots
Like the change in the squad room, the change in the way the camera captures the characters on screen has a lot to do with the change in technology. However, some fans of the series feel the often close-up, frontal shots of the characters feel more like a soap opera than an intense crime drama.
Reddit user griffisdor said, “the older seasons make me feel like a fly on the wall, just watching everything unfold.” Without as much bustle in the background and different angles of the scene, fans feel like their less connected with the action of the moment.
Munch and Fin Partnership
There are a lot of things about John Munch that fans miss. However, his partnership with Fin Tutuola was one of the most iconic from the beginning of the show. The Reddit user the_scientist52 made a list of things they “miss so much,” including a pointed remark about, “The Munch/Fin partnership!”
The two detectives in the unit may not have been as heavily focused as Stabler and Benson are, but they added a different dynamic that added depth to the earlier episodes. Not only were they a great crime-fighting team, but the two were also known for some witty banter that lightened the mood.
Stabler
Fans were left quite disappointed by the sudden exit of Elliot Stabler on SVU. Though some fans would argue that the show actually improved after his departure, and allowed Olivia to become a more wholesome, independent detective, his character was beloved and still missed today.
The show has tried to create an interesting relationship with Rollins and Carisi, but one Reddit user said, “I think they’re sort of trying to make it the new Olivia [and] Elliot relationship and it’s just not,” emphasizing the dynamic Stabler used to bring. Not only do fans miss the dynamic duo of Stabler and Benson, but they also miss his intriguing interactions with other prominent characters, like Captain Cragen, which added intensity and conflict to the narrative.
The Different Ambiance
Fans have become a bit bored with the overall tone of the newer episodes of the show. While there is still enough interesting content to keep the audience engaged, there’s something to be missed about the old intensity of each episode.
One Reddit user, Mistresstoyou70 felt the old tone “was much more true to the Law & Order original, with both the police officers and lawyers an almost equal part of the process.” With the focus becoming more on the detective aspect of the series, fans are missing the suspense of a courtroom following the investigation.
Huang’s Psychology
Though George Huang was never a completely consistent character in the show, he was a frequently reoccurring guest star in the series that fans really enjoyed. Reddit user SgtAStawberry said they miss “the interesting side characters like Huang.”
Dr. Huang was an intelligent psychologist that added insight into the complexity of human psychology to better understand perpetrators and victims alike, conveying the resources detectives utilize to solve cases. Without characters like him, representing the research behind many investigations, it has been left up to the underqualified detectives and attorneys to convey this insightful information.
Warner’s Forensic Input
In the early episodes of the show, the detectives would often be seen visiting the morgue to hear what the medical examiner has to say about the DNA forensics found at each crime scene. Griffisdor mentioned, “Watching the older seasons makes me realize how much stuff the newer ones are missing!”
Though Melinda Warner is the most likable character on SVU, she hasn’t been in an episode in several seasons. In this way, the show has devolved from a crime show displaying all of the stages of an investigation and conviction to one that focuses nearly solely on the intensity of an investigation.
Olivia as Detective
Fans may have felt initially excited to see Olivia Benson promoted to Captain Olivia Benson, taking over the team she has been a part of since day one. However, many people miss the dynamic episodes and coordination of detectives that seem to be overshadowed by Olivia’s role. Reddit user radiorentals believes that “ever since they made Olivia a Captain,” the show has lost a lot of substance.
She was always a central focus on the storyline, adding depth and emotion to each episode she was in. But since she has become the most significant character, with the most influence, many fans think the show is a little too focused on Olivia and her personal life.
Variety in Cases
Throughout the show’s history, SVU has had some great plot twists. However, the show has almost seemed to become predictable, with many of these shocking plot twists occurring in the older days of the series. There was an interesting dynamic to the older cases that didn’t always leave a viewer feeling satisfied.
Reddit user ba447ar said, “I also liked when they lost cases in older seasons or episodes w[h]ere the justice didn’t feel like justice.” With the predictability of the cases growing, fans are left feeling less thoughtful and conflicted than the more complex seasons.
More Side Characters
While there are some notable side characters from earlier seasons, there was also a slew of different side characters that kept a decent dynamic within each episode. One Reddit user said, “There were more side characters like Warner and Huang to offer different perspectives and ideas.”
Fans miss characters like Cassidy, Munch’s funny but often dysfunctional partner, or Sister Peg, who either brought help or conflict to the detectives depending on the parameters of the case. Now that the main focus is on the few detectives in the main cast, and occasionally ADA Carisi (who was a detective at the beginning), the cast is far less diverse.
