The long-running series *Law & Order* will begin its 25th season in fall 2025, though not all the actors from last season will be returning. While the season 24 finale left viewers wondering if ADA Samantha Maroun (Odelya Halevi) committed a crime, it’s Detective Jalen Shaw, played by Mehcad Brooks, who won’t be appearing in the new season. His former colleagues recently told TopMob that his character is being written out, and a new detective has already been cast.
It was announced back in October that Mehcad Brooks was leaving the show, so viewers won’t be surprised to see his character missing from the season premiere on September 25th (available to stream the next day on Peacock). I recently had the chance to interview the cast at a press event for *Law & Order*, and Reid Scott – who plays Detective Riley, formerly partnered with Brooks’ character – shared that:
I’m curious to see how people respond to that. It might seem a little abrupt, but I think that’s realistic. People often move around within the department – they switch locations, get transferred, or change roles, and that’s just how things work.
Departures from the show *Law & Order* are usually quite abrupt, but Sam Waterston’s exit as District Attorney Jack McCoy was an exception. While Anthony Anderson, Jeffrey Donovan, and Camryn Manheim all had their characters written out mid-season, only Manheim received a particularly detailed storyline to explain her character’s departure. Maura Tierney, who plays Lieutenant Jessica Brady, agreed with this observation, stating:
Look, it’s not like they’ll never speak again! They just switched jobs, and things are different now. It’s not a permanent goodbye, just a change in their work lives.
This suggests the creators of *Law & Order* haven’t ruled out Jalen Shaw’s return. The story could be left open-ended, allowing the character to reappear in the future, assuming Mehcad Brooks is interested. Reid Scott then added:
There’s a strong sense of camaraderie among these people, so when someone leaves, it’s treated with respect – a simple ‘farewell and thank you for your contributions’ – and then everyone gets back to their duties. Their main focus is protecting and serving, and it will be interesting to observe how they respond to this change.
Jalen Shaw’s departure will primarily affect characters Reid and Brady, but it will also be felt by the legal team in *Law & Order*. Hugh Dancy, who has played ADA Nolan Price for five seasons, discussed what it’s like working on a show that combines case-of-the-week investigations with ongoing character development.
The core of the show will always be its weekly cases. However, adding a small amount – around five percent – of ongoing character development and relationships really enhances it. We do have a cast change coming up, with a new person joining the team, which is actually quite exciting. New characters subtly change the dynamic of the show and keep things fresh.
Just because Shaw is leaving doesn’t mean Riley and Brady will be the only detectives in Season 25 of *Law & Order*. TVLine reports that David Ajala, known for his role in *Star Trek: Discovery*, has joined the cast as a new detective who will work alongside Riley. This role in *Law & Order* will be a shift for Ajala, offering a more realistic setting than the science fiction world of *Star Trek*.
Not much is known about the new character, Ajala, except that he’ll be working alongside Riley. However, fans can rest assured that even though Shaw is leaving *Law & Order*, Riley won’t be without a partner. Whether Shaw will return for a guest appearance or even just be mentioned in Season 25 remains a mystery – viewers will have to watch and see!
Season 25 of *Law & Order* returns to NBC on Thursdays at 8 p.m. Eastern, with the first episode airing September 25th. *Law & Order: SVU* will follow at 9 p.m. Eastern. You can also watch the complete fifth season of *Law & Order: Organized Crime* now on Peacock.
Read More
- Creation of Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Pharloom map reveals cut areas & major changes
- LINK PREDICTION. LINK cryptocurrency
- Shape of Dreams Best Builds Guide – Aurena, Shell, Bismuth & Nachia
- All Grow A Garden Cheats And Console Commands
- Can’t guess “When the Sun rises this appear” in Cookie Jam? Here’s the correct answer
- Kingdom Come Deliverance 2’s New Update 1.041 Delivers Hotfix 1.4.1 Addressing Quests, NPCs and More
- How to make Prismatic soup in Grow a Garden (GaG)
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Ray Tracing in Dying Light The Beast? Yes! And no… It’s complicated!
- Brent Oil Forecast
2025-09-26 03:41