One Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Line Spells Benson’s Downfall

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It feels like Olivia Benson has finally built a strong team as Captain after years of being understaffed, but a single moment in season 27 of Law & Order: SVU hints at trouble ahead. When the show first aired in 1999, it was an ensemble cast like many police procedurals. However, through many changes over the years, Law & Order: SVU has become strongly associated with Mariska Hargitay’s portrayal of Benson.

After nearly thirty years on air, Law & Order: SVU is now the longest-running scripted primetime series. It remains a key part of NBC’s plans for the 2025-2026 television season. Following the surprising death of Captain Cragen at the start of season 27, Olivia Benson is the last original cast member, and the show has chronicled her development as a person and a professional over the years. Now the Captain of the Manhattan Special Victims Unit, she’s still deeply dedicated to her work.

Tynan Efficiently Clocks Benson’s Biggest Weakness As A Captain

Image via NBC

The memorial service for Cragen in season 27 of Law & Order: SVU also marked the arrival of the new Chief, Kathryn Tynan. Viewers anticipated tension between Tynan and Benson, and that conflict came to a head in the season’s fall finale. Tynan criticized Benson for missing a department press conference regarding a case, and Benson challenged Tynan’s approach to the briefing.

Usually, it’s easy to agree with Benson on most things. She’s deeply committed to helping the victims investigated by the Special Victims Unit. However, Tynan accurately identifies the core issue with Benson’s character, now that she’s a Captain. During their difficult conversation, the new chief states:

“Your job as a Captain is not to boom doors with ESU or to search for evidence with a K-9 Unit.”

This point came up earlier in the show. When Benson joined the team searching for the victim, someone commented on how unusual it was to see a Captain actively involved in the field work. This is often a positive thing, showing Benson is dedicated and takes a hands-on approach to her job – something that makes sense given her extensive experience as a detective.

Benson understands victims well, drawing on both her personal life and career. However, her current role is to lead her team, not work directly in the field. Recent issues with Griffin and a poorly handled press conference show she’s overlooking important aspects of her leadership responsibilities.

Why Benson Has No Choice But To Change In SVU Season 27

Credit: NBC

Benson has a point – she’s worked with many administrators who have left, while she’s remained. However, Tynan is right that she needs to change how she approaches her job. For the first time in a while, she has a complete team and doesn’t have to worry about being understaffed. Now, she should focus on her duties as Captain and let her team handle the investigations and gather the necessary information.

Benson would perform better at her job if she focused on leading her team instead of handling tasks they could easily manage. While Tynan’s motivations in Law & Order: SVU season 27 are questionable, the resulting negative publicity could have been lessened if Benson had attended the press conference and brought someone who was present when the victim was discovered to provide information.

From now on, Benson needs to navigate the politics of her job, because success for her team depends on it, even if she doesn’t enjoy it. Her team can’t do their best work if they’re constantly worried about someone above them. Hopefully, she figures this out quickly in season 27 of Law & Order: SVU.

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2025-11-30 16:08