ListNook

ThisRiverIsWild_ Apr 16, 2026 +524

It would be a nice experiment to redo a random episode from the first 5 seasons with today's actors and see if anyone recognizes the trick.

524

Joey-WilcoXXX Apr 16, 2026 +208

They already reuse plots

208

animatedailyespreszo Apr 16, 2026 +218

They have done the “missing child reappears but was actually killed by a family member who can’t say anything without implicating themself” plot at least 3 times. They’ve also done “secretly adopted/ affair child does incest” at least twice. Source: my 2020 unemployment induced SVU marathon

218

Joey-WilcoXXX Apr 16, 2026 +24

Your first sentence- YES. I don’t think it was the first one I noticed but it was definitely the first that reeeaaaalllly pissed me off. Especially because they both kinda sucked lol.

24

animatedailyespreszo Apr 16, 2026 +10

I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed! I think the first time they did it was around season 5, maybe after mariska’s maternity leave in season 7. But the next two episodes with this plot were both around season 20. There couldn’t have been more than two seasons in between them. Which is so lazy!!!!!

10

Randym1982 Apr 17, 2026 +11

My favorite was an earlier one where they were looking for a Child abduction who then turned out to be this families OG child turned hillbilly child bride, while the family made the adopted kid get surgery to look close to their OG daughter. When they reunited the OG daughter to the family, the adopted looked at Benson like “Great, what happens to me?” Benson walked away with a “Not my problem.” Look. Or the Channing Tatum episode was also dumb too.

11

Salt-Operation Apr 17, 2026 +1

Wait…what Channing Tatum episode?

1

JJJBLKRose Apr 16, 2026 +9

At this point I think they've kind of touched on most plots.

9

jarrettbrown Apr 18, 2026 +1

Yeah... they haven't done one of those in forever. I love those episodes.

1

Klezmer_Mesmerizer Apr 17, 2026 +1

We’re proud of you.

1

Randym1982 Apr 16, 2026 +60

They need to reuse the plot of Ice T calling that one dude gay. Seriously, one the many "LOL. What?!" moments from that show.

60

ScreamingChicken Apr 16, 2026 +19

I got news for you…

19

Less_Inflation_8867 Apr 16, 2026 +8

This is a regular thing we say in our house.

8

ScreamingChicken Apr 16, 2026 +5

My friend an I will just send a picture of Tutuola instead.

5

Joey-WilcoXXX Apr 16, 2026 +23

There’s definitely still too many people out there that don’t believe bisexuality is real 😂😂😂

23

mahwaha Apr 17, 2026 +8

That dude wasn't bi he was just in denial about being gay. I really don't understand why that one specific episode gets memed on so hard.

8

Joey-WilcoXXX Apr 17, 2026 +6

I mean he says he has relationships with women just as confidently as he said he sleeps with men. It’s possible to be an in denial closet case but just as likely as he’s bisexual and shit like Finn saying ‘IT MEANS YOUR GAAAY!’ can just confuse him more. But it gets memed because he’s just so blunt with such little tact 😂😂😂

6

mahwaha Apr 17, 2026 +4

> I mean he says he has relationships with women As beards. Sexuality can be complicated but this scene really wasn't if you actually watched the episode.

4

Joey-WilcoXXX Apr 17, 2026 +6

Sexuality can be complicated and that’s why we’re having this conversation. And I’ve seen the episode many times, friend. All it does is come off like no one in New York has ever heard that you can be bisexual.

6

mahwaha Apr 17, 2026 -4

>Sexuality can be complicated What? Yeah I know.... I literally just said that... >All it does is come off like no one in New York has ever heard that you can be bisexual. This character literally only has sex with men. There were other characters in their gay sex club that you could argue were probably bisexual, including the main suspect of the episode, but the guy from this scene wasn't one of them. The show was explicitly trying to frame him as being an example of a gay man in denial of his sexuality and using relationships with women he isn't attracted to as a way to cover it up. If you can't see that then idk what to tell you. You may just be an idiot.

-4

Joey-WilcoXXX Apr 17, 2026 +2

Your response you just posted got blocked from appearing, just fyi.

2

Joey-WilcoXXX Apr 17, 2026 +2

Yes I was repeating it. Like saying ‘sexuality CAN be complicated, you’re right.’ Kinda funny you didn’t understand that and proceed to imply I’m the idiot later in your rude ass comment…… That sounds like you were taking his ‘I have relationships with women and sex with men’ to mean that he literally only had sex with men. Nothing else said he’s never had sex with the women he has these relationships with. Jesus Christ dude, you invented a whole part of a story and motive for a guy with < five minutes of screen time and really want to act like this? Grow the f*** up and get a life.

2

ItsADeparture Apr 17, 2026 +2

ICE-T saying "that means you're gay" doesn't really erase bisexuality though. Bisexual people call themselves gay/lesbians all of the time.

2

Joey-WilcoXXX Apr 17, 2026 +1

At the very least it kind of muddles the situation for some people (like the lovely person I discussed the scene with last night) if they only just say ‘you’re gay!’ when a character has relations with both men and women. You just don’t know what kind of audience you’re reaching with these shows and I think it’s better to be as clear as possible in cases like this when there definitely are people who don’t understand or believe in being Bi.

1

hoorah9011 Apr 17, 2026 +2

There's no such thing as bisexual, that's just something they invented in the '90s to sell hair products

2

jscottman96 Apr 17, 2026 +1

Oddly enough most of the people I've met that believe that were LGBT... not all but definitely mor than half

1

Joey-WilcoXXX Apr 17, 2026 +3

Then they were LGT 😂

3

jscottman96 Apr 17, 2026 +3

Fair lol

3

mrhelmand Apr 16, 2026 +26

I recently binged Psych and they remade a Season 1 episode in the final season [while lampshading the fact that was happening], I'd be down for the idea

26

ScyllaOfTheDepths Apr 16, 2026 +10

Except the remade episode was awful. It was worse in every way. Even the comedic timing was way off. It was an interesting experiment, but it really didn't land at all.

10

AKAkorm Apr 16, 2026 +9

Yea I appreciated the novelty of it but it’s one of the weaker episodes. It’s still Psych though.

9

dizzy_centrifuge Apr 17, 2026 +5

They literally recast a rapist from one episode as the ADA they work with. I think they can pull that off easily enough

5

bros402 Apr 16, 2026 +5

Like one of the episodes of Psych's final season?

5

bindersfull-ofwomen Apr 16, 2026 +13

We'd recognize it from the dialogue. This shows been on so long, if you go back to season 1-4 didn't have words like "transgender" and "sex workers." They had the words that we don't use anymore.

13

Kalamac Apr 16, 2026 +6

I generally think seasons 3 & 4 are pretty solid (admittedly my love of Alex Cabot could be influencing that opinion), but that episode where Kate Moennig plays a transgender woman really did not age well.

6

[deleted] Apr 16, 2026 -1

[deleted]

-1

bindersfull-ofwomen Apr 16, 2026 +4

I think you had a reading comprehension boo-boo. They didn't use that word "transgender" on the show. They used other words we don't use anymore, including slurs.

4

MillennialsAre40 Apr 16, 2026 +3

They did it with the entire series of Law and Order UK. It was a real shame because a series that ripped from the British headlines might have actually been really good.

3

Zealousideal-Low3388 Apr 16, 2026 +3

I heard that was a condition of the remake/adaptation rights: adapting X number of US scripts. Apparently the big challenges were that gun crime is culturally treated very differently and that plea bargaining is explicitly illegal in England & Wales

3

NihilisticRoomba Apr 17, 2026 +3

Agreed. *L&O: Toronto Criminal Intent* is, as far as I can tell, entirely localized and updated stories, and it’s much better.

3

BadmiralHarryKim Apr 17, 2026 +2

At this point many of the people they put in jail have served their sentences. Hell, some of them, depending how long they were inside, could have gotten out and had kids who are now adults ready to have their own plots.

2

questron64 Apr 16, 2026 +8

They've recycled the same 5 or so episodes hundreds of times and no one has noticed so far, so yeah, I think that would work.

8

spongeboy1985 Apr 16, 2026 +10

People have noticed. Comedian John Mulaney is a huge fan but admits the show is just the same plot over and over again.

10

PoPo573 Apr 16, 2026 +1

I've watched every season I bet if I started again I'd feel like I was watching it for the first time again to be honest.

1

CptNonsense Apr 17, 2026 +1

They kind of can't. Law & Order SVU now is nothing like early seasons of Law & Order. There is no order any more, not really. And Hargitay is basically in every scene

1

nyibolc_ Apr 17, 2026 +1

Jokes on you, I pretend the show doesn’t extend beyond season 16 because it seems to have only gotten worse.

1

mooselantern Apr 16, 2026 +58

This show stays on the air because it's filling the role soap operas used to: it's a vehicle for new actors to get a screen credit and a SAG card while they keep auditioning and doing local LA or NY theater. And those wegovy commercials gotta air somewhere.

58

CVS_Reciept Apr 16, 2026 +8

I’ve been watching old episodes on Hulu and the ad breaks are all Wegovy. 🤣

8

bravetailor Apr 16, 2026 +124

It's funny how they still manage to keep going despite the majority of the scenes basically set in interiors and interrogation rooms now.

124

MattHoppe1 Apr 16, 2026 +69

And never having the main cast all together

69

lemon_pepper_wang Apr 16, 2026 +47

They are minting money: Film each main cast member alone whenever the f*** their rich asses decide to show up, use extras and scale actors to carry the bulk of the show (never giving anyone a recurring role), sell infinite episodes into syndication, keep Olivia as the main character because literally everyone loves her, reuse the same stock footage of New York (and some Newark and Philly stand ins for New York).... They can't lose with this formula

47

Randym1982 Apr 16, 2026 +37

I imagine this show will continue till the main chick hits 90, and then they'll just hire look a likes or AI to replace her.

37

phantombrick22 Apr 16, 2026 +8

Nah they’ll just have her character’s son take over

8

hey_there_moon Apr 16, 2026 +17

Lmao Noah definitely seems like he's gonna go into the arts or something

17

Kradget Apr 16, 2026 +9

Detective Benson should be eligible for retirement and a pension at this point. Can't believe she hasn't made captain yet.

9

HonestScience Apr 16, 2026 +59

She's been the captain for quite a few seasons now

59

Ferahgost Apr 16, 2026 +10

That has been a plot point this season lol

10

CptNonsense Apr 17, 2026 +4

Pretty sure she hit mandatory retirement 10 years ago

4

deepfriedcertified Apr 16, 2026

Isn’t she a Lieutenant now?

0

Picacco Apr 16, 2026 +20

Captain. Runs the squad.

20

name-classified Apr 16, 2026 +18

confirmed: the squad can't do anything without her input. ever. seriously; everything has to be run by her and she has to give all the directions. she also has to investigate cases because she's a real captain that isn't afraid of work or that wants to sit behind a desk.

18

Randym1982 Apr 16, 2026 +12

D*** Wolf if he's still alive is likely rolling it with all of those royalty checks coming in. The same goes for Donald P. Bilsario.

12

monty_kurns Apr 16, 2026 +11

He’s alive and also has that Chicago franchise money coming in too.

11

AboverJulio1123 Apr 16, 2026 +8

And fbi that still has 2 shows going

8

LegacyofaMarshall Apr 16, 2026 +4

And the homicide docu series on netflix

4

RAiDeR_4566 Apr 16, 2026 +1

And Mike Post

1

IAMA_Shark__AMA Apr 17, 2026 +2

As long as Mariska Hargitay keeps signing on, they'll keep pumping it out. It's a relatively c**** show to make with a pretty loyal fanbase. It dies the moment she's done, though.

2

notathrowaway75 Apr 17, 2026 +1

Despite? They keep going because of that.

1

jonsca Apr 16, 2026 +76

The year is 2900 and Olivia Benson IV gets the call to come to the station via telepathy. Law and Order SVU, season 359 airs tonight on SkyNet!

76

Jealous-Try-2554 Apr 17, 2026 +12

Damn. Even SVU is only doing 1 season every 3 years in that timeline.

12

MrMegaPhoenix Apr 16, 2026 +17

Damn I think I last watched it the season after stabler shot the girl at the station. I think there were two noobies? Still have nostalgia of “the guest star you recognise is the criminal” storylines

17

MaddyKet Apr 17, 2026

That’s when I think the show started getting better, no more angry Stabler and more Benson plus new female characters.

0

MrMegaPhoenix Apr 17, 2026 +4

“No more angry stabler” Damn, not really selling me here. He was my favorite, but I also loved the dynamic between Finn and Tutola

4

SpiffShientz Apr 17, 2026 +7

The dynamic between Finn (Ice-T) and Tutuola (Ice-T)?

7

MrMegaPhoenix Apr 17, 2026 +2

Damn I had to google but I meant and munch I feel Shame at how I botched that. I loved their dynamic

2

dont_shoot_jr Apr 16, 2026 +140

I love Ice-T on SVU. He is fantastic, he's awesome. What's so great about him is that he's been with the SVU for like, mmm, 11 years now, but he still treats every case like it's his first, in terms of total confusion. Sometimes they'll be in the middle of an investigation and Ice-T will be like, "Yo, you telling me this dude gets off on little girls with pigtails?" It's like, "Yeah, Ice... he's a pedophile. You work in the sex crimes division. You're gonna have to get used to that."

140

pampooveysbacktattoo Apr 16, 2026 +89

That bit is nearly 20 years old and still absolutely relevant lol

89

CptNonsense Apr 17, 2026 -6

It's funny but hasn't been relevant for a decade

-6

TechSmith6262 Apr 16, 2026 +45

Why not credit John Mulaney for ripping his joke nearly word for word?

45

mr_ji Apr 16, 2026 +3

Mulaney wasn't the first to make that joke. Jay Mohr made the same joke years before, and I remember hearing Ice-T joking about it himself on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me around 2010. Someone probably did it even earlier considering he's been on the show since 2000.

3

Vandergrif Apr 17, 2026 +10

Yo, you mean to tell me that John Mulaney gets off on telling a joke that Jay Mohr made years before that Ice-T made years before that?

10

oath2order Apr 17, 2026 +6

Yeah Vandergrif...He's a comedian, they borrow jokes. You're gonna have to get used to that.

6

mr_ji Apr 17, 2026 +3

There needs to be a GIF of Ice-T's confused/disgusted face.

3

Kaldricus Apr 16, 2026 +6

r/icetseentsomeshit

6

-Midnight_Marauder- Apr 17, 2026 +4

/r/IceTSeentSomeShit is a GOAT level sub but sadly not active any more. Go there and sort by top all time and you'll laugh your ass off.

4

Responsible-Care-388 Apr 16, 2026 +10

SVUbros....we just keep winning

10

modrenman1985 Apr 16, 2026 +8

You know they want 30 seasons. Benson and Stabler should be endgame

8

Harkoncito Apr 16, 2026 +26

With ~~Criminal Intent~~ Organized Crime ending next season, they should definitely do Benson+Elliot in season 30 and end it there

26

verrius Apr 16, 2026 +12

Do you mean Organized Crime? Criminal Intent has been off the air for over a decade.

12

bindersfull-ofwomen Apr 16, 2026 +4

They have one still going that takes place in Canada, and it has Karen Robinson in it (look up a picture of her and you'll recognize her).

4

TuvixWillNotBeMissed Apr 17, 2026 +1

Ah yes the Toronto one. It's not the *worst* show I've ever seen.

1

Harkoncito Apr 16, 2026 +1

that one! you're correct

1

19snow16 Apr 16, 2026 +2

What do you mean Organized Crime is ending next season? I do like that idea for season 30 AND the series ending. (Keep CI Toronto though!)

2

Harkoncito Apr 16, 2026 +2

https://www.listnook.com/r/television/comments/1sncw61/law_order_organized_crime_canceled_after_5_seasons/

2

19snow16 Apr 16, 2026 +1

THANK YOU!

1

pushaper Apr 17, 2026 +1

I miss detective Goren from Criminal Intent. Goldbloom was pretty good too.

1

legless_chair Apr 16, 2026 +6

Will we ever see Olivia’s son again

6

uniqueusername_1177 Apr 16, 2026 +7

He was on the most recent episode last week.

7

legless_chair Apr 16, 2026 +3

Ah haven’t caught up to last week my b

3

DJC_Kowalski Apr 17, 2026 +6

I wonder how much money Mariska Hargitay has made playing the same character for 28 seasons. Especially if you include residuals and everything.

6

kingcolbe Apr 16, 2026 +4

Hopefully we will get a resolution to Tobias Moore..

4

EdgeofForever95 Apr 16, 2026 +5

100 years detectives! 100 years SVU! SVU forever! Forever and ever SVU!

5

GuyWithLag Apr 17, 2026 +2

Till you're 90!

2

OkZookeepergame4192 Apr 17, 2026 +3

Tuned out once they started using generic sad pop over scenes instead of actually fleshing out scenes or facing issues head on. So lame the last few years.

3

SineQuaNon001 Apr 16, 2026 +12

They should announce 30th season as the last now. Spend the next few years building for it. I can't see it going beyond 30. It's been in creative decline for 15+ frankly.

12

FlippFloppnFlyy Apr 16, 2026 +20

D*** Wolf has said as long as Mariska wants to do the show, they'll do the show. Kind of the same thing with Grey's Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo is like never in the show but the minute she actually leaves the show; it ends.

20

HellaWavy Apr 16, 2026 +4

Isn‘t Mariska (alongside Ellen) one of the highest paid TV actresses? I remember reading that somewhere. If she enjoys her her time on set and gets her bag, I don’t see why she would decide to step away. Probably the easiest money one can make.

4

AcademicDrag742 Apr 16, 2026 +2

And they just cancelled OC.

2

NoDaddyNotTheBelt25 Apr 16, 2026 +2

I’m not even gonna say what grade I was in when this show first aired. That’s how long this show has been on for.

2

Educational-Car-4688 Apr 16, 2026 +2

So reruns but remastered.

2

Numpty5000 Apr 16, 2026 +4

Get ready for Law & Order: NHU. Nursing Home Unit.

4

pushaper Apr 17, 2026 +1

Man on the Insider with ted Danson

1

Ok_Surprise_4090 Apr 16, 2026 +2

American Super Sentai renewed for another year.

2

Specific_Dot1188 Apr 16, 2026 +1

Hype

1

Myhtological Apr 16, 2026 +1

And the reckoning is staved off for another year.

1

demiurgegwj Apr 17, 2026 +1

“‘Till you’re 90!”

1

Toby_O_Notoby Apr 17, 2026 +1

As we continue to explore the subtle nuances and infinite complexities of having a single plot and driving it straight into the ground.

1

gemsoftargon Apr 17, 2026 +1

They should do a whole season filmed like an old tv sitcom LMAO like why not?? They’ve been running this long

1

Pardybro911 Apr 17, 2026 +1

NYPD really needs to get their union on the SVU jeez. How doesn’t Olivia have a pension

1

truknight Apr 17, 2026 +1

All Copaganda shows need to be canceled

1

SotoSwagger Apr 17, 2026 +1

This show is going to be the New Age Young And The Restless

1

RainHead557 Apr 17, 2026 +1

Not even close to The Simpsons

1

jarrettbrown Apr 18, 2026 +1

I'm still waiting for Taylor Swift to appear as a guest star, but that'll never happen.

1

TotalCaterpillar5318 Apr 18, 2026 +1

I've always enjoyed SVU but have to say, it really isn't entertaining anymore. I was watching several new episodes and they were all predictable. It's really just recycled plots - how many times can a kid be abducted, people be trafficked, bureaucratic disputes between Benson and her current boss? I think it's time to start wrapping it up because it's not as groundbreaking as it was when it started.

1

abcbri Apr 18, 2026 +1

Yep. I used to love the early years and watched beyond but now it’s just eh. How many times can Olivia be placed in danger?

1

Mr_Straws Apr 17, 2026 +1

I was thinking about giving law and order a go, but not 28 seasons worth

1

pushaper Apr 17, 2026 +1

it is pretty great on a couple fronts. If you go to the early for example they have people warming up around trash can fire and poverty in Brooklyn, get ten series later and you can see NYC gentrification. It is an interesting time capsule in that regards

1

notmyrealname86 Apr 17, 2026 +3

It’s also interesting to see how the writers approach sensitive topics over the years.

3

mobbdeap Apr 17, 2026

Copaganda!

0

LumiereGatsby Apr 17, 2026

Copaganda must continue! We totally care about r*** victims. Don’t watch The Pitt or any other non D*** Wolf shows!!!! Stop it! We’re the good guys fighting hard to put away predators!!! We’re the good guys but those damn fool victims just don’t see it!!! We totally spend a lot of time solving crimes. We care too much! So f****** long in the tooth is the L&O propaganda machine but like a Toyota it runs!!

0

TheSyde Apr 16, 2026 -7

Cool what about the better show organized crime??

-7

Leroy_Jenkins24 Apr 16, 2026 +7

I’ve got bad news for you

7

Bazinga_U_Bitch Apr 16, 2026 -2

Regurgitated copaganda 🥵

-2

Acid_Tribe Apr 16, 2026 -9

I tried tuning in to an episode after more than a decade of not watching it, and it was unwatchable. The episode started in the middle of a long storyline. Since when does Law & Order do long arch storylines?? Fuuuck that

-9

‘Law & Order: SVU’ Renewed for Season 28 at NBC

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