I’ve watched SVU since it started. Hell, one of the early episodes was even inspired by my family. I’ve watched the entire show several times over, each episode at least a couple of times. But these last few years have been ROUGH. I don’t want to watch these episodes once, let alone several times.
I don’t know who is actually responsible for this dreck, whether it’s Mariska Hargitay or D*** Wolf or David Graziano, but the show is completely unwatchable now. They need a clue or a piece of evidence? It falls from the sky at the exact moment they’re talking about it. Plot twists? Never heard of them! Exposition city! I can see every plot point from a mile away. Everyone is either a clear good guy or a clear bad guy. The characters who aren’t in the squad (the civilians) are caricatures and tropes. Zero ambiguity, zero lessons to be learned. Either the writers and producers are low IQ or they think I am.
Like, I get it…viewers have short attention spans because they’re on their phones while watching, blah blah blah. Then make a show worth paying attention to! Because I can’t believe the night and day difference between the smart writing of earlier seasons and the garbage this show has turned into.
Shows, especially procedurals, don't tend to keep improving into their 315th season. This shouldn't surprise people.
24
Waste_Junket9795Apr 25, 2026
+1
Same boat here man. Started watching back in university and kept going through all the cast changes but now its just painful
The writing feels like they gave up and started using AI or something. Everything is so obvious and spelled out that my airbnb guests probably figure out the ending in first 10 minutes while they're scrolling their phones
At least WWE still knows how to throw in some actual surprises even after all these years. SVU just became background noise at this point but i keep watching because... i dont even know why anymore
1
actuarallyApr 25, 2026
+2
If you're still watching SVU in Season 27, I think the show runners know they've got you well & fully hooked. It's daytime soap opera levels of silliness, which coincidentally relies on the same blind loyalty to stay on the air.
2
Wrong-Vermicelli4723Apr 24, 2026
+8
It’s not really that kinda show, not like there really any overarching stories. you could skip 4 seasons and you wouldn’t really miss anything. Yup should just drop it
8
Extension-Ant-8Apr 25, 2026
+2
While I don’t watch the show I enjoy shows that I can just pickup and watch and an episode. I hate entire season arcing stories. Things don’t have to be that intense.
2
wecouldhaveitsogoodApr 25, 2026
+1
I’ve been watching it since 1999. It was a great show at first. Same with regular L&O and Criminal Intent. Everything from 1990 to mid-2000s was fantastic and made me think and question myself and those around me. There was complexity. I’ve rewatched the earlier seasons recently and they hold up so well despite being written decades ago.
The stuff that’s being put out now feels like kindergarten compared to the old episodes. That first writer strike really did change everything.
1
muad_dibsApr 24, 2026
+24
Wasting your time watching a TV show you aren’t liking out of “loyalty” is the craziest thing I ever heard.
24
dancepantzApr 25, 2026
+1
Have you heard of The Walking Dead
1
ColonelContrarianApr 25, 2026
+2
Yeah, everyone sane stopped watching it when it got bad in season 2 or 3.
2
dancepantzApr 25, 2026
+1
People were so committed to it. My sister would ask if I'd seen the latest episode and I'd always remind her I'd tapped out years ago.
1
ColonelContrarianApr 25, 2026
+1
Some people stick around for specific characters and stop watching when they die. And some people have sunken too much into watching the show that they feel they have to finish it. Others just prefer to watch trashily written popcorn shows that follow the same formula with absolutely nothing interesting happening in it or its 5 spinofff shows.
1
wecouldhaveitsogoodApr 25, 2026
-14
If that’s the craziest thing you’ve ever heard for real, you might be extremely sheltered.
-14
whatnamesarenttakenApr 25, 2026
+6
Hyperbole is warranted in this case
6
Own_Faithlessness769Apr 25, 2026
-6
Really? Seems pretty normal to me.
-6
LowBalance4404Apr 25, 2026
+4
I gave up on that abut 12 years ago.
4
rajde1Apr 24, 2026
+8
You could just stop watching. It's not like there is a lack of police procedurals.
8
aspenextreme03Apr 25, 2026
+2
This show is like 150 years old. Of course it’s bound to get worse over time.
2
a_rabid_anti_dentiteApr 24, 2026
+1
Well I would say that the show won't be there for you when you're on your deathbed, but I'm confident the show will still be running and easily available in the hospital when you die, so maybe it will be.
1
VirginiaUSA1964Apr 25, 2026
+1
I only watch episodes with Ice T now. He's the only reason I watch. Just waiting for it to end.
1
Several_Version4298Apr 25, 2026
+1
TV revenue has been collapsing and networks have been slashing costs, especially write/producers as writers got more expensive, and other talent. NBC rehired Giddish because she is popular, but then fired other cast members or cut their episodes and replaced them with cheaper 1st year actors. The few remaining advertisers still want 18-24s.
I started watching SVU because I had enjoyed Munch on Homicide. I have quit it many times. The need to keep coming up with ever more gruesome paedophiles and rapist gets too much. But came back when Meloni arrived, when he left, when they have interesting legal cases or cross overs with OC. Here it's been moved to Paramount+ so another good reason not to pay for Paramount+
1
Specialist_Gap_3399Apr 25, 2026
+1
At this point SVU feels like reheating the same leftovers until they’re just rubber. Honestly, you might enjoy your “loyalty” more by rewatching the first 10 seasons and bailing on new ones.
1
MySmellyRacoonApr 24, 2026
-3
You sound like a Boomer. Loyalty? You won’t get an award or recognition for continuing to watch.
There’s good tv nowadays; give it a try. I know change is scary but get rid of AOL and your rotary phone and you’ll find a brand new world that’s amazing.
-3
RisenzealotApr 25, 2026
+4
Pure f****** Listnook comment right there. Don't like someones opinion so bring out the big guns! Call em a Boomer! That'll show them!
4
MySmellyRacoonApr 25, 2026
-2
Don’t display Boomer tendencies and you won’t get labeled as one 🤷♂️
-2
Several_Version4298Apr 25, 2026
+1
There is good TV around, but it's available in small quantities, it's price is going up regularly, and there's a lot of awful and mediocre shows to wade through to find the good ones. And TV is no longer a communal activity that creates cohesion, it's everybody streaming what they want in their own room.
1
CttCJimApr 24, 2026
-1
D*** Wolf is a jerk and his shows are anti-law copaganda. Look for "Skip Intro" on YouTube to learn more.
26 Comments