Law & Order: Special Victims Unit fans may be worried about one long-lasting character, but it sounds like they’ll be back sooner than expected!
Law & Order: SVU has seen a revolving door of cast members over the years. The mainstay has always been Mariska Hargitay who’s set a record playing Olivia Benson for 27 seasons of the hit drama. Right behind her is Ice-T, who joined in season 2 as Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola and has remained with the series since.
Law & Order: SVU season 27 opened with Fin being attacked after trying to help a woman in distress, which was really a trap. There was some worry about him losing his badge and fun in the assault, but thankfully, the detectives got them back. He’s been absent from the squad since, although he made a brief cameo in Joe Velasco's farwell when Velasco (Octavio Pisano) visited Fin at his home to thank him for his help before leaving for a job with the DEA.
Ice-T will be back in Law & Order: SVU soon
While fans are worried about Finn's medical leave, Aime Donna Kelly, who plays Detective Renee Curry, told TV Insider that Fin will be coming back, and everyone in the cast is happy about it.
“We all miss Fin. He’s another one that took a minute to get used to Curry and then took me under his wing and showed me the ropes. I’ll never forget that episode where we walked into the apartment and it’s like this body that’s in a garbage bag and tied up and chopped in pieces. And that’s the first time Curry experiences that and Fin in the way Fin is is like, ‘You good? You need to get yourself together. Alright, let’s go.’ Not with kitten gloves, but very much like, ‘I got you. But toughen up at the same time.' We miss Fin’s energy, but we definitely will have Fin back.”
Ice-T himself confirmed to NBC that he'll be back in Law & Order: SVU season 25, episode 7. He did indicate that there might be a bit less of Fin this season, but to expect some good stuff.
"Stay tuned. [The SVUwriters] got an interesting story curve for my character this season. I'm not in it as much as you probably like, but I'm in it enough. You're going to enjoy how it turns out."
It’s good news for viewers as Fin’s absence has been felt and his veteran touch is needed for the show.
Why we need Fin back
It does sound like Ice-T is sticking around for a while. The actor has joked in the past about how he sticks to Law & Order: SVU due to the nice pay. Yet it’s also how he clearly enjoys playing Fin. While the character is known for his wisecracks, his air of experience has made him a good mentor to new cops joining the unit.
That includes Curry with Kelly talking about how Fin is older yet wiser and it carries into their scenes.
“It’s another one of those things of just navigating life and bringing real life into the squad room, which is just a testament to the writing. It’s so good. I think we crave that. We want to know more about these people and how hard being an actual SVU detective is. It takes a toll on the mind and on the body. And I think Fin is the character where we’re seeing the physical toll that it takes to be an SVU detective, which I think is just written so beautifully.”
It's a great summation of how important Fin has become to the squad. He's one of the last of the original core characters remaining, and it's interesting that while Carisi has moved to ADA and Amanda Rollins has left and now returned, Fin is always there as the backbone of the SVU squad. It provided a sense of stability as Fin never seems likely to leave the department.
While Fin has teased the idea of hanging it up, his last scene in the Law & Order: SVU season 27 premiere had him assuring the other cops that he wasn’t leaving yet. The guy is bound to the job and always going the extra mile to help those in need. He’s risen up the ranks but prefers being on the streets investigating rather than taking charge.
Ice-T is likely off for a bit due to budgetary reasons or his own schedule, so having Fin recovering from his attack is a smart way to keep him off-screen. It might be his appearances are shorter than usual, but at least SVU fans can be assured he’ll be back on the job soon to continue his great legacy.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airs Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.
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