Is the Law & Order: SVU team getting a new boss?

The newest episode of Law & Order: SVU ended with the hint that the SVU team is getting a new boss and a new cop! Is this a good thing for Benson?

Caution: This article contains SPOILERS for Law & Order: SVU Season 25, Episode 4

Since Season 23, the SVU team has clashed with Chief McGrath, a temperamental guy who often seems to care more for his political survival than helping the victims. McGrath has shown himself to be capable of compassion and helping the cops, but he and Benson have had more than their share of differences. 

In "Duty to Report," Benson had the difficult task of breaking it to McGrath that his daughter Shay had been raped at a party. Obviously, McGrath wasn't going to stay out of this, and when they brought a suspect in, McGrath burst into the interrogation room and threatened his life. 

Benson knew she couldn't let that slide and had to report McGrath to Internal Affairs. That had a reunion with Captain Renee Curry (Aime Donna Kelly). Curry and Benson had met back in Season 22 when Curry was investigating accusations of wrongdoing against NYPD officers.

Curry decided the officers were okay but that Benson was "part of the problem" of systematic racism in the NYPD. They had a few more encounters, more recently in the Season 23 premiere. 

How did Curry play into the case in Law & Order: SVU?

Curry was concerned over McGrath's behavior and took part in the investigation. It got more heated when it came out Shay was attacked by the son of McGrath's neighbor, whose dad was an old friend of McGrath's. McGrath's wife even accused Benson of gunning for the Chief's job.

It built up to the youth arrested with the two dads getting into a confrontation, and McGrath pulled his gun right in the middle of the street. After the youth was headed for trial, McGrath met Benson, apologizing for his behavior and admitting he deserved whatever punishment IAB had for him. Benson was sympathetic, telling McGrath his family was more important.

What's next for Curry?

The episode ended with Curry and Benson meeting at a bar as Curry shared that McGrath would be put on leave with the hint that he might decide to retire quietly. That meant there would be a new Chief of Detectives, with Benson wondering if Curry would be up for the job.

Instead, Curry said she was tired of IAB and felt better helping the SVU team. She thus wanted to make a "lateral move" to join the squad, noting Benson could use another woman on the team. Given McGrath would only be an acting chief, the two women could make some real changes. Benson agreed to welcome Curry on board. 

So it looks like Curry will be joining the SVU team for a bit and that a new chief is coming, which promises more unique developments for Law & Order: SVU.

Law & Order: SVU Season 25 returns on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 9/8c on NBC and streams on Peacock the following day.