After stepping down as a series regular in December, halfway through Season 24 of “SVU,” Kelli Giddish returned to the cast alongside her friend and former costar Olivia Benn Olivia Benson reunited. This time, however, she returns as Sgt.
Giddish’s Amanda Rollins left SVU to pursue a professorship at Fordham University, but appeared briefly later in season 24 and twice in season 25.
“Divide and Conquer” – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, pictured: (left) Kelly Giddish as Amanda Rollins and Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson. Peter Kramer/NBC ©2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. all rights reserved.
Longtime viewers of the show will remember her first appearance on SVU in Season 13, when a feisty Benson was grieving the sudden departure of longtime partner Det. Elliot Stabler is hesitant to enter into a new partnership with Rollins. Fast forward to season 26, and Rollins now works for the NYPD’s Intelligence Bureau. She introduced her new partner, Det. Vince Cogan.
Rollins thanked Benson for vouching for her and said he steered her in the right direction.
She has come a long way in her role and is now stable, managing to balance a new job, a successful marriage and three children. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Giddish said her relationship with Benson has been growing and that she has a better relationship with her mother.
“Divide and Conquer” – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, pictured: (left) Kelli Giddish as Amanda Rollins, John Clarence Stewart as Det. Kogan. Peter Kramer/NBC ©2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. all rights reserved.
In “Divide and Conquer,” Rollins’ new case at the Bureau crosses over with SVU. This episode wasn’t all that memorable, especially after all the excitement we got from last week’s case. Detectives Bruno, Silva and Velasco are without the team this week. Dealing with a larger cast and building relationships will be SVU’s mission this season.
Captain Benson’s speech to the survivors is sure to be memorable every time. “My experience is that we can’t truly support another person unless we deal with our own personal trauma,” a message her friends and therapists have had to remind her in the past.
Giddish teased that this won’t be her only appearance this season and fans can expect the episode to be “completely different.”
“Law & Order: Unit” airs Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.
