Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 15
Benson reels from Lewis; Munch and Cragen depart.
The season marked significant cast departures and the elevation of a recurring ADA to series regular.
Quick Facts
- Season number
- 15
- Starring
- Mariska Hargitay
- Danny Pino
- Kelli Giddish
- Richard Belzer
- Ice-T
- Raúl Esparza
- Dann Florek
- Episodes
- 24
- Network
- NBC
- First aired
- 25 September 2013
- Last aired
- 21 May 2014
Facts from the source article.
Production
Showrunner Warren Leight stated that the season's storyline would pick up from the previous finale, with Benson dealing with the aftermath of her encounter with Lewis, focusing on her difficulty in looking out for herself.
Cast changes
Executive producer Warren Leight said the promotion acknowledged Esparza's contribution. Barba became the first regular ADA since Alexandra Cabot in season eleven. Jessica Phillips returned as ADA Pippa Cox in a recurring role, having previously appeared in season fourteen's "Born Psychopath". Richard Belzer departed the main cast in the fifth episode, "Wonderland Story", with his character Sergeant John Munch retiring from SVU after 15 years to become a Special District Attorney Investigator, allowing future recurring appearances. Florek was an original cast member for fifteen seasons and the last link to the original Law & Order series.
Cast
Alana de la Garza appeared as Assistant United States Attorney Connie Rubirosa in a semi-crossover, four years after her character left the Manhattan District Attorney's office. Sophia Bush guest starred as Chicago P.D. Detective Erin Lindsay in a crossover. Dean Winters, Pablo Schreiber, and Lauren Ambrose continued their roles from the season fourteen finale in the premiere "Surrender Benson"; Winters also appeared in "Imprisoned Lives", "Internal Affairs", and "Wonderland Story". Cybill Shepherd guest starred in the third episode, a ripped-from-the-headlines story combining the Trayvon Martin killing and the Paula Deen controversy, playing Jolene Castille who shot a teenager she mistook for a rapist. Jeffrey Tambor reprised his role as defense attorney Ben Cohen. David Conrad and Nadia Dajani appeared in "Internal Affairs" as officers suspected of rape. Sofia Vassilieva returned as Sarah Walsh in "Wonderland Story". Munch's resignation episode featured his ex-wives Gwen Munch and Billie Lou Hatfield, and former Homicide co-worker Detective Meldrick Lewis. Kirk Acevedo played Eddie Garcia in "October Surprise". Billy Porter guest starred as a singing coach accused of sexual abuse in "Dissonant Voices", with Carly Rose Sonenclar as Grace Belsey and cameos by Ashanti, Clay Aiken, and Taylor Hicks.
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