‘Law & Order: SVU’ season 17: Premiere date speculation, more of what we’d like to see

Law & Order: SVU logoTonight marks the end of “Law & Order: SVU,” but only for the time being. NBC renewed the show for a 17th season a little earlier this year, and production has even begun on it in advance. This is a show that producers like to get a jump on by filming at least an episode or two in the spring, and then take a lengthy hiatus. Maybe this keeps them from filming as many in the hottest time of the year in New York City.

So while we cannot speak at the moment about what we will see when the show returns most likely in late September, we have for you below a general list of potential suggestions. Of course, these are subjective and based on our own opinion.

1. Fewer “Chicago” crossovers – We are probably in the minority on this, but we feel like with there being three Dick Wolf series now set in Chicago, it feels better to isolate them rather than to continue to try and find ways to include the SVU into their stories. We’re prefer seeing characters from the original series or “Criminal Intent” popping up here, especially since there have been rumors of the original “Law & Order” coming back.

2. Less of Noah in peril – It is possible that the child could be a part of a huge season finale cliffhanger, but as a general rule we’d prefer this to be a part of Benson’s life that is now somewhat stable. She already has enough trouble at work, so why not have her enjoy this part of her day-to-day?

3. More character-based stories – We still find ourselves wanting to know more about Rollins, Fin, Carisi, and many of the other characters occupying jobs at the SVU. Why not emphasize them a little more?

4. Fewer stories “ripped from the headlines” – This is something that we know causes a divide for many. These episodes do tend to generate publicity and better ratings, but at times they also can perpetuate a cynical perception of the show. You really have to find that perfect balance.

5. Keep it compelling – It sounds like we are being very critical, but this is a show that for the most part does a lot right, and is anchored by strong performances and procedural storytelling. The fact that we can come up with such suggestions speaks to our overall investment.

(Photo: NBC.)

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