Law & Order: SVU season 19 episode 3 spoilers: Peter Hermann returns

Law & Order: SVU season 19 episode 3 will be a key installment for the show, and it’s set to feature the return of Peter Hermann! Mariska Hargitay’s real-life husband has appeared in thirty episodes of the show as Trevor Langan prior to “Contrapasso” airing on October 11. This marks the first substantial opportunity that we’ve had to see Hermann on the show in the past year or two, and it’s also interesting given that he’s coming off of another guest appearance as Jack Boyle over on Blue Bloods.

The synopsis below for Law & Order: SVU season 19 episode 3 gives a little more news regarding what’s ahead.

“When a man is found castrated and left for dead, Rollins (Kelli Giddish) and Carisi (Peter Scanavino) uncover three female suspects with possible motives. Meanwhile, Langan (guest star Peter Hermann) brings devastating news for Benson (Mariska Hargitay). Also starring Ice T (Det. Odafin Tutuola) and Raul Esparza (ADA Rafael Barba). Also guest starring Paul Fitzgerald (Jason Karr), Annabeth Gish (Carolyn Rivers), Betsy Beutler (Julie Wade), Jeannine Kaspar (Nora Galen) and Kathleen Munroe (Evelyn Bundy).”

It’s terrifying to think of what more bad news could come Benson’s way after everything that she has been through already. Remember what happened during the premiere episode this past week, where we saw the character receive a visit from Cassidy (Dean Winters), where she learned she was being investigated after Noah talked at school about her hurting him. The school nurse didn’t know the full story, and as a result of that a misunderstanding could lead to Olivia’s life that she’s worked so hard for collapsing from within.

As horrible as the circumstances are, we do appreciate new showrunner Michael Chernuchin making an effort alongside the other producers to bring back many familiar characters.

We should also note that this episode will mark the arrival of Brooke Shields to the show for a significant storyline, one that she has said is different than any that she has taken on in the past. Otherwise both she and the show itself are keeping things fairly coy when it comes to the role, which does make a whole lot of sense if for no other reason than that you do want there to be an element of surprise here and there. Overall, it does seem as though the show in these opening episodes is trying to balance out some case-of-the-week plots with something a little more substantial and serialized. While we don’t see this all of the time for SVU we do think that it’s very much appropriate with the story the writers are trying to tell here.

What do you want to see in SVU season 19 episode 3?

How impressed are you by some of the guest stars the series seems to be accumulating at the moment? Sound off in the comments!

(Photo: NBC.)