‘Law & Order: SVU’ season 17, episode 11 preview: Mariska Hargitay’s Benson in danger

“Law & Order: SVU” has certainly aired many a difficult episode over the years, but there are a select few touchstones you can look back on specifically when question which stories were the most trying for none other than Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson. The William Lewis saga of course comes to mind, and the same goes recently for some of the episodes that put Noah in some sort of jeopardy.

Next week’s new episode “Townhouse Incident” more or less has to be added to the list, based on the promo below if nothing else. This makes it abundantly clear that this will be an emotional, gut-wrenching episode for Benson as one decision (entering the townhouse) leads to her life being put at risk. She is in the wrong place at a very wrong time during a home invasion, and she will have to rely on her intellect and her experience to get out of there alive.

For those who want an acting tour de force from Mariska, you’re going to get it here. Beyond this episode, though, the question you may want to ask is what the long-term consequences of this hostage crisis could be. Is it possible that this ends up being something that haunts Benson for many weeks or months to come? Just like Lewis was traumatic, we have to imagine that this will also be in its own way.

Check back throughout the week, as we imagine to have some further sneak peek from this episode.

What do you expect to see happen on the next new episode of “Law & Order: SVU”? Share right now with a comment.

(Photo: NBC.)