Law & Order: SVU season 18 finale forecast: Where will we stand?

In this Law & Order: SVU season 18 finale forecast article, the first thing that we want to point out is the fact that we do still have a good many episodes left to air! The show is on hiatus until later this month, and at that point, we’ll get installments on a weekly basis leading up to what may be a two-hour finale event. We do hope that, one way or another, we do get a two-part episode — whether it airs in consecutive weeks or one right after the other.

So what should happen as this season of Law & Order: SVU winds down? Putting on our own detective hat, let’s try to figure that out.

What will happen – For now, not much is out there in terms of scoop about the finale. We imagine that the show will attempt to court another big-name guest star like they did last year with Brad Garrett, and in the process, force Olivia Benson into a case that challenges her down to her core. What we also assume is that the finale for the show won’t be “Unstoppable,” the controversial episode based on Donald Trump (fictional as the story may be). This episode was scheduled for the fall, and the fact that it still hasn’t aired suggests that it most likely never will.

Given that the season began with a case that put Barba in the spotlight, we have to think that there’s a chance that we could see the finale mirror “Terrorized” in some way and give him another interesting, meaty part. We’ve certainly seen past seasons come full-circle in some way.

What should happen – We’re going to go far out on a loop here — conjure up the name Stabler. We’re not saying that Christopher Meloni will return, but maybe bring in a storyline involving a former associate of his, and offer up Benson a chance to think about her former partner and their time together. This is an era where nostalgia really is key, and we think that this is a subject that the show should take on eventually given that he was so important to the series for so many years. The character can’t be someone like a family member in jeopardy, since at that point it’d be rather strange if he was not turning up.

Beyond that, we’d like to see a finale that also gave a strong story to Amanda Rollins. Sure, Kelli Giddish has had some outstanding storylines this season, but we’re missing that big showcase for her. This could be it, and that’d be an interesting, unexpected change of pace.

Also, no cliffhanger … not that we really think that SVU is going to be offering up a cliffhanger anyway. That’s not really the show’s style.

What do you think Law & Order: SVU should be offering up in its season 18 finale? Share in the comments!

(Photo: NBC.)