Law & Order: SVU season 19 fall finale preview: A hoax leads to chaos

The Law & Order: SVU season 19 fall finale is airing on NBC next week and if there’s one thing that’s really frustrating about it, it’s the timing. We have a new episode of the show tonight after a lengthy hiatus, and now the December 6 installment called “Intent” is going to be the last until January. (Side note: Does anyone else automatically think about Law & Order: Criminal Intent when they see that title? We don’t know if that’s intentional but it feels that way.)

If you’re interested in getting some preliminary details about what’s coming, the Law & Order: SVU season 19 fall finale synopsis that CarterMatt has for you below makes a few things clear:

The cops get tangled in an elaborate online hoax that leads to the rape of a popular social media star. Meanwhile, Benson (Mariska Hargitay) sets firm ground rules with Sheila (guest star Brooke Shields). Also starring Ice T (Det. Odafin Tutuola), Kelli Giddish (Det. Amanda Rollins), Raul Esparza (ADA Rafael Barba) and Peter Scanavino (Det. Sonny Carisi). Also guest starring Gage Golightly (Katy Miller), Steve Howey (Andy “The Monster” McPherson), Tenea Intriago (Heather Parcell), Ryan Buggle (Noah Porter-Benson) and James Monroe Iglehart (Shawn Tompkins).

There are obviously a number of important things about this episode right out of the gate — of course, it starts with Noah. When showrunner Michael Chernuchin said that he was going to put Olivia and her son Noah through hell this season, he wasn’t kidding. First, she had to deal with an investigation over comments he made at a nurse’s office. Now, he’s at the center of a battle that could turn nasty between Benson and Sheila, who is getting ever closer to her biological grandson and therefore all the more interested in spending time with him. That could mean that she damages Benson’s own relationship with him to get what she wants.

As for the case, it’s going to be interesting to see how the Special Victims Unit tackles the issue of hoaxes, social media toxicity, and some other topics that are unfortunately super-prevalent in society these days. What happens is that someone makes a comment — often with malice, and thinking no one will see it or will do anything about it. Following that, said comment can spiral out of control. There’s too much nastiness in the world today, and it doesn’t help that some of the most powerful people in the world are fanning those flames at the moment.

Have any expectations for the Law & Order: SVU season 19 fall finale, airing on NBC Wednesday, December 9? Share below!

(Photo: NBC.)