Law and Order: SVU has dropped two cast members. The deadline reports that the next 23rd season of NBC’s long crime series will not feature Jamie Gray Hyder, who starred Officer Kat Tamin, and Demore Barnes, who played the role of Deputy Director Christian Garland. They both leave the series after seasons. How the departure of his characters from the department will be revealed during the premiere of the two-hour season. Both characters appeared during season 21 as recurring cast members and were promoted to regulars in season 22.
Tamin made history as the show’s first LGBTQ officer and the second main LGBTQ character since Dr. George Huang, played by BD Wong. His character came out in season 12.
The report notes that the season resumes a few hours after the end of season 22, where Catherine Machado (Zabryna Guevara) was arrested for victims of sex trafficking who were single mothers living in shelters. Machado intends to turn to his bosses in exchange for an agreement with the feds, naming a powerful politician as a participant in the process. The SVU squad is working diligently to get a conviction.
In the first hour of the “And the Empire Strikes Back” premiere titles, Benson’s fidelity to Garland touches a crossroads. Rollins and Carisi work to control their testimonies after the politician is involved. Ben Rappaport, Terry Serpico and Octavio Pisano will be the protagonists.
In the second episode titled “Never Turn Your Back”, the team searches for a missing witness, which leads Fin and Kat to danger. Chief McGrath pressures Garland and Benson to convict a suspect. Rappaport, Serpico, Glenn Fleshler and Isabelle Poloner will be the guest stars of the episode.
Law & Order: SVU is the real-time action series with the most TV time. It received a three-year renewal in 2020, until season 24.
The show is produced by Universal Television, along with Wolf Entertainment. Dick Wolf is the creator and executive producer of the show. Warren Leight, Julie Martin, Hargitay, Norberto Barba, Arthur Forney and Peter Jankowski are executive producers.