Law and Order SVU season 19, episode 14 preview: Bold new directions

Law & Order: SVU strikes out in bold new directions with Wednesday’s episode. Find out why it’s must-watch TV with our SVU season 19, episode 14 preview.

When Law & Order: SVU returns Wednesday, it’s SVU as you’ve never seen it before.

Wednesday’s installment, “Chasing Demons,” is the first episode of a new chapter for Dick Wolf‘s long-running crime drama—and a perfect mix of what’s made it successful for two decades with fantastic new ideas that could keep it going for two more.

In the episode, Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) is thrown for a loop when the team’s case against a child molester collapses, thanks to a courtroom outburst from her former colleague and ex, Brian Cassidy (Dean Winters, in his best SVU performance).

But the situation turns even more dire when the suspect turns up dead, leading everyone to think Cassidy killed him—and shining a harsh spotlight on Benson and her entire squad.

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“Chasing Demons” works on every level, and that’s good because it has a lot going on. It’s also the first episode where Philip Winchester is credited as main cast, with Peter Stone having become the new Assistant District Attorney.

Stone’s biggest strength on Chicago Justice was that he was a disruptor, and he brings a new, healthy level of conflict to SVU that takes it up a notch.

He’s not there just to stir things up; he raises the level of debate, and “Chasing Demons” has a perfect way to integrate his introduction into an already tense story.

With Cassidy working for the District Attorney’s Office, it’s Stone’s reputation on the line almost as much as Benson’s, and the two have to work together in order to get to the truth—not just about the murder, but also finding justice for the original victims.

What’s given SVU its staying power is the emotional drive behind its cases, particularly when it’s from Mariska Hargitay, who’s likewise in great form in “Chasing Demons” as Benson has to play all kinds of roles throughout the hour.

She cares about Cassidy, but she’s not going to let him off the hook. She doesn’t know if she trusts Stone yet, but she knows they have to get on the same page. And she’s still in charge of this unit, even if she might wind up bringing it down because of her proximity to the case.

SVU takes a page from Chicago Justice in that the heart of this episode is the underlying argument and interplay between characters—there are no easy answers, there’s no one clear side, and all the audience knows is that everyone has to find a way out of this.

The writing of the episode is as complex as the show has ever been, and this is a fitting follow-up to the thought-provoking events of “The Undiscovered Country.”

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Winchester proves himself to be a worthy addition to the series, as Stone is strong enough to counter-balance Benson, but in a way that’s different from his predecessor. He has several scenes that show the spark he brings to the table, and how Stone will help push SVU to new places.

Simultaneously, “Chasing Demons” tells a new chapter in the story of Benson and Cassidy, with Hargitay and Winters delivering every step of the way down to a conclusion that will resonate with the audience well after the credits roll.

Add in Kylie Bunbury (Pitch) as a detective fans will love to hate, and this is a real mystery that also has great character dynamics and allows the three actors to do some of their best work.

Maybe it’s because introducing a new character has inspired the SVU writers to try new things, especially when that character is an upstart like Peter Stone, but between “Chasing Demons” and “The Undiscovered Country” this feels as exciting as the show has ever been. It’s a fresh start, while building on everything fans know and love—and this should be on everyone’s must-watch list.

Next: Here's where Law & Order: SVU left off

Watch Law & Order: SVU season 19 tonight at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. For more show coverage, follow the Dick Wolf category at One Chicago Center.

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