Law & Order fall finale spoilers: Is Jessica Brady leaving the show?

Law and Order was messier then fans expected during its fall finale. There's typically a twist as to who the real culprit of a given case is, but "Bad Apple" looked inward, and looked at narcotics officers who decided to take the law into their own hands. To make things even more complicated, Law and Order stalwart Jessica Brady (Maura Tierney) used to run with their unit.

The whole investigation came about after a cop was shot and killed in the line of duty. It was then determined another cop, one who has a history of corrupt behavior, was responsible, and peers have known about his behavior for years. Yes, unfortunately, Brady was one of these peers.

Brady implicated herself in police corruption

The character took the witness stand in the episode's climactic moments, and decided to crack the case wide open. She admitted to having knowledge of the corrupt officer's actions, and admitted he was given free rein by those who were higher up than him on the food chain. It was a shocking turn of events, given the repercussions it could have on Brady's reputation and her career.

"Bad Apple" came to a somewhat ambiguous close. Brady is seen walking down a hallway, a visible pariah among cops who were disappointed in her actions, before she's called into an office to chat with an Internal Affairs officer. Some fans are understandably worried about Jessica Brady's future, given what she admitted to on the stand, and fear that she could be written off the show as a result.

While the show could easily decide to write Brady off, all signs point to the character sticking around. For one, the character has been a vital part of the show in season 24, and Tierney's performance has been hailed by critics and fans alike. She's not the kind of actress you write off the show unless you have to.

Maura Tierney's performance has been praised by fans

In a more practical sense, Law & Order has not had the easiest time when it comes to retaining cast members. The show has parted ways with several notable actors since returning in 2022, and it'd be counterproductive to axe one of their most intriguing characters.

Especially given how little time was spent between Brady and the rest of the cast in the fall finale's closing moments. And your eyes don't deceive you; there is a quick glimpse of the character in the winter premiere promo.

Law & Order knows how to send a character off. We're confident that Jessica Brady will be back up and running when the show returns on January 16. It may not be easy, but we imagine she will do what it takes to stick around.