Law & Order: SVU Season 26 has come to an end in the 2024 TV schedule. Fans now face a choice - either indulge in a classic cable TV marathon or subscribe to Peacock to get their fix of Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) investigating those especially heinous sexually-based offenses for the rest of the year. The fall finale stands out as a memorable episode, yet it also left a lasting impact on Carisi (Peter Scanavino).

Unraveling the Impact of Law & Order: SVU's Fall Finale

Details of the Fall Finale

In the fall finale of Law & Order: SVU Season 26, a significant event took place. Carisi found himself trapped in a deli along with several hostages and two armed criminals. As the police presence grew outside, the situation became increasingly tense. Carisi did his best to maintain control, but things took a turn for the worse. He was revealed to have been an NYPD officer, one of the hostages was shot, and another was dragged into a back room to be assaulted. Carisi had to bear witness to this horrifying scene while remaining just on the other side of the room. Peter Scanavino delivered one of his finest performances in the series, and Kelli Giddish's return as Rollins added to the emotional stakes. This was a standout episode that left a deep impression.

It was a harrowing experience for Carisi, and the final credits rolled with a sense of unease. The episode's real-time setting and the intense drama made it a memorable one, but it also made viewers think about the wait for Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5.

How the Fall Finale Led to Missing Organized Crime

Although Law & Order: Organized Crime is a spinoff of SVU, the two shows have distinct differences. In the fall finale of SVU, the format deviated from the usual, taking place mostly in real-time during Carisi's hostage situation and lacking the usual courtroom drama. This format felt more like Organized Crime than SVU.

What's more, the focus on the hostage situation overshadowed the "sexually-based offenses" that the series is known for. It was as if the essence of SVU was temporarily forgotten. This made viewers realize how much they missed the non-sexually-based offenses that used to air regularly on Thursday nights with a different format. As a result, the longing for Law & Order: Organized Crime grew stronger.

Alas, there is still no definite word on when Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 will premiere. Production started in August, but there have been setbacks. If Peacock waits until all episodes are ready before releasing the first one, it could be a while before we continue Stabler's story. In the meantime, viewers can look forward to the returns of Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU on Thursday, January 16 at 8 p.m. ET and 9 p.m. ET respectively on NBC. The first four seasons of Organized Crime are available on Peacock as we wait for the next season.

Calabasa, California is the backdrop for an extraordinary family story. Their father and grandfather were renowned writers for hit television shows. Now, father and son are continuing this family tradition by each penning a new book and releasing them simultaneously. As Peter Berk, author of "First Line of Defense," said, "And we’re doing our best to carry on a family tradition that began with my father, Howard. He wrote many classic TV shows and novels."

Honoring the Late Howard Berk

Howard Berk was a highly accomplished writer for long-running television series such as "Columbo," "Mission Impossible," and "The Rockford Files." He wrote the first "Columbo" episode a remarkable 50 years ago. His legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren.Peter Berk, Howard's son, wrote a novel titled "First Line of Defense" which debuted in October. In this book, the President's son is arrested for murder and the President, who was a star defense attorney, takes on the case. As Peter added, "This is my way of honoring my dad."At the same time, Howard's grandson, Jordan Berk, is introducing his first book, "The Timestream Verdict." As Jordan said, "So I’m a third generation sci-fi author and it’s been great to share this with my dad."

The Influence of Family on Writing

Peter and Jordan admit that their talents could be inherited or simply learned by example. Peter shared, "It was always a huge part of my life, whether it was working with my dad or just really paying attention to movies and television. It’s what I grew up with. My favorite show was the Dick Van Dyke Show, and my dad was a writer for that too."Jordan, on the other hand, initially didn't think he had the skills to be a writer. But during the COVID-19 lockdown when he was spending more time indoors, everything changed. He said, "It’s about a time travel murder and the jury that not only needs to deliberate on it but also try to figure out what happened and potentially even intervene."

Taking Writing to the Next Level

Peter is extremely proud of his son Jordan's brilliant writing. Both have big dreams to take their writing to the next level. They are committed to continuing the family's literary journey and making their mark in the world of writing.Each book offers a unique perspective and value. "First Line of Defense" delves into the legal and moral complexities of a high-profile murder case, while "The Timestream Verdict" explores the fascinating world of time travel and mystery. These books are a testament to the Berk family's talent and dedication to the art of writing.