How Will ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Write Out Rollins in Season 24?

Kelli Giddish as Amanda Rollins in Law & Order: SVU
Eric Liebowitz/NBC

After 12 years with SVU (beginning with Season 13), Detective Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish) will be leaving the squad behind sooner rather than later.

Giddish announced on August 24 that she will be exiting Law & Order: SVU in Season 24. “Playing Rollins has been one of the greatest joys and privileges of my life,” her statement reads in part. “There is simply no other character on TV like Rollins. She’s grown and changed, and I have as well.”

So far, nothing official has been said about how the NBC drama will be writing out her character, but according to TVLine, “Rollins will experience a traumatic event early into Season 24,” which may or may not be part of her exit storyline.

If that is part of how Rollins leaves the squad — maybe it makes her realize that enough is enough and it’s time to get into a line of work that isn’t crime-related? — it does seem to have some similarities to how Jamie Gray Hyder‘s Detective Katriona “Kat” Azar Tamin left in the Season 23 premiere. After she was shot in the line of duty, decided that she was leaving the NYPD because nothing had changed. “I gotta get out before I get too deep. I am so happy for the victims’ sake that you’re here, I just can’t stay,” she explained to Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay). It would be understandable, however, for Rollins, given everything she’s been through (with her sister and former boss, just to name a couple). If anyone could use a break, and perhaps time with her kids, it’s her.

Peter Scanavino as Assistant District Attorney Sonny Carisi, Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins in Law & Order SVU

Virginia Sherwood/NBC

However, her exit does leave the question of what this means for her and ADA Carisi’s (Peter Scanavino) future, given they’ve gotten serious and said “I love you” — and the end of Season 23 suggested that a wedding could be in the cards for them. Giddish’s exit seems to point to a breakup, though that might wholly depend on whether Rollins leaves New York. (Could she go back to Georgia?) Could SVU leave “Rollisi” in a somewhat happy place (we know, it’s hard to imagine for a show as dark as this one) even with the detective off-screen? That would allow SVU to offer updates on what’s going on with her through Carisi.

Whatever happens, we’re just hoping it’s not a tragic exit. Given her line of work, it’s not hard to imagine something going terribly wrong and SVU killing her off. But then there would be the matter of custody of her kids (Would their fathers be involved? Would Carisi become a single father?) and the squad (especially Carisi) grieving their loss. Hopefully the door is at least left open for her to return in the future. But for now, all we can do is wait and see.

Law & Order: SVU, Season 24 Premiere, Thursday, September 22, 9/8c, NBC

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  1. G

    GreenPalmtree

    I can't believe that the show would let an exceptional actress like Kelli Giddish go. She has been amazing on this show and it won't be the same without her. I am beyond disappointed. I think I speak for many other faithful fans when I say that we waited for a long time for her and Carisi to get together and then when they finally do and we think there's going to be a wedding, she gets let go??! This is a big mistake! Don't kill her off so we can at least have hope that she will be back when whoever made this decision realizes it was a bad call

    14 1

  2. G

    GoldHammer

    Carisi and Rollins need to exit together.

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  3. B

    BlueRadio

    Kelli is a great actress and she has really developed a strong her character over time. I think the Rollisi relationship is the most popular one I can remember. It will be interesting to see how they handle writing her out. I can’t think of a way that won’t disappoint a good portion of the shows following. Unless she takes Carisi with her and we don’t want to see him out of a job too 🙂 He has really done a great job developing his character as well. They are both fan favorites. Kelli is incredibly talented, she will land on her feet and wherever she ends up they will be lucky to have her.

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  4. C

    CyanController

    I will stop watching SUV if Rollins leaves. Already sad enough Anderson is gone.

  5. G

    GoldPopsicle

    Did you ever think that maybe she wanted to leave

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    1. P

      PurpleWheel

      She was fired. It was confirmed. Think before you post.

  6. C

    CyanRaindrop

    While I’m sad to hear Kelli Giddish is leaving her role as Amanda Rollins (absolutely love her character), I can’t help but think that it would be a phenomenal opportunity to bring Erin Lindsey (Sophia Bush) originally from Chicago PD back to the Dick Wolf family.

    1 2

    1. O

      Olive8Ball

      eeck was glad to see lindsey leave chicago pd...too much of her....

      2

    2. R

      RedSushi

      When you transfer from a different state you start as a rookie. Police academy over.