How ‘SVU’ Said Goodbye to Rollins in Kelli Giddish’s Last Episode (RECAP)
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Law & Order: SVU Season 24 Episode 9 “And a Trauma in a Pear Tree.”]
For Detective Amanda Rollins, in Kelli Giddish‘s last episode, the plan is to leave the squad to teach forensic psychology at a local university, and the SVU promo teased her and ADA Dominick “Sonny” Carisi’s (Peter Scanavino) wedding. But things don’t always go as planned. So do they in this instance?
Giddish’s final episode begins with a happy morning for Rollins and Carisi; her daughters run in to wake them up, looking forward to Christmas. And while everyone’s minds are on an upcoming trial, that’s not why Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola (Ice T), and Detective Joe Velasco (Octavio Pisano) have to rush to a courtroom. Once they arrive, they find out that Rollins and Carisi are getting married!
“Carisi and I were talking and we realized marriage is a lot like a crime. We have motive and opportunity,” Rollins says. Carisi adds, “and figured that all we needed were witnesses.” She then explains, “we didn’t want to do this without any of you here.” After the wedding, everyone gathers for a reception (which is when they find out Carisi’s mom is also planning a “real wedding” on Staten Island).
And it’s then that Benson finds out what the “Christmas project” is that has kept her son Noah (Ryan Buggle) busy on his phone: Connor McCann (Tre Ryder), his big brother, wants to meet him. Like any “self-respecting parent,” as Benson puts it, she has Fin look into Connor’s entire family. (His parents don’t know the truth about Connor’s father, Johnny D.) And since he doesn’t find anything, she can’t put off letting Noah meet what he calls “the only real family I have.”
Scott Gries/NBC
The boys hit it off, and Noah asks Benson if he can sleep over. Benson looks wary but she agrees. When she gets to the motel in town, she gets a “pervy” vibe off the desk clerk, Troy, then spots a hidden camera in her room. Rollins, with some free time with Carisi busy with the Elias Olsen trial and needing to talk to Benson about Fordham, offers to drive up to help. And she has great timing, too; she arrives just as Connor’s parents, Matt (Gregory Abbey) and Ginny (Anna Belknap), are asking Benson about his birth father and she gets only so far as to warn them it’s “not a Christmas story.”
Benson and Rollins arrest Troy after catching him watching the video from the hidden camera. But it was his cousin who installed the cameras, and so Benson and Rollins stake out the bar he frequents. While waiting, Benson tells Rollins about the McCanns asking about Connor’s birth father. She’ll tell them what they can find on the internet, she’s decided. As for Noah, he doesn’t know everything yet, but that may have to change, depending on what Connor finds out. Rollins assures her he can handle it with her in his corner, but Benson admits she’s not sure she can.
It’s after they lure Ray in and arrest him that Benson and Rollins have the important talk. But before Rollins gets into telling her boss and friend about her job offer, she asks the question many have been wondering about: What about Benson and Stabler?!
“Can I tell you how nice it is to see you happy?” Benson asks, which prompts Rollins (who might change her name!) to turn it around on her with, “it’s so nice to allow myself. When are you going to do the same?” With? Stabler, Rollins says. “I did feel like Stabler was my home, but he left me, Amanda, and I’m not over it. And the thing is is that I didn’t have a right or a claim. He’s somebody else’s husband,” Benson explains.
“He was your partner,” Rollins points out. “And I know this sounds crazy, but sometimes I think it would almost be easier …” Benson admits, and Rollins gets it: if Kathy hadn’t died.
“With her gone, it’s like there’s nothing but possibility, which is paralyzing,” Benson explains. If things don’t go well, she’d lose their friendship. But fortunately, she has Rollins … right? The detective remembers that wasn’t always the case. “You wouldn’t let me in,” Benson explains. “Now you let me into everything.” And so Rollins tells her about the job offer. “You taught me how to love myself, to let people in — victims, Carisi. This is hard for me,” she explains. “I made this choice. I need you to be OK with it.” Benson doesn’t take it well, and Rollins leaves to get ice … and never returns to the motel room.
It’s not until Benson’s back at work that she sees Rollins again. And yes, the detective is now going to be a professor and she’s happy about it. Rollins apologizes for leaving like she did, while Benson says she’s sorry for the way she reacted. “You were being open with me, and I shut down,” she says. But “you’re not losing me,” Rollins promises. “We’re friends, that’s not going to change, I’m not going to disappear.”
Benson understands, but “if you ever want to come back…” With that, the two share an emotional farewell, hugging and saying “I love you.” And Rollins also wants Benson to take her own “don’t postpone joy” advice. Then all that’s left is for the rest of the squad to say their goodbyes to Rollins as well.
So what did you think of how SVU wrote out Rollins? Let us know in the comments below.
Law & Order: SVU, Winter Premiere, Thursday, January 5, 9/8c, NBC
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Comments are closed on this story.
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O
Unfortunately, this show has become more like a cartoon, with cardboard characters and ridiculous situations. I am really sorry to see Giddish (Rollins) go away, but this was such a silly way. Don't the producers and writers know that to become a professor at a University (even Fordham!!), you need a specialized education with many, many credits? To think that Rollins made a speech at the University (even THIS was ridiculous) and was then hired on the spot to become a permanent professor, leaving a good job with people she loves, is ridiculous. Obviously, the show wanted her gone, but they could have given her a better sendoff. Just my humble opinion....
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O
I have a friend that is a lawyer and he also teaches law classes at a University. He is not a professor, he’s an attorney….
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O
Right. But Rollins is just a cop, not an attorney which a formal education consisting of at least 8 years. The idea they would just hire her in a permanent position just because she gave a talk is ridiculous. Also, Universities vet people who are going to be on the staff, and with her various addiction problems she would never make the cut. I love Rollins, but only as a cop.
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G
I liked the show. I was disappointed with the Stabler conversation. I still want Benson and Stabler to hook up. ❤️
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E
Yeah me too Olivia loves Elliot Stabler but yes she was very hurt by him ghosting her like that and without any word from him that was a blow. Elliot has changed so much he's not the same man that he once was please Olivia give Elliot a chance he's inlove with you and let him be there for. Please writers please don't send in any love interests for Olivia or Elliot. Elliot's inlove with Olivia Benson and no other woman.
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O
I've watched SVU since the beginning. Kelli was a great addition to the show. It was a big mistake letting her go, and, will watch for her to be on another series.
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O
very upset to see Rollins leave show. She was my favorite character.
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G
What was in the red box that Connor's family gave Olivia for Christmas
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R
The people who fired Kelli/Amanda from SVU squad is stupid...She deserves to stay..Hopefully she can come back gueststarring since they don't killed her off like Kathy Stabler. I am happy for what Olivia said,She deserved much better than Elliot..Gonna miss Kelli/Amanda SO much😢💔Best of luck to her in her new adventure ❤
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C
Great episode. Nice ending for Rollins.
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C
Could you please tell me why Jesse Lee Soffer left Chicago PD? He was the BEST actor on the show!
And he & "Hailey" were so good together. His character said he'd only be gone for about 8months. But
he's not coming back, is he? I was hoping Vought would leave & Halstead would take over the unit.
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O
Very well written and acted.
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C
I’m glad they didn’t kill her off.
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O
I thought the show was great. I really liked the two of the working together and being friends…….I’ll miss Rollins…..and the previews for when the show returns was unbelievable…..
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C
I am always happy when a show mentions Fordham 🙂
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P
Kind of a lame excuse to write her off - what qualifies her to teach at Fordham? What's more concerning is who dressed her for that wedding scene? That dress was AWFUL! She looked like a nun. Terrible choice. At least put her in a pretty white silk suit!
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P
I totally agree!!! I even told my husband that was a horrible dress. I said Amish though. UGH!
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P
Yes! Definitely Amish!
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O
Kelli Giddish (Rollins) was/is so much of the SVU family, I'm going to miss her. Mariska Hargitay said she fought hard to keep Giddish on the show, but apparently not hard enough. I'm surprised, as she (Hargitay), is listed as an Executive Producer, or is that just an imaginary title?
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O
My gut says if Hargitay really wanted Giddish on the show, she would still be on the show.
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