How ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Just Wrote Out Velasco
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 3 “A Vicious Circle.”]
Heading into the latest Law & Order: SVU episode, Detective Joe Velasco (Octavio Pisano) had already told his captain, Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), of an assignment that took him away from the squad: He was tapped by the DEA to go undercover guarding Ramirez’s drug runs, given his experience with cartels. It was something he’d been told to keep even from her. Keep her informed and be careful, she stressed. Well, that went well, but now, he’s running into a new problem in the form of Chief Kathryn Tynan (Noma Dumezweni).
Velasco’s back with the squad for the case-of-the-week, but then he tells Benson that Tynan wants to see him. He thinks she heard about what he did for the DEA — possibly through Detective Jake Griffin (Corey Cott), who appears to be her mole — and that’s something Benson should have told her. The captain assures him she can handle herself.
When Velasco goes to see Tynan, DEA agents he’d worked with are there as well. She assures him that there’s nothing to worry about, and she just wants to chat, share feelings, and see if they have the same goals and desires. As she sees it, one of the best parts of her job is helping everyone achieve their mutual goals.
After, Velasco tells Benson that the DEA asked Tynan if they can have him. Yes, it’s for more undercover work — in San Diego. Tynan thinks it’s a good idea. And what does he think? “I mean, I don’t like the way they went over our heads,” he says, but she knows there’s a “but.” The guy they’re after is someone who very much needs to be taken down. With Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola (Ice-T) out after he was attacked in the premiere, he doesn’t want to leave her empty-handed.
“I haven’t stayed with SVU out of loyalty. I would never expect anyone to do that. I’m here because I think that it’s the place I can do the most good. You need to be where you can do the most good,” Benson tells him. Velasco admits that during his last job for the DEA, he didn’t sleep for four nights because he was up, buzzed, excited. She knows he’s going to take the job.
Virginia Sherwood/NBC
The episode ends with Velasco visiting a still-recovering Fin — he holds his side as he sits down, but doesn’t answer the detective’s question about PT — and recalling their conversation about trying to balance out the scales of the bad things they’d done. He’s realized that when he’s doing the job, he doesn’t think about the scale anymore or himself at all. Fin wonders if he’s going somewhere. Velasco just wants to thank him for everything — “You don’t have to say a word, I already know,” the sergeant says — then he leaves.
What do you think of how SVU wrote out Velasco? Let us know in the comments section below.
Law & Order: SVU, Thursdays, 9/8c, NBC
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P
Why cut him out? He brought some kind of balance to the show. This is very disappointing!
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B
He was the best part of the show. So disappointed that he was written out. Better come up with someone good to take his place and not the new guy. No comparison. Bring him back please
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C
I don't even know why they wrote him out!!! He is as good as anyone on the show.
Makes me crazy.
Please bring him back!
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G
ok, we will bring him back, because you asked....lol
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O
They keep getting rid of the best one's, we get to know and love them and out they go!
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G
I was disappointed with Cragan and now Velasco. I have watched this show since day one, I'm hoping it gets better I'm not impressed with the cast. It definitely needs Amanda.
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A
I'm sure you know she returns full-time next week...
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C
I hate the chief and new guy I don’t trust them. They should not have written him off 😔
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O
By the way, I do not like Griffin or whatever his name is!
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O
I am very upset about Velasco leaving the show. I loved his character!!!!
SVU has been my favorite show for 26+ years. Thanks for bringing back Amanda!! Please bring back Velasco!
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M
I really liked Velasco. Sad to see him go. I am not liking Griffin at all.
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N
I don’t like it he did a great job why just leave
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C
Didn’t have to kill off Cragan he was already retired it was just stupid. There was no reason to get rid of Velasco either he was great brought real value to the team. Don’t like how they’re getting rid of actors just Wiley niley no rhyme or reason can’t keep track whose going to there or not. Don’t like the new chief at all. We need Amanda back for certain. Things just don’t gel anymore. Even the writing seems off. Please let’s get back to way it used to be there’s no comrade anymore especially with loss of Velesco! You people don’t have a clue what you’re doing!!
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O
I wish they would get rid of Ice-T and kept Velaso!! He is much better than Ice-T.
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