Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Tackles Missing Teen Case in Midseason Premiere

NEW YORK — The midseason premiere of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (SVU) Season 26, titled “Master Key,” aired Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, on NBC, delivering another gripping case for Captain Olivia Benson and her squad. The episode centers on the disappearance of a teen from a group home, forcing the team to quickly determine whether the boy ran away or was abducted.

Detective Joe Velasco, played by Octavio Pisano, suspects systemic failures may be to blame for the teen’s disappearance. The episode highlights the challenges faced by vulnerable children slipping through the cracks of the system. “When a teen from a group home goes missing, the squad has only minutes to determine if he ran away or was abducted,” the episode’s logline teases.

Mariska Hargitay, who has portrayed Captain Olivia Benson since the show’s inception, shared her passion for the series in a recent interview. “I love my job,” Hargitay said. “I love going to work every day. I love the community that I’m in. I love my cast, my crew, and I love the intimacy of it all and the fact that we work in a culture that says, ‘Let’s do the work, let’s have a fun time, and best idea wins.'”

The episode also features returning cast members Ice T as Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola and Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins. John Clarence Stewart joins the cast as Detective Corgan, adding fresh dynamics to the squad.

New episodes of “Law & Order: SVU” air Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC and are available to stream the following day on Peacock. The series continues to explore timely and socially relevant issues, maintaining its reputation as one of television’s longest-running dramas.

Hargitay reflected on the evolution of her character, Olivia Benson, calling it a “perfect feminist story.” “As I see it and look back, Olivia Benson is sort of a perfect feminist story because we actually see this woman grow into her power,” she said.

Fans can catch up on past episodes and enjoy marathons of the series on Peacock, which also offers a wide range of NBC content, including other “Law & Order” franchises and original programming.