This article contains spoilers forLaw & Order: SVUseason 26, episode 2.
Law & Order: SVU’s decision to ignore its newest team member makes the inevitable season 26 exit of a different character even worse. During the season premiere,Law & Order: SVUintroduced Kate Silva (Juliana Aidén Martinez) as the newest member of Benson’s team. Silva’s introduction was expected, but it was a surprise that Renee Curry (Aimé Donna Kelly) was also still part ofBenson’sLaw & Order: SVUseason 26 team, as Curry was not included in a behind-the-scenes photo on Mariska Hargitay’s Instagram.
Curry is not a full-time member ofLaw & Order: SVU’s season 26 cast, and thus, she will be leaving the team at some point in the season. However, she has been featured in both season 26 episodes that have aired so far, taking an active role in investigations. While it is possible this is to build her up before a devastating end to her run onSVU,Curry’s presence takes time away from the permanent members of the team, especially Silva, whom the audience has not yet had much of a chance to get to know.
Law & Order: SVU Season 24, Episode 2 Barely Uses Kate Silva
Silva was absent for most ofLaw & Order: SVUseason 26, episode 2, which revolved around a troubled woman who found a diary proving her stepfather had raped her when she was eight years old. Throughout the episode, the SVU team struggled to get enough evidence to win the case that became hampered both by the passage of time and the fact that the accused was a former judge. Still, Silva did nothing notable during the case, appearing only to tell Benson that they had gotten results about a DNA specimen.
Law & Order: SVU Season 26 Already Sets Up Benson’s Team Losing A Member
The Law & Order: SVU season 26 premiere officially debuts Olivia Benson’s expanded team, but the episode also sets up one member eventually leaving.
Silva’s small role made it more difficult for the audience to get to know her, asshe delivered news that any member of the team could have handled rather than taking a more active role in the investigation. Curry also appeared in only a handful of scenes, but she was an active member of the investigative team throughout her scenes. Had her lines gone to Silva, it would have provided more insight into whoLaw & Order: SVU’sKate Silvais and what she brings to the table as a detective.
Ignoring Kate Silva Makes Renee Curry’s Eventual Law & Order: SVU Exit Worse
Curry Is Far More Established Than Silva, Making Her Exit Hard To Take
Although Curry has not been a part of Benson’s team for much longer than Silva, she is better established. She has demonstrated passion for SVU cases, is eager to help Benson develop a theory of the case and strategies for proving it, and has easily transferred her skills as an IAB officer to evaluating suspect claims. Thus,by the time Curry leaves, she will have formed an attachment with the audience, making her exit heartbreaking, even if it isn’t tragic.
It will be difficult to accept Silva as a replacement for Curry if the trend of underusing her continues because the audience will not have had the opportunity to get to know her.
Conversely, Silva is an unknown onLaw & Order: SVU, having only appeared in a significant capacity in one episode. It will be difficult to accept Silva as a replacement for Curry if the trend of underusing her continues because the audience will not have had the opportunity to get to know her. It is important that Silva have as much screen time as possible in the next few episodes so that she can move into the space left behind when Curry eventually exits the show.
