What Happened on Law & Order: SVU This Week? (February 22, 2024)

Read the official logline for this week's SVU episode, below: 

Season 25, Episode 5 ("Zone Rouge"): "A cryptic message sends SVU on a new track to find Maddie; Benson tries to help a federal agent when the case hits too close to home; Captain Curry tries to make amends with Fin."

The episode marked the indoctrination of former Internal Affairs Captain Renee Curry (Aime Donna Kelly) into the squad. SVU fans might remember that Curry was once a bit of an antagonistic force on the show after she launched an investigation into Benson's policing in Season 22. After working together on a Season 25 case, Curry told Benson she wanted to join her squad to see some real change within the NYPD, and Benson happily agreed. 

Despite Curry's wholehearted attempts to charm her new coworkers with pastries and cheery chat, Fin (Ice T) never forgets someone who messes with Benson. Fin historically abhors the IAB, so it's going to take time for him to trust Curry, but she's making slow and steady progress while assisting on the latest case. 

The latest SVU finally closed the mystifying case of Maddie Flynn, a missing teenager who was kidnapped after her image was used for a sex doll catalog, and one of the doll's buyers took their obsession to the next level. The case began in the Season 25 premiere ("Tunnel Blind"), after coincidentally, Benson witnessed the moment Maddie was kidnapped but didn't realize it was under nefarious circumstances until it was too late.

For weeks, Maddie's case remained open as her transient kidnapper expertly dodged authorities. Not knowing Maddie's whereabouts haunted Benson, at points even compromising  her ability to remain impartial in other SVU cases. Luckily, after a man took a photo of a drugged Maddie on the train and the picture was reported to Pittsburg police, Benson had the breadcrumb she needed to get back on Maddie's trail. 

After teaming up with FBI behavior analyst Shannah Sykes (Jordana Spiro), Benson was able to track Maddie's location and finally reunite the young girl with her family. It may have taken a while — but Benson can confidently close yet another case. 

The latest SVU received a visit from Jordana Spiro as FBI Agent Shannah Sykes, an FBI profiler who helped bring closure to the Maddie Flynn case. Sykes made it clear to Benson that she wanted to join her squad — informing the SVU Captain that she could be easily transferred to her precinct if she'd accept her. Benson was impressed by Sykes, so it seems she is here to hang with the squad for a while. 

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Some of the other dynamite guest stars who appeared include Josh Cooke as FBI Agent Harrison Clay and Marisa Brau-Reyes as Attorney Edwina Myerson, both characters who have brushed shoulders with Benson in previous SVU seasons. 

New episodes of Law & Order: SVU are available to stream at 6 a.m. ET the day after they air on NBC.com and Peacock.