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Why Did Molly Burnett's Detective Muncy Leave Law & Order: SVU?
She got a job offer she just couldn't refuse.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 24 has come to a thrilling end. Olivia Benson's (Mariska Hargitay) squad went through many changes this go-around, including adding some fresh faces to the mix, like Detective Grace Muncy (Molly Burnett).
Muncy came to the Manhattan SVU from the Bronx Gangs Unit after Benson saw her empathy and intellect in action. Muncy's introduction wasn't the smoothest; her millennial gumption and down-to-earth demeanor rubbed some of her fellow squad members the wrong way, but she quickly cemented herself as a valuable asset to the team.
The case that plagued Muncy for the majority of Season 24 was the open file of Elias Olsen. Olsen was responsible for the assaults of many victims; however, the charges against him were dropped after Muncy testified and made a scene on the stand, causing the jury to deadlock.
Muncy felt horrible for her role in Olsen getting away, but fortunately, the squad got their second chance at an arrest in Season 24, Episode 21 ("Bad Things"). After details of an assault/murder case perfectly aligned with the previous Olsen profile, Muncy realized he was back in action. Benson and the squad initially worried Muncy was biased due to her guilt over Olsen getting away, but sure enough, her hunch proved to be correct. With the help of Officer Tonie Churlish (Jasmine Batchelor), Muncy finally tracked down and arrested Olsen for good, preventing any further assaults from happening.
Muncy's latest police pursuit was extraordinary, earning her a resounding congratulations from the squad. But this arrest also happened alongside Benson learning about the horrific revenge-for-hire website, Shadowërk. In the Season 24 finale (Episode 22, "All Pain Is One Malady"), Benson arrests an extensive lineup of perps who used the website to commit horrendous acts. And Chief McGrath (Terry Serpico) arranges a press conference to announce the arraignments.
Why did Molly Burnett's Detective Muncy leave Law & Order: SVU?
But just as everyone thinks Muncy's latest achievement will go by unnoticed, someone goes out of their way to give her props.
"McGrath pulled me aside after the press conference," Muncy tells Detective Velasco (Octavio Pisano), whom she's grown close to.
"Oh yeah?" Velasco says. "What did he want?"
"Wanted to congratulate me on arresting Elias Olsen," Muncy explains. Velasco says the shout-out is shocking, considering all eyes have been on the Shadowërk case lately.
"He said my contribution to the city hadn't gone unnoticed," Muncy shrugs.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," Muncy says. "He wanted to offer me a job on a DEA task force."
"So you get your own car," Velasco guesses.
"Yeah," Muncy confirms. "Unlimited overtime..."
"So what'd you say?" Velasco presses.
"Told him I'd think about it," Muncy reveals.
Muncy says McGrath gave her a few days to consider the gig, but based on the job offer's enticing benefits, it seems like the DEA job might be Muncy's natural next step.
"Promise you won't tell anyone?" Muncy asks her SVU go-to.
"Who am I gonna tell?" Velasco quips. "All I do is work, you're my only real friend."
Muncy continued to contemplate the job offer while working with Organized Crime's Detective Jet Slootmaekers (Ainsley Seiger) and Churlish on the Shadowërk case. While chatting in the break room, Muncy opened up to Churlish about the potential gig and getting the promotion.
"Really?" Churlish exclaims. "Congratulations! You going to take it?"
"I don't know," Muncy admitted. "Benson's always been good to me."
"And she doesn't exactly do well with people leaving her," Churlish said, in reference to Benson's latest loss on the force, Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish), who returned for the finale episodes.
"Yeah, you think?" Muncy quips.
"But hey, look: Benson and Stabler seem good, Rollins is here, and it's fine," Churlish reminds Muncy. "People adapt. You do you, boo."
During the Law & Order: OC Season 3 finale, it's revealed that Muncy accepts McGrath's job offer. She collects her belongings from the SVU and shares a heartfelt goodbye hug from Fin (Ice T), and Velasco walks her out.
