Law & Order: Organized Crime

Law & Order: Organized Crime marks the return of Det. Stabler, one of the franchise's most beloved characters, back to New York. Fans have waited months for this series premiere, but if you're not careful, you might miss half of the premiere's storyline, since the first half was told in a crossover episode of Law & Order: SVU. While that type of storytelling helps the ratings of both SVU and Organized Crime, fans who just wanted to see Organized Crime might feel annoyed at having to watch a separate series to get the full story of Stabler's return. With that said, fans of the series would already know some of the backstory behind Stabler and Det. Benson's (Mariska Hargitay) strained, emotional relationship, which colors part of the series premiere.

Also known to fans is Stabler's penchant for flying off the handle and going off book instead of abiding by proper protocol. Being a rule follower is something Stabler seems to struggle with as he finds his footing in a New York tightly focused on regaining the public's trust after a racially tense 2020. That struggle will intensify as Stabler works under Black police sergeant Ayanna Bell (Danielle Moné Truitt), who is intent on following regulations. The series' interweaving of current racial politics will be an evolving storyline that will be interesting to watch, especially since Stabler has a history of police-involved shootings. While Stabler's fight to solve the case is the surface-level drama, the real drama is how the characters interact with the ongoing conversation about race in America, making for a unique and fascinating entry in the Law & Order canon. It's encouraging to see a blockbuster hit series make a concerted effort to meaningfully address America's wake-up call regarding systemic racism.