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‘Law & Order: SVU’ Season 17 To Include ‘Bachelor’-Themed Episode

By Taylor Rios
Published on: 02:49 PST, Mar 20, 2016

Law & Order: SVU often takes real-life cases and turns them into an episode. This includes crimes that have made national headlines, as well as Hollywood stories. It seems that the long-running police drama is at it again.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, sources revealed that Law & Order: SVU Season 17 will air an episode revolving around a fictional dating show called Heart’s Desire. SVU fans should expect an emphasis on behind-the-scenes drama, especially with the show creators, who just happen to be married. The Bachelor-themed SVU episode will also feature the contestants competing for love. Even though more than one source confirmed the news to THR, the news outlet wrote that NBC did not comment.

Not much else is known about the Bachelor-themed SVU episode. However, with only six weeks left until the Season 17 finale, fans won’t have to wait long before it airs. Since Law & Order: SVU focuses on sexual crimes, it seems likely that either a Heart’s Desire participant, crew member, or perhaps one of the show creators will either be a victim or suspect. Over the years, the police drama has done an excellent job in creating shocking twists. The story behind Heart’s Desire will probably be no different.

Law & Order: SVU has already aired one reality TV-inspired episode in Season 17, Episode 7. In November, 2015, “Patrimonial Burden” aired and was loosely based on Josh Duggar’s molestation scandal. The reality star is the eldest son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, known for TLC’s canceled series, 19 Kids and Counting. As with all SVU episodes, the Duggar-inspired story had an unexpected twist.

Law & Order: SVU has received a lot of attention since the last episode aired nearly three weeks ago. Titled “Manhattan Transfer,” Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) was forced to transfer out of the Special Victims Unit. The original SVU character did nothing wrong, but the transfer was the result of Benson simply being romantically linked to Robert John Burke’s character, Ed Tucker. In the storyline, SVU detectives were investigating a sex trafficking operation that involved the Catholic Church. After Tucker had an altercation with his cousin, Father Eugene, a complaint was made against Burke’s character. It initiated an internal investigation and ADA Rafael Barba (Raul Esparza) was not pleased that Benson didn’t tell him about her relationship with Tucker.

As previously reported by Inquisitr, Mariska Hargitay is not leaving the Special Victims Unit. She was only transferred, and the actress remains part of the cast. In fact, the network released promotional photos and video clips promoting Wednesday’s episode, “Unholiest Alliance.” The images and video clips clearly show Olivia Benson in Season 17, Episode 18. Despite confirmation that Mariska is still on the long-running series, some SVU fans are still upset about “Manhattan Transfer.”

While Benson is trying to get back into the SVU, Sgt. Mike Dodds (Andy Karl) will be taking her place. It is not something the other characters take well, especially Amanda Rollins, played by Kelli Giddish. She views Dodds as part of the “good ol’ boy” network, one that she tried to get away from when leaving Atlanta. According to All Things Law And Order, Amanda’s core issues were hinted in several episodes dating back to 2011. However, it wasn’t until January, 2015, when the exact reason for Amanda Rollins leaving Atlanta was addressed.

What do you think will happen in the Bachelor-themed episode Law & Order: SVU has planned later this season? Do you have any theories on what the storyline could be about, and will Olivia Benson be back in the Special Victims Unit by the time it airs?

[Photo by Jason Bell/NBC]

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