David Graziano, who takes over performing duties on “Law & Order: SVU” from longtime executive producer Warren Leight, told TheWrap that season 23 was a time of “healing and deep trauma” for Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay). will be about, which has been kept. Through the ringer on NBC shows over the past two decades.
Graziano is thrilled to work with Hargitay, who agreed it was time to deal with Benson’s considerable loss over the years. He’s also happy to be reunited with Octavio Pisano – Graziano gave his first big break on the show “Coyote” as Detective Joe Velasco, the actor who joined “SVU” last season.
TheWrap spoke to Graziano and fellow executive producer Julie Martin ahead of the Season 23 premiere on September 22 as part of our Fall TV preview. ,Note: This interview was conducted prior to the news of Kelly Giddish’s departure at the end of the upcoming season.,
wrap: The two of you co-wrote Episode 2, which follows the big crossover.
David Graziano: ‘The One You Feed’ starts our season with a bang. One case has come to the fore, a horrific, high profile case, the subway attack of a tourist family. And there is a gang behind it. So this brings Benson into conflict with the rival captain of the gang unit, and he thinks it is a gang case by his estimation, and that he knows nothing about sex crimes, labeling it as a sex crime. Doesn’t care to see. But for Benson, of course, the element of crime that takes the most prominence is that it is a sex offence. So it allows Mariska to go toe-to-toe with a very formidable actor by the name of Maurice Compte. They are very good together.
And we also introduce a young actress named Molly Burnett, who plays this detective Grace Muncy. She will be on our show again and again and she is really interesting to watch, Roshni. There are some great scenes between him and Mariska. And then you see him more in episode 3 and Benson really takes him under his wing.
What is Benson’s arc for this season?
Julie Martin: What we’re trying to explore this year is that Benson has gone through a lot of trauma over the 23 years. It is time to really explore that trauma, take a deep dive into it and figure out how to move on and overcome it, rather than just living in the trauma. So it tells a lot about storytelling. Obviously all SVU cases involve a level of trauma. But she’s looking at it in a different way, getting treatment for survivors, getting justice for survivors, was paramount, and we hope there’s an additional element of healing from trauma through Benson’s experiences and In these cases a long term method would be added.
Will we see more crossovers with Chris Meloni?
Graziano: We are trying to find out. But logically, it’s tough because she’s in every scene of ‘OC’ and it’s very tough. We cannot borrow them without disturbing their production schedule.
Martin: Even if we don’t see her in person on our screens, as far as Benson and the squad are concerned, she is very much a character and will be discussed. And he, especially in our first episode, has a little back and forth between him and this new character Duarte, and Stabler’s name comes up.
Graziano: He calls her out on the fact that she’s probably reacting that way because it reminds her a little bit of Stabler. A small launch is underway for Captain Benson.
Martin: I think their relationship is an important part of the show. And we don’t shy away from it, even if we don’t have as much availability to put them on screen together as fans would like.
graziano: I’m a hopeless romantic. I believe that true love wins. Hopefully, one day, in the not-too-distant future, we want to open ourselves up to the curse of ‘Moonlight’. But you know, that in the end, after they’ve both defeated the demons hiding under their beds and are ready and able to have a healthy relationship, that’s what they’re in for.
So you’re thinking, maybe in the series finale, they go off into the sunset together?
Graziano: Season 53! (laughs)
Martin: We know that Stabler has gone through an incredible amount of trauma as his wife is killed and adjusts to this new situation. [at] NYPD and we just want to show them both going through that process and Benson has his own trauma to deal with. It may not be the best thing for either of them to rush into a relationship right now.
Graziano: There are a lot of complications out there and a lot of things that need to be resolved before he is ready to get close to the relationship.
Last season he thought maybe it was time to retire. Is it still on his mind?
Graziano: No, she is entering a new phase of her career. He has suffered many traumas, not only his own [from] other people. What should it be like to go to work every day and see the darkest parts of humanity? [evident] In front of you and facing him? We had lunch with Mariska before the season even started and talked about what we thought the season would be about. As Julie said earlier, healing and deep trauma was a major, major thing we could all get behind.
And is Octavio Pisano back?
Graziano: Yes. I like Octavio. I auditioned him on ‘Coyote’ and he was working as a busboy at a restaurant in San Diego. He has I think one of the toughest monologues ever written for an actor for an audition. And Octavio made me forget I wrote it. I felt like someone was telling me a story on the barstool. He is a great actor and he is going to be a major part of the season. Peter (Jankowski) and Dick really loved her, you know, and she’s so magnetic on screen. He has a wolf type of charm, [and he’s a] Beautiful crook I saw something in him that is very difficult to remember. You have to be blind. And they are the ones who put them on the show. I’m in good company with regards to casting taste.
What can you tell us about the story of Rollins?
Martin: What’s most exciting to us is that Rollins and Carey, or #Rollisi, are growing up and getting stronger. Like every relationship, they will face some challenges along the way. But I think they will learn from each other and figure out how to move on from them and the actors are excited about it and we are excited too.
Graziano: Our story is going to be the story of the triumph, the triumph of the human soul. I am a huge Rolisi shipper. I love them together. I just love their humble origins and seeing two working class kids finding happiness in the world is very important to me as a former working class kid.
Martin: And there will be a lot of growth between Benson and Rollins as well. I mean, it’s gone, apparently from their beginnings when they weren’t and now they’re best friends. They have come so close over the years and we are finding more ways to explore that relationship and how to take our relationship deeper and have them talk about each other and write this. has been great
Graziano: These are some of the funniest scenes Julie and I have written one or two of them. In fact, I’d be lying if I said one or two of them didn’t high-five, just the two of us.
“SVU” returns September 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
