LAW & ORDER: Raúl Esparza Sets Return for SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT-ORGANIZED CRIME Crossover

LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT kicked off 2021 with a Barba return, and the franchise is closing out the year the same way: Raúl Esparza, who portrays the former ADA, will return for the big two-hour SVU and ORGANIZED CRIME crossover on Thursday, December 9 episode (kicking off at 9/8c).

Much like his last appearance, Barba will be working for the other side in the SVU hour, “People vs. Richard Wheatley“—facing off against his former colleague/friend ADA Carisi (Peter Scanavino) on a very important case.

Richard Wheatley (Dylan McDermott) was the main foe of ORGANIZED CRIME season 1, whose sole charge—after cooperating with authorities to get the others dropped—was for killing Kathy, the wife of SVU-turned-OC’s Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni).

Esparza will also appear on the OC hour of the crossover, which is fittingly called “The Christmas Episode.”

Outside of the LAW & ORDER franchise, Esparza’s recent TV credits also include DOPESICK and THE GOOD FIGHT.

Update, November 22: NBC has released the official episode descriptions:

“People vs. Richard Wheatley”: “Carisi tries Richard Wheatley for the murder of Kathy Stabler. Benson finds herself at odds with a friend when Barba agrees to take the case.”

“The Christmas Episode”: “When Eli goes missing, Stabler asks Benson and the task force to help him find his son. Wheatley considers his future.”

LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT, Thursdays, 9/8c, NBC

LAW & ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME, Thursdays, 10/9c, NBC

RELATED:

• LAW & ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME’s Ilene Chaiken Teases the Next Step in Elliot and Olivia’s Relationship
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT: ‘They’d Already Disappeared’ Photos
• The LAW & ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME Team Teases the End of the Kosta Arc
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT: ‘The Five Hundredth Episode’ Photos
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT Promotes Octavio Pisano
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT: ‘Fast Times @TheWheelHouse’ Photos
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT: NBC Teases ‘The Five Hundredth Episode’
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT: How Did the Show Say Goodbye to Kat and Garland?
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT: What You Need to Know About the Season Premiere
• Demore Barnes on His LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT Exit
• NBC Teases LAW & ORDER Block with New SVU and ORGANIZED CRIME Promo
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT’s Jamie Gray Hyder Confirms Exit: Season 23 ‘Got a Lot Less Colorful’
• LAW & ORDER: SVU Shocker: Jamie Gray Hyder and Demore Barnes to Exit
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT: Peter Scanavino Reflects on Carisi’s Season 22 Courtroom Arc
• NBC Teases LAW & ORDER Thursdays with New Benson and Stabler Posters
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT Writers Reveal 500th Episode Title
• LAW & ORDER Stars Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni Weigh in on a Potential Benson/Stabler Relationship: ‘It Just Has to be Earned’
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT and ORGANIZED CRIME Bosses Share How They’ve Crafted a Shared Universe
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT Post-Mortem: Will Henry Return?
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT: Warren Leight Explains the Cut Crossover Diner Scene
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT Post-Mortem: Peter Scanavino on What’s Next for Rollisi
• LAW & ORDER: SVU and ORGANIZED CRIME: Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni Break Down Olivia and Elliot’s Messy Reunion

Follow @GiveMeMyRemote and @marisaroffman on Twitter for the latest TV news. Connect with other TV fans on GIVE ME MY REMOTE’s official Facebook page.

And be the first to see our exclusive videos by subscribing to our YouTube channel.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links/ads placed on the site.