The LAW & ORDER Premiere Brought Back a Familiar ADA

[Warning: This post contains spoilers for the LAW & ORDER season 21 premiere, “The Right Thing.”]

LAW & ORDER wasted no time in bringing back a familiar face, with Carey Lowell reprising her role of Jamie Ross in the revival’s premiere hour, “The Right Thing.”

Before the series launched, the creative team had teased more characters would be popping up beyond returning regulars Sam Waterston (who plays District Attorney Jack McCoy) and Anthony Anderson (who plays Detective Kevin Bernard).

“You’ll definitely see some familiar faces along the way,” showrunner Rick Eid teased during the TCA panel for the series. “We’re going to keep…those names quiet right now. But, yeah, there’s so many great actors who have been involved in the show, and the opportunity for them to come back in some capacity is really exciting. So I think we definitely want to find ways to bring back several of our alumni.”

In the premiere, Ross, now an ADA with sex crimes, got entangled in the case in an unconventional way: She prosecuted Henry King, whose murder Bernard and new partner Cosgrove (Jeffrey Donovan) were trying to solve.

Prior to his death, Ross made a deal with King to not charge him over a rape due to an apparent lack of evidence and with the hopes he’d talk during a civil suit. He took the immunity offer, but more evidence—and victims—became apparent, so she ended up prosecuting him…which was overturned due to her initial promise. But, naturally, King blamed her for “ruining his life,” and he stuck a P.I. on her to try and find a way to get payback.

Ross met with King’s suspected killer, Nicole, on the day of his death, but declined to say what they talked about. ADA Nolan Price (Hugh Dancy) tried to appeal to Ross to tell him what went down, but she refused, even after he threatened to subpoena her. She complied with the order and took the stand, but immediately took the fifth.

It ended up being moot, as Price was able to make his case—with some help from ADA Samantha Maroun (Odelya Halevi), who delivered the closing argument, and revealing a bit of her own tragic familial past to the jury in an attempt to have them see things from a different perspective—and Nicole was convicted.

Prior to the season 21 premiere, Ross was last seen in the LAW & ORDER world in two episodes of the 2005 spinoff LAW & ORDER: TRIAL BY JURY as a judge. She played played an ADA on the mothership from 1996-98, with guest spots as a defense attorney in 1999 and 2001.

What did you think of the LAW & ORDER premiere and Lowell’s return into the L&O universe?

LAW & ORDER, Premiere, Thursday, February 24, 8/7c, NBC

RELATED:

• LAW & ORDER: What You Need to Know About the Premiere
• LAW & ORDER Press Day Photos
• LAW & ORDER at TCA: Live-Blog
• LAW & ORDER Premiere: ‘The Right Thing’ Photos
• NBC Expands LAW & ORDER Season 21 Premiere
• Jesse L. Martin Teases Possible Return to LAW & ORDER: ‘I Certainly Hope So’
• LAW & ORDER: McCoy Warns ‘It’s Okay to Play the Hero—As Long as You Win’ in New Promo
• Jeremy Sisto Has an Idea for a LAW & ORDER and FBI Crossover
• LAW & ORDER: Sam Waterston Officially Signs on for Season 21
• LAW & ORDER: See the First Photos of Anthony Anderson and Jeffrey Donovan Filming Season 21
• LAW & ORDER Adds Anthony Anderson, Hugh Dancy
• NBC Boss Teases Potential LAW & ORDER and ONE CHICAGO Crossovers
• LAW & ORDER Adds Jeffrey Donovan

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