LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT Exclusive: Raúl Esparza and Jordana Spiro to Guest Star in Season 23 Finale

LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT is getting a blast from the not-so-distant past: Raúl Esparza will reprise his role of Rafael Barba in the season 23 finale, Give Me My Remote has learned exclusively.

In the hour, set to air Thursday, May 19 (at 9/8c), Barba is called to help when a domestic violence victim (played by MY BOYS’ Jordana Spiro) ends up being prosecuted. Enter Barba, who has most recently been working as a defense attorney.

Of course, Barba’s last go-round with the squad didn’t go well: After defending Richard Wheatley (Dylan McDermott) when he was on trial for Kathy Stabler’s murder—and getting a deadlocked jury, which ultimately led to Wheatley going free—things got very tense with Olivia (Mariska Hargitay), who had begged her friend to not take the case.

With the duo still estranged, it’s actually Rollins (Kelli Giddish) who reaches out to Barba for help: The detective forms a bond with the victim after their initial meeting, and Rollins realizes she’ll need more help than she’s currently getting.

Esparza starred on SVU from season 14 through 19; he’s guest starred on three episodes over the past two years (in sizable storylines and via video), and also appeared in a scene of SVU spinoff ORGANIZED CRIME.

This marks Spiro’s first appearance in the LAW & ORDER world. Her other TV credits include OZARK, BLINDSPOT, and THE MOB DOCTOR.

Update (May 9): Here’s the official logline for “A Final Call at Forlini’s Bar”: “The SVU provides help and protection for a longtime domestic violence victim, but when she winds up at the defendant’s table in court, Rollins surprises Carisi with a formidable opponent at trial.”

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

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