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After its midseason hiatus, Law and Order: SVU season 26 continues to delve into the criminal cases and personal struggles of the officers from NYPD's 16th precinct in Manhattan. Led by Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson, the latest season premiered on October 3, 2024. The series took a fall break after releasing its eighth episode, and Law and Order: SVU season 26 episode 9, titled First Light, aired on NBC on January 16, 2025.
Disclaimer: The article ahead contains spoilers for Law and Order: SVU season 26 episode 9.
In episode 9, the storyline revolved around Peter Scanavino's ADA Dominick 'Sonny' Carisi. Carisi struggled to find normalcy after surviving a traumatic robbery in the previous episode that claimed the life of his friend. Many unresolved emotions surfaced upon his return to work, culminating in an anxiety attack during a high-stakes trial.
With Captain Benson’s encouragement, Carisi was able to confront his inhibitions and overcome his trauma, ultimately ensuring justice. This episode successfully bridged the personal and professional challenges faced by one of SVU's pivotal characters.
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Law and Order: SVU season 26 episode 9: Carisi's journey through his trauma
Law and Order: SVU season 26 episode 9 began with ADA Dominick Carisi returning to work after facing a traumatic robbery and homicide in the previous episode. He narrowly escaped, but his friend died, leaving him to struggle with survivor’s guilt.
At work, Carisi faced a case involving a woman and her husband, who received a disturbing video of her getting intimate with a stranger, which she could not recall. The woman appeared awake in the video, raising multiple questions. The team discovered that the video was taken by a private investigator hired by the wife of the man, named Tommy, featured in the video. She was also the one who sent the video.
The investigation conducted by Law and Order: SVU season 26 team eventually revealed that Katherine was drugged and exploited by her husband, Harris Vernon. He hired people to have s*x with his wife and got pleasure in watching the act. While advocating for her case, Carisi experienced flashbacks and an anxiety attack in court, leaving him shaken to perform his duties.
DA Baxter offered to remove him from the case, but Carisi was hesitant and unsure how to proceed. Eventually, encouragement from Captain Olivia Benson reminded him of his strength and dedication to the law. Carisi gained the confidence to move forward with the case.
By using the key testimony and evidence, Carisi ultimately secured a plea deal for Tommy and leveraged his statement to sentence Harris to 15 years in jail. Getting justice for this victim marked an important step in Carisi's recovery in Law and Order: SVU season 26, and fans are excited to see what the upcoming episodes have in store for the character.
Also Read: Law & Order season 24: Full cast list explored
What key evidence helped Katharine uncover the truth about her husband’s actions?
In Law and Order: SVU season 2 episode 9, Katharine Vernon initially approached the SVU team with claims of a s*x video involving her and a stranger, which she insisted she could not remember. The investigation revealed that the stranger, Tommy Gallagher, got in touch with Katharine via an online platform, and she invited him home.
Katharine denied this interaction, but the messages were traced to her home computer and sent while she was at work. The team deduced that her husband, Harris Vernon, was the only other person who had access to her computer.
In this Law and Order: SVU season 26 episode, as the detectives delved deeper, they discovered that Harris was a professor and uncovered testimony from his former students, who made disturbing revelations. They disclosed that Harris had previously drugged Katharine and invited them to engage in non-consensual acts with her while he secretly watched.
Lab tests on Katharine’s sleeping pills confirmed they contained double the prescribed dosage, corroborating the testimonies. Next, the team confronted Tommy, who admitted that Harris had watched him and Katharine during their encounter.
These statements exposed Harris’ truth, forcing Katharine to recognize who was the culprit behind her exploitation. She filed a formal complaint, leading to his arrest and eventual conviction. The episode concluded with another win for the Law and Order: SVU season 26 team.
Stay tuned for more updates on Law and Order: SVU season 26.
