Law & Order: SVU ended Season 17 with a bang by killing off a main character, Sgt. Mike Dodds, played by Andy Karl. Dodds' death came in a hostage showdown with a nefarious corrections officer character, portrayed by Brad Garrett. Karl's departure was due to his commitment to a musical in London. The character's death had a significant impact on the show's storyline, affecting the other characters emotionally.
The finale also marked executive producer Warren Leight's last script, as he was leaving the show. Mariska Hargitay, who plays Olivia Benson, expressed how the death of Dodds affected her character and how she takes the blame for not searching the antagonist for weapons.
Despite the loss, Detective Carisi, played by Peter Scanavino, decided to continue his career as a police officer, feeling a sense of duty and loyalty to both his work family and his personal family. The finale aimed to portray the realistic dangers that law enforcement officers face daily, particularly in cases of domestic violence.
