Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) has little time to rest on Season 27 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit , and it’s not just because she’s commanding her elite unit. While Benson has the luxury of throwing most of her enemies behind bars, she’s been struggling to find peace with her latest adversary: her boss, Chief of Detectives Kathryn Tynan (Noma Dumezweni).
Ever since Tynan’s arrival, she’s made it clear that she had big dreams for Benson, though the two haven’t seen eye-to-eye on what those dreams entail. After Benson turned down Tynan’s offer to be promoted to SVU deputy chief — a position that would pull Benson away from the 16th Precinct and place her with administrative higher-ups — Tynan grew quite annoyed.
Benson felt she was best utilized on the frontlines while helping survivors, but Tynan argued that Benson struggled to delegate, becoming too entrenched within her unit over the years. It’s been an intense precinct push and pull between Tynan and Benson, and it’s clear that Tynan isn’t used to not getting her way.
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In SVU‘s “Thirsty,” viewers watched Tynan disrupt the happy harmony of the elite squad to see the progress she wants to see, and it put Benson and Captain Renee Curry (Aimé Donna Kelly) at an intense crossroads. Here’s what happened:
Chief Tynan is pulling power plays on SVU
At the top of SVU‘s latest, after winning an NYPD boxing match, Curry was shocked to receive a visit from Tynan in the locker room. After congratulating Curry on her victory, Tynan told Curry that she was a longtime admirer, but she had one lingering concern. Why had Curry, a former IAD Captain within the NYPD, accepted a demotion to operate within Benson’s unit?
Tynan commended Curry’s humility and dedication to survivors, but admitted it didn’t seem like there was much room for upward mobility for Curry with Benson as her steadfast captain. Curry grew nervous as Tynan explained that she’d figured out a way to shift the perceptions and see Curry back on top.
While Tynan made moves behind the scenes, Benson earned a visit from her NYPD colleague Detective John Whalen (Toby Huss), who had heard chatter of the SVU captain’s ongoing tension with Tynan. Aware that the two NYPD powerhouses have been in a cold war, Whalen revealed that there was likely something Benson should know about Tynan’s former partnership with Jimmy Griffin, the late father of Jake Griffin (Corey Cott), Benson’s newest recruit.
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According to a rumor that dates back to 2001, Jimmy was involved in a shady off-duty shooting that was wiped away without much further investigation. The cop who absolved Jimmy of any wrongdoing was his partner at the time, Tynan, who later became the “illustrious Chief of Ds” despite her conspiratorial past. Benson tucked this piece of intel aside for later, unsure of what to make of the all-too-believable rumor.
Renee Curry’s position in the SVU is in jeopardy
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After closing yet another case with the squad, Curry visited her captain in her office, confusing Benson as she closed the office door with a grave look. Quick to catch the solemn note, Benson was eager to know what was up.
“Chief Tynan offered me the SVU deputy chief position,” Curry confessed.
“I’m sorry?” Benson asked.
“I turned her down,” Curry reassured her. “And I am sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, but it’s done and handled.”
“Hold on, just wait,” Benson said, entirely blindsided by this update. “Chief Tynan offered you deputy chief?”
Curry confirmed it was the case; Tynan was blatantly luring Curry away from the SVU by extending her previous offer to Benson. This was clearly some power play, but Benson didn’t want Curry to throw herself onto a sword due to workplace drama.
“OK, look, first of all, Renee, you can’t just turn this down,” Benson said.
“We know what she’s doing, it’s a play, and I’m not about to be played,” Curry told her.
“I’m so sorry that you got caught up in all of this,” Benson apologized. “I don’t know what her game is, I really don’t, but I promise you—”
“There’s more,” Curry interrupted, shocking Benson again.
“There’s more?” Benson asked.
“I just got off the phone with the deputy commissioner for personnel, and I’m being reassigned,” Curry revealed.
“No,” Benson said with hardened resolve.
“Executive officer here at the 16th,” Curry added with a tinge of sadness. Not only was Curry being taken from the SVU, but she would be stuck close by.
“No, that’s not happening,” Benson said, already making toward her phone. “I’m going to stop that.”
“I’m going to ask you not to do that,” Curry said, stopping Benson in her tracks. “I never needed anyone to fight my battles, and I’m not going to start now.”
“This is not your battle, she’s doing this to get to me,” Benson reminded her. “I’m not letting that happen, I’m sorry.”
“Can you let me handle this the way that I want to handle it, please?” Curry pleaded, clearly feeling defeated. “She’s the Chief of Detectives, I mean, there’s not anything you can do about it anyway.”
At that, Benson glanced toward Detective Jake Griffin in the squad room, recalling the insidious rumor she’d heard about his father and Tynan’s dark past as partners.
“I’m not so sure about that,” Benson said, brainstorming a power play of her own that would right her ship and save Curry’s job.
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Watch Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.