Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is back and so are your favorite characters. After nearly a two-month winter break, the New York City detectives—or the “elite squad”—is back solving heinous crimes and offenses. Season 27 returned to air on Thursday, January 8 and the explosive midseason premiere was a crossover with Law & Order. Find out what went down in the two-hour episode and who you can expect to see in future shows!

What happened in the midseason premiere?

The 27th midseason premiere of Law & Order: SVU opened with an intense episode, as viewers have come to expect. The hour concluded a crossover storyline with Law & Order, unraveling a complex and disturbing human trafficking ring. The case began on Law & Order and centered on Ukrainian women who were promised U.S. citizenship, only to be exploited and trafficked instead.

The team raided a warehouse and uncovered a hate group stockpiling firearms, explosives, and other extremist materials. The operation turned deadly when a massive explosion ripped through the building, leaving Detective Terry Bruno (Kevin Kane) critically injured after being impaled. He was rushed into surgery and, fortunately, the fan-favorite character survived.

Who will be in season 27?

If you’ve been a fan of Law & Order: SVU for period of time, you know that characters often come and go but as this season continues, you can expect to see many of your favorites! Returning is Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson, Ice T as Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola, Peter Scanavino as Assistant District Attorney Dominick “Sonny” Carisi Jr., Kelli Giddish as Sergeant Amanda Rollins, Kevin Kane as Detective Terry Bruno and Aimé Donna Kelly as Captain Renee Curry.

Hargitay will be continuing her reign as the longest-running character in primetime drama history, having begun on the series when it first aired in 1999. She is also the longest-serving cast member on SVU and in the entire Law & Order franchise.

Giddish previously returned to the show as a series regular in the beginning of the 27th season after leaving in season 24. Her character appeared a few times throughout the years, but she is now fully back as Amanda Rollins.

After the near-death of Detective Bruno in the midseason premiere, the fate of his character was uncertain. But he does make a full recovery by the end of the episode and will continue in his role.

What’s next?

Law & Order: SVU will continue with its episodes every Thursday at 9/8PM central, however this week’s episode has been pulled due to legal issues surrounding its guest star. The episode will be replaced with the one that was meant to air next week and the show will continue from there.

Make sure to tune into the 27th season of Law & Order: SVU and keep up with your favorite detectives!