Law and Order SVU’s Alternate Ending Explained: How Do the Episodes Differ?
Law & Order: SVU fans might be surprised to learn that the newest episode had two different endings.
During the Thursday, October 2, episode, newcomer Detective Jake Griffin (Corey Cott) was seen talking with Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) in her office, saying, “I would never go behind your back.”
The final scene on the NBC version showed Detective Terry Bruno (Kevin Kane) entering Benson’s office to announce that Detective Stabler (Christopher Meloni) “is in the hospital.” One day later, Law & Order: SVU became available to stream on Peacock, with several outlets noticing an extra scene where Griffin is seen knocking on the window of a black SUV.
Griffin was then directed to meet Chief Kathryn Tynan (Noma Dumezweni). While viewers didn’t see the chief in the scene, the moment confirmed that Griffin was already going behind Benson’s back. In addition to adding a scene, the Peacock version omitted Bruno’s interaction with Benson about Stabler.

Season 27 has only aired two episodes but has already surprised fans multiple times. The premiere, which aired last month, revealed that fan-favorite character Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek) died off screen.
Cragen’s death came shortly after Octavio Pisano and Juliana Aidén Martinez‘s exits from the show. News broke in May that Martinez, 35, and Pisano, 39, were out as series regulars for season 27.
Pisano joined Law & Order: SVU in season 23 as Detective Joe Velasco, while Martinez came on board during season 26 as Junior Detective Kate Silva. The show was originally renewed for season 27 with plans for Pisano to return in the season premiere to address Joe’s departure. Martinez, however, wouldn’t return to wrap up her SVU story line.
Pisano and Martinez’s departures aside, Law and Order: SVU brought back Kelli Giddish‘s Amanda Rollins for season 27. Giddish, 45, left SVU in the middle of season 24 in 2022 after more than a decade on the show. She was a guest star in various episodes throughout seasons 25 and 26 before being confirmed as a series regular again.