Why Law And Order Didn’t Explain Anthony Anderson’s Absence As Kevin Bernard In The Premiere Crossover Event

Spoilers ahead for the season premieres of Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, and Law & Order: Organized Crime on NBC.

Law & Order returned for Season 22 in a history-making three-part crossover with SVU and Organized Crime, and the outcome was a cinematic tv occasion with a few of the greatest names in network tv. As it takes place, nevertheless, the occasion was missing out on among the greatest names from Law & Order’s very first revival season, as Anthony Anderson was no place to be viewed as Det. Kevin Bernard, and none of the 3 episodes resolved his lack… for a factor. 

Anthony Anderson’s departure from Law & Order after returning for the very first revival season was announced over the summer, so any fans who watched out for L&O headings throughout hiatus currently understood not to anticipate him, however the Season 22 best paired Jeffrey Donovan’s Frank Cosgrove with new series regular Mehcad Brooks’ Jalen Shaw right now without any reference of his partner as just recently as the Season 21 finale in May. So, why did the series overlook the character? 

Well, it’s due to the fact that the character will get a reference in the next episode. Law & Order showrunner Rick Eid (who was formerly showrunner on Chicago P.D.) exposed back in August that Bernard will be discussed in the 2nd episode of Season 22, although it will be very brief. He didn’t share any information about why Bernard is missing out on, however even the pledge of an upgrade is more than P.D. fans got with the sudden absence of Lisseth Chavez as Officer Rojas a number of years ago! 

So, the huge factor for Bernard going unacknowledged in the best is that the program is conserving the reference for next week’s 2nd episode. As much as I would have most likely valued a minimum of a name drop, I can comprehend why Eid chose to avoid it today. 

The three-part crossover was loaded from starting to end, and needed to integrate the casts of 3 ensemble reveals into one stretching case that included whatever from sex trafficking to shootings to even a surge. If the objective was to utilize every minute of screentime to set the phase and inform the story, then maybe it was best to conserve the reference of Bernard for next week. Plus, it suggested that Mehcad Brooks’ character’s arrival wasn’t eclipsed by nevertheless Kevin Bernard left. 

So, will the upcoming reference of Bernard be the last that audiences become aware of him, and was the Season 21 finale the last time that any person will see Anthony Anderson as the investigator? The star recently weighed in and informed CinemaBlend that he “wouldn’t have an issue returning,” however shared that he wished to “establish some brand-new things.” 

Given that co-star Odelya Halevi only had good things to say about what he gave set, I can think of that he may return at some point. For now, however, audiences can eagerly anticipate responses about his lack and seeing Detective Shaw in action with Cosgrove. 

See what’s next on Law & Order after the three-part crossover with brand-new episodes in the 2022 TV schedule on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. The initial series opens a complete night of Law & Order action, with SVU at 9 p.m. and Organized Crime at 10 p.m.