Warning: This article contains spoilers for Law & Order: SVU Season 21 Episode 3 that may spoil your enjoyment in discovering its plotline. Read at your own risk.
Law & Order: SVU will rip another story from the headlines. The upcoming episode 3 will be loosely based on Jussie Smollett's assault story that recently received media attention.
The official synopsis for Episode 3, titled "Down Low In Hell's Kitchen," indicates that the episode will focus on the confession of a celebrity who comes forward to reveal a serial predator targeting men in gay bars. NBC has also released a teaser for Law & Order: SVU Season 2 Episode 3.
In the clip, the celebrity claims that he was attacked. His story quickly becomes a media sensation. Towards the end of the clip, however, the celebrity says the NYPD accused him of lying.
Cast member Ice-T (Fin Tutuola) earlier teased that Season 21 will have an "Empire-ish" story. Earlier this year, Empire actor Jussie Smollett's made headlines when he filed a police report claiming two masked men attacked him, put a rope around his neck, and poured bleach on him.
Smollett, who is black and openly gay, claimed the men who assaulted him also made racist and homophobic comments and yelled, "This is MAGA country," referring to President Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan. After the police investigation, it was revealed that Smollett lied to the police and staged his attack for publicity. Smollett, however, denied the accusations.
Meanwhile, the Manhattan SVU has been adjusting on their new setup following the departure of Sonny Carisi, who is now with the District Attorney's Office, and Deputy Chief William Dodds (Peter Gallagher), who was transferred to Traffic and Safety Task Force in Staten Island because of Captain Olivia Benson's (Mariska Hargitay) action in Season 21 Episode 1.
With Carisi's transfer, SVU is short of detectives. Showrunner Warren Leight revealed that they would be looking for new detectives for the squadron this season. He did not say when the new addition to the squadron will arrive but confirmed that some familiar faces will return this season.
Leight admitted that one of the characters that they miss the most and wants to bring back is Lt. Declan Murphy (Donal Logue). He is the father of Detective Amanda Rollins' (Kelli Giddish) eldest daughter. He first appeared in Season 15 and at one point, he was appointed as commanding officer of Manhattan SVU.
If he returns to SVU, the unit may not need for an additional detective. However, his presence may create tension between him and Rollins or even with Carisi. Law & Order: SVU Season 21 Episode 3 airs on October 10 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC.
