Law & Order: Special Victims Unit And the Empire Strikes Back (Season 23, Episode 1)
TV-14
TV Episode | 42 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

Primary photo for And the Empire Strikes Back

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

And the Empire Strikes Back (Season 23, Episode 1)

TV-14

TV Episode | 42 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

As the investigation into a sex-for-housing scheme expands, Benson's loyalty to Garland is tested. Rollins and Carisi try to keep their witnesses on board when a powerful congressman is identified as a suspect.

Director

Norberto Barba

Writers

Dick Wolf (created by) | Warren Leight (written by) | Julie Martin (written by) | Bryan Goluboff (written by) & 4 more

Producer

Composer

Cinematographer

Editor

Casting Directors

Philip Huffman | Jonathan Strauss

Production Designer

Dan Davis

See all filmmakers & crew (153)

Edit Released

Updated Sep 23, 2021

Release date

Sep 23, 2021 (United States)

Awards

Series awards

Won 6 Primetime Emmy Awards. Another 53 wins & 183 nominations

Contacts

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Cast	+ Add Cast
33 cast members

Name	Known for
Mariska Hargitay Captain Olivia Benson Captain Olivia Benson See fewer	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
Kelli Giddish Detective Amanda Rollins Detective Amanda Rollins See fewer	Chase (2010)
Ice-T Sergeant Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola (as Ice T) Sergeant Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola (as Ice T) See fewer	New Jack City (1991)
Peter Scanavino ADA Dominick 'Sonny' Carisi, Jr. ADA Dominick 'Sonny' Carisi, Jr. See fewer	Frances Ha (2012)
Jamie Gray Hyder Detective Katriona 'Kat' Tamin Detective Katriona 'Kat' Tamin See fewer	True Blood (2008)
Demore Barnes Deputy Chief Christian Garland Deputy Chief Christian Garland See fewer	Hannibal (2013)
Christopher Meloni Detective Elliot Stabler Detective Elliot Stabler See fewer	Man of Steel (2013)
Octavio Pisano Detective Joe Velasco Detective Joe Velasco See fewer	El Campo (2023)
Ben Rappaport Congressman George Howard Congressman George Howard See fewer	For The People (2018)
Zabryna Guevara Dr. Catalina Machado Dr. Catalina Machado See fewer	The Rebound (2009)
Terry Serpico Chief Tommy McGrath Chief Tommy McGrath See fewer	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
Angelic Zambrana Rosa Estrada Rosa Estrada See fewer	Precious (II) (2009)
Saverio Guerra Paulie Banducci Paulie Banducci See fewer	Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000)
Ryan Garbayo Ruben Ortiz Ruben Ortiz See fewer	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
Aimé Donna Kelly IAB Captain Renee Curry IAB Captain Renee Curry See fewer	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
Isabelle Poloner Jenna Evans Jenna Evans See fewer	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
Trian Long Smith Lamai Garland (as Trian Long-Smith) Lamai Garland (as Trian Long-Smith) See fewer	The Darkness (I) (2016)
Colton Osorio Felipe Felipe See fewer	One Piece (2023)
Glenn Fleshler Myron Gold Myron Gold See fewer	Joker (I) (2019)
Stephen C. Bradbury Judge Colin McNamara (as Stephen Bradbury) Judge Colin McNamara (as Stephen Bradbury) See fewer	Awkwardly (2018)
Carrie Kim Céline Tatou Céline Tatou See fewer	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
TJ Lee Celia Long Celia Long See fewer	Zero Day (2025)
Jeffrey Schecter Counselor Art Blumfeld Counselor Art Blumfeld See fewer	Escape at Dannemora (2018)
Ashley Taylor Greaves Officer Gabrielle Taylor Officer Gabrielle Taylor See fewer	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
Kadia Saraf US Attorney Anya Avital US Attorney Anya Avital See fewer	Dexter: Resurrection (2025)
Amber Ardolino Rep #1 Rep #1 See fewer	In the Heights (2021)
Tug Watson EMT EMT See fewer	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
Chrystle Anjelee Hayden Smith Hayden Smith See fewer	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
Tim Hardiman Chief Hardiman Chief Hardiman See fewer	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
Dave Granholm Fundraiser Party Guest (uncredited) Fundraiser Party Guest (uncredited) See fewer	Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game (2022)
Bob Leszczak High-Ranking Police Officer (uncredited) High-Ranking Police Officer (uncredited) See fewer	The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017)
Lynn Marocola NYPD Officer (uncredited) NYPD Officer (uncredited) See fewer	Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
Danielle Moné Truitt Sergeant Ayanna Bell (archive footage) (uncredited) Sergeant Ayanna Bell (archive footage) (uncredited) See fewer	Rebel (2017)