Law & Order: Organized Crimeneeds to be renewed for season 6 so it can correct a glaring error. The Stabler-led spinoff ofLaw & Order: SVUis different from the other shows in the franchise, which explains why its move to Peacock forLaw & Order: Organized Crimeseason 5was the right move. This procedural deals with complicated investigations into the people at the head of mob families, gangs, and other criminal organizations.
Thus, it is a gritty, violent show that tells serialized stories about Stabler and the rest of the Organized Crime Bureau’s attempts to work their way toward arresting major players in these organizations. One of the best parts ofLaw & Order: Organized Crimeis the interplay between Stabler and his supervisor, Sergeant Ayanna Bell (Danielle Moné-Truitt). Bell doesn’t appreciate it when Stabler ignores the rules and puts himself and others in danger. Although Moné-Truitt was part of theLaw & Order: Organized Crimeseason 5 cast, she did not appear in several episodes of the procedural during this season.
Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Underused Bell & Reyes
Both Characters Were Missing For A Third Of The Shortened Season
Both Bell and Bobby Reyes (Rick Gonzalez) were missing for three of the ten episodes inLaw & Order: Organized Crimeseason 5. These absences were especially noticeable because the season was so short; the episodes without them comprised almost a third of the season. Furthermore, these absences made Stabler’s team seem extremely small, as he was working cases alongside only two other people— new computer analyst Vargas (Tate Ellington) and a detective on loan from Narcotics, Frances Tanner (Olivia Thirlby).
This error was compounded by the waythese characters were underused when they were on-screen. Bell started off the season strong, but in the final episode, she didn’t do much to push back against the federal agent who wanted to give Emery (Tom Payne) a sweetheart deal that amounted to a slap on the wrist for drug trafficking and multiple murders, including that of Stabler’s brother. Similarly, Reyes is supposed to be an expert at undercover work, but was rarely used in this capacity during the season.
How Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 6 Can Make Up For Season 5’s Bell & Reyes' Mistake
It Needs To Return To Ensemble Storytelling
In order to make up for this mistake,Law & Order: Organized Crimeseason 6needs to return to stories that utilize the whole team rather than focusing solely on Stabler. While Stabler’s relationships with his family are an important part of this procedural that should continue to be prominent,the entire show should not revolve around him. Instead, it should return to focusing on cases that require the help of the entire team. If Peacock utilizes a cast rotation policy to save money, it should not be one that causes characters to be absent for long stretches of time.
Every Member of The Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Team
Frances Tanner
Olivia Thirlby
Additionally, any planned absences should be folded into the storyline rather than seeming random.Law & Order: Organized Crimeseason 5 quickly explained that Bell and Reyes were “out of the country,” but did not explain what they were doing. When they returned, there should have been some dialogue that revealed why they were in Italy and how it affected one or more cases. Instead,the procedural used a convenient excuse for their absence that was unconnected to any storyline,making it seem like there was no real reason for these characters to be off-screen.
What Are The Chances Of Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 6 Happening
The Series Has Not Been Renewed Yet
It’s unclear whetherLaw & Order: Organized Crimewill score a renewal for season 6. It was not renewed when the other twoLaw & Orderseries were. However, this is not necessarily a bad sign, considering thatLaw & Order: Organized Crimehad just started its run on Peacock when the other renewal orders were announced, while the other series had been on NBC for an entire season. Additionally,Peacock often has a different renewal timeline than NBC, so a renewal could still be coming.
NBC seems to be experimenting with transitioning from network TV to streaming, having successfully transitioned its long-running soap opera,Days of Our Lives, in 2023.
Similarly, the fact thatLaw & Order: Organized Crimewas moved to Peacock doesn’t necessarily mean that the series was in danger of cancelation before season 5. NBC seems to be experimenting with transitioning from network TV to streaming, having successfully transitioned its long-running soap opera,Days of Our Lives, in 2023.Law & Order: Organized Crimeseason 5 has been consistently in Peacock’s top ten most-watched shows, which is a good sign for its future. Hopefully, it will be renewed and will make up in the next season for leaving two of its main characters out of season 5.
