Former ADA Rafael Barba (Raúl Esparza) will return to Law & Order: SVU when season 22 resumes airing next year. Despite its age, the long-running NBC procedural shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, excitement for the show has increased in the last year or so, thanks to the upcoming Elliot Stabler spinoff, Law & Order: Organized Crime. It will show Christopher Meloni reprising his fan favorite character for the first time in over a decade. However, before that series premieres, Stabler will stop by Law & Order: SVU to catch up with the characters there.
Meloni was originally supposed to guest-star in the show's season 22 premiere. However, due to the pandemic, his appearance was pushed to later in the season. Over the summer, Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay teased a reunion between Stabler and her character Olivia Benson with a new photo, increasing anticipation for Meloni's return. More recently, the actor participated in a virtual table read for season 22. However, Stabler won't be the only character returning to Law & Order: SVU in 2021.
As shared by Law & Order: SVU via the show's official Instagram, Esparza's Barba will be back as well. The series' post includes a photo of Barba alongside the announcement. Viewers quickly reacted in the comments, expressing their excitement for the character's return. Check out the news and image below:
Though Barba was an ADA for the majority of his time on Law & Order: SVU, he left his position partway through season 19. He was last seen in season 21 episode 13, where he Skyped briefly with Benson. At that point, Barba was investigating voter fraud in Iowa. Another ADA character will feature in season 22 as well, thanks to last month's announcement Wentworth Miller's Isaiah Holmes will stop by too.
The many Law & Order: SVU returns come at a time when audiences are turning to TV for comfort even more so than usual. Though they may not have been planned specifically because of the pandemic, the guest stars will provide a nice treat for viewers seeking a distraction. Other shows have taken a similar approach this season, with Grey's Anatomy in particular bringing back characters who haven't been seen in several years. That's increased excitement for the show this season, as viewers have tuned in to see their favorite characters again. Based on the reaction to the Stabler announcement in particular, it's easy to imagine Law & Order: SVU experiencing a similar effect when it returns in 2021.
Source: Law & Order: SVU