A Season of Anniversaries

NBC’s Law & Order Thursdays are back in full swing for the 2025 TV season, streaming next day on Peacock. This fall marks two historic milestones: the 35th anniversary of the franchise as a whole and the 25th anniversary of the original Law & Order pilot. Few television brands have maintained such longevity, and the celebrations reflect just how deeply embedded the series has become in American pop culture.

Emmy Honors for a TV Legacy

Ahead of the Season 25 premiere, the franchise received special recognition at the Emmys. Stars from across the universe—Law & Order’s Tony Goldwyn and S. Epatha Merkerson, SVU’s Mariska Hargitay and Ice-T, and Organized Crime’s Christopher Meloni—took the stage together. For Goldwyn, it was both humbling and thrilling. “I was the new kid basically because it’s Mariska and Ice-T and Chris,” he told CinemaBlend. “Law & Order really holds a significant place in our culture… It was wonderful to be there and to present the Best Drama Emmy.”

Standing Among Giants

On most shows, three seasons would erase any “newcomer” status. But in the Law & Order world, Goldwyn stood next to veterans with decades of history: Hargitay entering her 27th season of SVU, Ice-T his 26th, Meloni’s combined seventeen seasons across two series, and Merkerson’s iconic seventeen-season run on the mothership. Against that backdrop, it’s easy to see why the Scandal alum still felt like the rookie.

Shifting Dynamics and New Faces

Goldwyn isn’t even the latest addition to the cast. Maura Tierney joined in Season 24, stepping into the role left vacant by Camryn Manheim’s Lt. Kate Dixon. Another new face is set to replace Mehcad Brooks’ Detective Jalen Shaw this season. These shifts show how Law & Order continues to evolve while honoring its roots.

A Hint of Serialization

Beyond casting, changes may also be coming to the storytelling style. While the franchise is known for its procedural format, Goldwyn teased the potential for longer arcs. Drawing from his seven-season run on Scandal, he pointed to deeper character explorations. “There’s more of that that people can look forward to,” he said, hinting at storylines involving family members, outside relationships, and personal tensions that bleed into the professional sphere.

What’s Next for DA Baxter and ADA Price

Viewers are still waiting for the show to explore Baxter’s personal life beyond the courtroom. For now, however, the spotlight shifts to Hugh Dancy’s Nolan Price in the next episode. Long defined by his complicated past, Nolan may finally see his romantic future come into play, if the latest promo is any indication.