Law & Order: SVU Star Previews Carisi's Ongoing Struggles With His Trauma: "This Is Definitely Unresolved"

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Law & Order: SVU season 26, episode 9!Law & Order: SVU star Peter Scanavino previews Carisi's ongoing struggles with his trauma and how it will impact his ongoing storyline in season 26. The procedural's winter premiere featured the fallout from the previous episode of Law & Order: SVU season 26, which saw the Assistant District Attorney being held captive during a very traumatic experience for him. Season 26, episode 9 saw him trying a case while wrestling with his feelings, something that informed how his trauma was handled throughout the episode.

Speaking with TVLine, Scanavino explained how, despite a happy ending with Carisi and Rollins (Kelli Giddish) at a pizza shop with their family, Law & Order: SVU season 26 isn't done exploring his trauma. The actor revealed how scared the Assistant District Attorney really was about his own mental state, including his numbness during Christmas. Because the episode was also about a victim in his trial, it's also about how his trauma informs the work he's doing. Check out what Scanavino had to say below:

This is definitely unresolved, and I think that’s part of the the anxiety — not “anxiety,” but maybe “anger” is more appropriate — with Carisi because, from his point of view, regardless as to whether or not Deonte was under the influence of Boyd, he still sees Deonte facilitating a rape and a murder.
If you’ve ever been with somebody that you’re close with and that you love, but they’re just going through a hard time and maybe a little resistant to open up about it, I think that’s how Carisi is processing this. So like I said before, the things that I think would definitely be joyful for him — I can only imagine Carisi before, on Christmas morning, he’s probably dressed up like Santa Claus — but now he’s sitting there and he’s just numb. It’s not hitting. He’s probably sitting there, expecting to feel it, ‘cause that’s how it always is, and it’s just not coming. And then he starts asking questions: ‘What’s wrong with me?’ and ‘Can I come back from this?’
And that gets complicated in that episode, because it’s not about him. It’s about the victim… How is [Carisi] able to do what he needs to do while struggling with his trauma, and not make it about him? That’s the kind of struggle that he’s going through in this episode.

What Carisi's Trauma Means For The Rest Of Law & Order: SVU Season 26

The Season Isn't Done Exploring What Happened To Him

Carisi as a hostage in a recent episode of Law and Order SVU

While the characters in Law & Order: SVUhave been faced with plenty of traumatic events before, Carisi's hostage situation was the first time he'd ever experienced his life being in imminent danger. Watching Deonte (Keith Machekanyanga) kill Boyd (Silas Weir Mitchell) in front of him was what most impacted his psyche. Although he managed to get out of the situation physically unscathed, the latest episode indicates the lingering trauma is going to be informing his storyline for the rest of season 26.

This is especially because Deonte's trial hasn't happened yet, meaning Carisi is going to have to relive his trauma face-to-face at some point in the future. Scanavino's comments indicate that, even while waiting for the trial to start, his character is still going to be facing his demons, with others around him having to assist his situation. While it's unclear if this means his storyline will continue as far as Law & Order: SVU season 27, it does indicate options like talking to others or going to therapy will be ideas he'll now have to consider.

Our Take On Carisi's Trauma Storyline In Law & Order: SVU

Season 26 Can Expand His Characterization

Carisi has always been an independent person, typically acting as an anchor for others or in a leadership role throughout the show's various cases. His traumatic experience, however, means Law & Order: SVU season 26 will explore a more vulnerable side of him. Future episodes will likely emphasize how his hostage situation changed him, and how it will continue to morph his character in a new direction moving forward.

New episodes of Law & Order: SVU season 26 air Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

Source: TVLine