Is Detective Tanner the future? Organized Crime may have just teased the next Law & Order spinoff

Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 9 'Beautiful Disasters' might have just introduced the new protagonist for a spin-off series.

Olivia Thirlby's Detective Frances Tanner of the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau has all the chops to lead her own series and the latest episode has just teased that. After her team gets an alert about a digital protest, she is assigned to the case with the OCCB team.

After a few disagreements, she gains the team's trust, and her introduction paints a picture of a strong character.

More on Detective Tanner in Law & Order: Organized Crime in our story.

How was Detective Tanner introduced in Law & Order: Organized Crime?

After Detective Jet Slootmaekers' exit from the show in Episode 3, a new character introduction was anticipated, and Detective Tanner fit perfectly in the description.

Her involvement with the NYPD’s Counterterrorism Bureau team directly crosses her path with the OCCB team on a new case related to the protest-related attacks. Her strong presence is hard to miss, and she immediately strategizes to catch the group responsible for the digital protest, who call themselves The Collective.

After the fatal accident orchestrated by the Collective, his leader kills his girlfriend because she was about to speak with the police. This outcome unleashes a new and softer side of Tanner's character as she reveals her backstory before joining the NYPD.

She and Stabler eventually make peace and decide to work together, and while Tanner was brought in for a chance case, her introduction feels monumental.

Is Law & Order setting up a new spin-off with Detective Tanner?

While the Law & Order franchise introduces many characters in cameo roles, Detective Tanner feels different. Not only was she suspecting Vargas as a potential suspect, but this directly created tension with Elliot Stabler.

While Tanner was initially at odds with Stabler and mistrusted her decision, he eventually understood that Tanner is capable. While Stabler usually has a hard time trusting people outside his team, he recognises her talents and appreciates her instincts.

Stabler and Tanner are able to work together to track down the Collective, but the result forces the new detective to open up with Stabler. She reveals how she joined the force to remain in action, but outcomes like these pain her to lengths.

Law & Order certainly gave Tanner's character depth for a first episode, and her introduction feels like she could have her own spin-off show. Considering that the OCCB team was itself born out of a spin-off, a show focusing on the Counterterrorism Bureau could benefit the franchise and introduce a fresh storyline in the Universe.

In addition, just like Law & Order: Organized Crime Episode 9, Tanner's team could very well cross paths with the OCCB team, creating possibilities for crossover events. Tanner's strong presence was deeply felt, and it certainly looked like the franchise is planning to keep her for a long.

The absence of series regulars Ayanna Bell and Bobby Reyes also felt intentional and provided Tanner the space to shine and prove her prowess as a detective. However, it remains to be seen whether she will continue to cross paths with the OCCB team.

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