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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit took a different path in season 27. The second episode, released on October 2, 2025, ended in two versions instead of one. NBC aired one cut, while Peacock streamed another. Each platform showed its own conclusion, with no overlapping scenes. It was a small but noticeable break from the show’s usual format. Fans picked up on it quickly, asking why two endings were made and which one would move the story forward.
As reported by Screen Rant, both versions start the same way. Jake Griffin (Corey Cott) speaks with Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) in a calm scene that feels like a wrap-up. From that point, the stories go in different directions. In one version, Griffin heads off to meet Chief Kathryn Tynan (Noma Dumezweni). In the other, the focus shifts to Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) recovering in the hospital. The difference is short but clear. Since the two versions aired almost back-to-back, fans began looking for clues and comparing them, trying to see how Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime might now tie together.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit surprises fans with two alternate endings
Both versions follow the same path at first. Jake Griffin meets Olivia Benson, and during their exchange, he promises he would never go behind her back. It feels like a calm ending that could have closed the episode, but then it splits. From there, the story moves in two directions, each giving that same moment a different weight.
In the Peacock version, Griffin approaches a car and speaks to a man named John, who tells him that Chief Tynan wants to see him. After a short exchange, Griffin leaves for the meeting. That sequence appears only in the streaming cut.
On NBC, the episode closes differently. Instead of Griffin’s meeting, Terry Bruno (Kevin Kane) tells Benson that Ayanna Bell (Danielle Moné Truitt) said Elliot Stabler is in the hospital. The change removes any mention of Tynan and leaves Griffin’s next move unknown.
NBC and Peacock versions show different paths for Benson and Griffin
The two endings caught the attention of viewers and media outlets. ScreenRant described the choice as unusual and noted that the reason behind it remains unclear. The site pointed out that filming two full versions of a season would be unlikely, suggesting this was a one-time creative call.
TVLine, cited by Screen Rant, suggested that the NBC ending may have been edited to align with Law & Order: Organized Crime season 5, episode 2, which aired immediately after. In that episode, Benson visits Stabler in the hospital, a moment that matches the network version of events.
The idea of keeping both shows connected fits the franchise’s history of crossovers. Still, there has been no official statement from NBC or the producers explaining why two endings were made.
Why Law & Order: Special Victims Unit might have changed its ending
The reason for releasing two endings has not been confirmed. ScreenRant noted that it is highly unlikely the entire season exists in alternate versions and that the decision does not seem to bring any clear benefit. The outlet also mentioned that some viewers might think it was a technical error, but no evidence supports that theory.
The most consistent explanation found in verified reports is that the change helped align SVU with Organized Crime. This remains unconfirmed, as neither NBC nor Peacock has commented on the matter.
At this point, there is no sign that Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 27 will repeat this approach. The next episode is expected to follow a single storyline across both platforms.
What to expect next in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 27
Neither network has said which version will be treated as official, and both remain silent about the reason behind the two endings. The lack of explanation made the situation more visible. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit continues to capture attention even after more than two decades on air. A small creative change, just a few minutes long, was enough to spark discussion among fans. Many rewatched both cuts, compared the differences, and speculated on which version would carry forward.
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The reaction shows that the audience is still engaged. Viewers pick up on small changes, remember past storylines, and care about how each moment ties into the next. The show maintains its steady rhythm of weekly cases blended with personal arcs, and that mix continues to hold interest. This short difference between platforms reminded people that the series can stay familiar yet unpredictable.
As the season continues, one question remains. Which ending will count in the story? Was it a planned experiment or simply a timing choice between network and streaming? No one has clarified it, and that mystery may be what keeps it interesting. SVU stays in the spotlight because it still manages to spark curiosity with something as small as two ways to end the same story.
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