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'Law & Order: SVU' Season 22: Why is Episode 3 not airing? Here's what to expect when show returns in December

In a 'case that has captivated the world', an Italian student is found murdered leading to the arrest of two college roommates

There's a reason why 'Law & Order: SVU' is the longest-running primetime drama on television. The NBC procedural's ability to reflect real-life situations that have been "ripped from the headlines" makes it one of the most endearing crime dramas on television. That combined with Olivia Benson's (Mariska Hargitay) charisma — even Taylor Swift named her cat after her — keeps us glued to our seats. The show is unique in the way that it not only shows Olivia's unit's investigation but also the trial after, giving us a sense of closure.

The show returned after an extended summer break — longer than usual because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic — on November 12, but viewers will be surprised to tune in this week and find out that the third episode they were expecting is not airing. However, worry not if you are concerned that the NBC drama is going on yet another long break — 'Law & Order: SVU' will be back with a new case in the first week of December.

When will Episode 3 air?

The promo at the end of the second episode shows that 'Law & Order: SVU' is taking a two-week break and will be back on our screens on Thursday, December 3. It is unclear at the moment whether the third episode will be the winter finale, but it is quite likely. Because the Covid-19 pandemic had delayed production and the season premiere, it is expected that the 22nd season will have fewer episodes than normal like its sister-Dick Wolf shows from the 'Chicago' franchise — 'Chicago Med', 'Chicago PD' and 'Chicago Fire' have all only set 15 episodes apiece for the current seasons.

Of course, fans are not happy about having to wait for two weeks when the show just returned. One fan tweeted, "@WolfEnt Why 2 weeks?! I don’t want to wait 2 weeks for another episode!!! #SVU @nbcsvu." Another wrote, "Y’all just came back and now you’re leaving me for 2 weeks? #SVU #SVU22."

What to expect when show returns?

Thankfully, we already have a promo and a description for when the show comes back. It is a very different world we are living in due to the coronavirus pandemic, but crime goes on. In the previous episode, the show noted how there was a rise in domestic abuse because everyone is stuck inside, and how children are forced to be in the same house as their abusers. The next episode will similarly be showing how crime during the pandemic looks like.

The synopsis for the episode titled 'Remember Me in Quarantine' states, "The SVU questions a group of college roommates when one of them goes missing during Covid lockdown." The promo for the episode starts with a man saying that "people have lost their minds" this year. In a "case that has captivated the world", an Italian student is found murdered leading to the arrest of two college roommates. The promo also details how the victim may have been involved in "wild sex torture" and how the victim was alive when she was put in a freezer. We see one of the roommates saying how the victim would keep bringing men home.

Would it be one of the roommates responsible for the murder or someone the victim invited? Find out when 'Law & Order: SVU' returns to NBC on Thursday, December 3, at 9/8c.