SVU's Enigma: Fans Can't Make Heads or Tails of This Oddball Character
One of the strangest characters on Law & Order keeps baffling fans with his presence.
Over the last 24 seasons of SVU, viewers have met a plethora of interesting characters, from detectives and judges to criminals and serial killers, but few have captured the attention of fans quite like Brian Cassidy, a former New York City cop.
Fans first meet Cassidy right in the show's pilot episode, where he was introduced as a young and inexperienced detective eager to learn new tactics from his mature colleagues. Brian was John Munch's first partner on, and their unexpected duo proved to be quite popular with viewers. And given Cassidy's short lived relationship with Olivia Benson, everyone was confident that the character would be actively explored in the upcoming seasons.
So, imagine the surprise when actor Dean Winters left SVU after just one season, leaving his character's fate unclear.
But that is not the reason we are talking about him, right?
What made Cassidy so enigmatic was his comeback after 12 years, rekindling his relationship with Olivia Benson, and trying to live a normal life after DEA. Even though Brian and Olivia moved in together, fans were convinced from the beginning that they weren't endgame material.
Their fears were quickly confirmed by Cassidy's unstable behavior – for unknown reasons, the ex-detective constantly turned out to be a prime suspect in some serious crimes, including murders. Benson was forced to clear his name on several occasions, causing her to think that he might indeed be a ruthless killer.
Fans were very upset that Benson trusted Cassidy so much.
The guy was a suspect in so many cases that it became quite clear that he must be involved in something. They eventually broke up, but a few seasons later, Cassidy returned, starting an investigation against Benson herself. After all charges against the captain were dropped, Cassidy confessed to her that he still loved her, further confusing the audience.
People just don't believe that Olivia and Cassidy were in love, as the man has always shown little respect for Benson, always putting himself first and chasing his own goals, while having absolutely zero chemistry with her.
And how can a woman as intelligent as Captain Benson fall in love with someone that was repeatedly suspected of murder?
Cassidy is definitely an enigmatic character, and fans would be very interested to see him return in the future, potentially sparking a rift between Benson and the recently returned Elliot Stabler.