Benson recently became obsessed with the case of Maddie Flynn, a teenager who was kidnapped from a hardware store. Her interest in the case is exemplified by how much of season 25’s story it occupied; Law & Order: SVU season 25 was shortened by the writer’s strike, ultimately producing only 13 episodes, five of which featured Maddie or her parents. These episodes were not all together, but they did take up a large portion of the season, and when the Flynns weren’t present, Benson continued to work on Maddie’s case.
Thus, it felt as if the Flynns’ presence overshadowed the entire season and that they were central to every story. What’s worse, many of these appearances were unnecessary. Throughout the season, Benson not only worked on Maddie’s case, but also helped the Flynns with their marital troubles and with Peter Flynn’s depression and suicide attempt. She also supported the Flynns during the trial of Maddie’s kidnapper and attended Maddie’s 16th birthday. This focus on the Flynns made Benson seem obsessed, and their continued presence in the series made no sense once Maddie had been rescued.
| All of the Flynns’ Appearances on Law & Order: SVU | |
|---|---|
| Episode | Air Date |
| “Tunnel Blind” | January 18, 2024 |
| “The Punch List” | February 1, 2024 |
| “Zone Rouge” | February 22, 2024 |
| “Combat Fatigue” | April 18, 2024 |
| “Duty to Heal” | May 16, 2024 |
