Is 'Law & Order: SVU' Season 22 Episode 4 Airing Thursday? Spoilers, Release Date Revealed

KEY POINTS

‘Law & Order: SVU’ is going on a hiatus
The NBC crime drama will not return until next year
The winter premiere features the return of fan-favorite character Rafael Barba.

"Law & Order: SVU" Season 22 Episode 4 is not airing this week. The NBC crime drama has taken a long Christmas break and won’t be returning until next year.

The long hiatus comes after just three episodes into the new season that premiered Nov. 12. The last week’s episode titled “Remember Me In Quarantine” served as the winter finale for the series starring Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson, Kelli Giddish as Amanda Rollins, and Ice-T as Fin.

During this hour, the Special Victims Unit investigated the disappearance of a college student who went missing during a lockdown. The installment saw the agents deal with college roommates as brutal information about the missing girl’s murder unraveled.

When the show returns in the year 2021, fans can expect things to get explosive as a fan-favorite comes back to the series for the first time in years. Raul Esparza will reprise his role for "Law & Order: SVU" Season 22 Episode 4. His return as New York Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Rafael Barba was hinted in the latest promo for the upcoming episode.

"Liv told me you may consider doing defense work,” Fin says in the clip during a meeting with Barba and Olivia.

By the look on his face, he is certainly thrilled to return just like everyone else in the meeting room.

“You're going for insanity?" Sonny Carisi asks and Barba responds: "I'm going for straight up not guilty."

Fans can expect massive drama when Carisi and Barba meet in the courtroom.

According to TV Line, Esparza first appeared in Season 14 of the series. After a five-year stint on the show, he exited in the middle of Season 19. However, he did make a small cameo in the Season 21 episode titled “Redemption in Her Corner” in which he promised Olivia a dinner date.

The big news was previously shared by the network on its official Instagram account.