My Top 10 SVU Main Characters - Ranked Least to Most Favorite ⭐️ with Explanations 📝
This list starts with Cragen, because he was so much more memorable than (I feel) people give him credit for. He was the rock of the team. The Captain for over a dozen seasons. And the longer he was on, the older he got, the more we got to see a deeper side of his character. The side of him that was sad and lonely - the side that needed companionship. He was the image of a well decorated cop who slowly paved his way toward retirement. And when he was the head, he did a damn good job of it. Cragen gets an A+ from me!!
Dr. Huang is an openly gay, F.B.I. Criminal Psychiatrist who entered the show in... poor taste... if we’re being honest. I’m not sure how many people remember “Pique” in season 2, but that facial hair and vaguely racist Asian accent was not working. Thankfully! His next appearance was way less on the nose and far more palpable! He had a unique role on the team, one that is sorely missed in his absence. Who doesn’t love getting in the heads of sociopaths and hearing it explained in medical jargon that mostly just sounds cool? We love you Huang!!
Alexandra Cabot was everything the show needed in a strong, independent, intelligent, openly opinionated female ADA!! *Deep breath* She was a prize to watch in the courtroom, and the way her story progresses in the show (even after she leaves the main cast) is so compelling that she couldn’t be left off this list. You go girl!!
Rollins is a complicated country girl from Loganville, GA, with a thick accent to boot. Her headstrong ways are both a headache and an undeniable charm. As the show revealed more of her past, home life, the viewers get to understand exactly who she is as a person. The demons she battles with are not ideal, but they’re relatable. Even so, she seems to overcome them! Most notably, her choice in men, her gambling problem and (very briefly in one episode) her cynical view of prostitution; it gave her layers. We love layers! It made her real! Not too many characters accomplished a balance of good and bad so gracefully, while still making us love her!!
Who in their right mind didn’t love Munch? He is a character that moved over from Homicide: Life on the Street to grace us with his presence on SVU for 14 full seasons. He was magnetic! His snark was nearly incomparable. His blasé attitude was so oddly comforting in the midst of more serious cases that I was almost looking forward to it. He was self deprecating, but not depressing. He was honest, but not cruel. He was a real gem within the cast. Way to go Munch!!
This wouldn’t be a Top 10 SVU Character list without Stabler. He’s charming. He’s handsome. He’s angry! His energy was erratic, but wholesome. Christopher Meloni did a beautiful job with this character. He had a family life that was intriguing and felt real. His relationship with Olivia (though uncomfortably tense from time to time) really felt like what I - someone with no real understanding of real life policework - could believe to be the unhealthy, but irreplaceable bond you can have with a partner you’ve worked with for over a decade. Go Stabler!!
Hell yeah, Fin is in the Top 4. Ice T. went from being set to play in four episodes to being the second longest standing cast member! His easy going, grandfather attitude is humbling to see in a police procedural drama. He’s morally sound and has no real issues with anyone in the squad (aside from his small spat with Detective Chester Lake, but that only lasted for a small segment of one episode. He’s really not a fire starter). His fun inserts and urban background are refreshing. And - as much as I might inwardly gripe about the lack of Black SVU characters - Fin definitely holds his own; representing a Black cop from a bad neighborhood with a background similar to many who came from the streets. We love it!
This is somewhat obvious, but hell, why even watch SVU if you don’t love the longest standing cast member? Olivia had many character stages and moments of growth throughout the show. We really got to see her evolve from the detective she started out as in the 1999 premiere. She’s become a sensitive, cunning, efficient member of the SVU squad, and not just by moving up the ranks! She was a leader from the start, and I believe the show runners knew this. Not to mention, Mariska Hargitay is a national treasure, and don’t you forget it!!
This ADA came on the show with a BANG! His first case was incredibly memorable. This fast-talking, hyper-intelligent Cuban character is a treat to the SVU series. He’s funny, snarky, and doesn’t pull his punches. He’s a great mixture of what Alex Cabot and Casey Novak portrayed in their respective roles. He came in to make a name for himself, and he absolutely solidified his place on this measly SVU Hall of Fame! Go Barba!!
#1 Dominick “Sonny” Carisi
The main reason Carisi is topping off this list is because I want to sit on his face (minus the porn stache). But aside from being so easy on the eyes that it’s tiring, Carisi had an immediate charisma and definable energy when he entered the show. He came in like a yankee New Yorker, handing out Italian food with his nonsense accent, and I loved it! Because he was a CHARACTER. Peter Scanavino really created something here and I live for it. Not to mention he (SPOILER ALERT) becomes an incredible Junior ADA!! We live for Carisi!! 🏆
That’s all!! Did you agree or disagree??
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