Law & Order: Organized Crimehas officially moved to Peacock for season 5, which sees starChristopher Meloni return as Det. Elliot Stabler, the lead detective with the NYPD’s Organized Crime Control Bureau. Along with returning cast members Bobby Reyes, Ainsley Seigler, and Danielle Mone Truitt, joining as a series regular is Dean Norris, who played Stabler’s estranged brother Randall beginning last season.
Ahead of the season premiere on Thursday, April 17th,Screen Rantinterviewed Dean to discuss theupcomingLaw & Order: Organized Crimeepisodes, his reaction to joining the cast, and what fans can expect from the Stabler family this season.
Dean Norris Loves Working With Law & Order’s Christopher Meloni
“We’ve Really Been Hoping To Do Something Together”
Prior to joining thecast ofLaw & Order: Organized Crimeas Randall Stabler, Dean Norris previously worked with Christopher Meloni on the 2014 filmSmall Time, and struck up a friendship from that point. Norris says thathe’s excited to finally work with Meloni againthis closely and commented on his experience with joining such a storied television franchise like theLaw & Orderuniverse.
It’s been fantastic. Chris Meloni and I have some history. We did a little indie about 10 years ago. We just hit it off, and we’ve really been hoping to do something together ever since. It’s been 10 years, so when they called and said, ‘Hey, you’re playing Chris Meloni’s brother?’ I was like, ‘For sure.’ It’s been great. Obviously, it’s a show that’s been around, but having him there and having that friendship has really made it a nice welcoming and comforting place to be.
We last saw Norris with Meloni on screen, dealing with the fallout of both their brother Joe Jr., played by Michael Trotter, and his involvement with Julian Emery, as well as their working relationship to take care of their mother, Bernadette, played by Ellen Burstyn, who is suffering the effects of dementia. Norris says that the relationship between Randall and Elliot, while still fragile,will grow through this season, as the big family secret of their father’s abuse, as well as why Randall was actually kicked out of the house, was revealed in season four.
It does get more interesting and complicated, but also stronger in our bonds. Randall hadn’t been there for 18 years, and Elliot was under the thought - he had the wrong idea of why he’s been gone for all these years because his mom told him that. I think it allows us to now rebond as brothers because now that the secrets are out and now we got to deal with But they’re both strong characters, and so they’re not easy together to piece together. But I think as the season goes along, for sure, you start to see a stronger, deeper bond between the two.
Randall Stabler Channels Hank Schrader
“We Do A Little More In This Season As Well”
Although Dean Norris has had a long career, his most notable role was as ASAC Hank Schrader, the ill-fated brother-in-law of Walter White on “Breaking Bad”. Although police work runs in the Stabler bloodline,Randall opted for a different path in life, but we saw Randall channel a bit of Hank in season four during his break in to Joe Jr.’s winery. Norris said it was fun to revisit that style of performance again.
“Yeah, it was [fun]. We do a little more in this season as well. It’s fun to get to… It was interesting to get on a Law & Order show and not play a cop. It’s nice to see a little bit of that with Randall reaching out a bit.”
The Stabler Family Dynamics In Law & Order And An Edgier “Organized Crime”
“It’s More Of A Cinematic Way”
Beginning with season 5,Law & Order: Organized Crimehas moved to NBC’s streaming platform, Peacock, which sits outside the bounds of linear television rules and regulations both in terms of story narratives and content restrictions. With the storylines and story arcs situated in a show about organized crime, Norris says the show’s edgier feel and presentation hasprovided newfound creative freedom.
I think the streaming element allowed us to open [things] up. It’s, like you said, edgier. It’s more of a cinematic way. I think it’s allowed us to explore relationships and arcs that continue throughout the whole season. As opposed to your normal procedural, which has to come back to the beginning because it starts again. You really find out a lot about Elliot and his backstory and his life. I think it’s fun with the… Well, ‘fun’, but it’s a very dysfunctional family. But I think it’s fun as an actor to get to play those dramatic scenes with Ellen Burstyn and Chris.
Ellen Burstyn, the iconic Academy, Tony, and Primetime Emmy Award winning actress with a career spanning over seven decades, has played Stabler patriarch Bernadette in a recurring role since 2021. Norris says the experience of working with her has been something he cherishes.
It’s extraordinary to work with Ellen. she is so present, and to watch her and to learn from her as an actor has been great. Just so into the scene. The scene can go any way it wants to go, and she’ll be right there with you. I just cherish every day I go to work, I get to work with her. I’m a happy guy. That’s awesome.
At the heart of the show,Law & Order: Organized Crimeis a story about a man grappling with his past, his loss, and the echoes of trauma through his relationships. Elliot Stabler is a complex character, and the familial tie-in of Randall, Joe Jr., and Bernadette, along with Elliot’s children, weaves a story interlaced with healing, honesty, and tragedy. Norris, a father of five, knowsthe importance of family and the strong bondthat comes with it. His best advice for fatherhood? Love.
Just to love your kids, unconditionally. And everyone’s different. Every kid is different. And the only thing you may do is support them and love them and give them the strength to face this crazy world.
Law & Order: Organized Crimeseason 5 premieres on NBC at 10 pm ET on April 17 with its first 2 episodes, after which episodes will be available to stream weekly on Peacock.
