Peter Scanavino channeled his inner cop — once again — ADA Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr. came face-to-face with a potential threat.
Us Weekly’s exclusive clip from the latest episode of Law and Order: SVU season 26 shows Carisi (Scanavino) go into full dad mode when he storms over to confront a man on the street. The possible assailant appears to be staring at underaged girls — which Carisi is quick to clock with his cop instincts.
“Those two girls, they’re underage,” Carisi says. “You’re staring at them; you’re staring at my daughter.”
Carisi is referencing 9-year-old Jessie, who is standing with him. (Carisi’s wife, Amanda Rollins [Kelli Giddish], welcomed Jessie with Declan Murphy [Donal Logue] during season 17. Rollins is also the mother to daughter Billie, whom she welcomed with Al Pollack [George Newbern] in season 20. Carisi and Rollins are also the parents to baby Dominick “Nicky” Carisi III, whom they welcomed in season 25.)
“Let me see your ID,” Carisi tells the potential perpetrator, which causes a tense moment between the two. When the man asks if Carisi is “a cop,” the assistant district attorney does not answer the question.
Peter Scanavino as A.D.A Dominick “Sonny” Carisi Jr. Ralph Bavaro/NBC
“What do you think?” Carisi replies. When the character was introduced to SVU during season 16 in 2014, he was a detective with Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and her squad. He became an ADA during season 21, which aired in 2010.
“You keep your eyes to yourself, if you want to keep them in your head,” Carisi tells the man after looking at his license. The Thursday, October 24 episode of SVU, titled “Constricted,” will show Carisi amid a mini-spiral as he brings a case home, which leads to increased worry for the future of his two young daughters.
While Carisi is not the biological father of Jessie and Billie, it seems the girls have taken to accepting him as their dad. Fans got a glimpse of his home life with Rollins, the girls and son Nicky during SVU season 25, which aired earlier this year.
Previously, Scanavino told Us Weekly exclusively about Carisi’s shift into fatherhood.
“I think that’s going to be the greatest thing ever,” the actor shared during the SVU 25th anniversary celebration in January. “I think he always would’ve been a great dad. I’m so glad that now he gets to do that. It’s so heartwarming to me because you have such an affection for your character. I’m so glad this has happened to him.”
Law & Order: SVU season 26 airs on NBC Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET and is streaming the next day on Peacock.
