Coming off a gripping 16th season that included a massive crossover with the heroic teams of "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago P.D.," the longest-running primetime drama on television once again proved it’s still got plenty of tricks up its sleeve. In the squad room, emotions ran high with the arrival of brash detective Carisi, Amaro’s second chance at redemption during an undercover assignment, Fin’s promotion to second-in-command and the reveal of Rollins’ secret past. In the courtroom, ADA Barba continued to prove himself a valuable asset. And at the helm of it all, Sergeant Olivia Benson juggled her duties to the unit with becoming a foster mother. This season, expect buzz worthy guest stars and a steady supply of cutting edge, of-the-moment stories ripped from today’s most newsworthy headlines.