Fazekas will officially step into the role following the conclusion of Season 26, which current showrunner David Graziano will finish out. Her appointment marks a significant moment for the longest-running primetime drama in television history—especially one built around survivor stories and a female lead.

Fazekas isn’t new to SVU. She served as a story editor and writer from Seasons 3 through 7, a stretch that helped define the emotional complexity fans still hold close. Her return feels both full-circle and like the kind of move that should’ve happened years ago.

To celebrate, here are five standout episodes from her original run—stories that still echo:

1. “Charisma” (Season 6, Ep 7)
A disturbing and unforgettable case involving cult abuse, manipulation, and one of the show’s most haunting villains. Gritty, devastating, and brilliantly told.

2. “Chameleon” (Season 4, Ep 10)
A sex worker turns suspect in a twist-heavy episode that flips assumptions and showcases the show’s early efforts to complicate victim narratives.

3. “Fault” (Season 7, Ep 19)
An emotional gut-punch. Stabler and Benson face impossible decisions during a brutal manhunt. A masterclass in tension and character.

4. “Poison” (Season 4, Ep 24)
An ambitious episode exploring corruption in the justice system, wrongful conviction, and the limits of truth. Classic SVU social commentary.

5. “Care” (Season 3, Ep 7)
A heartbreaking story involving foster care and systemic neglect. Quiet, devastating, and still too relevant.

Fazekas’s return is more than symbolic. It’s a meaningful shift for a show that’s long focused on women’s stories—but hasn’t had a woman guiding them from the showrunner’s perspective. Her voice belongs here. And we’ll be watching.