Now *That’s* a Twist! Dixon’s Exit on Law & Order Creates a Direct Path For [Spoiler] to Replace Her (2024)

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Could one lieutenant’s exit be another’s welcome return? Ever since Camryn Manheim announced her departure as the Manhattan North Homicide squad’s commanding officer, fans have been left with countless questions as to why and who could replace her.

Why is Kate Dixon leaving Law & Order?

While viewers won’t know how Dixon will be written out of until the Season 23 finale, “In Harm’s Way,” on May 16, 2024, fans suspect that that it was a mutual decision between NBC and Manheim for Dixon to leave because of the character’s lack of storyline over the seasons.

Many fans compared Dixon to the lieutenant on ‘soriginal run, Anita Van Buren, who was played by S. Epatha Merkerson from Seasons 4 to 20. “She had HUGE shoes in which to follow,” a Reddit user wrote comparing Dixon and Van Buren. Another commented, “Yeah and she didn’t but mostly bc they underwrote her. Anita was amazing!”

Other users also complained about how Law & Order didn’t give Dixon, whose scenes mainly took place in the police station, as many storylines as Van Buren, who was on the ground for more investigations. (The one storyline fans did commend Law & Order for giving to Dixon was when the series introduced her deaf son and viewers learned that Dixon spoke ASL.)

“I just wish the writers gave her character more to do. It felt like I didn’t see her enough, but maybe I was so used to seeing Van Buren for so many years,” a Reddit user wrote.

Another user commented, “In comparison, Van Buren had been neck deep in cases numerous times, not just “several, like the field shooting, old cases where she is involved in wrong conviction, she herself being a suspect, and many more (it is really 20 years, so that makes sense). Van Buren also had the guts to go against the Chief of D and McCoy. Compare with the meek response Dixon gave to Shaw “if you want to make a complain, I will support you, but idk of the result lol.”

As for who could replace Dixon, fans suspect that Law & Order could cast a younger actor who could more easily perform the series’ action scenes. I’m sad to see her go. She was amazing in the role. My guess is whoever is going to become the new Lieutenant/Captain will most likely be younger so they can do more of the action scenes.”

Other fans suspect that Law & Order could cast another alum of ABC’s legal drama The Practice, which aired for eight seasons from 1997 to 2004. Manheim played lawyer Ellenor Frutt on the series for all eight seasons. Fans have noted the pattern of Dick Wolf universe series casting Practice alums.

Along with Manheim, Dylan McDermott, who played lawyer Bobby Donnell on the series from Seasons 1 to 7, also played Richard Weatley on Law & Order: Organized Crime and Remy Scott on FBI: Most Wanted. Steve Harris, who played lawyer and judge Eugene Young on all eight seasons of The Practice, played defense attorney Ellworth Lee on Law & Order: Organized Crime. The two Practice alums fans suggested to replace Manheim are Kelli Williams, who played lawyer Lindsay Dole, and Lara Flynn Boyle, who played ADA Helen Gamble.

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And then of course, there are also those who want Merkerson to return as Van Buren. Van Buren left Law & Order before the reboot in Season 20 after she retired following her battle with cancer. While she seemed to retire, anything is possible in the Dick Wolf universe. There are also those who suspect that Merkerson, who currently plays Sharon Goodwin on Chicago Med, could be leaving the Dick Wolf show for another given her storyline. The current season of Chicago Med, Season 9, saw Goodwin’s ex-husband, Bert, be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, with many fans suspecting that Goodwin will step down as the Chief of Patient and Medical Services at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center to care for the father of her children.

Whoever is the replacement for Dixon, fans will miss Manheim. Manheim, who joined Law & Order in Season 21, announced her exit from the series in an Instagram post a week before the Season 23 finale. “I had the most incredible experience being a part of the Law & Order Universe, and more importantly the Wolfpack,” she wrote. “I’m so thankful for the three wonderful seasons that I spent with this wildly talented cast of merry pranksters. Mehcad Brooks, Reid Scott, Connie Shi, Anthony Anderson, Jeffrey Donovan, Hugh Dancy, Odelya Halevi, Tony Goldwyn and Sam Waterston. Not to mention the stellar guest stars that came in and out of the studio doors.”

She continued, “I loved showing up for work each and every day, loved keeping the boys in line at Precinct 27 and most importantly, loved spending time with the most hard working, professional and kindhearted crew. They are truly New York’s finest.

She concluded her post with a message suggesting that she left Law & Order on her own to pursue other projects. “Something wonderful awaits me around the corner, and I can’t wait to see what it is. Until then… Go Knicks!” she wrote.

Law & Orderis available to stream on Peaco*ck.

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