'Law & Order' Fans React to How Cosgrove Got Written Off the Show

Patti Greco
·2 min read
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Jeffrey Donovan as Cosgrove

Law & Order kicked off its 23rd season without actor Jeffrey Donovan, who played Detective Cosgrove in the show's previous two installments, and many fans were confused by the actor's absence, especially since it wasn't addressed until more than 15 minutes into the episode. "Wait did I miss something?? What happened to Frank Cosgrove?" one viewer wrote on X.  "I know I’m late as hell to the party @WolfEnt but where the hell is Cosgrove?" another asked, addressing creator Dick Wolf's production company.

Some fans knew to expect Cosgrove's departure from the show but were understandably eager to find out how, exactly, his character was being written off. "So y’all not going to say anything about Cosgrove? Just dump Riley on us like we won’t need a little backstory….." one frustrated viewer asked, referring to Detective Jalen Shaw's new partner, Detective Vincent Riley (played by Veep's Reid Scott).

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Eventually, the episode offers something of an explanation after Riley asks Shaw what happened to Cosgrove.

But even then, some viewers found the character's conclusion to be underwhelming. "He just got jammed up," Shaw explained. "Being too honest about things people aren’t too honest about these days." (Huh?)

One X user weighed in to say, "That was an unsatisfactory explanation for Cosgrove so please bring him back for a proper conclusion." Another complained, "That was such an ambiguous explanation as to why Cosgrove is gone….."

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Of course, some fans were more than content. "While I miss Cosgrove because I love how he worked with Shaw, I’m really liking what I’ve seen so far of Riley," one chimed in.

News of Donovan's exit, which was reportedly due to "creative reasons," first broke in November. Neither NBC nor the actor has commented directly on his departure from the series.

Next, Everything to Know About 'Law & Order' Season 23