Ep 1. Devil's Dissections / Criminal Pathology

In the season 17 premiere of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, titled "Devil's Dissections/Criminal Pathology," the SVU squad faces some familiar demons: a serial rapist who has a history with the department, and the internal conflicts that come with investigating someone they know all too well.

The episode opens with Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) receiving a disturbing phone call from an old nemesis, Dr. Greg Yates (Dallas Roberts), a notorious serial killer who was last seen in season 16. Yates, who is currently serving time in prison, taunts Benson with the possibility that one of his victims may still be alive.

Despite their history, Benson and her team -- including Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish), Fin Tutuola (Ice-T), and new member Dominick Carisi Jr. (Peter Scanavino) -- take Yates' claim seriously and begin investigating. Their search leads them to a prestigious medical school, where Yates had been a guest lecturer before his arrest.

While searching the school's pathology lab, the detectives discover something even more alarming than Yates' possible connection to a new crime: a young medical student named Annalise Villa (Alexandra Daddario) has been performing unauthorized autopsies on murder victims, apparently as part of her research into pathological behavior.

As the detectives dig deeper into Villa's activities, they realize that she may be connected to Yates in more ways than one. Meanwhile, Yates continues to play mind games with Benson and the rest of the squad, leaving cryptic clues and taunts that push everyone to their limits.

As the investigation unfolds, the detectives must navigate their personal relationships with Yates and each other, all while trying to uncover the truth about Villa's involvement in the crimes. Along the way, they'll question their own beliefs about justice, morality, and the limits of their own power.

"Devil's Dissections/Criminal Pathology" is a gripping, often harrowing episode that explores some of the darkest aspects of human behavior. With its complex characters, intense storyline, and powerhouse performances from the cast, it's an excellent start to the seventeenth season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.