This interview comprises spoilers for SVU Season 26 Episode 13, “Extinguished.”

Now in its twenty sixth season, Regulation & Order: Particular Victims Unit has been investigating vicious felonies because the late ‘90s. Although just a few characters have been there because the starting (like Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson) or near it ( you, Ice-T), there are additionally newer faces across the squad room, just like the quippy and rich Bruno (Kevin Kane), detail-oriented murder alum Silva (Juliana Aidén Martinez), and dependable however closed-off Velasco (Octavio Pisano). Due to his guarded nature, Velasco has remained a extra mysterious determine since he joined SVU.

Fortunately, Season 26 Episode 13, “Extinguished,” permits us to dive deeper into his character because the case takes place in his neighborhood — a spot he’s reluctant to name his personal. Nonetheless, after being pressured by Benson to attach with the neighborhood to resolve the case, Velasco slowly realizes the facility and necessity of getting and being a part of a help system. His unlikely dynamic along with his obnoxious upstairs neighbor Danny and his grandfather simply is likely to be the factor to get Velasco out of his shell and overcome among the obstacles he’s been combating for many of his life.

Collider received the possibility to dive deep into this Velasco-centric episode with Pisano himself, throughout which he broke down Velasco’s struggles to connect with his tradition and neighborhood and what he thinks Velasco’s targets are shifting ahead. Pisano additionally shares how the present displays his real-life relationships with Hargitay and Ice-T, characters he hopes Velasco has extra interactions with sooner or later, the Succession actor he desires on the present, and extra.

‘Regulation & Order: Particular Victims Unit’s Octavio Pisano Breaks Down Velasco’s Sophisticated Relationship With His Tradition and Group

COLLIDER: Firstly of the episode, Velasco is actually adamant that he would not have ties to Washington Heights regardless of residing there. Why do you assume he is so against placing down roots and getting concerned in the neighborhood?

OCTAVIO PISANO: I believe it is multifaceted. One, he’s a foreigner. As a result of he got here from Juarez — from Mexico – he struggles like all immigrant struggles after they come right here and so they attempt to undertake the culture and embrace the nation and actually mix in. They wish to depart the roots behind. Clearly, it is an arc that occurs with plenty of us, after which we reconnect.

However he additionally comes from the undercover world earlier than he joined SVU. The backstory that we constructed was that he lived a really remoted life when he was undercover within the cartel for nearly a decade. That’s a really remoted way of life, so he form of received used to that. I believe there’s a prejudice that he has towards the tradition but additionally towards himself, so I really feel like — by this episode — there’s an entire arc that occurs inside the storyline that’s pivotal for this character. It’s very cool.

Yeah, completely. That leads very well into my subsequent query since you’re proper, there’s an arc. We do get to see him kind of come round to the thought of embracing and celebrating his tradition, particularly on the finish there bonding with Danny’s grandpa. I am curious for those who can discuss attending to showcase that facet of your id and tradition and what you are feeling is the significance of that.

PISANO: I believe it’s essential, showcasing the tradition, however I believe it’s additionally embracing who he’s. I had a protracted dialog with the writers beforehand, which I used to be very fortunate and blessed to have as a result of I wished to have that arc. Each scene had a layer to it. To start with of the episode, he is pushing everybody away, and it is nearly like he hasn’t embraced that a part of himself.

There are plenty of issues that I personally constructed as an actor — the psychology, the backstory of issues that he witnessed, issues that he might need accomplished up to now that he carries with him, his personal guilt that influences the scenes of the current by this complete factor, even within the final scene with the grandfather the place the grandfather’s given him a praise. I really feel like everybody’s giving him a praise. Fin is giving him a praise, Benson is giving him a praise, the grandfather says, “Thanks — I believe you are gonna do actually good within the tradition,” and he nonetheless cannot obtain it. He struggles with receiving it. There’s nearly a self-guilt that he carries with him, however I believe it reveals, on the finish of that scene, he permits himself to obtain it. And so, by the following scene with Fin, the place he involves the restaurant and he says, “Benson gave me a praise — she mentioned that I’ve command presence,” he is now pleasant with the proprietor of the restaurant, and Fin says, “Effectively, take a look at you — you are fairly comfy right here.” He says, “Yeah, I assume that is my neighborhood.” I believe it is pretty clear how he is embraced that a part of himself and his personal individuals.

‘Regulation & Order: Particular Victims Unit’s Octavio Pisano on How the Present’s Dynamics Mirror Actual Life

I actually benefit from the dynamic between Fin and Velasco — I really feel like they’ve plenty of similarities in methods, and so they play off one another actually properly. What was it like attending to group up and work with Ice-T?

PISANO: I really feel like this present’s been happening so lengthy that the strains are blurred, proper? My relationship with Mariska and my relationship with Ice-T form of resemble the connection Velasco has with Benson and Fin. It is much more humorous in actual life, but it surely’s nice. I really like working with them. It is true camaraderie that we deliver into the scenes.

It was so good to look at you get to work with a brand new character, too, with Danny. Velasco appears to kind of emerge as a mentor to him, which I am certain is a bit sophisticated for Velasco contemplating, as you mentioned, his previous adverse experiences — we noticed that complete arc with Chilli a few seasons in the past. How did you strategy that relationship with Danny with Velasco’s historical past in thoughts?

PISANO: I believe it is a mirror. I believe it is a reflection of him embracing himself. I believe there is a line within the dialog that he has with the grandfather the place he says, “You and I usually are not that totally different. I used to be such as you, and I perceive you.” The grandfather’s telling Velasco, so not solely does Velasco see himself within the grandfather, however he additionally sees himself in Danny and his eagerness and his want to assist. However the purity and innocence that Danny has form of pushes him off a bit of bit, so I really feel like, by the tip of it, his moving into the condo is symbolic of him embracing that a part of himself and nearly forgiving himself. It is nearly like he is speaking to himself by speaking to Danny.

Oh, I actually love that. That is such level. I really like that storyline for that purpose, however I additionally assume it was very nice that it kind of opens up that theme of needing neighborhood buy-in as a result of there are these neighborhoods which have been let down by the authorities so many instances. I am curious for those who can speak a bit of bit about exploring that theme of neighborhood outreach as a substitute of harsh, chilly, distant policing.

PISANO: Yeah, and to be trustworthy, I am not even gonna restrict it to policemen or detectives. I really feel like, as a world, we have turn into so remoted and individualized — primarily due to our telephones and social media and all this stuff the place now we have extra connection on-line, however now we have much less connection in the actual world. I grew up surrounded by communities and surrounded by lots of people, and my life form of took a flip particularly within the final 4 years since COVID and all the pieces that is been happening. I really feel prefer it’s so necessary to have that neighborhood and people relationships in each side. We showcase it right here from doing policework and the way a lot assist and the way a lot simpler it’s when you’ve gotten that connection to the neighborhood, but additionally seeing a neighborhood come collectively and the way necessary it’s…I felt chills once I watched that scene.

It’s reflecting the actual world, which is what SVU has been attempting to do for the final 26 years it has been on, so it is so good to see how these detectives can kind of develop and get into new positions. One factor I discovered actually fascinating about when Olivia compliments him is that she particularly says he confirmed management. I am curious for those who assume that could possibly be hinting at Velasco possibly getting a promotion or shifting up within the squad. What do you kind of assume his targets are when it comes to being at SVU?

PISANO: Like I mentioned, the present’s been happening for 26 years, so the strains are blurred. A variety of his targets are just like my targets as an actor — the extra time I can spend on this world, the higher, particularly as a result of this world is so particular to me. It’s not solely a management resolution and a safety of the weak — it’s an honor, and there is integrity to his character. There’s one thing very distinctive that I’ve by no means been capable of play in my profession, and the extra time he will get, the extra time I get on it. I hope there’s extra development. SVU adjustments so quick, however on the similar time, it stays the identical, so we’ll see. I’m excited for what’s coming.

‘Regulation & Order: Particular Victims Unit’s Octavio Pisano Previews What May Be Subsequent for Velasco

On the finish of this episode, we additionally discover out that Velasco’s been digging into surrounding areas with comparable MOs because the case they’ve simply solved and actually taking initiative in that method. Will we get to see extra of that in a seamless storyline, or is that this a extra one-and-done case state of affairs? SVU form of does each.

PISANO: To be trustworthy, I really feel like each season adjustments a bit of bit. This season has had plenty of callbacks and plenty of characters come again from totally different episodes that none of us knew have been gonna come again. It nearly breaks the fourth wall as a result of it is so related to its fanbase — it is nearly like how the world reacts to it and the way the viewers reacts to it influences issues. Rollins has been again so many instances as a result of individuals love Rollins, and so they love Kelli [Giddish], so we’ll see. We’ll see the way it does. We’ll see how individuals reply to it. For me, I like to only keep in my zone and form of have all the pieces be unpredictable and never know what’s coming.

This query may result in a really comparable reply, however I adore it when Velasco goes undercover. He is at all times so good at it, and you are at all times so good at it. I am curious if there are any extra undercover storylines that you would be able to tease for us.

PISANO: I’ve talked to the writers a few instances about it. It is so unpredictable as a result of plenty of the storylines are taken from the headlines or influenced by the headlines. There’s a lot happening on the earth, so one thing could occur subsequent week and that adjustments. I really feel like SVU is an effective mirror for what is going on on in society inside this area of interest of the legal justice system. Velasco began as undercover, and there have been fascinating undercover tales all through, and people are at all times enjoyable since you get to play a personality inside a personality, so I am positively wanting ahead to that.

One among my favorites this season was when the entire squad was preparing within the van and Bruno was lending him the watch. I am curious if in case you have a specific favourite undercover position that you’ve got gotten to play by this character.

PISANO: That was actually enjoyable. There are a pair extra not coming to thoughts proper now, however that one was enjoyable as a result of I really like working with each of them — Kevin Kane and Juliana [Aiden Martinez]. A variety of the subject material that we deal with is so heavy and so severe, so once we get these moments of humor and irony, as an actor, they seem to be a playground.

‘Regulation & Order: Particular Victims Unit’s Octavio Pisano Reveals Who He Desires Velasco to Work together With Extra and His Dream Visitor Star

This can be a fairly massive ensemble now. We have now a really decent-sized squad, so there are plenty of combos of people that get to pair up and relationships that emerge. Is there somebody within the solid you are feeling like you aren’t getting to work with as a lot that you’d actually like to or somebody you want to see Velasco work together with extra?

PISANO: Off the bat, Carisi. Early on, we have been having just a few scenes once I first began within the first season. Peter Scanavino and I are actually shut, and I actually respect him as an actor — I believe he is phenomenal. He’s unbelievable. So I’d like to see much more scenes with him. In the previous couple of episodes, we have had moments of camaraderie. His character has been going by an enormous arc, so my decisions as an actor have at all times been to help his character, and whether or not it is seen or not seen — as a result of we do not know what results in the reducing room — my work as an actor is at all times to help him and to develop that friendship. I at all times take pleasure in courtroom scenes.

These are at all times enjoyable to look at, and people two characters do play off one another very well. I’d additionally wish to see extra of these. Regardless of being a procedural, there are fashionable fan-favorite relationships which have emerged with Rollins and Carisi and Elliot and Olivia, in fact. Since we’re diving a bit of bit extra into Velasco’s private life, are there any characters you can see him with as a romantic match?

PISANO: Romantically is fascinating. I had an episode the place it was hinted at courting — he was happening a date with some woman or attempting to this point some woman. I believe a part of the backstory was additionally his social alienation coming from the undercover world and the way tough it’s for him to attach, particularly having the job that he has. Once more, the fanbase actually influences plenty of what’s written. The Rollins and Carisi storyline was basically begged by the viewers, and it grew to become a factor due to it, so we’ll see. I don’t know. Like I mentioned, I form of like staying in that zone the place all the pieces is unpredictable to me as a result of I can take it as a shock because the character would.

For certain. I’ve to say, I interviewed Kevin Kane final 12 months, and he informed me that you simply have been the one who was good at memorizing one of the best Bruno strains — of which there are, in fact, many. Is there a Bruno line off the highest of your head that’s your favourite?

PISANO: Sure. “My gobs are smacked and my gasts are flabbered.”

He mentioned the identical one!

PISANO: That line…he caught me off guard. At first, when he mentioned it, I used to be like, “Wait, I’ve to look that up. What does that even imply?” After which, once I learn it, I used to be like, “There is not any method…” After which, within the scene, the best way he delivered was good. It’s a must to be a grasp actor to have the ability to pull that line off. Hats off to him. He is nice.

It is such one. I would like extra Bruno and Velasco.

PISANO: “My gobs are smacked and my gasts are flabbered.”

I have to attempt to combine that into my very own vocabulary.

PISANO: There ought to be an entire dictionary of Bruno strains.

That’s some merch we desperately want. My final query for you is that this present is understood for having these very high-profile visitor stars. When you might have anyone come work with you on the present, who would your dream visitor star be?

PISANO: Oh, there’s so many. There’s so many individuals we have had. These days, that’s subjective, proper? I’ve interacted with plenty of actors that, to me, have that star energy however they are not identified on the earth. After which there are some actors who’ve are available in, and so they’re identified by social media, and so they have some star energy, however they don’t have that factor. I simply really feel like I respect actors usually. I really like actors, and there are such a lot of nice actors on the market. Jeremy Sturdy could be mind-blowing to have — simply the layer of efficiency that he might ship as dangerous man.

There are such a lot of actors. However once more, we have had plenty of younger actors who’re straight-up popping out of college, and so they’re simply mind-blowing. We’re a hub for launching careers nearly. It’s a blessing. After I first got here to New York, I came upon SVU was like an actor’s ceremony of passage, so I am excited for everybody who is available in as a result of whether or not they’re a star now or not, they will be a star ultimately.

New episodes of Regulation & Order: Particular Victims Unit air each Thursday at 9/8c on NBC.