'Law and Order: SVU' season 17 spoilers: Rollins braces for sister and mother's arrival in new episodes

Detective Rollins will have some rough times in the upcoming season of "Law and Order: SVU." NBC

Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish) is in for a rough time when NBC's long-running procedural drama "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" returns for season 17.

TV Guide reports that aside from dealing with Detective Amaro's (Danny Pino) departure, Rollins will find herself with two unwelcomed visitors in the person of her sister and mother. Showrunner Warren Leight revealed in an interview for the website that Lindsey Pulsipher, who plays the operative's catty sibling, will be returning for the upcoming installment.

The surprise visit will apparently complicate matters for Rollins. Leight said that even though they wanted to be supportive of the young woman's situation, it will have the opposite effect.

According to Leight, "Her family showing up is not a great thing for her — nothing good comes from seeing her sister or her mother."

Rollins hit rock bottom after Amaro decided to leave the force at the season 16 finale. The detective was disillusioned after failing to get the promotion he had been looking forward to. He then decided to head west to be with his family, leaving Rollins alone in the squad.

"This guy was a rock in the department and he was there emotionally for Benson and Rollins and, at times, physically for Rollins. So they're both missing him," Leight said in the interview. 

The showrunner, however, told Entertainment Weekly that there's always a possibility that Amaro would make a comeback. He said that they are not closing doors; if the story calls for the character's return, the viewers would get to see him again.

Inquisitr reports that the cast is now hard at work filming the upcoming season. Ice-T, who plays Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola, recently posted a photo of him on the set. The actor was with Giddish, who shocked the fans when she previously announced that she's already married and pregnant to boot.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" season 17 will premiere on Sept. 23 on NBC.

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