'Law and Order: SVU' season 17 finale spoilers: Barba takes center stage as Warren Leight steps down as showrunner in 'Heartfelt Passages'

The "Law and Order: SVU" season 17 finale will be the last episode Warren Leight will be showrunner. The filmmaker has been at the helm of the long-running series in the last five years.

Leight's exit, which is due to an overall deal with Sony Pictures Television, impacted actor Raul Esparza the most. His character, the sharp and well turned-out ADA Rafael Barba, was the product of Leight's genius.

"It's very hard for me to imagine what the show will be like without [Leight] because he's my voice," Esparza told TV Guide of the showrunner's farewell to "Law and Order: SVU."

Esparza can't help but wonder what the series will be like without Leight. "This is the man who created Barba walking away," the actor said.

Leight will end his five-year showrunning stint in "Law and Order: SVU" season 17 on a high note by putting the spotlight on none other than his masterpiece of a character.

In the season 17 finale titled "Heartfelt Passages," Barba has become the target of the union that protects corrections officer Gary Munson (Brad Garrett) from being incarcerated after the Special Victims Unit works to make him pay for his crimes against female inmates.

Esparza says that although his character has always been a fighter and hasn't run away from anything no matter how frightening it was, he knows that he will be in trouble eventually and this could not be truer in "Law and Order SVU" season 17 finale.

"I really like it when Barba gets caught in a bit of a mess. I think it's great to see someone who's that smart, fantastic and fast on their feet be at a loss or be wrong," Esparza said of his character.

Barba has never been the kind to ask for help, but after receiving death threats he can no longer control, he turns to Carisi (Peter Scanavino) and Rollins (Kelli Giddish). Fans of Barba will certainly be in for a treat in "Law and Order: SVU" season 17 finale.

For the other characters, executive producer Julie Martin teased to The Hollywood Reporter that Fin (Ice T) will receive some big news as he reflects his life beyond being a cop. Carisi will also find out if he passed the bar exam or not.

On the other hand, Mariska Hargitay, who of course plays Benson, teased to E! Online that the "Law and Order: SVU" season 17 finale is "chilling" and thanks to Garrett's performance, the episode also becomes "powerful."

"Law and Order: SVU" season 17 finale "Heartfelt Passages" will air Wednesday, May 25 at 9 p.m. EDT on NBC.