Law & Order: SVUhas dangled Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler’s (Christopher Meloni) undeniable chemistry before us for 26 seasons, but the show is running out of time to bring their relationship to fruition. Stabler was Benson’s partner for the first 12 seasons, and many ofthe bestSVUepisodesrevolve around their loyal partnership. He was also married with five children, a compelling reason not to act on any feelings at the time. Stabler then broke Benson’s heart when he left without saying goodbye in the season 12 finale, following a case where he was forced to fatally shoot a teenage girl.
Stabler returned to theLaw & Orderfranchise in 2021, and in a shocking twist, his wife was murdered almost immediately. Stabler’s spin-off series,Law & Order: Organized Crime, focuses on his quest to get justice for his wife, but her death did open the door for Stabler and Benson to finally start a relationship.SVUhas a history of not clarifying Benson and Stabler’s feelings, leaving them perpetually in a confusing limbo that has frustrated audiences for over two decades.
Law & Order Continues To Milk Benson & Stabler’s Will They/Won’t They Romance After 26 Years
Law & Order Removed The Biggest Relationship Obstacle When Stabler Returned After 10 Years
Law & Ordercontinues to fuel the will-they-or-won’t-they tension.Since Stabler’s return to the franchise, his slow-burn dynamic with Benson has only intensified,especially after his wife’s death removed the biggest hurdle. However,SVUcontinues to teaseBenson and Stabler’s relationshipwithout delivering payoffs or clear answers. One of the most blatant examples is in season 24, episode 12, when Stabler leans in as if to kiss Benson, only for her to pull away at the last second.
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Although she didn’t get a lot of screen time, Serena Benson has an important role in her daughter’s history in Law & Order: SVU season 26, episode 16.
Earlier inSVUseason 24, episode 9, Benson confesses to Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish) that she’s afraid of what would happen if she let herself love Stabler, directly acknowledging the unresolved romantic tension between them. Additionally, inOrganized Crimeseason 3, Stabler gives Benson a letter he wrote but never sent, supposedly detailing his feelings, though its actual contents are left as a frustrating mystery to viewers.
Important Episodes In Benson & Stabler’s Relationship InLaw & Order: SVU
Season 8, Episode 11
Burned
Stabler’s wife Kathy tells Benson she’s worried he prefers spending time at work with her to being at home with his family.
Season 12, Episode 19
Bombshell
Benson and Stabler go undercover as a married couple who swings.
Blood Out
Benson and Stabler almost kiss, but Benson pulls away.
Despite these moments,Law & Ordercontinues to dangle a Benson-Stabler romance without real resolution, assuming fans will stay invested, although some have compelling arguments forwhy Benson and Stabler should never get together. After more than two decades of teasing, including reigniting the spark after Stabler’s decade-long absence, it’s unclear ifLaw & Ordereven has a way to resolve the tension satisfactorily.
Both Benson & Stabler Should Have Already Outgrown This Non-Committal Phase
And after more than two decades of buildup,it’s well past time for Benson and Stabler to move beyond this undefined, nebulous period and finally have an honest conversation about their feelings.Since Stabler’s return inOrganized Crime, the franchise has deliberately kept them in limbo, but at this point, there’s no logical reason to be continuously avoiding the inevitable.
It’s time forLaw & Orderto stop playing games and finally give Benson and Stabler the closure or new beginning they deserve, even if the franchise is not in a position to fully take advantage of it either way.
Stabler’s wife Kathy (Isabel Gillies) died inSVUseason 22and their children are now grown up, so the obvious obstacle is gone. While grief was an understandable reason for initial hesitation, enough time has passed that avoidance feels contrived. Benson has admitted to Rollins she is afraid of her feelings, but it’s frustrating she isn’t having the same conversation with Stabler himself. Instead,Law & Orderleans on narrative stall tactics, like Stabler’s infamous letter.
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Mariska Hargitay is closely associated with Law & Order: SVU’s Olivia Benson, but two other actresses were considered for the groundbreaking role.
We have two seasoned, hard-boiled detectives sharing barely interrupted moments of intimacy and vague, emotionally fraught glances that never go anywhere.Dragging out Benson and Stabler’s romance no longer feels organic,but done solely for narrative convenience. It’s time forLaw & Orderto stop playing games and finally give Benson and Stabler the closure or new beginning they deserve, even if the franchise is not in a position to fully take advantage of it either way.
Law & Order Franchise Can’t Even Fully Benefit From This Benson & Stabler Plot
Benson & Stabler Are The Leads Of Independent Shows Within The Franchise
Yet at this point,theLaw & Orderfranchise wouldn’t benefit from a Benson and Stabler relationshipbecause they are in different shows, each with their own distinct tones and narratives. Benson leadsSVU, advocating for survivors and running her squad in its case-of-the-week procedural style. Stabler, on the other hand, is entrenched in the undercover world ofOrganized Crime, where his work is more morally gray and action-driven, which utilizes a more serialized format.Having Benson and Stabler together again would require constant crossovers,which might disrupt the flow of both shows.
Law & Order: SVU Season 26, Episode 15 Brings Back A Key Part Of What Made It So Successful
Law & Order: SVU season 26, episode 15 finally brought back an aspect of its storytelling that has contributed to the procedural’s past popularity.
Even if Stabler were to return toSVUas a detective, their dynamic wouldn’t be the same. Benson would be his commanding officer, not his partner, potentially creating a professional conflict. A workplace romance with a subordinate — even with Stabler ‚ could jeopardize the career she’s spent her life building, which would be out of character. While Benson and Stabler’s chemistry remains undeniable,Law & Order: SVUmay have evolved beyond their partnership. Fans think they want to see them in a relationship, but from a narrative standpoint, their stories no longer naturally intersect, making a full-fledged romance difficult to sustain.
