SPOILER ALERT: This article contains major spoilers from the 600th episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”.
To say that Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler have a complicated relationship would be an understatement. During the Nov. 12 600th episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” Benson (Mariska Hargitay) is forced to reopen a case she worked with Stabler (Christopher Meloni) many years ago, realizing they probably put the wrong man behind bars.
After convincing him to come help her with the case, Benson learns that he cut her out of the case and took control, which she allowed him to do. But she’s captain now – and she won’t allow their old patterns to return.
“I love that we had to confront each other because it’s family too. There are so many feelings between Benson and Stabler. It’s so complicated – what could have been, what was, what we shared, the ‘ride or die,'” Hargitay says. “People ask, ‘Why do you think people like Benson and Stabler?’ » And it’s thanks to their dedication to each other, to their mutual trust.
Since Stabler “was so formative in her development as a detective”, this episode showed how they moved past that. “It’s about a woman who has her voice,” she said. “So many women identify with that.”
Hargitay was excited to delve into such a strong story about the duo.
“I think we also just wanted to tell a truthful, complex story that people could relate to and have big feelings and understand the complexities of these types of relationships, and give them something real to struggle with,” she adds. “We’re so focused on keeping it real and making it good, and we know that just by being together, the fans will be happy. That’s why we invited him back because we knew they would be so happy, and that’s what they would want. But also, he’s so much a part of the story. It’s true to have him back at this point.”
At the end of the episode, Stabler invites Benson to take some time off and go away for a few days. The audience knows she has days off available because it’s specifically mentioned early on, but that doesn’t mean she says yes. In fact, that was never an option, Hargitay says.
“No. There are many reasons why this isn’t happening,” she says. “That’s not where either of them are right now.”
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