Law & Order: SVU The Season 26 premiere doubled down on the series’ latest Benson/Stabler update. Benson and Stabler were partners during the long-running procedural’s first 12 seasons; While their relationship was platonic then, many of Law & Order: SVUs best episodes involved tension between the two that could have been romantic or sexual. Stabler was married and not interested in leaving his wife, Kathy. Thus, there was no chance of a romantic relationship between him and Benson in those early days, although their chemistry was so strong that Cathy was often jealous of Benson and Stabler’s relationship.
Kathy Stabler was killed in one of Law & Order: SVUs saddest episodes, which also was a back-door pilot for Law & Order: Organized Crime. After her death, there was a clear path forward for Benson and Stabler’s romance once Stabler took some time to process his grief, and the series seemed to be moving towards the two falling for each other. However, the season 25 finale suddenly put the brakes on their burgeoning relationship, and The Law & Order: SVU The season 26 premiere doubled down on the idea that romance between Benson and Stabler is dead.
Law & Order: SVU Season 25 Finale effectively paused Benson & Stabler’s romance
Benson gave away the necklace Stabler had given her, seemingly ending their romance
Benson and Stabler were slowly moving towards romance in season 24, but season 25 suddenly hit the brakes on their relationship. Throughout the abbreviated season, the two did not cross paths, although Benson was looking for a kidnapped teenager whose case may have a connection to a fentanyl ring Stabler had infiltrated. The season finale put even more distance between Benson and Stabler when Benson lent Eileen Flynn the compass necklace Stabler had given Benson A year before. This leads to the only conversation between Benson and Stabler in the entire season when she tells him.
Related
The sequence of events made it clear that the idea of ​​a Benson and Stabler romance was mostly dead. However, Stabler approved of Benson’s decision to lend the necklace to Eileen, telling her that he admired her for being so caring to a woman she barely knew. So, there was still a small chance that Stabler’s feelings for Benson could turn into romance later, though Benson’s decision not to keep the necklace seemed like an end to what was once a hopeful chapter in their relationship.
Law & Order: SVU Season 26 premiere totally ignores Benson & Stabler’s situation
Stabler’s name was not mentioned, nor was the necklace
Law & Order: SVU Season 26 could have easily rebuilt the Stabler/Benson connection by having Benson wear the necklace again. This would have put an end to the unpopular Maddie Flynn saga and reaffirmed the series’ commitment to Benson and Stabler as a couple. But that didn’t happen. instead, Law & Order: SVU Continued the season 25 policy of not mentioning Stabler at all. This is a marked difference from when the romance was on the track and Benson would regularly talk to her friends on the team about her feelings about Stabler.
The omission of any Stabler references was a deliberate choice by the writers who indicated that they were no longer interested in pursuing a romance between Benson and Stabler on screen.
Throughout the episode, Benson focused mostly on the case, but took some time to talk with new detective Kate Silva about Silva’s backstory. The episode didn’t just have time to include references to Stabler, as it had room for Silva to be treated like a nepo-baby because her father was also a cop. Thus, the omission of any Stabler references was a deliberate choice by the writers who indicated that they were no longer interested in pursuing a romance between Benson and Stabler on screen.
Benson & Stabler’s romance taking a break is what Law & Order: SVU season 26 needs
Benson should focus on cases, not personal drama
While it’s frustrating that Benson and Stabler’s romance evaporated, it’s the best choice Law & Order: SVU could have done. The series promised to go “Back to basics“In season 26, that requires focusing on cases and allowing personal stories to be subplots. SVU Has been out of balance in recent years and has devoted too much time to the Stabler/Benson romance and similar stories. So, a break from the romance subplot helps reset the series as it heads into its 26th season.
Benson has a full team in Law & Order: SVU Season 26, which has not been the case in recent years. Thus, there is no better time for you to shift your focus to supervising detectives and go out into the field as needed. Eileen Flynn’s continued possession of the compass necklace and the lack of references to Stabler make it clear that the couple’s romance will be on hold indefinitely while the series shifts back to its primary focus on cases involving sexual abuse and assault rather than personal stories.
.