Elliot Stabler is one of the best characters in Law and Order: Special Victims Unitbut as a volatile and aggressive detective, his behavior often crosses the line. Christopher Meloni's performance as Stabler paints the picture of a troubled man whose heart is usually in the right place, even though his actions can cause a lot of trouble for him and the rest of the team. He has a habit of pushing suspects too far, both physically and mentally. Stabler and Benson's relationship in SVU generally balances him out to some degree, but he's still a loose cannon.
Many of the best episodes of Law and Order: SVU feature Benson and Stabler butting heads as they work together on a case. Benson is the more emotionally mature of the two and is usually the better at dealing with victims. Stabler tends to be a blunt object, targeting a suspect and taking him down by any means necessary. While this gets results most of the time, Stabler's dubious understanding of policing ethics means he also commits some truly unforgivable acts in the line of duty.
10
Stabler tries to cover up a crime for his friend
Season 7, Episode 4, 'Ripped'
Most of Elliot Stabler's questionable actions come from his single-minded commitment to fulfilling his duties, but Season 7's “Ripped” shows that his personal life can often interfere with his work. Stabler's ex-partner tries to convince him to use his power within the Special Victims Unit to drop the charges against his son. Stabler does not fully commit to this plan, but still drags on the investigation.
Stabler should have stepped away from the case once he discovered he had a personal connection to the suspect's family, but instead he subtly tries to divert the case from prosecuting the young man. Ultimately, Stabler realizes that the suspect is the victim of his father's abuse, and this culminates in an unforgettable bloody fight between Stabler and his former partner. For many police officers, this would be the lowest point of their entire career.but it only scratches the surface of Stabler's evil deeds.
9
Stabler considers killing a criminal in his sleep
Season 4, Episode 15, 'Pandora'
“Pandora” is a rather unusual episode of Law and Order: SVU, once sending Stabler on a tour to Prague to investigate the illegal distribution of images of minors. It becomes a personal mission for Stabler when a mother encourages him to find her missing daughter. Stabler often identifies with the victims' parents, as he cares a lot about his own daughters. He does an excellent job especially in his solo mission in “Pandora”, but his violent impulses almost overcome him.
Although there was ultimately no harm done, this disturbing scene shows Stabler's instability.
When Stabler finally tracks a suspect back to New York City, he finds a way to his home while he sleeps. With the suspect's daughter below, Stabler points the gun at the man's head, debating whether to pull the trigger or not. He stays with this decision for much longer than he should, but ends up giving in and decides to wake the man up. Although there was ultimately no harm done, this disturbing scene shows Stabler's instability.
8
Stabler continually harasses an innocent man
Season 11, Episode 3, “Lonely”
Season 11's 'Solitary' is one of Christopher Meloni's best SVU episodes, as we see Stabler struggle with the morality of his actions. He initially seems determined to arrest and take down his preferred suspect, allowing his past actions to cloud his judgment. He continually harasses the man, going overboard to try to collect evidence that doesn't exist or to force a false confession.
Stabler shows that he is capable of introspection and change occasionally.
Stabler's harassment of the suspect culminates in a confrontation on the roof, and Stabler is removed. Even before this incident, Stabler begins to see the error of his ways and empathizes with a man he previously accused of horrific crimes without evidence. At the end of the episode, Stabler reflects on his hot-headed nature. Stabler shows that he is capable of introspection and change occasionally.
7
Stabler Makes His Daughter's Drunk Driving Charges Go Away
Season 6, Episode 21, 'Blood'
Stabler is fiercely protective of her daughters, but her good intentions don't always manifest themselves in helpful, healthy ways.. He may be protective to the point of being authoritarian, or he may lose sight of his duties and objectivity. In Season 6's “Blood,” he abuses his power to cover up Kathleen's DUI charges, which contradicts the impartiality that all police officers should have.
Stabler's secretive handling of Kathleen's accusations eventually comes to light in the Season 8 episode “Screwed.”
Stabler's secretive handling of Kathleen's accusations eventually comes to light in the Season 8 episode “Screwed” when Darius uncovers dirt on all the Special Victims Unit detectives to defend himself at his trial. Kathleen will soon have to do community service, but will have more serious issues to deal with in later seasons, and Stabler struggles to get her to accept the fact that she needs medical help for her bipolar disorder.
6
Stabler almost defeats a murder suspect
Season 10, Episode 2, 'Confession'
The quickest way to anger Stabler is to threaten his daughters, and “Confession” shows him taking matters into his own hands when he sees a photo of Elizabeth circulating online. He tracks down the website owner and goes to his house alone, beating the man to death without the rest of the squad knowing where he is. They finally arrive and drag Stabler away.
“Confession” provides another example of how Stabler's anger issues and hasty decision-making can compromise his good intentions.
Stabler is placed on unpaid leave for this violent attack, as well as for breaking and entering. Any civilian would be arrested for this act, but Stabler is clearly protected by his status as a police officer.. “Confession” provides another example of how Stabler's anger issues and hasty decision-making can compromise his good intentions. His violent outburst comes from him trying to protect his family and punish a criminal, but he threatens the case with his shortsighted actions.
5
Stabler drowns a criminal for information
Season 5, Episode 5, 'Serendipity'
Stabler has a way of dealing violently with suspects, as shown in the Season 5 episode “Serendipity”. After chasing a kidnapper along a narrow dock, Stabler pushes the man off the edge and into the water. This is a reasonable move to arrest the suspect, but he goes overboard when he repeatedly dunks the man's head underwater, interrogating him for information on the missing girl's whereabouts.
After essentially simulating the suspect, Stabler holds her head underwater for a few seconds even after the missing girl has been located.
Stabler's torture of the suspect should have been enough to get the case out of court, but the problem doesn't end there. After essentially simulating the suspect, Stabler holds her head underwater for a few seconds even after the missing girl has been located. This is just vigilante justice meted out by Stabler that goes far beyond what he's supposed to do as a police officer. It's another abuse of justice that satisfies his violent streak.
4
Stabler says a victim is lying because she is promiscuous
Season 6, Episode 8, 'Doubt'
Many Law and Order: SVU The episodes are inspired by real life and the cases often touch on important social issues. Season 6's “Doubt” features a dark he-said-she-said case and leads to an intense dispute between Benson and Stabler. Although Benson often sympathizes with the victims above all else, Stabler sometimes challenges this position and tries to suggest that there may be more at stake.
Season 6's “Doubt” features a dark he-said-she-said case and leads to an intense dispute between Benson and Stabler.
Benson and Stabler's working dynamic typically brings out the best in both detectivesbut their mutual openness also means they are not afraid to express some opinions that might be seen as problematic. In “Doubt,” Stabler suggests that the lack of physical evidence means the victim may be lying. This isn't necessarily a problem, but he talks about her promiscuity, her flirtatious behavior, and her choice of clothing as indicators that she's lying about the sex not being consensual. This is a regressive opinion, and it is particularly troubling that anyone in Stabler's line of work would accept it.
3
Stabler ignores Captain Cragen and continues assaulting a suspect
Season 8, Episode 20, “Annihilated”
Stabler assaults many suspects in his time in the Special Victims Unit, but his actions in “Annihilated” are particularly reprehensible. Many of Stabler's outbursts occur in frenzied fits of rage as he struggles to control his emotions. In “Annihilated,” he is calm enough to consider the situation around him and still makes the decision to lose control. He also does this in direct contravention of Captain Cragen's orders.
Stabler assaults many suspects in his time in the Special Victims Unit, but his actions in “Annihilated” are particularly reprehensible.
While Stabler is busy interrogating a suspect, Captain Cragen and the rest of the squad receive new information that negates the need for a confession. Stabler gets Cragen's message that he's taking him out of interrogation, but not why. When he escalates his aggressive interrogation – eventually leading to verbal aggression and outright physical violence – it shows the desperation and insecurity that makes Stabler such a volatile individual.
2
Stabler says men cannot be sexually assaulted
Season 3, Episode 10, 'Ridiculousness'
For a member of the Special Victims Unit, Stabler may present some troubling opinions about the types of crimes it investigates. While Benson can be overly sentimental when dealing with victims, letting his sympathy get in the way of his objectivity, Stabler often swings to the other side and refuses to see things from the victims' perspective. This is a recurring theme in many episodes, “Ridiculousness” being an obvious example.
While Benson can be overly sentimental when dealing with victims, Stabler often refuses to see things from their perspective.
“Ridicule” tells the story of a stripper who claims he was sexually assaulted by a group of women during a bachelorette party he was performing at. Stabler repeatedly dismisses her story and tries to look for alternative explanations, believing that adult men cannot be victims of sexual assault. This is an ill-informed opinion for anyone, but it is especially bad coming from someone who is supposed to work with the victim's best interests in mind.
1
Stabler Ghosts Benson After Traumatic Incident
Season 12, Episode 24, “Smoked” and Season 13, Episode 1, “Scorched Earth”
Chris Meloni's departure from SVU created a problem for the show, as it came right after the intense season 12 finale, in which Stabler kills a young woman who starts shooting up the police station. This is just one of the many traumatic experiences Benson and Stabler face with each other, but Stabler is nowhere to be seen in the Season 13 opener, “Scorched Earth.” Meloni left due to a pay dispute and SVUthe explanation for its absence is disheartening.
Captain Cragen claims that Stabler requested retirement after the shooting, not wanting to wait for a decision from the NYPD's internal affairs board. This seems a bit odd for Stabler, as he is usually very committed to his work. What's even stranger is the fact that he never has contact with Benson again. Despite everything the duo goes through together, he disappears and leaves her suffering even more trauma alone. Law and Order: Special Victims Unit should have given Stabler the send-off he deserved, but the nature of his departure feels like an insult.