The Real Reason Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler Can't Be Together in Law and Order (For Now)

There's a reason why Law and Order the franchise is keeping Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) apart for now. The pair had extraordinary chemistry when they worked together during the first 12 seasons of Law and Order: SVUbut Stabler was married with five children, so it was unlikely anything would happen. However, Law and Order: SVUThe timeline of Benson and Stabler's relationship suggests that the two had deeper feelings for each other than they were willing to admit.

Stabler returned in 2021 and his wife was murdered almost immediately. While Law and Order: Organized CrimeStabler's first season focused on Stabler's quest to get justice following the death of Kathy (Isabel Gillies), her murder also paved the way for Benson and Stabler to eventually get together. Although this initially appeared to be the case, Law and Order: SVU made the mistake of ignoring Benson and Stabler's relationship in recent seasons, leaving their potential relationship in limbo.

Meloni's return of law and order revived Stabler and Benson's romance hopes

After a 10-year absence, there was finally hope for the couple

Stabler output Law and Order: SVU It was one of the most disappointing in the franchise. Its final episode is one of Law and Order: SVUThe actor's saddest episodes, when he is forced to fatally shoot a young woman who steals a gun and opens fire in the squad room because he is angry that his mother is not receiving justice after a rape. Therefore, it is understandable that Stabler would decide to leave the unit later. However, he left without saying goodbye to Benson, which threw cold water on any hopes of romance between the two.

So when Stabler returned 10 years later, audiences were excited about the possibility of him and Benson getting together, especially after Kathy's death removed the biggest obstacle in their path. The first seasons of Law and Order: Organized Crime dropped hints that the two were destined to be a couple, including Richard Wheatley using Stabler's secret feelings against him and Stabler blurting out that he loved Benson during an intervention attempt. Unfortunately, those moments went nowhere, and progress in this relationship has been non-existent in recent years.

Law & Order can't move Benson and Stabler's relationship forward because they're on different shows

It would be logistically difficult, as the two are rarely in the same episode

As Stabler appears primarily in Law and Order: Organized Crime, while Benson stars Law and Order: SVUit would be difficult for their relationship to progress beyond the thinking stage, as the pair don't often share scenes. The two shows made it work in Law and Order: Organized Crimein the early seasons, having them talk or see each other occasionally. Meanwhile, in other episodes, Benson talked to Rollins about Stabler, or Bell asked Stabler about his and Benson's relationship status.

This technique works best while Benson and Stabler deny their feelings for each other. Once together, it would be boring for other characters to talk about their relationship instead of it being portrayed on screen. Law and Order: SVU currently has a similar dilemma with Rollins and Carisi. Rollins appears sporadically, while Carisi is part of Benson's group Law and Order: SVU season 26 team. Rollins' disappearance is explained by her being on a mission. Although this works to some extent, it would seem redundant if Benson and Stabler were also written this way.

How can the Law & Order franchise bring Benson and Stabler together?

There are several options, but it would be difficult

Law and Order: SVU and Law and Order: Organized Crime have completely ignored Benson and Stabler's relationship, with Benson lending Eileen Flynn the compass necklace Stabler gave her and the two barely speaking. Law and Order: SVU season 25 also missed obvious crossover appearances, making it seem the franchise is determined to pretend Stabler doesn't exist while Law and Order: Organized Crime is in limbo. Supposedly, Benson will move on to the Stabler series once it finally premieres on Peacock, but without a solid release date, that means little.

It wouldn't work for Benson and Stabler to develop a romantic relationship unless the Law and Order The franchise is willing to invest in frequent crossover appearances so that the characters can build their relationship consistently over time. It also wouldn't work out well for Stabler to return to the Law and Order: SVU, whereas Benson is now the head of the unit. So the best the series can do now is wait until Law and Order: SVU it eventually ends and allows Benson and Stabler to meet romantically during the series finale.

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