Stabler & Benson Romance Stalled Again After Chris Meloni’s Frustrating Reveal

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The unchanging dynamic between Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) on Law & Order: SVU feels even more exasperating following the recent revelation about their romantic past. In the 24th season of Law & Order: SVU, there was a hint that Benson and Stabler’s friendship might evolve into romance, but the storyline was abruptly abandoned and the characters did not interact again until the premiere of Law & Order: Organized Crime in its 5th season.

In the 26th season of “Law & Order: SVU,” Benson and Stabler’s separation persisted. But a potential change in their relationship might have occurred when “Law & Order: Organized Crime” entered its 5th season, as the second half of the season premiere depicted Benson visiting an injured Stabler in the hospital following a car accident. However, it was challenging to distinguish fact from dream sequences during this crossover, and it remains unclear if they will maintain contact throughout the rest of the season.

Christopher Meloni Reveals That He & Mariska Hargitay Tried Making Benson & Stabler’s Romance Happen 2 Years Ago

Meloni Doesn’t Think The Scene Worked

In an iconic moment from season 24, episode 12 of Law & Order: SVU, Benson and Stabler almost shared a kiss, but at the last instant, Benson stepped back. Following the broadcast, Mariska Hargitay, who plays Benson on the show, revealed why the kiss didn’t occur, implying that Dick Wolf disagreed with the intended course of action proposed by Hargitay and Meloni. However, Meloni provided a slightly contrasting view in an interview with TVLine, stating that “We were trying something. I don’t believe it was successful.

Meloni chose not to elaborate on why the romantic plotline failed, instead stating, ‘I won’t disclose the reasons for its failure, as I understand that everyone has their own opinions; I know what transpired.’ This seems to support Hargitay’s assertion that Wolf ultimately rejected the idea of the kiss, causing Benson to abandon the plan on-screen. In essence, the nearly-kiss scene between Benson and Stabler didn’t proceed because it wasn’t compelling enough to persuade Wolf to let the romance develop further.

Why Law & Order Continues To Stall Stabler & Benson’s Romance

There Is No Agreement About Which Direction It Should Go In

As a devoted cinephile, I’ve noticed an intriguing pattern regarding the romantic storyline in both “Law & Order: SVU” and “Law & Order: Organized Crime.” It seems that the creators have chosen to hold off on this narrative development for various reasons. Interestingly enough, the fifth season of “Law & Order: Organized Crime” didn’t debut until April 2025, and during its hiatus, there was no hint or even a mention of Stabler. This could imply that the franchise opted to keep Stabler out of the picture until they were certain that “Law & Order: Organized Crime” was ready for its return.

I must admit, Meloni’s latest update shed some light on an intriguing aspect of our beloved shows, Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime. While the former has been under the same creative guidance for three years, a change could be on the horizon if it gets renewed. On the other hand, the latter has experienced quite a few shifts in its creative team, which makes it challenging to predict where the procedural drama is headed, particularly concerning Benson and Stabler’s romantic trajectory.

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2025-04-26 21:17