By rewatchingLaw & Order: SVU’s pilot, I realized that one of the show’s oldest storylines was set up way back in the first episode.Law & Order: SVUhas been on the air for 25 years now and, in that time,the show’s Benson/Stabler chemistryhas become as infamous as any of its memorably nasty cases or brutal twists.
Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler didn’t always seem fated for each other, but their decades of working together bonded the pair, and a certain chemistry arose between them over the years.Law & Order: SVUseason 27will return on September 25, and the show’s next outing will include Stabler’s long-awaited return.
SVU’s Pilot Proved Stabler’s Marriage Was Always Bound To Fail
Stabler’s Marriage Was Doomed Long Before His Romantic Tension With Benson
This means thatBenson and Stabler’sLaw & Order: SVUromanceis back on after season 24’s canceled near-kiss left viewers heartbroken. This news prompted me to revisit the show’s first episode to see where the pair’s chemistry started, and I was stunned by what I found.
Despite what viewers might remember,Elliot Stabler’s marriage was always doomed to failure inLaw & Order: SVU.
In season 1, episode 1, “Payback,” viewers already see Isabel Gillies’ Kathy getting mad because Stabler is always at work and fails to prioritize time with his family as a result. This argument came long before her suspicions about an affair between Stabler and Benson and before her death in season 22, episode 9, “Return of the Prodigal Son.”
Law & Order: Special Victims Unitseason 27 is set to premiere on Thursday, September 25, at 9 p.m. EDT on NBC.
Hindsight is 20/20, and viewers might not have been able to guess that the marriage was undoubtedly doomed from this brief interaction. However, it is worth noting thatBenson and Stabler’s chemistrywas also obvious in “Payback,” which makes it seem like the series always knew this was where their story was heading eventually.
Benson Was The Reason Stabler’s Marriage Lasted Long
Benson Was Ironically Good For Her Eventual Love Interest’s Marriage
Ironically, Benson’s presence didn’t weaken the bond between Stabler and his wife over the years. Instead,Law & Order: SVUtook his character arc in a different direction, with the unit’s short-tempered, volatile detective working on his anger issues and becoming a more present father, thanks in part to Benson’s influence.
Benson made him better and helped him fix his personal issues, meaning Benson and Stabler’s eventual Law & Order: SVU romance is truly justified now that Kathy is gone.
If Stabler had worked with someone else every day, his marriage would have crumbled much sooner. Benson made him better and helped him fix his personal issues, meaningBenson and Stabler’s eventualLaw & Order: SVUromanceis truly justified now that Kathy is gone.
For years, it seemed like Stabler and Benson’s mutual unspoken attraction had the potential to hurt the detective’s marriage. However, a re-watch of theLaw & Order: SVUpilot from 25 years ago proves that Benson actually helped Kathy and Stabler last as long as they did.
