Law & Order: Special Victims Unitstar Mariska Hargitay has given her views on the potential for a Benson and Stabler coupling on the show. SVU started in 1999, with Hargitay and Meloni as the two constants on the show, until his departure in 2011. However, Stabler returned in 2021, and has been a fixture of theLaw & Orderspinoff series ever since.
Working together in close proximity on bothSVU, and anotherspinoff showLaw & Order: Organized Crime, has paired the two together in dangerous situations for decades. Despite some close calls, near misses, and pretty intense chemistry, the two cops have never actually become an item (or kissed) over the course of the show.
With the growing chemistry and long-term personal and professional friendship between the two, it seems like it’s going to be only a matter of time before something romantic occurs between them, and Hargitay has weighed in on this.
PerUs Magazine, the actress gave her views on the two fan-favorites and long-time partners finally becoming an item. She declared the duo to be “soulmates,” and, while she didn’t confirm or deny anything, Hargitay stated that the final episode of the show would be the right time for the two to become an item. Check out Hargitay’s comments below:
“Maybe [in] the last episode. I think that’s when they should be together. If it’s right, we’ll see when we get there. We are soulmates, in a way.”
What This Means For Benson & Stabler’s SVU Endgame
It Feels Likely The Duo Will Get Together At Some Stage
Given the fact there is clear chemistry between the characters, and Hargitay and Meloni have worked together for so long, there is plenty of scope to flesh out something. Working intense and all-consuming jobs doesn’t leave much time for romantic attachment, especially with the dangerous work that Benson and Stabler do, and dating someone who understands this is much easier.
The fact that Hargitay calls the characters soulmates, and has expressed a desire to see them get together means this could really become a reality. Of course, it will need to be right for the show, and there will have to be an arc planned out to accommodate it in a way that feels natural for both characters.
WithLaw & Order: SVUseason 27renewed, the show will be returning this Fall, and that represents a good opportunity to put the wheels in motion for a Benson and Stabler romance. It might not last, but it is something that should at least be explored within the show at this point.
Our Take On The Chances Of A Benson-Stabler Romance
If It Happens It Will Be Late In The Game
Both characters are pretty much network TV icons at this point, and an argument could be made that leaving them apart would continue to fuel their tension and make for better character arcs. One of the things that has madeLaw & Order: SVUamongthe best procedurals on TVhas been the character studies, and dynamic between the two leads.
The fact that Hargitay states that she feels the duo becoming an item in the final episode would be right suggests she has discussed the idea with Stabler, and the writing team. And it’s hard to disagree that leaving anything committed until the series finale ofLaw & Order: SVUfeels right, and this could wind up being sooner than people think.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Cast
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a television series that premiered in 1999. Set in the criminal justice system of New York City, it follows an elite team of detectives who investigate sexually-based offenses, focusing on their efforts to solve complex cases and seek justice for victims.
