Shes a cop his first partner, Benson responds and then shares a knowing look with Stabler. At the last minute, he spins around and pulls Benson into a hug. Stabler, whos also familiar with an estranged marriage as his wife wants him to sign divorce papers, makes points in defense of Miles. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Come on now, you know thats not true, Benson responds. Stabler doesnt come in until the end of the episode, but he delivers arguably one of the most important lines Bensons ever heard in her life up until that point. In Season 22, after Kathy's murder, the former partners in (fighting) crime came face to face for the first time since Stabler's exit. The eighth episode of the inaugural season of "SVU," "Stalked," really put "Protelliot" a nickname given by fans to Stabler when hes acting especially protective on the map. In the middle of the night, 4:47 a.m. to be exact, an already awake Stabler gets a text from Benson telling him to meet her downstairs, where shes sitting on his porch with a cup of coffee for him and tea for herself. Heres how the show said goodbye to Kat and Garland. Its nice to see your face, Benson says to Stabler, noting he shaved off the beard that was part of his undercover persona. She goes to ask if their relationship is OK after the heated case. Ive been pushing as hard as I can. She swore to herself that she would never let his murderer, Tracy Monroe, get parole, and became obsessed . Benson follows up by asking if he liked working with her. "I wouldve done the same thing," Benson responds. During a moment of reflection at home before the meeting, Stabler sits outside in the back garden and leaves Benson a voicemail. Cragen tells Stabler hes running away from himself and that he paired him up with Blaine so he can get a taste of what he is like to work with. While Benson stares at her squad happily celebrating the event with their partners, Stabler approaches with her coat and drapes it over her shoulders while she hands him a glass of wine that she got for him. A case of he said/she said between a college advisor and a graduate student, in which the advisor says he and the student had a consensual sexual encounter and the student claims it was rape, lands Benson and Stabler on opposite sides. My old partner, hed know what to do, she says, a rare reference at this point to Stabler. She says Cassidy wants to go out with her again, to which Stabler responds, "Can you blame him?". On SVU, viewers finally see Benson and Stabler together for the first time since last seasons finale. Stabler shows up to the ceremony late since he was looking at apartments in New York City, which is a subtle confirmation and assurance to Benson hes staying. With Season 24 premiering in September, we thought what better time to take a very (and we mean very) thorough look back at the "complicated" history between Benson and Stabler. Are Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni still friends? The detectives initially investigate Rook as a person of interest after a restaurant manager strip-searches an employee and claims he did so because a detective called him saying the employee was stealing. Season One of "SVU is laced with incredible Benson and Stabler moments that are still discussed to this day. What the hell just happened? Stabler says to Benson as she walks out of the courtroom. I think I had an episode. She adds: Im just so sorry your beautiful bride. Benson talks Kathy out of leaving home and assures her shell make sure Stabler calls. The history between the two is "complicated," as Hargitay told TODAY in February. Benson delivers an unforgettable howdy after Stabler says, Hey partner. She offers to get hydrogen peroxide to clean a cut on Stablers face, and she runs into Eli as hes exiting the bathroom. My friend, youre doing the right thing.. Yeah, aint that the truth, Benson responds. [We both] walked into the screen test, me telling her a story, and we get up onstage in front of all the suits, and were just so engaged., A fifth-grader in many of Melody s general-education classes and a member of the Whiz Kids team. Donald Cragen (Dann Florek), interrupts and calls them both into his office, where the student's lawyer claims Stabler sexually harassed her client when he brought her home from the hospital. Amaro attributes his firm belief in divorce to watching his mother, Cesaria (Nancy Ticotin), suffer through her marriage. The look on Stablers face is priceless as he realizes hes getting his partner back at the Special Victims Unit. Throughout Benson and Stabler's first 12 years together, various people would respectively ask the two if they were ever more than partners or wanted to be. Required fields are marked *. Otherwise, we cant be partners., I cant believe youre saying that, Benson says. What was that about? she asks. Benson assumes, based on what shes seeing below, that Flutura has a hand in trafficking girls through the family business. "I'm sorry," Benson whispers, before a sniper takes out Gitano, effectively ending the standoff. "And what if things work out?" Now Stabler has a choice to make: Does he go after Ryan, who's quickly grabbed by Gitano, to try to bring him to safety, or does he go in the opposite direction to make sure his wounded partner is still alive? Theres nobody who knows these characters better than she and I. Winters wanted to return to the show for a long time, though, and felt the time was right during the 13th-season finale. We were in love, he insisted. Benson and Stabler are separated at times during the show. Did Elliot cheat on his wife? So he was never given a real exit on the show, just the aftermath of what happened in the series 12 finale. #WhatsInTheLetter trended for weeks online, and "SVU" fans on Twitter also put a letter emoji on their profiles. Meloni told TODAY in February that little moments like holding hands, which among the fans are obviously a big deal, are ones he and Hargitay add into the scenes themselves. Zebras is the twenty-second episode and season finale of the tenth season of the police procedural television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and the shows 224th episode overall. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Stabler watches from afar and calls for backup. You give him stability, Kathy says. Stabler tells Benson he didnt ask her to be here. It will always be you and I, Stabler finishes and looks up and locks eyes with Benson before adding he slipped it in there before sealing the envelope.. The episode ends with Benson and Stabler staring at each other across the squad room amid the carnage. Did Elliot and Olivia sleep together? Benson confirms they did find both the killer and her moms suspected rapist and walks Jenna over to see where the two are being held in a cell. Stabler says he also wants to talk about the letter but is too distracted by work at the moment, so viewers have to wait to find out whats.in.the.letter! Stabler tells her shes great with kids and adds, Maybe you should start thinking about having kids, and any way you want to do it, Ill support you., Elliot, do me a favor? Benson replies. Benson also asks about how Stablers search for the truth is going related to his dad. Stabler does not yet realize that it was Ed Tucker yes, that Ed Tucker from IAB but Benson does tell him Ed is dead. After a required, reluctant visit to a therapist, Dr. Newsom (Max Baker), in which Stabler pushes back against opening up in any sort of way, Bell wisely clocks him about how he needs to go back and talk. Benson learns of the affair between Valerie and the investigator and realizes she was wrong all along. Will Hart / NBC Photo Bank / Getty Images. Stabler tells Benson that the letter was Kathys idea, and Kathy thought it would be an easier way to start a discussion since the two hadnt seen each other in years. There must be a reason she why she didnt tell you about me.. Christian Garland actor Demore Barnes and Kat Tamin star Jamie Gray Hyder both announced they were leaving the NBC show, so both had to be written off. His adoptive mother is Olivia Benson. When Stabler tells Benson he found the swab, she calls him out for snooping and says she forgot to send in the swab and will send it in. "Loss. "And there's something wrong with that?" Cue Benson being released to a waiting Stabler, who mortgaged his house to post her bail. Hows that for now? Note the "for now" part. While living with Little Tino, Ellie discovered she was pregnant with Johnny D.s baby, kept him, and named him Noah. The episode ends with Benson walking back to her old desk, which prompts Stabler to ask, What are you doing here?. Agent Porter (remember him from Infiltrated) is there because he needs help finding Simon. I want to find balance here in this whatever this is, Stabler says. It's a one-night stand that leaves Cassidy breathless and Benson berating herself. Did Stabler tell Benson he loves her? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Long before Stabler left his old unit to join the squad at Organized Crime, Stabler and Benson risked both their lives and their jobs for one another. "Look how great you turned out," Stabler says in response as Benson walks away. Before going out with the squad for their next case, Benson tells the detectives shell meet them in five. What about your kids?" Before the death of his wife, Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson opted to keep their relationship platonic and professional. Later on at the airport, the suspect, Manuel Rojas (Jose Yenque), realizes Benson is a cop and tells her to come with him or else hell start shooting people. Stabler responds saying Bensons personal life is her business and that hes there to save her job. He tells Moss he wants him to tell the Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) Olivia wasnt the source of the leak as Benson walks into the room and asks Stabler why hes there. Shortly after their night together, Cassidy. Then, Stabler fires and hits Jenna, who ends up bleeding out and dying in front of him. Benson then briefly rests her head on Stablers as she says, Im fine, to which he replies, Like hell you are.. After the admission, Stabler stumbles out of the chair across the floor toward Benson, who holds Stabler up as he wraps his arms around her. And I guess neither do you, Wheatley adds before Benson walks away. As it turns out, Benson isn't fatally injured, and she tells Stabler to go after Gitano. Somebody needs to take him out, Benson tells Stuckey about Stabler. ", "I did," Benson begins, "feel like Stabler was my home. But in the season 22 finale, the show finally brought the two together with a passionate kiss. Elliot talked about you all the time.. (Kathy ended up getting pregnant during a one-night hookup with her husband while they were estranged. She asks for a new partner after Stabler expects her to jeopardize his life to shoot a convicted sex offender (Lou Diamond Phillips) who had kidnapped two children and killed one of them. "He was your partner," Rollins chimes in. This is the first appearance of character actor Delaney Williams as defense attorney John Buchanan. I can see why you scare the pants off of Kathy, Bernie says, before pulling out an old family photo album with childhood photos of Stabler including one of him dressed as a carrot. Whos the guy?, Fin shoots back, You have to ask her that. (Another conversation fans are still waiting for Benson and Stabler to have: How Benson got Noah, her adopted son. She shares that she was not ready to have a child and had scheduled an appointment to get an abortion. Benson and Stabler will reunite in the game-changing Law & Order: SVU and Organized Crime crossover on April 1. When Benson comes to, she radios for help and attempts to help a pinned and pregnant Kathy. Buckle up, because "Fault" starts the unofficial holy trinity of Stabler and Benson episodes, as the events impact both detectives so heavily that spoiler alert Benson ends up asking for a new partner by the end. He says Kathy (!) ", Protelliot asks Benson if shes been to the doctor, and she says, Its just a bug.. Benson is taken for questioning by IAB after evidence makes her the cases prime suspect, and she ends up in jail unless someone can post her $250,000 bail. Benson and Stabler share another long stare in the car in what turns out to be their last scene together of the season. No spoilers here, but the "Law & Order . But there was one line that Stabler did write himself. Benson sleeps with Detective Brian Cassidy (Dean Winters), another member of the "SVU" team, one night. One of her first tasks is to hire some new blood, specifically a legacy detective, only a year out of the academy, Elliot Stabler. Stabler learns from Benson in this episode that her brother, Simon, is no longer alive and died a few years back after a suspected overdose. I just think I needed to hear you say that.. Benson explains shes there because they lost contact with him, and she also gave him her phone so he could call Kathy. In the middle of a sudden commotion with the crowd, Stabler spots one of the missing kids, Ryan, and shouts to get his attention. Kathy wants to name him after me, Stabler answers. Only time will tell. ", "It's so nice to allow myself," Rollins responds. Bell cuts the chat short. 8 How did melody learn to crawl in out of my mind? For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Benson puts her weapon down as Stabler walks up behind her with his gun drawn and tells Simon to drop his weapon while Benson begs him not to shoot. Liv, lets not go into that, Stabler replies before Sgt. Did Benson and Stabler have a falling out? He asks for her help with Kathleen. After Benson affirms their night together wasn't m to her, she starts talking to Stabler by their lockers. Trust me, he tells her. If only Season Eight Benson could see future mom Benson thriving. The conversation takes even more of a turn after Lewis brings up Bensons father and taunts her to the point that she ends up beating him with the bed pole. Your email address will not be published. Benson later apologizes to Stabler for not telling him about Moss. When Stabler expresses his disbelief, Benson explains, Im single. Benson asks Stabler why he was so jumpy the other night when she went to his building to talk about the letter. "I'm never home. At this point, they both have tears in their eyes as the standoff continues. She asks him to tell her his honest opinion, and boy, does he deliver the words many have been thinking for over two decades. But Mrs. V knew Melody could understand her every word. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. In real life, actor Meloni left the drama due to a dispute over pay which meant him leaving in between seasons 12 and 13. Stabler says he couldnt, and at this point, the others in the room take notice of their bickering. Turns out, Rook, who also goes by the name Milgram, was behind the fake call. Benson managed to get Stuckey to drop his guard long enough for Stabler to kick him in the groin, at which point Benson knocked him unconscious. In the session, Stabler starts off by saying, "I don't like endings," in response to the therapist's question from their previous meeting about why Stabler wanted to go back to work. The SVU Season 23 winter finale was all about Kathy Stablers murder trial, and it was also really the first time Benson called out Stabler for being so self-absorbed since his return to her life. Why was Kathy Stabler murdered? Then she shoots Sister Peg, a woman in charge of a local homeless shelter who had been helping Benson and Stabler with the current case. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. "That is why I'm so grateful for you," Benson says. In retrospect, that line is even more significant now that Benson has a child of her own a son named Noah (Ryan Buggle), whom she adopted after finding him during a particularly dark case. And after seeing Rollins and Carisis momentous smooch, many hope to see them in a relationship next season. Stabler returned in the Special Victims Unit episode Return of the Prodigal Son, when his wife, Kathy, is killed in a car bombing which was meant for Stabler. Now, Benson is the one in control. Benson later pulls more info to help Stabler and the SVU team with their current case, and Stabler invites Benson to take a crack at their suspect in interrogation. The decadeslong partnership between "Law & Order: SVU" star Mariska Hargitays Olivia Benson and "Law & Order: Organized Crime" star Christopher Meloni's Elliot Stabler has been deemed by many fans the longest slow burn in television history. After Stabler affirms to Benson he texted her, she responds, So I wouldnt think that you ghosted me, again?. When an FBI agent approaches and asks Stabler to make a call, Stabler respects his former partners authority and responds, Shes the captain. During a later private conversation, Benson again mentions Stablers radio silence for three months, and the two briefly catch up. Its Bell, who wants to tell him a piece of news, presumably about Wheatleys release, that she didnt want him to be "blindsided" by. Why didnt you tell me? Benson asks Porter. In this moment, Stabler appears to also be recognizing how her life contrasts with his family-filled life in the suburbs. Why did Elliot Stabler leave SVU storyline? Elliot Stabler did, indeed, kiss on this week's Law & Order: SVU. The two starred together on SVU for 12 seasons until Meloni left the series in 2011. Benson and Stabler share a personal conversation on her way out, and Stabler tells her the father of the current leader of The Brotherhood, Frank Donnelly (Denis Leary), was friends with his dad, who was a cop.