Law & Order SVU spoilers and updates reveal the moment when Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) say “I love you” on SVU was meant to be different. Mariska Hargitay revealed; she plays the role of a captain in the Special Victims Unit, but she also leads the ship of Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler.
Mariska Says Stabler’s In Love With Benson
The characters from “Law & Order: SVU” have been in a partnership that has turned into a will-they/won’t-they situation for many years.
Now, the actress who plays one half of that beloved pair is sharing her thoughts on their relationship after the characters had an emotional moment in the season premiere on September 25.
In the Season 27 premiere of the NBC drama, Benson and Stabler came together again after the passing of their friend and former boss, Capt. Donald Cragen (played by Dann Florek).
Hargitay expressed her views on Stabler’s feelings for Benson during an interview with Peter Alexander and Laura Jarrett that was broadcast on October 11 on Saturday TODAY.
After talking beside Benson’s car, the pair shared a hug as Stabler opened the door for her to enter, he looked at her and said, “Love you; ‘night.”
Meloni Ad-Libbed The “I Love You”, Mariska Confirmed-And They Do Love Each Other
After the episode was shown, Meloni replied on X to a fan who pointed out the quote from the scene, disclosing that he ad-libbed the “love you.” As if that wasn’t surprising enough, Hargitay went on to discuss the scene during her interview on Saturday TODAY. “He just threw that in,” she remarked about Meloni’s spontaneous addition to the scene-oh yes he did.” “That kind of feels like something that needs approval,” a shocked Jarrett commented; “And yet, there was none,” Hargitay joked. Alexander asked Hargitay more about the scene, inquiring what her instinctive reaction was at that moment; “It was true,” Hargitay replied, “and we do love each other.”
Mariska Was Originally Supposed To Tell Elliot “I Love You”
Then, she dropped another bombshell that will surely send fans into a frenzy; “Initially, it was written for me to say it,” she disclosed. “We approached it in both ways,” she clarified. “So, what occurred was that we recorded it with and without, you know, this is the line that we continually strive to navigate while keeping it nuanced.”
Hargitay remarked on the scene she and Meloni filmed where Benson omitted the line, saying, “Chris did it.” “And I believe it’s because he simply felt that was the essence of the scene,” she added.
Captain Cragen Had Just Died
Hargitay highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that Benson and Stabler had just lost their guiding light in Cragen, who played a pivotal role in shaping their identities — both professionally and personally. “It’s a profoundly emotional moment, marking the dawn of a new chapter and the conclusion of an old one,” she remarked.
“Thus, it was an incredibly emotional scene, and as we all know, when we experience the loss of someone dear, it often strengthens our emotional bonds. We reconnect in that way. “I felt he simply had to express it,” Hargitay shared.
Mariska Verified Stabler’s In Love With Benson
She didn’t stop there, however, and went on to say, with a smile, “Besides, Stabler’s in love with Benson, Hello!” Stabler has seemingly declared his love for his partner turned close friend before, and the two nearly kissed in Benson’s kitchen. Series creator Dick Wolf has made it known he’s more wary when it comes to a Benson-Stabler romance.
“Look, I never say never, but I do learn some lessons from history. When did ‘Moonlighting’ became unwatchable?” he told the Los Angeles Times in September.
Meloni’s Been Trying To Get Benson And Stabler To That Point Forever!
Meloni, who penned an episode of the Stabler-led spinoff “Law & Order: Organized Crime” last season, recently shared with “Entertainment Tonight” about making them a couple.
When asked about the will-they/won’t-they dynamic between Benson and Stabler, he did his “darndest to get us to the line and over.” “But nope, they wouldn’t go for it,” he remarked regarding the episode featuring Hargitay as a guest star.
Last season, Stabler made only a fleeting appearance on “SVU,” but this season has already introduced some changes, including shifts in the cast and the showrunner.
For the first time, the series is now under the leadership of a woman, Michele Fazekas, who previously wrote for Hargitay on “SVU” and also co-wrote the premiere episode of Season 27.
Be sure to catch up on everything happening with SVU right now. Come back here often for Law & Order Special Victims Unit spoilers, news and updates.
