Law & Order SVU experienced a significant transition period after Chris Meloni’s unexpected departure. His exit opened up new storylines for Mariska Hargitay that weren’t possible with Meloni in the picture.
Chris Meloni’s Exit Allowed Mariska Hargitay’s Character to Explore Romance
When Chris Meloni left Law & Order SVU, it marked a pivotal shift for the series and its characters. Mariska Hargitay, who plays Olivia Benson, was initially devastated by her co-star’s sudden departure and even contemplated leaving the show herself. However, the introduction of new cast members and fresh storylines persuaded her to stay.
“This new cast came on and I had no idea what to expect — and we had a new showrunner,” Hargitay shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “The show this year is awesome and different and has gone into different areas and I get to play different things.”
Two new characters, played by Harry Connick Jr. and Andre Braugher, provided opportunities for Olivia Benson to explore the dating scene. Both actors were brought on as attorneys who became love interests for Hargitay’s character. According to Hargitay, Olivia could only have a romantic relationship after Stabler’s departure because their connection left no room for another man.
“With Elliot Stabler’s departure, that was the only way she could have a relationship,” Hargitay explained. “There was no room for a man in her life because of their connection.”
What Mariska Hargitay Envisions for a Benson-Stabler Date
The chemistry between Hargitay and Meloni has always sparked speculation about their characters becoming a couple. The show has played with this idea for decades, and even after Meloni’s recent return, the series continues to tease a potential romantic relationship. In an episode of Organized Crime, the two characters shared a moment that brought them dangerously close to crossing that line.
Hargitay revealed to People that Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler’s feelings for each other are complex and deep.
“These two people love each other, they have been family to each other but he just lost his wife and no matter how she feels about him, the most important thing for him is to grieve his wife, heal from that,” Hargitay said. “And he’s in a new job and he’s sort of unbalanced … But what we do know is that Olivia loves him, will always love him, will always be there and they have a bond like no other.”
When asked about what a first date between Benson and Stabler might look like, Hargitay imagined it as something simple and low-pressure.
“It’s a lot of pressure. I don’t even know the answer to that. It makes me nervous just thinking about it,” she quipped. “Let’s just go out to dinner, let’s start there.”
Meloni agreed, emphasizing the importance of their characters’ reunion feeling natural and authentic.
“I just think that it really has to be a natural aspect of Elliot’s back and in town and especially how he left and their radio silence over all these years, you have to answer these questions and figure out how they inhabit the same space,” he said.
The departure of Chris Meloni may have been a turning point for Law & Order SVU, but it allowed Mariska Hargitay to explore new dimensions of her character and introduce storylines that would not have been possible otherwise.