Law & Order: SVU has put Mariska Hargitay’s character, Olivia Benson, through some of the most intense and emotionally charged experiences on television. One such episode, “Surrender Benson,” was particularly challenging, but years later, Hargitay faced an even more daunting episode.
Facing New Terrors: Hargitay’s Reflection on Villains
“Surrender Benson” saw Olivia Benson held captive by the menacing William Lewis. This episode was an incredibly taxing experience for Hargitay, both physically and emotionally.
“It was, without a doubt, the most difficult episode I ever shot in 15 years, and it was unlike anything I’ve ever done,” Hargitay shared with Today. “After 15 years, to be nervous and scared and excited to go to work — it’s a pretty great thing.”
However, in the episode “Townhouse Incident,” Hargitay’s Benson faced a new kind of terror when she was held hostage by Joe Utley. This experience was even more harrowing for Hargitay than her ordeal with Lewis.
“To be honest, I probably approached it with a bit more dread than the Lewis episode because I knew what I felt like after that one,” Hargitay revealed to The Hollywood Reporter. “At the same time, I was excited to dig in deeper, and do it differently, to hit different notes and depths. My friends who are marathoners tell me the same thing: right after they finish, they say never again, but then a few days later, they’re signing up for the next one.”
Hargitay found Joe Utley to be more unpredictable and chaotic than William Lewis, which significantly affected Benson’s response.
“Joe Utley has a very different approach than William Lewis,” she said. “Lewis was calculated, in control, and Joe is very much out of control. That can’t help but affect Benson’s response. She’s more in the position of hostage negotiator this time, and she has other players in the situation to deal with.”
New Dynamics and Higher Stakes
Hargitay emphasized that the hostage situation in “Townhouse Incident” was distinct due to Benson’s growth and new responsibilities as a mother to her adopted son, Noah. This added an extra layer of urgency and emotional depth to the episode.
“Everything she says, every reaction she has is new and carries more weight,” Hargitay explained. “Everything matters more, everything matters differently. As an actor, it’s always great to know that the stakes have gone up. It always feels like an invitation to dig deeper, to dig differently, to dig into even more uncomfortable places.”
Since “Surrender Benson,” Olivia Benson had evolved significantly, both personally and professionally, adding a new dimension to her character in “Townhouse Incident.”
“The detectives who actually do this job out in the real world don’t have control over how many times they encounter this kind of danger,” Hargitay noted. “But we thought it would be interesting to explore how Benson would approach a hostage situation at this point in her arc. Here’s this person who’s constantly having to prove her strength — to higher-ups, to herself — and her guard is down for one moment, and she’s in a very bad situation. That’s a really compelling thing for a character to have to metabolize.”
Mariska Hargitay’s portrayal of Olivia Benson in these intense episodes showcases her remarkable talent and dedication, continually pushing the boundaries of her character and captivating audiences with her powerful performances.