The following article includes mention of a sexual assault.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unitwill likely return for season 27, and an upcoming change in its staff can lead for Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler’s romance to finally happen. A new showrunner will join the long-running police procedural. Michele Fazekas will lead the show next season. Considering Fazekas' familiarity withLaw & Order: SVU, she could be the one to finally move forwardCaptain Olivia Benson and Detective Elliot Stabler’s potential romance.
The bond between Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler has endured for a quarter-century, and considering how strong their partnership as fellow detectives has been, their personal relationship has also grown despite Stabler’s abrupt exit fromSVUin 2011. This was proven in 2021 duringStabler’s highly anticipated reunion with Benson inSVUand the introduction to his gritty series,Law & Order: Organized Crime. While their bond has quieted down in the past year, Fazekas can get their relationship rolling withSVUandOrganized Crimecontinuing their respective runs.
Law & Order: SVU’s Brings In A Brand New Showrunner Michele Fazekas
This Showrunner Is Familiar With SVU And Benson And Stabler’s Relationship
David Graziano has been the showrunner forSVUsince he joined the show in 2022. During Graziano’s tenure on the series, he has continuedSVU’s success inestablishing Benson as a strong leader of her unitwhile also depicting the stress and vulnerabilities she goes through in her job. For instance, Benson’s determination to find teenager Maddie Flynn after she witnessed her kidnapping and felt guilty for not preventing it was a personal case for the captain. Benson would give Stabler’s compass necklace to Maddie Flynn’s mother, signifying her strength and compassion to heal others' pain.
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New showrunner Michele Fazekas can continue to establish Benson’s meaningful heart towards those who need emotional support, along with the captain’s personal needs. Ever since Stabler returned toSVUand extended his reputation as a detective onOrganized Crime, it’s clear that he and Olivia are still a dynamic duo at times when it comes to solving complex cases. They have also made attempts to get even closer to each other on a romantic level, but still need more time to solidify why they should be together. Fazekas could bring back more confrontations between Benson and Stabler in season 27.
Fazekas' History With Law & Order: SVU Could Help Finally Make Benson & Stabler’s Romance Happen
The New Showrunner Can Have Benson And Stabler Fall In Love
Given thatFazekas was a writer and producer onSVUback in seasons 4 through 7, she could be the perfect showrunner to finally bring Benson and Stabler together romantically. Fazekas understands the strong relationship between the fellow detectives because it was during her time as a writer that the whole will they/won’t they storyline started heating up. Season 6 was particularly telling of Benson and Stabler’s strong bond because, during this time, Stabler’s wife Kathy became jealous of his relationship with Benson.
Due to Kathy’s jealousy, Stabler and his wife nearly divorced, causing him to feel stressed out while working on a rape case and lashing out at Benson. However, Stabler admitted his marital problems to Benson were the cause of his anger, while she provided friendly support towards her partner. In return, Stabler would also support Benson later on inLaw & Order: SVUseason 6 as she revealed her childhood trauma to him regarding her father’s sexual assault towards her mother. Fazekas’s tenure as a writer showed how Benson and Stabler are constantly there for each other during difficult times.
Why Benson & Stabler’s Romance Needs To Happen Sooner Rather Than Later
Olivia And Elliot Should Develop Their Love Story Before It’s Too Late
While they have continued to endure as hard-working detectives,Benson and Stabler’s romance needs to happen sooner rather than later.SVUwill likely be renewed for season 27, andOrganized Crimewill currently have its fifth season on Peacock starting on April 17th. However, the future ofOrganized Crimeand Stabler’s story will be key in determining whether Benson and Stabler can be together.
Fazekas may just be the person to be able to do it when she helms Law & Order: SVU season 27.
Considering that Benson and Stabler are two of the longest-running characters in the history of television and show no signs of slowing down, their love story deserves to be told. However, it should also be done in a structured, nuanced way. They have both also been through their fair share of personal obstacles and tackled intense cases over the years. Fans have been waiting for a while for a major development in their slow-burning romance. Fazekas may just be the person to be able to do it when she helmsLaw & Order: SVUseason 27.
Law & Order: SVUseason 26 airs on Thursdays at 9pm on NBC.
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.
