SVU’s Christopher Meloni Pinpoints The Issue Behind Stabler & Benson’s “Will They, Won’t They” Arc As He Reflects On Infamous Kitchen Scene

Christopher Meloni addresses the issue behind the ongoing story of Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) in Law & Order: SVU. Stabler and Benson have a long history of working together, and despite the sparks between them, the show has never provided closure or fulfilled the promise of a romantic relationship. This includes the infamous kitchen scene in SVU season 24, episode 12, where the two characters nearly kiss until Benson pulls back. Benson and Stabler’s story also continues in Law & Order: Organized Crime season 5.

While speaking with TVLine, Meloni was asked about whether SVU and Organized Crime are toying with viewers who want to see Stabler and Benson as a romantic couple. While admitting that he does not know where the arc is headed, Meloni emphasizes how the issue is that different creative teams have conflicting ideas about Stabler and Benson’s relationship. He explains that every new creator who comes onto SVU has their own idea about what should happen, as do those at Wolf Entertainment, and this contributed to the infamous kitchen scene. Check out Meloni’s comments below:

Here’s the real deal: Where they’re going, I have no idea.

Each new person comes in, they’ve got their own ideas, they’ve got their own views. And on top of that, you also have the Wolf [Entertainment] folks [who produce the series], and they’re not even quite clear, and then you have SVU folks. So we’ve had the confabs about “Where are we going? What are we doing?” And it’s like every meeting: It doesn’t go anywhere.

So, the kitchen thing. We were attempting something. I don’t think it worked. But I’m not going to tell you why it didn’t work, because you all have your opinion; I know what transpired.

What This Means For Stabler & Benson

There Is A Lack Of Direction

As far as Meloni knows, there is no set plan for Benson and Stabler to be together. Whether in SVU or Organized Crime, the television franchise continues to flirt with the possibility and likes having them reunite, but there is no clear direction for where their story is ultimately headed. One of the drawbacks of the long-running franchise and its various spinoffs is that there is not always a consistent creative vision when it comes to the matter of Stabler and Benson’s relationship.

The lack of consistency and direction makes it less rewarding and more frustrating whenever the two characters reunite. Law & Order continues to succeed at providing compelling procedural television, but some of the long-term storytelling, particularly where Stabler and Benson are concerned, is not working as well as it once did. As evidenced by his comments and admitting that he did not think the kitchen scene worked, even Meloni is frustrated by how Stabler and Benson’s relationship has been handled.

More Consistency & Payoff Are Needed

When it comes to Stabler and Benson, there needs to be a more consistent approach in handling their relationship. Dangling the possibility of them being together, only to continually snatch it away, is quickly becoming more tiresome than tantalizing. Stabler and Benson are the key to many of the best Law & Order: SVU episodes, but in order to do their relationship justice, the franchise needs to take more of a definitive stance, and follow through on it.

Source: TVLine

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Release Date

September 20, 1999

Showrunner

Robert Palm, David J. Bruke, Neal Baer, Warren Leight, Rick Eid, Michael S. Chernuchin, David Graziano

Directors

David Platt, Jean de Segonzac, Peter Leto, Alex Chapple

Writers

Dick Wolf

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