It’s been virtually two years since we noticed “Particular Visitor Star: Christopher Meloni.” For Bensler followers, this was a long-awaited look and a much-anticipated one.
“Play with Fireplace Pt 2” – LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT, Pictured: (l-r) Mariska Hargitay as Capt. Olivia Benson, Maura Tierney as Lieutenant Jessica Brady. Peter Kramer/NBC ©2024 Community. All Rights Reserved
The final time we “noticed” long-time associates Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler work together was throughout a cellphone name within the Regulation & Order: Particular Victims Unit season 25 finale, the place Benson confessed that she had quickly loaned the compass necklace to the mom of a sufferer in hopes of it provding her with the identical therapeutic. The 2 shared a prolonged cellphone dialog the place Benson could possibly be seen smiling in her workplace, a uncommon incidence for the SVU Captain.
Although Meloni didn’t guest-star within the earlier season of SVU, the primary time since he returned to the Regulation & Order franchise in 2021, we had been assured that Benson and Stabler’s partnership was stronger than ever. In August 2021, he revealed “girlfriend’s approaching” when requested if Mariska Hargitay would seem on the brand new season of Regulation & Order: Organized Crime.
The second a part of the Regulation & Order spinoff “Play with Fireplace Half 2” offers with the aftermath of Maria Recinos’ homicide, a personality followers will keep in mind from “911” (Season 7, episode 3), the place Benson rescues Maria, a sufferer of kid pornography. The SVU Captain reconnected with Maria in season 25, and the 2 shared a detailed private relationship, with Benson recommending that Maria be promoted to undercover.
It’s revealed that Maria’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Paul Gomez, leveraged his place inside the NYPD and intimidated undocumented girls to remain silent about his rapes.
“Play with Fireplace Pt 2” – LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT, Pictured: Hugh Dancy as A.D.A. Nolan Worth. Peter Kramer/NBC ©2024 Community. All Rights Reserved
When Benson goes to choose up her son Noah from college, she finds him being coerced to enter the automobile of a person unknown to him. Earlier than she will be able to establish the person, he speeds off. When Benson recognises a person who tries to rattle the witness on the stand as the identical man who approached Noah, she contacts Stabler in hopes of serving to her with the case. Followers will keep in mind the season 24 episode “Blood Out” the place Benson asks Stabler to choose up her son and transport him again house, stating that she trusted him to convey her son house safely. This marked a turning level of their relationship as she not solely displayed a newfound confidence in her former accomplice, however their almost-kiss prompted them to confront their underlying emotions, which had been brewing for over twenty years.
Within the lavatory with Mueller Hayes’ head smashed up in opposition to the chilly tile, he utters, “When you ever go wherever close to my good friend or her son once more, I will not take you down. I will take you aside.”
Earlier than he leaves, he says to Hayes, “Inform Gomez to look at his again.”
Although we by no means see Benson and Stabler talk throughout this episode, the information that Elliot will drop all the pieces and present up for Olivia and Noah speaks volumes about their relationship and the way a lot it has grown and matured since he returned to New York. Additionally, whereas we don’t know what she texted him to confront Hayes, we all know, in addition to Benson, that Stabler is a person with a brief fuse, particularly with regards to the individuals he loves. In earlier years, Benson could have been apprehensive about approaching him for help for concern that his rage would cloud his judgment, however now, she trusts him implicitly.
That, or she begged and pleaded with him to be discreet in his dealing with.
“Play with Fireplace Pt 2” – LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT, Pictured: (l-r) Elizabeth Marvel as Counselor Calhoun, Reinaldo Faberlle as Sgt. Gomez. Peter Kramer/NBC ©2024 Community. All Rights Reserved
Lt. Gomez is discovered responsible, and although Benson and Lt. Brady had been at odds throughout some components of the investigation, partly due to Olivia’s response as soon as her son was concerned, the 2 reconcile their variations.
General, it was a fascinating episode with the Regulation & Order characters’ appearances serving as a big addition, and who doesn’t love a pop-in from Chris Meloni?
How did you want this week’s episode? How did you’re feeling about Stabler’s look? Let me know within the feedback!