Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler were first introduced to us on September 20, 1999.
We have known these two characters for over 25 years, and for some fans, it has been 25 years of wanting to see these two characters get together romantically, whether it was morally right within the context of the show or not.
This is fictional television, a realm where we root for things that don’t even exist and excuse certain things for the love of the game. And there is a large contingent of people who have firmly supported the idea of Bensler for over two decades.
To this point, in 2025, they are still not together.
After the death of Stabler’s wife, Kathy, during Law & Order: SVU Season 22, many fans thought that was the moment.
That was the turning point moment for the longtime friends to take a leap forward, perhaps not right away, but in the time after her death.
While the two have certainly reignited their dynamic through the past few seasons of SVU and over on Law & Order: Organized Crime, the two still haven’t gotten together, but something happened during Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Episode 1.
After the death of beloved Captain Cragen, Olivia walked out of his wake to see Stabler posted up by her car, and the two had an emotional, albeit brief, conversation as Stabler contemplated going inside to face many familiar faces.
It wasn’t the most gripping of Bensler moments we’ve ever seen, but before Olivia departed, the two shared a very tender and sweet hug, which we don’t often see between the pair.
As Stabler bid his former partner adieu, he then said, “Love you.”
And it was in that moment that the hearts of shippers around the world exploded in jubilation, and the past 25 years of stolen glances, lingering handshakes, and delicious tension seemed like they might finally pay off.
I know I had to ask myself if this was it.
While there have been numerous moments in the past that fans have thought would be the turning point, thus far, nothing has ever been.
But what about THIS moment? Could this really be IT?
Shipping a couple since 1999 is not light work, so I can understand why the initial reaction would be no, because we’ve been here before over the years.
We’ve seen the two even almost give in to their mutual attraction (it’s there, people!), but ultimately pull back from one another during Law & Order: SVU Season 24 Episode 12.
While that was extremely buzzy, there was also something life-altering about a casual declaration of love, considering their long history.
This didn’t necessarily feel like an old friend saying it in place of goodbye, nor is it something we’ve seen from them regularly.
It felt like something Stabler just had to say as they stood outside of the wake of a man who’d meant so much to each of them, and the fragility and quickness of life were staring them straight in the face.
Benson didn’t have much of a reaction to it, and that was for the best because at this point in their relationship, it seems obvious they both know how the other feels.
It’s an open secret that the two of them are bound together in cosmic ways, if that’s how you want to look at it, and they’ve reached a point where they could be in a relationship if that’s what both of them wanted.
Or more accurately, if it’s what Olivia wanted, as she was the one who famously told Stabler after that almost-kiss that she wanted to, but she couldn’t.
Stabler’s casual little ‘love you’ could have been his way of telling Olivia that it’s still her, he’s still there, and so is that piece of him that wants nothing more than to give in to that mutual attraction, respect, appreciation, and yes, love.
It’s understandable to be wary because history would tell you to bet against Bensler at this stage, but it’s also okay to have some hope where these two are concerned.
As whispers fly about SVU hanging up its hat this season or the next, if there were a time for the series to go there, finally, it would certainly be right now.
If you’re not a shipper of these two, then you likely don’t see the big deal about this, but if you do ship the pair, how did that little declaration make you feel?
Was it meant in a platonic sense?
Or is Stabler in his yearning phase?
And most importantly, is Season 27 the endgame season?
I’m very eager to hear your thoughts about this one, SVU fans! And remember, you can keep up with all things in the SVU universe right here.
You can watch Law & Order: SVU on Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.
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