Mariska Hargitay Explains Benson's Big 'No' to Stabler in SVU's 600th
The 600th episode of 'Law & Order: SVU' brought Elliot Stabler back for a tense reunion with Olivia Benson, and star Mariska Hargitay is breaking down the drama.
Per Variety, the milestone episode forced Benson to reopen a case from her early days with Stabler, discovering they may have imprisoned the wrong man. Hargitay said the storyline let the characters "push up against each other" in a complex way, exploring "what could have been, what was."
The episode ends with Stabler asking Benson to go away with him for a few days. Hargitay told Variety her character's answer was a definitive "No," stating, "It's not where they are now either one of them."
Showrunner Michele Fazekas told The Hollywood Reporter she specifically wanted a classic "Benson and Stabler episode" for the 600th, putting them together on a road trip to hash things out. Fazekas said bringing Meloni back was her first idea for the centennial episode.
In an interview with TVLine, Fazekas elaborated on the fraught dynamic. She noted Stabler is "kind of messed up right now" and is not ready for a relationship, while Benson has other priorities. Fazekas said Stabler likely didn't expect Benson to say yes to his trip invite, but "he wants her to know that he wants that."
