5 Harsh Realities of Watching ‘Law & Order: SVU’ for 26 Seasons

by

Law & Order: SVU is widely considered one of the greatest crime dramas in American television history. Now in its 27th season, this spin-off of the original Law & Order has been a consistent presence on NBC for over 26 years. It has received numerous accolades, including six Emmy Awards, and remains a popular show with a large and dedicated fanbase. Notably, SVU is also the longest-running live-action primetime series ever.

Looking back at the series as a whole, fans are starting to notice some difficult truths. These aren’t meant to diminish the show’s quality, but rather to give viewers something to consider as they watch future episodes. While there are many such observations to be made, let’s focus on a few key ones.

Here are 5 harsh realities of watching Law & Order: SVU for 26 seasons.

5
Elliot Was Entertaining but Often Went Too Far


NBC

Christopher Meloni’s time playing Elliot Stabler on Law & Order: SVU is often seen as the show’s best period. The connection between Elliot and Olivia (Mariska Hargitay) was particularly compelling – they were devoted partners and close friends with a subtle, unresolved romantic spark. Viewers also admired Elliot’s commitment to his work and his drive to help those in need, portraying him as a determined, almost old-fashioned hero navigating the tough streets of New York City. However, looking back, it’s clear that Elliot sometimes went too far in his pursuit of justice. His actions today would likely be considered unacceptable and could have cost him his job.

I remember being absolutely shocked in Season 4, Episode 15, “Pandora.” Elliot was chasing a suspect to the Czech Republic, and when he finally had him in custody and started questioning him about terrible crimes against children, things escalated so quickly. Elliot just lost control – he rolled up his sleeves and started brutally punching the man. It was disturbing, even knowing the suspect’s alleged crimes. It felt wrong to see an officer, even in a foreign country, resorting to that level of violence. You’d expect more self-control, no matter how awful the accusations are.

In the eighth season episode “Dependent,” Elliot uses excessive force while apprehending a suspect. After a chase and a struggle, Elliot punches the man, which ultimately leads to his death. Despite this, Elliot isn’t fired because the suspect had a pre-existing heart condition.

These instances are just a couple of examples of Elliot overstepping boundaries during his time with SVU, but longtime viewers remember many more. While Elliot was a compelling character, he frequently crossed professional lines.

4
Olivia May Have Missed Out on Her Best Shot at Love With Rafael Barba


NBC

After Elliot’s departure, Olivia’s romantic life felt a little stagnant, even though she and her ex never officially reconciled. She did try rekindling things with Brian Cassidy and later had a relationship with Captain Ed Tucker. However, many fans believe her best chance at finding real love was with ADA Rafael Barba, though she always saw him as just a friend.

Rafael and Olivia became close friends while working together as prosecutors in New York City. He was a source of support for her, helping her cope with the difficult emotional challenges of working on the SVU unit. She, in turn, boosted his confidence after any setbacks he experienced in court. So, when Barba decided to leave his job, it was a sad moment for both of them, knowing they wouldn’t see each other every day anymore.

It seemed Rafael and Olivia were only ever intended to be friends. But when Rafael returned in a later episode, they had a fight over a client he took on despite her objections. During their argument, he questioned why she was more upset with him than she’d ever been with Elliot.

Olivia tried to change the subject, but Rafael pointed out she always comes to Elliot’s defense, saying it’s a sign of unconditional love. Olivia disagreed, but Rafael interrupted, stating he understands what loving someone unconditionally means, and he looked directly at her as he said it. The conversation strongly suggested that Rafael is in love with Olivia, while Olivia’s feelings remain with Elliot.

3
There’s One Controversial Episode That Will Likely Never Air


NBC

As a long-time fan of Law & Order: SVU, I remember hearing about an episode they filmed back in 2016, during the show’s 18th season, called “Unstoppable.” The storyline was incredibly timely – it revolved around a wealthy politician running for office who was facing accusations of sexual assault from multiple women. Originally slated to air on October 12th, the network decided to delay it until after the 2016 presidential election. But surprisingly, NBC ultimately decided not to air the episode at all, even though they’d already released a preview! Ice-T, who plays Fin on the show, actually talked about it with Vanity Fair and…

A presidential candidate, very similar to Donald Trump, faced numerous accusations of sexual assault. My character and I were aggressively investigating him, and he was clearly worried. However, it was eventually revealed that he was innocent, and we had to publicly apologize. Despite the ordeal, he continued campaigning as usual. The surprising truth was that his closest advisor deliberately sabotaged him, knowing he’d be a disastrous president.

Ice-T also mentioned in the interview that the episode wasn’t a standout. And, since it’s been more than nine years since it was removed from consideration, it’s highly unlikely it will ever be released.

2
Olivia’s Best Partner Was Actually Nick Amaro


NBC

Despite working alongside Elliot for the most time, Olivia considered Nick Amaro her best partner. She subtly suggests this in their final conversation before Nick moves to California to be closer to his kids. During that talk, Nick acknowledges he wasn’t the same kind of partner Elliot was. Olivia confirms this, but reveals she grew more as a person in just four years with Nick than she did with Elliot. She also implies her partnership with Elliot didn’t allow her to develop personally. Olivia ends their conversation by calling Nick a lifelong friend.

As Olivia mentioned, her partnership with Nick led to her promotion to lieutenant and allowed her to start a family with her son, Noah (Ryan Buggle). Although it was challenging at first to juggle work and family, she found a good balance thanks to the support of her colleagues in Fin, Carisi (Peter Scanavino), and Rollins (Kelly Giddish). It’s heartwarming to see her finally achieve the family she’s always wanted.

1
Benson and Stabler May Never Be #Stenson


NBC

Look, I get why Olivia and Barba made sense, but honestly, so many of us fans still believe her soulmate is Elliot. I know it’s complicated – he was married, he left without a word, and after 26 years, they’ve never actually kissed (though they almost did recently!). But despite everything, a huge part of the fanbase, myself included, is still rooting for them to finally be together. We just feel like they’re meant to be a power couple!

Fans who want Olivia and Elliot (#Stenson) to be a couple highlight a strong connection between them. They’ve both shown their most vulnerable sides to each other, more so than with their current or past partners. Even Elliot’s late wife, Kathy, sensed this connection and occasionally felt jealous. After Kathy’s character was written off the show, many viewers felt the main barrier to Olivia and Elliot getting together had been removed.

Mariska Hargitay recently told Today that her character, Olivia Benson, and Elliot Stabler are in love – stating simply, “Stabler’s in love with Benson. Hello!” Ice-T also expressed his support for the two finally getting together in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. Does this mean a romance, dubbed #Stenson by fans, is on the way? Probably not, given that the show has been teasing this possibility for over 26 years without it actually happening.

Read More

2025-11-16 00:34