Law & Order: Organized Crimewill soon feature the first scenes between Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) in two years, but I am surprisingly uninterested.Benson and Stabler’s relationship inLaw & Order: SVUhas been a selling point for over a quarter of a century, though the procedural has never allowed the couple to be romantic. During Stabler’s original run, he was married and raising kids with Kathy, but after her death inLaw & Order: Organized Crimeseason 1, it seemed like the path was clearing for a Benson/Stabler romance.
It is especially frustrating that afterLaw & Order: SVUseason 24’s finale, Benson and Stabler seemed to be moving in that direction, yet they shared virtually no scenes in the next two seasons. Furthermore,Law & Order: Organized Crimeseason 5doesn’t premiere until near the end ofLaw & Order: SVUseason 26, adding additional delays to the evolution of this relationship. The pair will finally reunite in episode 2 ofLaw & Order: Organized Crime, but the setup is extremely underwhelming.
Benson & Stabler Reunite For The First Time In Law & Order: Organized Crime
Season 5, Episode 2 Has Them Meeting After Stabler Is Injured
Stabler and Benson haven’t come face-to-face since they appeared in aLaw and Ordercrossover at the end ofLaw & Order: SVUseason 24 andLaw & Order: Organized Crimeseason 3. During this crossover,Stabler gave Benson a compass necklace before leaving on an undercover assignment,making it appear as if he and Benson were taking the first step toward romance. This episode also occurred shortly after Benson and Stabler almost kissed inLaw & Order: SVU.
Unfortunately, the procedurals didn’t follow up on this season-ending romantic step. Instead, Benson and Stabler have not crossed paths again, and their only interaction duringLaw & Order: SVUseason 25 was over the phone, where Stabler told Benson he was okay with her lending the necklace to the mother of a girl who had been kidnapped.This was especially disappointing since Benson and Stabler could have worked together on several cases during the seasonif the writers had wanted them to. However, a newLaw & Order: Organized Crimeseason 5 clipshows Benson visiting Stabler in the hospital after he is injured.
Why Benson & Stabler’s Reunion Feels Empty Despite Being Apart For A While
Stabler’s Injuries Feel Unnecessary
Sadly,Law & Order: Organized Crimeseason 5 won’t put Benson and Stabler back together because they made a mature decision and decided to talk out their issues with each other like adults. Instead, after a two-year absence, Benson will visit Stabler in the hospital after he has a serious car accidentwhile undercover. The clip is short, making it hard to tell exactly what’s happening, but it appears Benson is jolted into the realization that Stabler could die and thus comes to see him.
The episode is written byLaw & Order: Organized Crime’s Christopher Meloni, who knows these characters well. Thus, there may be more to the story that the short teaser clip depicts. However, this preview clip doesn’t excite me aboutLaw & Order: Organized Crime. Benson and Stabler’s relationship deserves more than a well-worn trope after being apart for two years, and it does not appear that the procedural is going to deliver.
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Cast
Law & Order: Organized Crime follows the detectives of the Organized Crime Control Bureau as they strive to dismantle New York City’s most vicious and violent illegal enterprises, providing a deep dive into the complex and intricate world of organized crime. Released on June 25, 2025, it extends the Law & Order franchise.
