An iconicLaw & Order: SVUseason 4 episode not only provided a memorable Benson/Stabler moment, but also predicted Stabler’s future career path.Benson and Stabler’s long relationship timeline inLaw & Order: SVUhas become a source of frustration because the current writers have elected to ignore the relationship altogether. The hope of the two ever getting together seemed dashed when Stabler leftLaw & Order: SVUafter season 12, but when he returned forLaw & Order: Organized Crime, it seemed like there was a real chance for these two to get together.
Stabler and Benson were often assigned cases that forced them to spend a lot of time together when Stabler worked for the Special Victims Unit. InLaw & Order: SVUseason 4, episode 12, the two had a particularly close moment while working undercover. This story was one ofLaw & Order: SVU’s most disturbing cases, as it revolved around a drug smuggling operation that was replacing baby formula with liquid cocaine. While investigating this case led to an iconic Benson/Stabler moment, it also had implications for Stabler’s future long beforeLaw & Order: Organized Crimehad been created.
Law & Order SVU Season 4, Episode 12, “Risk” Features An Iconic Benson/Stabler Moment
The Pair Go Undercover As A Married Couple
“Risk” offers one of the earliest Benson/Stabler moments. At this point in the series,Stabler was happily married, but that didn’t stop him from pretending to be Benson’s husband in order to catch a drug smuggler.This ruse only takes place during two scenes of a tense undercover operation story, but it is memorable because it demonstrates the chemistry between Benson and Stabler.
First, Stabler goes to a bar that is known to be frequented by a drug dealer, with Benson sitting in a seat behind him as backup. Stabler is somewhat flirty with Benson during this scene before buying her a drink, butthe most interesting thing about this scene is how widely Benson smiles when Stabler orders the drink for her.Later, she poses as his wife while he makes the deal in the yard of a house that they are passing off as theirs.
These Benson/Stabler moments are all plot-driven; the main story is Stabler going undercover to catch a dirty cop who is behind the use of baby formula cans to smuggle liquid cocaine, which has already resulted in the death of at least one baby. However, they are iconic moments that contribute to the couple’s relationship timeline and demonstrate their off-the-charts chemistry level.
Stabler’s Undercover Work In “Risk” Is What He Now Does In Organized Crime 18 Years Later
The Episode Is Closer In Tone To His New Spinoff Than A Typical SVU Episode
“Risk” is not only one ofLaw & Order: SVU’s creepiest episodes, but one that is fairly atypical of the series. While Special Victims is supposed to encompass all serious crimes against children as well as handle adult sexual assault cases, most episodes focus on the sex crimes angle. Conversely, “Risk” becomes an SVU case because a baby dies of cocaine poisoning and involves a criminal organization that is determined to smuggle drugsand kill anyone who threatens to get in its way.
Stabler’s undercover operation during this story is reminiscent of the dangerous missions he often carries out inLaw & Order: Organized Crime.
If this case were airing today instead of in 2004, it would likely be handled by the Organized Crime Bureau, considering the violence and the nature of the crime. Furthermore, Stabler’s undercover operation during this story is reminiscent of the dangerous missions he often carries out inLaw & Order: Organized Crime.Most significantly, the level of violence in this episode is closer to that inLaw & Order: Organized Crime, including a scene in which Stabler endures a beating in order to gain the trust of his targets.
What’s Next For Stabler In Law & Order: Organized Crime
He Needs To Grieve His Brother’s Death
It’s not entirely clear what comes next for Stabler. NBC and Peacock have not yet made a decision aboutLaw & Order: Organized Crimeseason 6,so it’s possible the series will end and Stabler’s further Organized Crime cases will not be televised. Assuming the procedural is picked up for another season, however,Stabler’s grief over his brother’s death, especially given his role in Joey becoming a confidential informant, will likely take center stage,along with his mother’s continued cognitive decline and physical deterioration.
Stabler may throw himself into a difficult and dangerous mission to distract himself from his pain and guilt over losing Joey.
It would make sense for Benson to return toLaw & Order: Organized Crimeto help support Stabler during this difficult time. Additionally, Stabler may throw himself into a difficult and dangerous mission to distract himself from his pain and guilt over losing Joey. The Organized Crime Bureau should have no shortage of power players it needs to topple, so there will be plenty of dangerous cases for Stabler to get sucked into if the procedural returns for a sixth season.
