Zebras is the twenty-second episode and season finale of the tenth season of the police procedural television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and the shows 224th episode overall. I like that shirt, she says and explains shes there since she heard about the squabble between Stabler and Blaine. They worked long hours and had to . Well that makes two of us, Benson says. In later seasons, Rollins ends up in a romantic relationship with her former partner and ADA Dominick Sonny Carisi (Peter Scanavino). With this being said, Stabler never definitively cheated on his wife but it didnt take him long to move on, either. In this case I can because I do know what it means to love someone unconditionally, Barba says. After Stabler and Benson have located the missing girl, they sit for an intense discussion. Benson confirms shes not seeing anyone at the moment. Jelliot makes an appearance in Spooked when Porter returns since the FBI is interested in Benson and Stablers latest case. Our feelings dont matter, Porter responds. Im not your type, Cragen cracks. Thank the "Law & Order" gods that Stabler eventually returned 10 years after what many thought was his final scene. In a blow to Stabler and his family, the judge declares a mistrial, and Wheatley is remanded. This moment was 10 years in the making Stabler finally returning to Bensons life! In interrogation, Benson attempts to arrest Porter for being an accessory to murder. Liv you mean the world to me, he says. Rollins and Carisi also share a moment and kiss at this ceremony, which turns into a non-wedding when Fin and Phoebe decide not to get married that day. Stabler is partnered with Olivia Benson for the series' first 12 seasons of the series. Were familiar with Jelliot, but this episode gives us a little of Jelivia, and also shows Benson wants Stabler to come home from his undercover job as much as the rest of his family does. In real life, actor Meloni left the drama due to a dispute over pay which meant him leaving in between seasons 12 and 13. '" 4. I guess I didnt know how to begin, he adds. There are many nostalgic moments in the episode for Benson and Stabler fans, including the two entering a scene before backup arrives, despite Bells order not to. Stabler doesnt come in until the end of the episode, but he delivers arguably one of the most important lines Bensons ever heard in her life up until that point. Stabler runs toward Benson, and the two embrace as she says, Im really glad youre back., I shouldve come back sooner, he responds as he tightly holds her. Mariska Hargitay is happy Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler never got together romantically Hargitay told Parade in 2019 that if Benson and Stabler ever hooked up, their partnership. A shocked Benson points out it sounds like Stabler and Donnelly are getting pretty close.. Like last time, Benson and Stabler's sympathies fall on opposite sides. Stabler learns from Benson in this episode that her brother, Simon, is no longer alive and died a few years back after a suspected overdose. They are both shirtless and pressed up against each other, with Benson running her hand down Stablers chest at one point. Before the death of his wife, Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson opted to keep their relationship platonic and professional. Your email address will not be published. When my partner hangs out with scumbags, I like to stick around, see what happens, Benson says. 20. After protecting her son during a gang attack, Benson sends Noah to stay outside of the city with his half brother's family. She asks him to tell her his honest opinion, and boy, does he deliver the words many have been thinking for over two decades. Benson says she's "not ready for this" as she rests her face against his cheek and then leans back against the fridge. Kathy calls Bensons phone at one point since Stabler wont pick up and wants to know when hell be home. wrote it. She said the chemistry between the characters has been "undeniable" and "a complicated factor" in their "deeply complex relationship," which has inspired countless works of fan fiction. Well, I got to tell you, Im a little jealous because Elliot here tells me youre the second-best partner he ever had, Benson cracks. 1 The Undiscovered Country (Season 19, Episode 13), 2 Murdered At A Bad Address (Season 21, Episode 6) , 4 Pornstars Requiem (Season 16, Episode 5) . Really? What episode does Elliot and Olivia kiss? Since Porter and Benson were already close, Porter overhears Cragen on the phone telling Benson theyve located their latest suspect, whom Porter is somehow connected to. How does Mrs V treat melody in out of my mind? Back in the squad room, Benson returns to the interrogation room, as Cragen and Stabler watch, to take another crack at their suspect from the beginning of the episode. For 12 years on Law & Order: SVU, fans watched partners Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) work side-by-side and flirt a bit with a . How much does Christopher Meloni make per episode? Took long enough. Benson drives Stabler back to his office, where he says, Its always good to work with you, Liv.. Well, Olivias a saint, Stabler responds. A few scenes later, Stabler is caught off guard when he gets Benson a soda, and she informs him that she doesnt drink them anymore. . He tries to dial Benson again, and it goes quickly to voicemail then he hangs up. He did, didnt he? But in the season 22 finale, the show finally brought the two together with a passionate kiss. Cragen requires Benson and Stabler to respectively undergo psychological evaluations after worrying theyve become too close when Stabler helps Benson as she searches for her brother, Simon (Michael Weston) in New Jersey. I want to know, Stabler begins, about your life what youve been through, the things Ive missed. During another heated exchange, Benson says Stablers current situation (a.k.a his divorce) is impairing his judgment and that he doesnt normally empathize with the suspect., Its not empathy, its outrage, Stabler responds. Olivia Benson/Elliot Stabler; Characters: Olivia Benson; Elliot Stabler; Language: English Stats: Published: 2023-03-03 . She shares that she was not ready to have a child and had scheduled an appointment to get an abortion. Olivia Benson goes undercover in a womens prison to investigate assault accusations in season 9, episode 15 Undercoverand Olivia gets very close to assaulted herself before shes saved by Finn and the police. Bell cuts the chat short. Now it's cannon that Stabler's wife was always the "boundary" preventing either Benson or Stabler from admitting they both had romantic feelings for the other. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Are Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni still friends? As Benson and Stabler inched closer, it became clear: They may have officially passed the point of no. The shows 14th season ended with a sadistic killer named William Lewis (Pablo Schreiber) pointing a gun at Bensons head in her apartment. Bensons home sick, and when she opens the door, Stabler says, You look terrible. She responds, Stop with the sweet talk. Later, Benson and the SVU squad help Stablers team infiltrate a party with the young girls and the Albanians. With this being said, Stabler never definitively cheated on his wife but it didnt take him long to move on, either. This is the first appearance of character actor Delaney Williams as defense attorney John Buchanan. Stabler holds Benson back as Calvin is taken away and reminds her that the situation was always temporary., This episode gifted Benson and Stabler fans with the duos second hug in the series, commonly referred to among the stans as the Pursuit hug.. Each always mentioned Stabler's marriage as the answer which wasn't a "no." Stabler goes to Bensons apartment after finding his partners card on a victim. Benson tells Rollins she talked to Stabler before he went back undercover, and he promised her he didnt know the suspect was being put in witness protection. She will put on her writing cap for important trending and pop culture moments, especially ones related to "Law & Order: SVU." Outside, Porter tells Benson, while glancing at Stabler, If it was me, I wouldve shot (Simon). Benson thanks both Porter and Stabler, and Stabler asks her why shes thanking him as Porter leaves. Benson meets Stabler in the hospital, where he crumbles and falls into her for a hug (only their third one ever onscreen, but whos counting!). Don't forget, Gitano is still on the loose, and Stabler and Benson eventually enter a facility without backup in search of Gitano and the remaining missing kid. Benson then gets a call from Stablers wife, Kathy, and meets up with her in the park. They tackled the most shocking NYC crimes and formed an incredibly close bond. Season One of "SVU is laced with incredible Benson and Stabler moments that are still discussed to this day. Did Benson and Stabler ever sleep together? It happened at the screen test, Meloni said. We were in love, he insisted. he shouts as he approaches her on the ground. They are best friends and trust each other completely. Maybe God remembered how cute you were as a carrot, Benson responds. Cut to Benson and Stabler later spotting each other in the precincts hallway. No, Mariska Hargitay is not pregnant. "So this is about the death of a loved one?" Benson promises Stabler shell go with Kathleen and stay with her for as long as shes able to. Jelivia comes out strong at the end of the surveillance when she spots Flutura talking to a man, the buyer, after the young girls walk away. Stabler refuses and says, Too many people have suffered already. Rook then tells Stabler hes a human being, and he passed the test. There was tension (physical and emotional) between the detectives . It doesnt take long for the door handle to start rattling as the animal smugglers try to get inside since they saw Stabler let a guest in. Stabler shows up to the ceremony late since he was looking at apartments in New York City, which is a subtle confirmation and assurance to Benson hes staying. And as for why Stabler abruptly left without telling Benson himself? Danielle "Dani" Beck is a Danish detective assigned to Manhattan's Special Victims Unit. Benson confirms they did find both the killer and her moms suspected rapist and walks Jenna over to see where the two are being held in a cell. The humanizing manner with which Mrs. V treats Melody presents an alternate and preferable approach to interacting with people with disabilities. Stabler grabs Bensons arm and thanks her for coming. ", "It's so nice to allow myself," Rollins responds. Stabler confides a few personal things to Benson, including that Donnelly named his kid, whom Stabler helped bring into the world in a parallel moment to Benson bringing Stablers son into the world in Season Nine of SVU, after Stabler. Benson explains shes there because they lost contact with him, and she also gave him her phone so he could call Kathy. Thats what I thought, he replies. (Shes not wrong! I just think I needed to hear you say that.. What ensues is a truly unforgettable standoff where she has to decide if she wants to risk shooting Gitano to end this once and for all, or run the risk of hitting Stabler and killing him by mistake. Where Is The Transverse Colon Located In The Body? God knows how Olivia put up with you for so long, Cragen says to him. "And what if things work out?" Stablers daughter Kathleen meets up with Benson and says the family needs her help getting through to their dad. On the show, the ADAs reason for leaving was that Casey Novak had knowingly violated due process and as a result, was forced to stop working with the Special Victims Unit. Cragen doesnt let on that Benson asked for a new partner and just says, Decisions made.. The scene turns personal and Benson asks what happened with Kathy. Did Stabler tell Benson he loves her? You never startled before, Benson says, before adding she doesnt want to push him, and will back off if thats what he wants. After the conversation, Bernie asks Benson not to tell Stabler she visited his daughter. That, said Benson, is technically sexual assault. Article continues below advertisement I actually watch her back and not her backside, Fin responds. She relays the message from the grounds to Reggie, who tells Stabler: She wants to know why you dont tell her how you feel.. "Look how great you turned out," Stabler says in response as Benson walks away. For 12 years on Law & Order: SVU, fans watched partners Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) work side-by-side and flirt a bit with a will-they-wont-they relationship. Stabler asks her why she didnt tell him she was no longer his partner. Before those laced personal episodes, Benson goes undercover for the FBI to infiltrate an environmental group (in real life, Hargitay was pregnant, and the show needed a clever way to cover her absence). "A whole friendship.". Once Stabler gets to the hospital and sees Kathy and the baby, Kathy says that Stabler is the little ones father. While talking to Stabler and Angela, Richard says he recorded Angela plotting to kill Kathy, and Angela denies it. Oh, my God, no!" While waiting to see Eli, Stabler finally starts to ask Benson about her life during his 10-year absence. "Yes, I am.". The woman next to her asks who Elliot is since shes apparently been mumbling the name Elliot all night. I didnt say anything else did I? Benson asks. They walk through the home with their flashlights raised (also in sync) and dont even have to speak to communicate, just like old times. Did Elliot and Olivia sleep together? It's worth noting that, at the end of this episode, Stabler finds out Angela was actually the one who ordered to take Kathy out, not Richard. Distance makes the brain dream about your (former) partner. Tucker believes Benson tipped off Moss, so she fesses up to talking to Moss because shes in fact been dating him. After a decade away, Meloni reprised Stabler in the "Law & Order" universe in 2021 on Stabler's own spinoff, "Organized Crime.". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2012-2023 On Secret Hunt - All Rights Reserved Stabler then wishes Benson a happy Mothers Day and tells her she looks great. After the tragedy in the squad room in the season 12 finale, Benson finds out that Stabler has left SVU in the season 13 premiere. Kathy admits Stabler wont sign the divorce papers. The detectives initially investigate Rook as a person of interest after a restaurant manager strip-searches an employee and claims he did so because a detective called him saying the employee was stealing. Lost One picks up where the end of SVU left off, with Benson consulting with OC about a missing girl, who happens to be the daughter of one of the members of The Brotherhood. Benson later apologizes to Stabler for not telling him about Moss. Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish). Fin picks up Stabler to bring him back to the city and fills him in on the accident. I do, Stabler interjects. This episode is the continuation of a crossover with SVUs Trick-Rolled at the Moulin, which ends with Stabler shielding Benson in the car after theyre both shot at (classic Protelliot). When Stabler is in the lab and makes the connection, Stuckey hits him over the head and knocks him out. He took my pills, didnt he? she says. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The line is especially meaningful because all Benson wanted for years was a family, especially a child of her own, and no one knew that more than Stabler. While Cassidy wants more, Benson doesn't at least for now. Benson picked up on what he was suggesting, asking him if his wife Kathy . During the last months of her pregnancy in 2006, Hargitay took maternity leave from SVU, and was temporarily replaced by Connie Nielsen. Stabler looks up into Bensons eyes from the ground and runs his hand through her hair while his thumb grazes her mouth. Is this finally the moment between Benson and Stabler that "Law & Order: SVU" fans have been waiting decades to see?. At the end of the episode, Benson meets Barba at a bar after wrapping a case he helped on. Benson and Stabler have never had a physical affair, but their emotional relationship is an entirely different story. The SVU Season 23 winter finale was all about Kathy Stablers murder trial, and it was also really the first time Benson called out Stabler for being so self-absorbed since his return to her life. In this episode, Stabler finally meets Bensons son, Noah, during a coincidental run-in on Mothers Day. Ever since . Stabler assumed that conversation was private, and Benson informs him that it's not a secret.. Its in the grounds, Reggie says. Im just glad you have someone. And hell tell them to go to hell, Benson replies before walking out. The partners' boss, Capt. Benson asks if theres anything she can do to help, and Stabler assures her he can handle it. Melody s golden retriever. What episode did Benson and Stabler sleep together? After a New Jersey cop coaxes Eli from jumping off a ledge, Benson and Stabler go to the precinct to talk to Eli. Buckle up, because "Fault" starts the unofficial holy trinity of Stabler and Benson episodes, as the events impact both detectives so heavily that spoiler alert Benson ends up asking for a new partner by the end. Celebrity Net Worth reports that Christophers peak SVU salary was $395,000 per episode (or about $10 million per season), while the rest of his income comes from acting roles in TV and film as well as voiceover work. The Christmas Episode was an actual gift to Benson and Stabler fans since it was peppered with some of the best-ever moments between the two. If she does, its news to me, Stabler responds, much to Bensons visible dismay. The previous episode, "All That Glitters," introduced viewers to Tia Leonetti (Ayelet Zurer), who worked with Stabler in Italy after he left the Special Victims Unit. If I heard your voice, I wouldnt have been able to leave., The episode also contains a golden conversation between Stabler and Fin, who briefly fills Elliot in on Bensons life over the past 10 years. He asks her how long she"s been "sleeping with Cassidy." Theres someone else another woman whos the one true love of his life., He further taunts Angela and says, Every time he was looking into your pretty brown eyes, touching your face or wherever else he was touching you Im willing to wager he was thinking about her.. At the end of the episode, Bernie tells her son that his partner came by to check up on him. Youre all bottled up, Lewis says. Are Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni still friends? The saga of Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler is long and tortured. And then he delivers a line that continues to haunt fans until this day: I think if I talked to you about how Sadly, Benson cuts him off at this point, so viewers still dont know how Stabler was about to finish that thought. Any other major changes you want to let me in on? he asks. Law & Order: SVU. Commercial Photography: How To Get The Right Shots And Be Successful, Nikon Coolpix P510 Review: Helps You Take Cool Snaps, 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Marshmallow, Technological Advancements: How Technology Has Changed Our Lives (In A Bad Way), 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Lollipop, Awe-Inspiring Android Apps Fabulous Five, IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Dont Need A Graphic Designer, 20 Best free fitness apps for Android devices. They split up, and eventually Gitano grabs Stabler by the collar and holds a gun to his head as Benson enters the scene. Lindstrom ends the session by telling Benson to think about what she deserves and emphasizes she deserves happiness.. walked into the screen test, me telling her a story, and we get up onstage in front of all the suits, and were just so engaged.. Its actually her call.. Their meeting ends in an argument, and Stablers attempt at getting his mothers help is unsuccessful. Kathy and Elliot Stabler got married at 17 years old and shared five children, but in earlier seasons of Law & Order: SVU, viewers learned that their marriage was less than perfect. After seeing an empty bottle, shot glasses and Stabler making breakfast as Leonetti walks in to the kitchen, it's clear the two didn't sleep together since Leonetti asks Stabler if he was comfortable on the couch. The scene was a joy for fans who long wanted Benson and Stabler to get together. My friend, youre doing the right thing.. A message from work cuts Bensons Mothers Day plans short, and Benson tells Stabler shell call him since hes familiar with the officer she got the message about. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Yeah, aint that the truth, Benson responds. When a suspected killer who stalks his victim sets his sights on Benson, the squad, particularly Stabler in Protelliot mode, goes the extra mile to keep an eye on her. "Loss. Is that a flower in your cup? he says, before Benson responds with a smile and says its tea, hinting again at her changed drinking habits since she returned from being undercover. Who knew one word, Wildlife, could hold so much power among Benson and Stabler fans? In the Season 23 SVU premiere, Benson was run off the road while on the phone with Stabler. "I know how to protect myself. After Stabler opted to take early retirement in 2011 following the fatal shooting of a teenage girl, Benson was left devasted by his exit and the fact that he did not say goodbye. He turns back and walks up to Benson and responds, "Kathy left me.". Later on, Benson and Stabler clash again during a heated discussion about older women having children. Eventually, Melody learned to roll her body over and crawl. She didnt have to handle me, Stabler responds, before asking if Benson liked working alone. But they came pretty darn close. (We will not speak about Benson asking to see Stabler in Episode Seven and being clocked by Beck with the words Maybe I can help you. But he was married, and even when he and Kathy (Isabel Gillies) were separated, nothing happened. walked into the screen test, me telling her a story, and we get up onstage in front of all the suits, and were just so engaged.. Later on, Stabler drives Benson home and offers to walk her inside. Stabler moves closer to Benson and tells her to look at him. Then Rook presses a button, and the sounds of Bensons screams fill the air. We can never let that happen again, Stabler says. Youve been my rock. Wong), the group's forensic psychiatrist, that Stabler realizes his choice to save Benson was his own, and she didn't make him. Finally, 16 seasons later, Benson gets the chance to verbalize if she's ever wanted to be more than friends and work partners with Stabler, and the answer is a big *yes*! "It was my choice. I wish you were there, he says. While neither the actor nor the show revealed why Munch had left SVU, after actor Dann Florek who played Captain Cragen also left the series some months later, it was revealed that the reason behind both actors leaving was the NYPDs real-life mandatory retirement age, which is 63. When Stabler finds the two in a recording studio, Rook reveals that Benson is tied to a chair behind the glass dividing the recording studio. I had kids the old-fashioned way, Stabler says to Benson after she points out how much effort went into getting those embryos made. I couldnt take it.. Benson then briefly rests her head on Stablers as she says, Im fine, to which he replies, Like hell you are.. I'm not a civilian," she replies. They both realize theyre A+, and Stabler looks over at Benson and says, Id give you a kidney, to which Benson responds, Not if I gave you mine first.. It felt good to hear that, Stabler tells her, clearly relieved to know that after disappearing for a decade, Benson still cares about him. In court, Stabler appears surprised to see his daughter plead guilty and cooperate with the judge to get the help she needs. Turns out, Rook, who also goes by the name Milgram, was behind the fake call. Stabler walks Benson out through the back garden. Did Benson and Stabler have a falling out? Now, Benson is the one in control. But he was married, and even when he and Kathy (Isabel Gillies) were separated, nothing happened. How was Olivias funeral?, Rather than correct his mom, Stabler says, It was beautiful.. Agent Porter (remember him from Infiltrated) is there because he needs help finding Simon. Part of that promise involves Benson visiting Stabler at his temporary undercover residence. When love warps into hate, theres nothing you wont do, Stabler responds, before telling her he signed the divorce papers. Later in the episode, Benson attends a service for Kathy in the cemetery with Stabler and all his children, whom Benson has known since they were young. Image by: mashable.com. Stabler refuses to press the button when Rook asks him to, so Rook presses the button again, eliciting more screams. Some are tighter than married couples.. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. In the Season 24 "SVU" fall finale episode, "And A Trauma In A Pear Tree," Benson confesses her feelings about Stabler to Rollins, who just married her former partner Carisi. The conversation takes even more of a turn after Lewis brings up Bensons father and taunts her to the point that she ends up beating him with the bed pole. The look on Stablers face is priceless as he realizes hes getting his partner back at the Special Victims Unit. Bernie had previously noticed her pills were missing and picks up on her sons conversation with Benson. But now after the death of Kathy, that can, for the first time in over 20 years of them knowing each other, change. . IE 11 is not supported. Probably talking to Elliot the guy from her dreams, the woman from the hospital replies. Benson learns of the affair between Valerie and the investigator and realizes she was wrong all along. Cragen wants to bench Benson from their current case since she has custody of their suspects son, and he also takes Stabler off the case. Please dont tell me how I feel, Benson responds. She wants to limit their relationship to one night and one night only, but Cassidy wants more, making for some awkward moments. While Benson stares at her squad happily celebrating the event with their partners, Stabler approaches with her coat and drapes it over her shoulders while she hands him a glass of wine that she got for him. Benson and Stabler become partners again Thankfully, it's hard to keep Benson and Stabler separated for too long. And, for the first time ever, Benson is seriously encouraged to explore a romance with Stabler! How did melody learn to crawl in out of my mind? Well, some people arent as blessed as you are, she responds. Benson says she agrees with Bernie and wants him to come home. After each of these lines, Stabler confirms Kathy actually wrote those words not him. Benson confronts Stabler outside of the courthouse about Angelas upcoming testimony and asks him if theres any reason she shouldnt attend. The audience never finds out the jury's verdict, as the screen cuts to black and the credits roll before the verdict is read. After pining for each other for years, Rollins and Carisi finally shared a kiss at Finns (Ice-T) wedding in the season 22 finale. Im sorry, I shouldve talked to you. Barba is brought back into the fold and showcases his immense talents in the courtroom but the most . By this episode, it's clear Benson and Noah didnt make it to Stablers Christmas gathering. I dont know, maybe Id have better luck with a guy. Youre innocent, he responds. Well, its not at risk. "Olivia! I wish I could trust you, Elliot, Benson replies. ), While driving with FBI agent Dean Porter (Vincent Spano), Porter asks if her partner in New York finds her as annoying as he does. Feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility this newborn brings her, the new mother decides to give full custody to Olivia Benson. While talking about living in Rome, Stabler describes his apartment and tells Benson she wouldve loved it., You know what, Elliot, she responds. Time feels somehow finite and fleeting and yet painstakingly like forever and ever - like another eternity squeezed into a haunting decade has passed them by since the moment he got . Then, Stabler fires and hits Jenna, who ends up bleeding out and dying in front of him. You have not asked me one question about what has happened to me since you left, she says.