'Law & Order: SVU' star Mariska Hargitay weighs in on when Benson and Stabler should end up together

By Sophia Soto | Last updated Jun 28, 2025 3:32 PM ET

When it comes to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, fans are still desperately waiting for Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler to finally get together. As for star and executive producer Mariska Hargitay, she is giving her verdict on whether the iconic duo should end up together.

"Maybe on the last episode," she commented on the Call Her Daddy podcast. "I think that's when they should be together."

Hargitay continued to explain, "If it's right. We'll see when we get there."

SVU premiered back in 1999, and Bensler, as fans call them, were partners for the first 12 seasons until Stabler left ahead of season 13 after actor Christopher Meloni's salary negotiations broke down.

"It happened very quickly, and it was surprising," Hargitay said of his departure. "It was over a negotiation, and I tried everything I could to fix it and change it. It's one of these things in life... He was ready to go. [And] he did — he went on and did all these other great shows, great work."

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The NBC show is currently heading into its 27th season, and Captain Olivia Benson is the longest-running female character in a primetime live-action TV series. Meanwhile, Meloni returned to the franchise when SVU was in season 22, launching his own spin-off, Law & Order: Organized Crime.

"We are soulmates, in a way. We are," Hargitay expressed, while speaking about the two characters. "And I think that Chris has had a profound impact on my life, my artistry. I think we've had a big impact on each other, and so Olivia and Elliot are. But let's see where the story takes us, you know?"

As for her and Meloni's real-life friendship, she mentions that they "are just connected," adding, "We are so close; it's like we've been through the battle together. We know each other so well; we love each other so much, we respect each other so much. We connected, obviously, by living these stories and going so deep together for so many years acting. And he and I really bond over comedy; we have a very similar sense of humor."

She credits their strong bond to "shared perspective," sharing, "We are so comfortable with each other. We deeply trust each other. We know whatever he needs, I will always be there for him, and that's mutual. And we have known grown together; we've known each other 27 years."

Law & Order: Organized Crime just concluded its fifth season, but has not yet been renewed.

Sophia Soto

Sophia Soto is a writer and interviewer with a passion for all things entertainment. She is a Senior Reporter at The Nerds of Color and contributes to Yardbarker, Screensphere, Den of Geek, What to Watch, Nerdtropolis, and Temple of Geek. You can see her past work on Remezcla, Young Hollywood, Looper, Paste Magazine, Primetimer, Soundsphere, and Starry Constellation Magazine

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