For years, fans have prayed for a romantic connection between Stabler and Benson as the bond between the two grew since the first season.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has been airing since 1999 and has collected several prestigious awards and accolades to date. But this might be the year fans finally get rewarded with what they've always wished to see on screen.
The showrunners of SVU this week teased a special something for fans of Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay's characters and it just might answer the long-awaited question about what Hargitay's Olivia feels for Meloni's Elliot. According to PEOPLE, executive producer Julie Martin has confirmed that the upcoming Law & Order episode airing on December 8, 2022, will show Olivia Benson confessing her feelings for Elliot Stabler to her friend and co-worker Amanda Rollins (played by Kelli Giddish).
we're only asking for one thing this Christmas: for stabler & benson to cross paths again https://t.co/sQwXAHuEIp
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) November 18, 2022
The exciting spoiler came after Twitter user @courtneyalysonX reached out to Martin on the platform, begging her for some information about the future of Benson and Stabler's relationship. She wrote, "I don't ask a lot but can you at least tell us if Liv will mention it to SOMEONE? She's in love with Stabler? Maybe Rollins before she leaves?" In response to the fan's tweet, Martin commented: "She will talk to Rollins about her feelings for Stabler in Episode 9, Dec 8th."
She will talk to Rollins about her feelings for Stabler in Episode 9, Dec 8th. #ATraumaInAPearTree
— Julie Martin (@JulieMartinNY) November 21, 2022
The much-hyped upcoming episode titled A Trauma in a Pear Tree—as per Martin's tweet—will reportedly also be the last appearance of actress Kelli Giddish. A teaser for Giddish's final episode shows Rollins walking down the aisle in a surprise wedding, where she will seemingly marry Assistant District Attorney Sonny Carisi, played by Peter Scanavino.
The teacher also shows Benson present at the wedding and giving Rollins a giant hug once she's at the end of the courthouse aisle. According to Martin's tweet, the two women will share a much bigger moment together during the episode where Benson discloses her romantic feelings for Stabler. However, there is no further information about what Benson might say in the now-highly-anticipated episode.
cuffing season is in full swing. 🔒🔗 pic.twitter.com/uw59yRzpsY
— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) November 17, 2022
For years, fans have religiously prayed for a romantic connection between the characters of Stabler and Benson as they have witnessed the bond between the two grow since season one of the show. In fact, some fans suspect that Stabler might have confessed his feelings for Benson already in a scene that aired in an April 2021 episode. However, the moment was left open for interpretation, according to E! News.
It’s about time the long-building romance between Stabler and Benson becomes official in the show as fans have looked forward to it for over a decade now. The show covers the story of special detectives in the New York Police Department investigating gruesome crimes. The December 8 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will air at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
References:
https://people.com/tv/law-and-order-svu-olivia-benson-will-address-her-feelings-for-elliot-stabler/
Cover Image Source: Getty Images/Dia Dipasupil