Photo: NBC
Mariska Hargitayis keepingLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitfans on their toes.
On theTodayshow Thursday, the 59-year-old actress teased that the relationship between her character Captain Olivia Benson and Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) could finally turn romantic.
“Benson and Stabler love each other deeply. It’s so deep,” she told hostSavannah Guthrie. “The show is probably only going to go another 23 years, so I think we should just wait and see.”
Last month, Benson and Stabler hadan emotional momentwhich led the pair to almost kiss.
“I think both of us, it was such a long time coming, we just want to make sure and get it right,” Hargitay shared of the scene withMeloni, 61. “The good news is we are socomfortable around each other, it was effortless and fun and we trust each other, it was beautiful that way. We just focused on the work.”
“Is there something wrong with that?” Stabler asked as Benson remained silent. “I care for you.”
His words were loaded withyears of romantic tension, which was clearly overwhelming for his former partner. Stabler moved closer, saying, “Liv, look at me.”
After the pair touched foreheads, Stabler appearedto lean in to kiss her— but Benson pulled away, saying, “Elliot I want to — I want to but I can’t.”
Stabler asked, “Why not?”
“Because what if it doesn’t work out?” Benson asked in response as Stabler said, “And what if things work out?”
Benson was unfortunately still hesitant and eventually fully backed away.
“Elliot, I’m not ready for this,” she said, before repeating several times: “I’m not ready for this.”
Zach Dilgard/NBC
Fans watched as Benson and Stabler worked alongside each other in Manhattan’s Special Victims Unit for 12 seasons. But Meloni exited the long-running series, now in its 24th season, in 2011 before returning in 2021 for season 22.
Benson and Stabler have shared many smoldering, fraught moments many times since Meloni launched the Stabler-centric spin-offLaw & Order: Organized Crimein 2021. But a recentpromofor the late-Janaury episode had fans more hopeful than ever.
Hargitay recently revealed how Benson actually feels about Stabler.
“The energy’s there. Olivia’s been in love with him for many a year,” Hargitay said onThe Drew Barrymore Showin January 2022. “And I think thatwe are slowly finding our way back to it, but I want to give him the amount of time he needs to grieve [his late wife] Kathy Stabler.”
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Law & Order: Special Victims UnitandLaw & Order: Organized Crimeair back to back on NBC every Thursday starting at 9 p.m. ET.
source: people.com
