Benson & Stabler Had a Bittersweet Reunion on SVU Season 27: “We Had a Pretty Good…”
At long last, Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) reunited again on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but their latest meeting was overshadowed by a somber occasion.
Benson and Stabler’s reunion in the Season 27 premiere carries decades of history. From Benson and Stabler’s original tenure as loyal SVU partners to the many high-stakes cases the SVU has worked on with Stabler’s Organized Crime unit in the new era, Benson and Stabler boast some indomitable devotion to each other. If either of the detectives lands in trouble, you can bet the other is flocking to their side. Over the years, Benson and Stabler developed a partnership built on trust, trauma, and a deep, unspoken bond that transcends the job (and has some fans and SVU co-stars questioning if the duo will ever romantically connect). Whether it’s a gripping criminal investigation or a house call to catch up, Bensler fans relish any screen time shared between the iconic duo.
After SVU‘s Season 27 premiere revealed the heartbreaking passing of Law & Order icon Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek), his memorial service brought together many former colleagues and friends, including Benson and Stabler.
Benson and Stabler reunited to honor their longtime boss, Captain Cragen
Capt. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Det. Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) appear on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 1 “In The Wind”. Photo: Virginia Sherwood/NBC
SVU‘s Season 27 premiere kicked off with Benson attending Captain Cragen’s memorial service, a solemn event that drew many former precinct members back into the fold. Among the nostalgia-inducing attendees are SVU’s former longtime psychiatrist, Dr. George Huang (B.D. Wong), and retired Detective Brian Cassidy (Dean Winters), both of whom shared heartfelt moments with Benson about Cragen’s legacy.
As Benson prepared to leave the wake to work on a case, she encountered Stabler waiting by her car. Swirling with grief, Stabler grappled with entering the wake and chumming up to a room of NYPD colleagues, some whom he knew Cragen hated. Uniquely equipped to navigate Stabler’s dark and stormy demeanor, Benson checked in on her friend.
“You alright?” Benson asked Stabler before he confessed that he didn’t like funerals. “Me neither,” Benson agreed as the duo thought of the many services they’ve been forced to attend throughout the years.