Name a more iconic duo than Olivia and Elliot — I dare you.
To celebrate the premiere of Law and Order: Organized Crime — and, more importantly, the reunion of Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler that’s been a decade in the making — here’s a timeline of Stabler and Benson’s best moments from the OG SVU:
1.
When Stabler insisted on keeping a close eye on Benson after a creepy stalker set his sights on her:
NBC
HE’S SO PROTECTIVE OF HER! AHHHHHH!
Season 1, Episode 8: “Stalked”
2.
Also, in that same episode, when Stabler sipped from the same cup of OJ as Benson after driving across town in order to give her a ride to work:
NBC
There are no unshared germs between Benson and Stabler.
Season 1, Episode 8: “Stalked”
3.
When Stabler made this all too important vow to Benson after she broke the cardinal rule of coworkers:
NBC
I wish Stabler made this vow to me. I know he’s talking about cop partners, but a girl can dream.
Season 1, Episode 10: “Closure”
4.
When Stabler confided in Benson about Kathy taking the kids and leaving him:
NBC
I know these two were at odds with one another during this episode — a he-said / she-said rape case — but that didn’t stop Benson from checking in on her friend.
Season 6, Episode 8: “Doubt”
5.
When Stabler reminded Benson of her worth after a case involving someone who’s a product of rape hits too close to home:
NBC
I felt this. On several levels.
Season 6, Episode 13: “Quarry”
6.
When Benson risked her job — and lost the life of a young child — to save Stabler:
NBC
“Look, we both chose each other over the job. We can never let that happen again.” THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE END! Honestly, their entire exchange is entirely too much, you have to see it for yourelf.
Season 7, Episode 7: “Fault”
7.
When, after the fallout of “Fault” resulted in a partner reassignment, Stabler and Benson are finally reunited as partners once again:
NBC
IT TOOK A SEASON, BUT MOM AND DAD ARE BACK TOGETHER AGAIN!!
Season 8, Episode 9: “Choreographed”
8.
When Stabler and Benson finally confirmed that their partnership and friendship is back on solid ground:
NBC
After another hard case — one that hit close to home for Stabler since he’s going through a divorce at the same time as a woman falsely accuses her ex-husband of rape — Stabler and Benson finally confirm everything’s A-OK between them over a late night bite that Stabler, of course, agrees to pay for.
Season 8, Episode 11: “Burned”
9.
When Stabler told Benson that he couldn’t stay away from the job…or was he talking about HER:
NBC
Not even getting knocked out by a junkie could keep Stabler away!
Season 8, Episode 13: “Loophole”
10.
When the IAB evaluator told Cragen that Elliot and Olivia were “too close” but to split them up would be a mistake:
NBC
WHY MESS WITH A GOOD THING?
Season 8, Episode 16: “Philadelphia”
11.
When Stabler embraced Benson in a rare hug after she saved a very-pregnant Kathy after her car accident:
NBC
AND Benson helped Kathy give birth in the back of the ambulance. Ugh, this episode had me feeling every single emotion available to my synapses.
Season 9, Episode 9: “Paternity”
12.
When Benson made the astute remark about Stabler that he was, in fact, a carrot:
NBC
OK, more so, it was the fact that Benson reached out to Stabler’s bipolar mother because he couldn’t and they needed to get Kathleen out of jail. The lengths these two go to help one another warm the cockles of my heart.
Season 10, Episode 3: “Swing”
13.
When Benson ended up in this ~precarious~ situation with Stabler:
NBC
Like, I know that scenes before Benson was convincing Kathy not to leave Stabler, but ya can’t stop a girl from shipping!
Season 10, Episode 7: “Wildlife”
14.
When Stabler cradled Benson after he the thought she’d been shot / that he’d lost her:
NBC
DICK WOLF, CAN YOU STOP MESSING WITH MY EMOTIONS! ABEG!
Season 11, Episode 6: “Spooked”
15.
When Stabler took care of Benson when she had the flu:
NBC
“I’m gonna make you some tea.” Be still, my beating heart.
Season 11, Episode 9: “Perverted”
16.
When Stabler braced Benson after CPS took Calvin away from her / terminated her custody of him:
NBC
Like, I don’t even think either of them realized what Stabler was doing, which just SHOWS how much they got one another’s 6s.
Season 12, Episode 10: “Rescue”
17.
When Stabler and Benson share this sweet embrace after the murder of ADA Sonya Paxton:
NBC
Stabler hauled ass from his work trip — which he left EARLY — to comfort Benson. If that’s not love…
Season 12, Episode 17: “Pursuit”
18.
When Stabler and Benson went undercover at a swingers club as a married couple in order to solve the case:
NBC
Kathy WHO??
Season 12, Episode 19: “Bombshell”
19.
Last, but not least, when Benson broke down in the squad room after finding out from Cragen that Stabler resigned without saying goodbye:
NBC
It’s been over a decade and I still haven’t forgiven Stabler for doing this to Benson.
Season 13, Episode 1: “Scorched Earth”
Nostalgia Trip
Take a trip down memory lane that’ll make you feel nostalgia AF
