The Pair Has Been Connected as Friends for Two Decades

Although there is a segment of the fanbase that is passionately in favor of a Benson/Stabler romance, it might not be the best idea for these characters.

Although there is a segment of the fanbase that is passionately in favor of a Benson/Stabler romance, it might not be the best idea for these characters. Stabler and Benson have been friends for a long time, not counting Stabler’s ten-year-absence when he was off-screen. For most of their friendship, Stabler was married, and Benson reassured Kathy Stabler on many occasions that she was not a threat to their marriage and encouraged Elliot to give his relationship the attention it deserved before he lost it. Uniting Benson and Stabler romantically could contradict this history.

Long-standing friendships don’t always make for good romances, and Law & Order: Organized Crime would take a heavy loss if the romance failed and the characters lost their friendship. It may be logistically difficult for Benson and Stabler to share screen time now that they have to deal with both Peacock and NBC, but that may be for the best. Regardless of how good an idea it seems on paper to unite these two characters romantically, it could be a flop and harm the friendship the characters have built up over many years.