Meloni, Hargitay Discuss Stabler-Benson Romance Hopes

Christopher Meloni, who plays Elliot Stabler, has voiced his wish for a romantic relationship between Stabler and Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson, mirroring fans' long-standing hopes. Meloni responded enthusiastically to calls for an on-screen kiss, but both he and Hargitay acknowledge that showrunners have kept the relationship platonic, including altering a near-kiss scene in Season 24 of SVU. Hargitay described the characters as 'soulmates' and suggested that any romantic development might only come in the series finale, if at all. Both actors have emphasized their limited control over the storyline despite their personal interest in a romance. As Law & Order: SVU prepares for its 27th season, fans continue to hope for a resolution to the characters' decades-long connection.