Olivia Benson Reveals Feelings For Elliot Stabler In Mid-Season Finale

In the TV moment that all Law & Order: SVU fans have waited years for, Olivia Benson professed her love for her former partner, Elliot Stabler. 

Thursday’s mid-season finale was Detective Amanda Rollins’ (Kelli Giddish) sendoff, having taken a teaching position at Fordham University. But a moment between Rollins and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) left long-time fans’ jaws on the floor. 

Rollins and Benson were sharing a moment in an upstate motel room, with Benson telling Rollins that she was happy for Rollins over her marriage to ADA Sonny Carisi (Peter Muller Scanavino). She expressed her hope that Rollins will let herself be happy when Rollins asks Benson when she will be ready to do the same.

Benson asks, “With who?”

“Stabler?” Rollins says. “I used to joke about you two being in a motel room, and now here we are.”

Here comes the admission we’ve all been waiting for…

“I did … feel like Stabler was my’ home,'” she admits. “But he left me, Amanda, and I’m not over it. And the thing is, is that I didn’t have a right or a claim. He’s somebody else’s husband… I know this sounds crazy, but sometimes I think it would almost be easier….”

Rollins understands, knowing that Benson means it would be easier if Kathy Stabler, Elliot’s wife, hadn’t died. “She was the boundary.”

“With her gone, it’s like there’s nothing but possibility, which is paralyzing,” Benson admits.

This is exactly how fans of the show have felt since Stabler has come back into the picture. Could this exchange between Benson and Rollins foreshadow what’s to come for Benson and Stabler? Only time will tell.