Christopher Meloni teases that Stabler’s letter to Benson will cause a riot. Meloni reprised his role as Elliot Stabler in a crossover event between Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime earlier this year. The episodes served as an explanation for how Stabler would reenter the long-running Law & Order franchise, focusing on the character as he reeled following the murder of his wife, Kathy Stabler (Isabel Gillies). As the result of a car bomb attack, Kathy’s death ends up being the driving force of the spinoff Organized Crime.
The spinoff had the main storyline involving a villainous Dylan McDermott, which unfolded throughout season 1. But it also showed Stabler alternatively drawing closer to and pulling away from his former partner Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and interacting with her in more intimate, personal scenes. This all built up to a mysterious letter that Stabler gave to Benson late in season 1. Now, with season 2 on the way, Meloni has promised that the details of the letter will be revealed.
During a Q&A panel, ahead of Law & Order: Organized Crime season 2, which premieres on Thursday, September 23, Meloni confirmed that the letter’s content will be revealed to fans and that it would cause quite the reaction. He also suggested that details will be shown in bits and pieces rather than all at once. You can read Meloni’s quote from TVLine below.
“The letter is addressed this season and I think [fans are] going to set [their] heads on fire when it happens. I think there’s going to be a riot. You’re going to hear what’s in the letter. Maybe not the full and total [letter], but you’re going to get an earful.”
Crucially, although Meloni promises that the letter will lead to a riot, the actor never specifies whether it will be due to happiness or whether fans may find themselves rejecting the direction that the show is going in. But, given the long history between Benson and Stabler, and given that viewers have always been divided about whether the duo should enter into a romantic relationship, the specifics of the letter may lead to differing responses depending on what the viewers prefer. Although the idea of making Elliot and Benson a couple has been teased for years, Meloni’s return for Law & Order: Organized Crime marks the first time the idea has been explored in a sustained, season-long way. And, by the sounds of it, that approach will continue for the sophomore installment of the spin-off.
It also indicates how, specifically, how Stabler and Benson differ from other protagonists that have previously headlined Law & Order shows. Like several other police procedurals, the franchise tends to keep its focus on the case of the week and the accompanying guest actors, only occasionally shifting gears to offer insight into the main characters’ lives. In stark contrast, as Meloni’s comments make clear, viewers have grown quite emotionally invested in the relationship between Benson and Stabler. It’s an investment reflected in the ratings for the crossover events between Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime. More than eight million viewers tuned in to watch Stabler’s return, giving the franchise some of its highest numbers. As the story of Benson and Stabler is set to continue for another season, it will be interesting to see fans respond to any significant shifts in the franchise’s central relationship.
