Law & Order: SVU has had its fair share of partner duos. The most memorable being Elliot and Olivia for twelve seasons before the former departed from the show. Along the way, fans have seen other detective partners come together to solve heinous crimes. Certain duos fans could agree weren’t the best of the best.
It became clear seeing as some were short-lived or moved on to other departments. A detective is sometimes only as good as their partner. The good cop, bad cop routine, and sweating suspects for the truth. In some cases, partners are like yin and yang or like a bad marriage.
Stabler & Beck
Fans can agree that the introduction of Dani Beck to the show wasn’t all confetti and good vibes. Beck is introduced in season eight at the request of the FBI to become Stabler’s new partner. It was only temporary as Benson was in Oregon working an eco-terrorist case. While Beck and Stabler became somewhat close during their partnership fans could feel the tension.
From the start, Beck isn’t well versed in sex crimes. She takes the job to heart to a point where it deeply wounds her and she moves on; she realizes she can’t save every victim. Elliot and Beck had sexual tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. They do end up kissing when Elliot was in a rough patch during his marriage, though.
Benson & Amaro
Amaro was the new guy on the squad that many had to warm up to. Amaro also had to warm up to his new role as a detective in Special Victims. He was partnered with Benson after transferring from working warrants and narcotics. Amaro had a lot to learn and that’s where Benson came in.
But Amaro sometimes proved to be too much to handle and would let his anger get the best of him. Benson not only had to investigate the case but often kept Amaro in check like when Cassidy and Cragen are being wrongfully framed. In “Twenty-Five Acts;” Benson doesn’t work with him stating she needed someone she can trust. But they built a bridge and remain close.
Rollins & Amaro
Rollins and Amaro’s partnership is like a soap opera in some ways. They don’t start off relatively well. Rollins already knows his temperament along with her own personal issues. Their partnership then takes a turn when they feed into their sexual tension and end up sleeping together. Their hidden relationship is even questioned by a murder suspect.
The duo often disagreed on cases but it was clear that they cared for one another on the job and personally. In the episode regarding A.J. Martin and the domestic abuse case, Rollins goes too far at the bar while drunk and disagrees with the squad’s verdict of trying him for spousal abuse.
Fin & Chester
Chester Lake was a new detective to the squad after transferring from Brooklyn’s SVU unit. He gets partnered with Fin and they prove to be a pretty good match. Both are headstrong when catching a perp and looking for evidence; they’re also not afraid of a bit of roughhousing.
Fin understands Chester much more than the other detectives. Both didn’t have the best childhoods growing up and understand the struggles of the projects and the foster system. In season nine, Chester is suspected of murder, and Stabler believes Fin tipped him off before taking him into custody.
Rollins & Benson
Rollin and Benson work as on-again-off-again partners. Especially when Benson is promoted to Lieutenant. They have a good understanding and relationship with each other. Benson being her superior sometimes causes her to put her foot down on what needs to be done in cases. Rollins also puts in her two cents on the matter that Benson often takes into consideration.
But Rollins can also be a handful with her own personal demons like her gambling addiction that spiraled out of control in one episode. Both Rollins and Benson come to support each other in their personal lives when Rollins gets pregnant and Benson goes through the process of adoption.
Munch & Cassidy
Munch and Cassidy were one of the show’s earliest partners. They suited each other well despite the age difference. It might be due to their somewhat narcissistic attitudes or habit of making jokes. When investigating, they made a good team as both had no issue squeezing a perp for information.
Munch also served to guide Cassidy in life and at work. He’s been a detective for a lot longer and has seen how dark the world really is. One of their best moments together was when Cassidy can no longer stomach what happens to special victims and asks for a transfer. Munch is understanding and gives him a hug farewell.
Rollins & Carisi
This partner duo can easily be one of the more complex ones to appear on the show, but it’s still a heartwarming one. Carisi and Rollins become incredibly close over their time as partners. Carisi comes in as a choir boy eager to do his job. They learn a lot from each other as both act at the other’s voice of reason.
But at some point, there was some type of sexual tension between the two, and Carisi and Rollins became more personally involved. Carisi was the first to realize that she might be pregnant and offers advice. Carisi takes on a father-type figure for her children. Their emotional tie to each other is plain to see; especially when Carisi wants to leave SVU to be an ADA.
Munch & Fin
Fin and Munch are like two peas in a pod. They quickly became one of the more enjoyable partners in the series. Fin’s tough attitude and Munch’s conspiracies and witty humor became a fan favorite. But when they first meet, they get off to a rocky start as Fin saw crime as black and white.
Over their time together they come to greatly respect each other. Even when Munch is shot and in the hospital, Fin visits him and they share some comical words of wisdom and Munch gets a milkshake. Their moments together as partners are also emotional. When Fin gets invested in a case, Munch told him a story of his past partner who died from suicide.
Fin & Rollins
Their partnership can best be described as big brother and little sister. Fin comes to really care for her well-being but it’s tested at times. When he learns of the mess she got into with gambling, he offers her money to get on her feet. But he’s later hurt when she didn’t tell him about her sting operation.
They mend their relationship and Fin stands by her side when she reveals she was raped by her former superior officer. Fin is there to help bring him to justice for Rollins and his latest victim. Rollins and Fin have a good working relationship that spills over into their personal lives.
Stabler & Benson
Stabler and Benson were the fan-favorite from the very start. They were partners since the show’s first season before Stabler left; fans are still wondering why. Over the years, their partnership had its low points mainly because of Stabler’s anger issues that often put cases in jeopardy.
Benson started to feel distrustful of Stabler, and at one point, wasn’t his partner; which greatly wounds him. Throughout the show, their partnership is like a bad marriage. They spend countless nights together working, bickering but also caring about each other’s personal lives. Olivia was there to pick up the slack and take Elliot’s wife to the doctors and ended up rescuing her from a car crash. She was also his voice of reason when it came to his family.
