Is Law & Order: SVU Saying Goodbye To Olivia Benson?
After twenty-five years on the air, Law & Order: SVU has been building an undeniable legacy. From memorable characters and storylines to real-world effects that transcend the fourth wall, there’s no denying that this procedural is about as iconic as it comes. Truthfully, a huge part of that is down to its consistent lead actress (and executive producer), Mariska Hargitay, as Captain Olivia Benson.
But nothing can truly last forever. The original Law & Order series ended after twenty seasons in 2010. And even though it is recently back on screens after twelve years away, it feels a bit like a new show coming into place. Twenty-five back-to-back years on the air, though, is quite a feat and a lot has changed in that quarter of a century — political correctness and societal perceptions have evolved, characters have come and gone, technology has taken a massive leap from pagers to smartphones, and more. But something about this season has felt even more different, particularly when it comes to Olivia Benson, leading many fans to wonder the same thing: is this setting up to be Benson’s final year on the force?
There’s no denying that the long-beating heart of SVU has been Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson. As audiences watched her character evolve from Detective to Lieutenant to Captain, she’s driven the story forward through multiple eras and lived through some of the most iconic and heartbreaking story arcs. There’s a reason she’s the face of the show and a hero so ubiquitous and beloved, Taylor Swift even famously named one of her cats after the character.
Benson was introduced as a complex, layered character from the very start. As a fierce advocate for victims, she joined the force after uncovering that she was the product of her father’s assault of her mother. When the show begins, Benson is an SVU detective paired with the often hot-tempered but fiercely loyal Detective Elliot Stabler. Though Stabler was married with a whole brood of kids — and nothing physical ever happened between the two — their more-than-just-parnters-and-friends chemistry was palpable. When Christopher Meloni exited the show after Season 12, it was an adjustment for a Stabler-less SVU. But it was in the absence of Stabler that Hargitay truly shone and proved that it is Benson — and Benson all but alone — that is the star, heart, and soul of the series.
Throughout Olivia Benson’s twenty-five years, she’s evolved in career rank and lived some of the most harrowing and fulfilling storylines. Audiences were on edge through her abduction by killer and rapist William Lewis or her harrowing close-call during an undercover stint in a prison to catch a guard who was assaulting inmates. On the flip side, viewers were invited further into her emotional world during her familiar journey, from learning about the existence of her half-brother Simon through meeting him and, sadly, through his untimely death. Throughout the series, Benson has also become a mother, adopting and raising baby Noah, also a product of his father’s rape, and bringing her emotional journey full circle.
Benson’s strong, intelligent, and empathetic nature and enduring wit have made her an icon and a role model not only for young girls but also for what a police officer truly should be. Outside of the show, Mariska Hargitay herself has used her platform to push forward protective laws and actions for survivors of sexual abuse. Benson goes far beyond just a character and has made lasting real-world impacts.
How Season 25 Sets Up Benson’s Retirement
