It’s been nearly two years since we noticed “Special Guest Star: Christopher Meloni.” For Bensler followers, this was a long-awaited look and a much-anticipated one.
“Play with Fire Pt 2” – LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT, Pictured: (l-r) Mariska Hargitay as Capt. Olivia Benson, Maura Tierney as Lieutenant Jessica Brady. Peter Kramer/NBC ©2024 Community. All Rights Reserved
The final time we “saw” long-time mates Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler work together was throughout a cellphone name within the Regulation & Order: Particular Victims Unit season 25 finale, the place Benson confessed that she had quickly loaned the compass necklace to the mom of a sufferer in hopes of it provding her with the identical therapeutic. The 2 shared a prolonged cellphone dialog the place Benson may very well be seen smiling in her workplace, a uncommon prevalence for the SVU Captain.
Although Meloni didn’t guest-star within the earlier season of SVU, the primary time since he returned to the Regulation & Order franchise in 2021, we have been assured that Benson and Stabler’s partnership was stronger than ever. In August 2021, he revealed “girlfriend’s coming on” when requested if Mariska Hargitay would seem on the brand new season of Regulation & Order: Organized Crime.
The second a part of the Regulation & Order spinoff “Play with Fire Part 2” offers with the aftermath of Maria Recinos’ homicide, a personality followers will bear in mind from “911” (Season 7, episode 3), the place Benson rescues Maria, a sufferer of kid pornography. The SVU Captain reconnected with Maria in season 25, and the 2 shared an in depth private relationship, with Benson recommending that Maria be promoted to undercover.
It’s revealed that Maria’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Paul Gomez, leveraged his place throughout the NYPD and intimidated undocumented girls to remain silent about his rapes.
“Play with Fire Pt 2” – LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT, Pictured: Hugh Dancy as A.D.A. Nolan Value. Peter Kramer/NBC ©2024 Community. All Rights Reserved
When Benson goes to choose up her son Noah from college, she finds him being coerced to enter the automobile of a person unknown to him. Earlier than she will be able to establish the person, he speeds off. When Benson recognises a person who tries to rattle the witness on the stand as the identical man who approached Noah, she contacts Stabler in hopes of serving to her with the case. Followers will bear in mind the season 24 episode “Blood Out” the place Benson asks Stabler to choose up her son and transport him again dwelling, stating that she trusted him to deliver her son dwelling safely. This marked a turning level of their relationship as she not solely displayed a newfound confidence in her former companion, however their almost-kiss prompted them to confront their underlying emotions, which had been brewing for over twenty years.
Within the rest room with Mueller Hayes’ head smashed up towards the chilly tile, he utters, “If you ever go anywhere near my friend or her son again, I won’t take you down. I’ll take you apart.”
Earlier than he leaves, he says to Hayes, “Tell Gomez to watch his back.”
Although we by no means see Benson and Stabler talk throughout this episode, the data that Elliot will drop every part and present up for Olivia and Noah speaks volumes about their relationship and the way a lot it has grown and matured since he returned to New York. Additionally, whereas we don’t know what she texted him to confront Hayes, we all know, in addition to Benson, that Stabler is a person with a brief fuse, particularly on the subject of the individuals he loves. In earlier years, Benson could have been apprehensive about approaching him for help for worry that his rage would cloud his judgment, however now, she trusts him implicitly.
That, or she begged and pleaded with him to be discreet in his dealing with.
“Play with Fire Pt 2” – LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT, Pictured: (l-r) Elizabeth Marvel as Counselor Calhoun, Reinaldo Faberlle as Sgt. Gomez. Peter Kramer/NBC ©2024 Community. All Rights Reserved
Lt. Gomez is discovered responsible, and although Benson and Lt. Brady have been at odds throughout some elements of the investigation, partly due to Olivia’s response as soon as her son was concerned, the 2 reconcile their variations.
General, it was a charming episode with the Regulation & Order characters’ appearances serving as a big addition, and who doesn’t love a pop-in from Chris Meloni?
How did you want this week’s episode? How did you’re feeling about Stabler’s look? Let me know within the feedback!
