Chris Meloni Had To Cut Key Mariska Hargitay Law & Order Scenes

Chris Meloni revealed he had to cut key scenes featuring Mariska Hargitay from an episode of Law & Order: Organized Crime season 5. Hargitay returned as Olivia Benson in Law & Order: Organized Crime season 5, episode 2. She visited Meloni’s Elliot Stabler after an accident during an investigation, later aiding the Organized Crime Control Bureau finding a serial killer.

Speaking with TVLine, though, Meloni revealed Hargitay originally had a bigger role in Law & Order: Organized Crime season 5, episode 2. The star, who also wrote the episode, explained how Benson was supposed to be in place of Jet Slootmaekers when they go undercover near the end of the episode. But, due to filming time constraints, she was cut:

This is how this went down. They said, ‘Hey, they want Mariska on your show for an episode.’ Great. So I go, ‘I want to write it, because I feel as though I’ll do a great job.’ ‘OK, great. You got it.’

They break it down and they go, ‘We’ll need her for five days. SVU comes back to us and says, ‘You got three.’ So I go back to the drawing board, going, ‘She’s out of that!’

What Meloni’s Statement Means For Benson in Law & Order: Organized Crime

Benson still had an important role in the episode, having appeared twice in important capacities. She’s also shown up in the series before, making guest appearances in 14 of the spinoff’s 75 episodes. In this instance, however, she was supposed to have a larger role, helping Stabler more than just visiting him after he sustained an injury.

Even so, her brief period on the cast of Law & Order: Organized Crime was important for the episode, emphasizing the bond between Benson and Stabler. Her contribution to the Bureau’s investigation is also what informs the protagonist of Vic’s death. She appears not only because of her importance to the lead, but to push the larger story along.

Her small involvement in the episode also emphasizes Meloni’s statement, since her appearance comes across as if she was meant to have a bigger role. He’d planned for her to be involved right until the end, with the time constraints unfortunately making this an impossibility. Still, he didn’t cut her from the episode, emphasizing her overall importance to Stabler’s life.

Our Take On Hargitay’s Reduced Role In Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5

Ralph Bavaro / ©NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection

While it’s unfortunate that Hargitay didn’t have an expanded role in season 5, episode 2 like Meloni planned, her appearance was still crucial to the episode and how its story played out. Plus, she’d been absent from season 4, making an appearance from her in season 5 a long time coming. Her arrival was kept relevant to the narrative.

As for the future, Law & Order: Organized Crime season 5 is currently being re-aired on NBC following its Peacock premiere in April 2025. Depending on its ratings, the show could be renewed for season 6. This would give ample opportunity for Hargitay to return again, perhaps for a larger role depending on how logistics can be worked out.