After 26 Seasons of ‘Law & Order: SVU,’ It’s Clear That Olivia Benson’s Biggest Strength Is Also Her Worst Weakness

Since 1999, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit has continuously showcased the good, the bad, and the ugly of being a detective in the sex crimes unit. There’s, of course, the satisfaction of a case solved and justice served, but there’s also the devastation of a victim and the trauma that follows. It’s a double-edged sword the show has always balanced, and we often see it shown through Olivia Benson’s (Mariska Hargitay) eyes. This especially became the case as the show moved into its later seasons, and she became the primary focus following Stabler’s (Christopher Meloni) departure. Benson takes the lead on many cases, and we get to see her detective skills in full force.

However, since she is the show’s main character, we also get to know her as a person, and her humanity shines through and bleeds into her work more often than not. It’s a huge juxtaposition to a lot of other procedurals in which everything is pretty straightforward and everyone does their job as directed. Benson leads with her heart first, and while it’s an admirable trait in her line of work, it has proven to be both her greatest strength and her greatest weakness.

Olivia Benson’s Biggest Weakness in ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Is Her Empathy

While she can be a total badass with perps and lay down the law, she can also be very soft and kind to survivors who need that comfort in the moment. On one hand, it’s admirable and impressive, and it’s the exact kind of care you want to see from someone who investigates the kind of heinous crimes that Benson covers. On the other hand, she often gets too invested in the cases and the survivors, to the point where she’s unable to do her job to the best of her ability. She’s never a bad detective because of her empathy, but it does hold her back and doesn’t always allow her to be objective because she gets too attached.

The Season 2 episode “Abuse” featured a young girl named Ashley (Hayden Panettiere) whose parents are famous musicians and are neglectful towards her and her brother, the latter of whom ends up dying in a tragic accident. Benson has a natural draw to Ashley, and Ashley grows attached to Benson since her own parents don’t pay her much attention. It gets so intense that she starts calling Benson while she’s on the job, and even shows up at the station to see her without her parents’ knowledge, which puts Benson in a very difficult position. She doesn’t want to turn Ashley away when she’s clearly crying out for help, but her job is also on the line. It’s a really great early example of how Benson’s empathetic nature gets her into sticky situations, even though she means well.

Olivia Benson’s Empathy Has Saved the Day on ‘Law & Order: SVU’

While Benson’s empathy has proven to be a weak spot for her, it has also saved the day, and that cannot go unrecognized. The Season 7 episode “911,” which is one of the show’s most acclaimed and earned Hargitay her first Emmy, is the perfect example of how Benson’s caring nature saved the day. The memorable episode features a 911 call from a young girl who claims she’s trapped in a room but has no idea where. Benson spends hours on the phone with the girl who she discovers is named Maria (Rachel Diaz-Stand), trying desperately to get any sort of clue that will help them find her. The rest of the squad believes it to be a prank call and insists Benson give up on it, but she’s convinced and refuses to hang up. The entire episode is spent with Benson talking to Maria and eventually piecing together enough information to get a lead — and eventually save her.

It’s that determination and refusal to give up that saved Maria’s life. Even though the rest of the squad was sure it was fake, Benson knew deep down it was real, and even if it ended up being fake, she wouldn’t have been able to live with herself if she didn’t at least try. Had it not been for her, Maria likely never would have been found. That’s not the first time cases like this have happened. Benson is always giving her all to every case, even when it’s out of her hands. It’s how she became a mother! Noah (Ryan Buggle) was just a baby when Benson found him in a drawer, and she continuously checked up on him even after he was placed into foster care. Later, she was granted temporary custody of him, with the eventual option to adopt him, and Benson’s life completely changed from that moment on.

Olivia Benson’s Empathy Is a Huge Part of Her Character in ‘Law & Order: SVU’

SVU has always stuck out among other procedurals in many ways, namely in the types of cases it deals with, but also in how its detectives navigate their careers. They approach the job so much differently than other television detectives we see. Heck, there are not even any similar personalities on SVU because they’re all so different in how they go about their work. Take the original squad, for example. Stabler is very direct and hot-headed, Fin (Ice-T) is intimidating but a bit more relaxed in his approach, and Munch (Richard Belzer) is very analytical. Benson balances everything out by being the true heart of the squad in every sense of the word. Not only is she now the face of the show, but she has always had the most gentle approach to the job — and the most emotional stakes in it.

It’s a great character beat, and it certainly adds to why fans love her so much. But after so many years, it’s become clear just how big of a weakness Benson’s soft spot is, especially now that she’s gone from detective to captain. She needs to be objective and detached, and that’s never been her strong suit. It’s nice to see that, after so many years on the job, she hasn’t lost her humanity, but with every passing season, it becomes more and more evident that her empathy is her Achilles heel, and it will eventually come to bite her.