Law and Order SVU fans were initially meant to see that long-awaited kiss between Benson and Stabler before a “last minute” shake-up.
Since 1999, the NBC legal drama has been one of the most-watched dramas in the US and is now among the longest running in television history.
Captain Olivia Benson (played by Mariska Hargitay) worked alongside Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) for 12 years before he made his exit in 2011 and Benson was promoted.
Stabler hadn’t been around until Law and Order Organized Crime made its debut three years ago with a number of crossovers seeing him reunited with his former colleague.
It was then in season 24’s Blood Out that a romantic spark between the pair was addressed when they almost kissed in Benson’s kitchen.
Stabler wanted to alter their dynamic but a reluctant Benson pulled away as she worried about it “not working out.”
Fans were left frustrated by this moment with the characters’ chemistry undeniable but actress Hargitay revealed to Variety that it was initially planned that they would kiss.
It was thanks to creator Dick Wolf, however, that a “last minute” change which would see Benson hold back, was filmed instead.
She explained: ‘To be honest with you, [Meloni] and I thought it should go one way and the powers that be didn’t, so it got changed at the last minute, that near kiss.
“‘Obviously Dick gets final say. It’s his show and he didn’t want that.
“We want to hold the tension and do what’s right and truthful for both characters.”
Given that both Benson and Stabler have made it clear that there are romantic feelings between them, a kiss is most likely still on the cards.
While SVU has already been given the greenlight for a 26th season, Organized Crime’s future is a little bit more complicated.
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NBC remained quiet on whether or not the spin-off would be making a comeback, seeing as its ratings have been far lower than both the original drama and SVU.
Nevertheless, it was good news for viewers when it came out that Organized Crime would be returning for a fifth outing.
But there will be a change when it does return as instead of airing on NBC, it is instead going to be shown exclusively on its streamer Peacock.
