‘Law & Order: SVU’ Needs To Bring Back the Olivia Benson That the Crime Procedural Lost 6 Years Ago

In the 26 seasons that Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has been on air, it has gone through a lot of changes, from longtime cast members leaving, to major character deaths, and storylines that stick with viewers long after they’re over. But the one constant has always been Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay). Ever since the pilot episode, she has represented the definition of female empowerment. She’s strong, smart, and doesn’t take nonsense from anyone. She’s a true trailblazer in every sense of the word. But, as is the case with any character on a multi-season show, she has gone through a lot of changes, and while most have been for the better, there are some changes that haven’t been for the best. Namely, how much she’s changed since becoming captain in Season 21.

Olivia Benson Is a Better Character When She’s a Detective

It’s a huge deal that Benson is captain, and she has given more than enough of her time and dedication to the job to earn it. However, the way SVU has gone about portraying her in the role doesn’t always sit right. She makes good choices as captain, and runs the Special Victims Unit well, but as for her character? She’s rather empty. I long for the days of SVU where we were getting lots of Benson development, as well as the rest of the unit. Now it just feels like any other procedural show on television, when SVU always felt so ahead of its time in terms of balancing the work/life aspect. Benson is still someone to admire, but the show has done her a major disservice, and all traces back to when she got the captain position.

It was an exciting and full-circle moment to see Benson be promoted to sergeant and eventually captain, and it’s still so empowering to see a woman in an often male-dominated position. However, Benson really does suit the detective position so much more. It’s not to say she isn’t capable of being a captain (she does a great job in what is certainly a high-stress position), but she’s at her best when she’s more hands-on. The role of a captain is to delegate and to keep order. Cragen (Dann Florek), for example, was a great captain and kept everyone and everything in line, but we rarely saw him out of his office, save for the really high-stakes SVU cases.

Benson’s biggest strength and biggest weakness has always been her empathy. She feels so deeply for the survivors and wants to help them in any way she can, and she has always done so. However, being captain often means detaching yourself from cases because there’s so much else on your plate. Benson struggles to separate herself from the job because she is so emotionally invested in every case. It’s what makes her such an incredible detective and advocate for the survivors and victims, but it doesn’t translate as well to her role as captain.

Mariska Hargitay’s Benson Is an Underdeveloped Captain in ‘Law & Order: SVU’

One of the most jarring differences between early seasons of SVU and current ones, is how cold the newer seasons feel. In the early seasons, everyone was interacting with one another and they all seemed friendly and familiar. They all had lives we knew about. We knew about family members, past experiences, traumas, and histories. The characters were constantly growing and evolving. Christopher Meloni‘s Stabler, for example, is very different from the one we started out with. The early Stabler used to fly off the handle at the smallest things, and would get physical with perps as he yelled in their faces. Now he’s much more level-headed and professional, and we have watched that growth happen over the years.

The new seasons of Law & Order: SVU barely give us any growth for their characters. We know little about them outside of their names and their general work history at the unit, which is a far cry from what fans are used to. Even the characters we’ve known forever, such as Fin (Ice-T), Carisi (Peter Scanavino), and Rollins (Kelly Giddish), barely get further character development. Sure, we got a Carisi and Rollins wedding, but would we have gotten that if Rollins weren’t exiting the show at the time? Likely not. Heck, we barely even see Noah (Ryan Buggle) anymore, and he’s Benson’s son! There was a time when Noah and Benson were one of the biggest and most beloved story beats on SVU, but now it’s practically nonexistent.

Benson herself barely gets development, and it really does feel like it’s because now that she’s captain, there’s nothing for the show to work toward. There’s no big promotion to reach, and there’s no real risk of being fired since she’s in charge. There’s no need to put Benson through more of the horrific things she’s already been through (we can’t handle another William Lewis situation), but it would be nice to get a glimpse into her personal life more since she is the main character. Perhaps she needs to step away from the captain’s office to do that.

‘Law & Order: SVU’ and Olivia Benson Need To Find a Way To Evolve

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that SVU has dwindled in quality in recent years. It’s understandable, and, after 26 seasons, it must be hard to come up with fresh ideas and interesting cases. But the show needs to find a way to evolve because, right now, it’s at a standstill. With Rollins coming as a series regular for Season 27, this could be the perfect time. The show has more than proven its potential to last and adapt to the times, but the recent seasons have shown cracks, and Benson’s mundane and repetitive role as captain isn’t helping. Moving her back to detective, or even sergeant, would be a more beneficial move as it allows her to really dig into the cases without the added benefit of being able to do whatever she wants and break rules because she’s the boss.

It brings back those stakes and gives SVU its edge back. More importantly, it allows Benson to give everything she has to her job and the survivors. The detachment that has to come with a captain position doesn’t suit her, and while that isn’t the type of captain she tries to be, it’s simply a fact. Going back to the detective or sergeant ranks would allow Benson to pour her heart and soul into every case and give it the dedication it deserves without being pulled in a million directions. It’s not so much a demotion as it is a way to let Benson be the superhero she is without strings.