This article includes mentions of rape and sex crimes.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unitwill continue its remarkable run with season 27 this fall. Michele Fazekas is also returning toSVU, but this time as the first female showrunner in the show’s history. Fazekas was previously a writer and co-executive producer on the NBC police procedural from 2001 to 2006.
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Given Fazekas’ past involvement withSVU, she could be the one to finally makeOlivia Benson and Elliot Stabler’s romancepossible. Fazekas is familiar with both characters and their history as partners and friends.Law & Order: SVUseason 27may be the year when Benson and Stabler fall in love after years of will they/won’t they get together.
Law & Order: SVU Season 27 Showrunner Was Part Of The Team That Ramped Up Benson & Stabler’s Romantic Tendencies
Fazekas Wrote And Produced Episodes During Earlier Seasons Of SVU
Fazekas was part of the unit of writers and producers who hinted at Benson and Stabler’s potential romanceback in seasons 3 through 7. This was around the period when both characters had already grown accustomed to each other as partners inSVU. However, they had also familiarized themselves with their personal lives, making it a challenge sometimes at work.
Season 6 ofSVUwas particularly revealing as Benson opened up to Stablerabout her traumatizing childhood. This included Benson being raped, raised by an alcoholic mother, and her father absent from her life. Stabler fully supported Benson and believed that she was capable of being a good parent, even though she had doubts due to her upbringing.

Michele Fazekas wrote or co-wrote 19 episodes ofLaw & Order: SVUwhen she previously worked on the show from seasons 3-7. She will be the first female showrunner inSVU’s history when she works on season 27. Fazekas is known for her work on other shows likeAgent Carter,Emergence, andGen V.
Stabler also went through tough times in season 6as he admitted to Benson his separation from his wife Kathy. Elliot told his partner that this situation made him difficult to work with, but she in turn supported him. Stabler’s frustration was evident as he and Benson worked together on a rape case.

Although briefly parting ways in season 7,Benson and Stabler knew they were inseparable. For season 27, Fazekas could have the pair expand their relationship by joining forces on complex cases and having more intimate conversations about their personal lives. They may also begin their romance in an episode where they fully reveal their true feelings for each other.
Fazekas Knows How To Properly Utilize Benson & Stabler’s Chemistry
Fazekas Understands Benson And Stabler’s Relationship And Can Push It Further In Season 27
Fazekas is the perfect showrunner to facilitate Benson and Stabler’s relationshipbecause she set up some of the pair’s deepest moments together as they elevated their bond. She understands the power behind Olivia and Elliot’s chemistry, and can make season 27 a throwback to the more character-driven elements of the show that were established inSVU’s earlier seasons.
Fazekas could also have Elliot collaborate more, not only with Captain Benson, but also with other members of her squad, includingLaw & Order: SVUfavorite Amanda Rollinsand former teammate Fin Tutuola.Elliot and Olivia can also reestablish their chemistry at work by doing more undercover missionsto take down perpetrators involved with sex crimes, reminiscent of how they operated together in the past.

The chemistry between Stabler and Benson has always worked from the startbecause they are tough, diligent, and caring detectives who prioritize helping victims and supporting them through traumatic situations. Both characters have also had their fair share of life-and-death scenarios, but have always battled their way through them and stood by each other through severe injuries.
Although Stabler was primarily known for getting rough with suspects in his early years withSVU, he understood when to draw the line thanks to his partnership with Benson.Olivia is an excellent communicator with Stablerand the victims she talks to because she does her best to control any intense situation, which has only grown over the years with experience.
Why SVU Season 27 Is The Perfect Time To Make Benson & Stabler A Reality
The First Female SVU Showrunner Can Finally Bring Elliot And Olivia Together After Years Of Build-Up
Season 27 ofSVUis the right year to make Benson and Stabler’s romance possiblebecause, apart from their brief interaction inLaw & Order: Organized Crimeseason 5, they haven’t collaborated together in a while. Despite being away from each other for a decade since Stabler leftSVU, Olivia and Elliot still admire each other as detectives.
Stabler and Benson also appear intent on starting a loving relationshipafter a few occasions in which they both almost shared a kiss. The problem has been finding the right moment for their love to commence, since their day jobs can get hectic. They both also have a lot of family dynamics, includingOlivia’s adopted son inSVU, Noah.
Elliot has been caring for his elderly mother alongside his older brother Randall, while also looking out for his youngest son Eli, who recently became an NYPD officer. However,Benson and Stabler are familiar with each other’s families and have been supportive through rough times and losses, including during Kathy’s death.
The care and familiarity of both sides also make the chances of Benson and Stabler falling in love seem perfect. Finding love with Olivia would be fitting for Stabler after the emotional loss of his younger brother, Joey. With Fazekas returning toLaw & Order: SVU, and with Benson and Stabler still going strong, it’s time to start their next chapter.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Cast
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a television series that premiered in 1999. Set in the criminal justice system of New York City, it follows an elite team of detectives who investigate sexually-based offenses, focusing on their efforts to solve complex cases and seek justice for victims.