Christopher Meloni confirms Olivia Benson will make an appearance in Law and Order: Organized Crime season 5

Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler fans, your wish for a reunion has been granted! Back in May, Mariska Hargitay shared that the two characters would share the same screen again. Plans were being put in place, she'd met Law and Order: Organized Crime's showrunner, the ball was rolling. Now Christopher Meloni has confirmed the reunion will take place in season 5.

When viewers are brought back into Stabler's world, the feel of it may be a bit different. This is due to the show's upcoming transition from being a broadcast staple to a streaming original. Its renewal came with a caveat, it would no longer be a part of NBC's Thursday line-up but instead be added to Peacock's roster. As Hidden Remote previously reported, this may come with an age rating increase, more graphic storytelling and coarse language, though that has yet to be announced.

There's a chance here to do something different with Law and Order: Organized Crime and that may extend to progress being made with Benson and Stabler as well. When speaking to People, Meloni stated that "I know Benson will be with OC for a moment there" and that her appearance will happen in episode 2 which he's writing. That's exciting news for fans as he and Hargitay have a specific vision for their characters and their dynamic. The actress has said both she and Meloni have been ready to pull the trigger on the "will they-won't they" dynamic Benson and Stabler's connection has developed into over the decades.

Meloni wouldn't give away just what may happen in the episode, but he did tease just enough to pique interest.

"I'm going to have an opportunity to... I don't know. I'll tell you what. Hopefully, uncover, peel away a little bit more of the onion or uncover a little more depth of feeling between them."

It's been a long wait for the pair to make progress, if season 5 episode 2 of Law and Order: Organized Crime gets them one step closer, perhaps several steps, that's something to rejoice about. When speaking in May about the reunion, Hargitay said, "They want us together, and Chris and I were talking about it, and it’s time. It’s time now for us. This was a long time not being in each other’s universe."

She didn't elaborate on what "want us together" meant and, while it quite possibly might have been a comment that it's simply time to put Benson and Stabler back in the same orbit, there is hope that the two might finally get there romantically with one another even if they'd be sorting out a budding relationship on two separate shows. There's precedence for it though! We've seen pairings in Dick Wolf shows that balance that shift. FBI and FBI: Most Wanted are working through that dynamic with Stuart Scola and Nina Chase so it's not out of the realm of possibility.

Meloni, however, wasn't able to confirm that he'll be making an appearance on Law and Order: SVU season 26. Hopefully, he will so fans get more than one crossover during the 2024-2025 television season. In the meantime, we do have this team up to look forward to. Stay tuned to Hidden Remote for more news and follow us on X!