Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 28 Episode 6 Review: Benson and Stabler Continue to Run in Circles

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 28 Episode 6, “Obedience,” features Christopher Meloni’s Elliot Stabler returning for the iconic 600th episode.

This milestone has been teased for weeks, suggesting a potential turning point in Benson and Stabler’s will-they, won’t-they dynamic.

Audiences fall for the bait, hook, line, and sinker — but it is only bait because nothing monumental happens for Benson and Stabler.

Since Stabler’s return on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 22 Episode 9, “Return of the Prodigal Son,” he and Benson have been working through their unresolved feelings.

It is extremely complicated because Stabler leaves SVU without even telling Benson, one of the deepest betrayals she endures.

Not only do they have to work past it, but they must untangle what they feel about each other, which is challenging in the wake of Kathy’s death, Stabler’s new job at Organized Crime, and Benson’s captain promotion.

However, it has been years since Stabler’s reappearance. Elliot and Olivia have had plenty of time to work things out and grow closer than ever.

So it is quite puzzling that they seem to be back where they started on the 600th episode.

Elliot does not even believe they are friends, and Olivia returns the sentiment when they argue about their old case. It feels like a recycled conversation they had over half a decade ago.

They resolve their animosity by the end, but Elliot leaves for Arizona after Olivia rejects his invitation to join him.

For any typical episode where Stabler guest stars, this narrative already feels redundant. It is just plain insulting for a milestone episode, especially since it could very well be the last one.

It is okay if the show decides not to pursue Benson and Stabler’s romance. They have been close friends and trusted partners for almost 30 years, and despite what they might feel, a romantic relationship may not feel right for them.

However, there is no reason Elliot and Olivia have to work out issues that they had already fixed a while back.

Their strained friendship is an overdone, repetitive storyline that leaves their dynamic stagnant and underdeveloped. It is a real disservice to the most beautifully complex partnership the show ever had.

Regardless of how the show does not know what to do with Benson and Stabler’s relationship, their chemistry is still undeniable after all these years, a refreshing episode highlight.

Fin Tutuola: Some partnerships don’t end, even when they do.

Despite the disappointing Benson and Stabler update, Stabler does experience decent character development when revisiting their old case.

As law enforcement evolves, it becomes more evident that most of Stabler’s tactics were unethical, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 28 Episode 6, “Obedience,” demonstrates the dire consequences.

Stabler had no issue sending an innocent man to jail in the 1990s, all because he followed his gut rather than conducting a thorough investigation.

Gut feelings are important to consider, but they should never be the defining factor in believing someone is guilty of a brutal rape and murder.

That is why Stabler initially refuses to revisit the case — he has a difficult time coming to terms with the fact that he could be wrong. Furthermore, a wrongful conviction also means that Stabler has Father Anthony’s abuse of the nuns on his conscience, something he must now live with.

The narrative tests Stabler’s faith yet again, but it fuels him to do the right thing and get justice for Father Anthony’s victims.

It is unknown whether or not Stabler will guest star on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 28, but he absolutely should return. Even if the writing on Benson and Stabler’s relationship is not up to par, their interactions always light up the atmosphere.

Besides, Stabler says his time in the NYPD is not finished, but perhaps he means that in more ways than one. There is still hope for a Benson and Stabler romance. For now, it is a treat when Stabler returns, and next time, hopefully his friendship with Benson will be in a good place. 

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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airs Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.

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