# L&O:SVU question... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 31, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375 "2005-08-31T02:18:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/1 "2005-08-31T02:18:05Z")
All I get are the reruns on USA, and now I’m hooked. Can someone give me the rundown on Stabler? Sounds like his wife filed for divorce. Confirm? Deny? Expand? Clarify? Are they setting up Stabler and Benson to “get personal”? I have mixed feelings about this. It’d be damn hot, but I dunno if Benson’s characterization would ever allow her to share that with someone she’s already so emotionally intimate with. Plus, it presents serious plot problems, as it’s been implied, if not outright stated, that getting personal with a fellow detective in the same squad can get you fired. Could be a train wreck. Of course, it does seem that L&O:SVU’s _raison d’etre_ is to pile as much soul-blighting misery on its characters as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/2 "2005-08-31T04:50:03Z")
Stabler and his wife separate. I’m not sure if they actually divorce or not. I was really bummed because I like seeing the character interact with his wife and kids. I haven’t seen any indication that they are going to hook up Benson and Stabler. I really hope the don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/3 "2005-08-31T06:00:34Z")
Personally, I’ve never gotten more than a “very close friends” vibe between them. But that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/4 "2005-08-31T06:20:36Z")
I don’t get an attraction vibe either. The only vibe I get is Stabler chewing the scenery to pieces every time he wants to “act”. ---
**Author:** ![Cynical\_Optimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Cynical\_Optimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cynical_Optimist)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/5 "2005-08-31T12:48:50Z")
Stabler’s wife took their four(?) kids & filed for divorce, and as a devout Catholic it’s eating him up. He’s quickly turning into a rogue cop, I fully expect him to go Gitmo on some child molestor within the next season or two. Benson had a one-night fling with a former coworker in a previous season so it’s not out of the question that Stabler could give her “an exclusive” (to steal a catchphrase from another show) but I hope it happens off-camera. Even the situation at work is getting grim: Stabler’s oldest daughter got nailed for DUI and he “fixed it” with the arresting officer so it didn’t get sent to the DA for prosecution. When Cragen found out about that he blew a gasket and I expected them to come to blows right then & there. Quick hijack: Stabler’s daughter wouldn’t give the arresting officer her name but she had a “courtesy shield” which I assume let the officer know her father was a detective. Does this sort of thing actually happen? I’m sure there are favors exchanged but do they really give “cop’s kid” badges? I find that difficult to believe. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/6 "2005-08-31T14:00:39Z")
Why does it have to be Stabler and Benson, anyway? It’d be less predictable and gutsier for the writers to try Benson and Munch, or Benson and Tutola, or Benson and Cragen or (my personal favourite) Benson and Novak. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/7 "2005-08-31T16:02:50Z")
I can’t see Olivia and Munch together. Munch used to hit on the red-haired medical examiner quite a bit - I forget her name, but I think she’s been on all three varieties of _L&O_. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/8 "2005-08-31T16:30:41Z")
I can sort of see Benson and Cragen. She’s always been more open with him about her mother’s alcohol use, her own conception by rape, that sort of thing. Cragen is a recovering alcoholic, which might resonate with her own history. However, he might be more of a father-figure to her. I hope in the end Stabler will end up back with his wife. He is still very much a family man. StG ---
**Author:** ![Leviosaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Leviosaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leviosaurus)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/9 "2005-08-31T16:37:36Z")
I’m amazed you guys can keep them all straight. I watch the show and enjoy it, but I’ve always remembered their names as: **Ice-T Richard Belzer Gruff Cop Guy Hot Detective chick Hot DA chick Police Chief Guy** I assume you’re talking about **Hot Detective Chick** hooking up with **Gruff Cop Guy**? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/10 "2005-08-31T17:18:20Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > or (my personal favourite) Benson and Novak. That’s _everyone’s_ [personal favorite. Actually, in the ep where: Former ADA Cabot comes back, proving she was in the witness protection program and not murdered, there is a brief scene where it almost looked like her and Benson were about to get it on. Maybe it was just my male fantasies running wild, but I got a vibe. I swear, there was a vibe! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/11 "2005-08-31T18:11:16Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > That’s _everyone’s_ [personal favorite. > > Actually, in the ep where: > > Former ADA Cabot comes back, proving she was in the witness protection program and not murdered, there is a brief scene where it almost looked like her and Benson were about to get it on. Maybe it was just my male fantasies running wild, but I got a vibe. I swear, there was a vibe! 😛 No way, Cabot and Novak is EVERYONE’s favorite…or at least MY favorite. And you weren’t imagining anything in that episode… ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/12 "2005-08-31T19:02:13Z")
> [@Cynical Optimist](#): > > Even the situation at work is getting grim: Stabler’s oldest daughter got nailed for DUI and he “fixed it” with the arresting officer so it didn’t get sent to the DA for prosecution. When Cragen found out about that he blew a gasket and I expected them to come to blows right then & there. Nitpick…it wasn’t his oldest daughter. It was the second oldest, Kathleen who had the DUI. Maureen, the oldest is the “good girl.” Kathleen is the wild one. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/13 "2005-08-31T19:37:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Stabler’s wife took their four(?) kids & filed for divorce, and as a devout Catholic it’s eating him up. He’s quickly turning into a rogue cop That’s od. I always got a very strong family vice from Stabler’s marriage. What set this off? He seems to be a good father, and especially so given the hyper-dramatic job he has ( 😉 ). ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/14 "2005-08-31T19:43:31Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Nitpick…it wasn’t his oldest daughter. It was the second oldest, Kathleen who had the DUI. Maureen, the oldest is the “good girl.” Kathleen is the wild one. Maureen has had her moments, though. There was the ep. that Stabler thought she was becomeing anorexic. It was mostly his imagination/taking his job home with him, but she didn’t help by being all bitchy about it. And then the ep. where he caught her sneaking into the house at 3 AM, and she kept refusing to tell him where she was, Unless one or both of those were Kathleen, but I seem to recall them happening in early seasons, when Maureen was still in high school. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/15 "2005-08-31T19:51:00Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > Munch used to hit on the red-haired medical examiner quite a bit - I forget her name, but I think she’s been on all three varieties of _L&O_. Well, actually, there were [sub]_cough_ _cough_[/sub] four. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/16 "2005-08-31T20:00:38Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Well, actually, there were [sub]_cough_ _cough_[/sub] four. Yes, I know, but _Trial By Jury_ was cancelled so quickly I didn’t bother mentioning it. And I don’t think she ever appeared on that one. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/17 "2005-08-31T21:06:31Z")
SVU has been my farorite L&O for some time now, but I have to say that I like it less since it’s become “The Benson and Stabler Show”. Fin’s screen time has been steadily shrinking (though he’s had a couple of decent storylines in the past couple of years) and Munch’s character has become nothing more than set dressing. I’ve always enjoyed Richard Belzer’s work and have been a fan of the Munch character since “Homicide”. And Fin has probably been the most complex, intricate character in the show. I’d love to see a show with those two as the main characters!Favorite Fin moment: Fin is explaining to the squad about the group of black men “on the down-low” --i.e. closet homosexuals. After his rather detailed explanation, there’s this uncomfortable pause as the rest of the squad looks [INDENT]As for Munch, it doesn’t get any better than the ep when they extradite the serial killer from Canada. As they take him into custody, Munch looks him dead in the eye and says, “Welcome to the United States!” BTW, I would have loved to see Munch and the medical examiner hook up. Their combined cynicisms would have made a perfect match. askance at him. He then says, “Hey, don’t look at me, I just know stuff!”. One of his best moments, IMHO.[/INDENT] ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/18 "2005-08-31T21:09:25Z")
SVU has been my farorite L&O for some time now, but I have to say that I like it less since it’s become “The Benson and Stabler Show”. Fin’s screen time has been steadily shrinking (though he’s had a couple of decent storylines in the past couple of years) and Munch’s character has become nothing more than set dressing. I’ve always enjoyed Richard Belzer’s work and have been a fan of the Munch character since “Homicide”. And Fin has probably been the most complex, intricate character in the show. I’d love to see a show with those two as the main characters!Favorite Fin moment: Fin is explaining to the squad about the group of black men “on the down-low” --i.e. closet homosexuals. After his rather detailed explanation, there’s this uncomfortable pause as the rest of the squad looks askance at him. He then says, “Hey don’t look at me, I just know stuff!” One of his best moments, IMHO. [INDENT]As for Munch, it doesn’t get any better than the ep when they extradite the serial killer from Canada. As they take him into custody, Munch looks him dead in the eye and says, “Welcome to the United States!” BTW, I would have loved to see Munch and the medical examiner hook up. Their combined cynicisms would have made a perfect match. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/19 "2005-08-31T22:49:58Z")
Stabler as an overprotective father and Kathleen as the Wild Child… The kid will end up dead and we will see Stabler SNAP. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375/20 "2005-09-01T00:05:55Z")
> [@Cynical Optimist](#): > > Does this sort of thing actually happen? I’m sure there are favors exchanged but do they really give “cop’s kid” badges? I find that difficult to believe. A friend of mine is the daughter of a very popular (now retired) California Highway Patrolman. The motorcycle cops loved him because he never became a part of the brass and was a well liked instructor at the academy at the end of his career. If she got pulled over, they would take a look at her license and ask, “any relation?” She would say, “my dad” and get off with a warning. If her Dad ever found out about that happening, he would have been irate at both her and the officer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/l-o-svu-question/319375.md?page=2)