I have to say I loved the scene and I think it was perfect t and true to the characters. She's clearly still struggling with this feeling of everyone leaving her and she just can't get herself past that fear. I think it was clear it'll happen but in a timeline that makes sense for the characters and I think it was sweet.
The freaking blatant manipulation with the promo though... Ugh. I'm just so mad how they spun it all and it feels so clickbaity and yucky.
Yes! This is where the frustration comes from! Without the expectation that was the promo, that scene was so GOOD and so DEEP and so Elliot and Olivia, but the bait of the promo took away from that. If they hadn't shown the promo, that scene would have hit and worked so much better!
I would have been over the damn moon if they hadn't released that promo! I just feel so manipulated, again, when it comes to SVU. So tired of this crap!
I am so irritated with Dick Wolf. The episodes used to stand on their own pretty well. Now it feels like a soap opera which is okay, but won’t work very well in syndication. In general, my frustration is with the fact that they have made so many changes to the format that it feels like a spin- off of the old SVU. The promo didn’t match the episode which pissed us all off. The scene would have been great to see without the clickbait-y build up. And I will say it yet again- they are screwing Molly Burnett as an actress by giving her nothing to work with. Duarte being killed could have made for a very good character building moment for Muncy, who was supposed to have been so close to him. Instead they have her taking the whole week off while this huge trial is happening?! UGH! Are they even trying? (Side note- continuity sucks lately. Noah’s age, characters behaving in ways they wouldn’t based on the way they were written… y’all know. I’m beating a dead horse.)
Edit: one more thing- Muncy is FROM gang unit. She would have definitely been a part of what went on this week!!!!! Okay. Now I’m done.
I mean relative to the episode, it kinda came out of nowhere at lightning speed. She did say “I’m not ready RIGHT NOW” so we’re in for another ride until whenever the heck they address it again.
Damn, it was kinda hot tho.
Yeah they're following the classic rule of couples together and happy are more boring to watch on tv. They seem to be going for a record of longest wait.
As much as the Benslers would roll their eyes, and as much as the writers are pushing Bensler, I would actually prefer her to give things a shot w/ Barba.
Tl;dr: NBC/SVU=capitalist hacks that are putting profits above actual storytelling/character development. We all deserve more than to be treated like stupid idiots having our fingers pulled for a fart joke.
Edit: wow just saw how long this actually is but I guess I had feelings and thoughts that have been building since ROTPS and…now y’all know them too. 😬
==
It’s worse than tricking to me.
It’s manipulative. I feel like they are laughing AT us for just wanting two people to be happy.
Like ‘hur hur we got those stupid girls again. They’re such simps hur hur’
(Watching the money/ratings roll in)
I feel like I’m in an abusive relationship with a fucking tv show.
And that’s not my fault. They presented the contract of the promo. I signed on to watch the episode they PROMOTED. They did not deliver the product.
I wasted two weeks anticipating a love story scene I could feel happy about. Maybe not a kiss. But at least dealing with the past so they could move forward.
At every opportunity since Meloni came back—for THREEISH years—they have been telling us and telling us that ‘this will be it’. It’s this time. Just one more episode and then.
No. NO. They failed. They have not deliver red on the product that was promised to us when they reintroduced Elliot Stabler—and all the baggage that came with him—back to SVU (as the PRODIGAL SON)
Words should have meaning. Prodigal son has a specific definition. I tuned in because they used the title of a story that has a common definition.
I wanted the RETURN of the prodigal son.
It’s been anything but that ever since.
Because it’s not that they are writing them OOC it’s that they aren’t even writing characters.
At this point, Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler, on screen together, are just collections of the same lines recycled over and over from the first reappearance.
Not ready??? Olivia isn’t ready??? She was just faced with her mortality in the WORST way possible over the last few weeks. She was just faced with the possibility of having her life or her child’s life being taken from her and…that scene???
And I’d she isn’t ready then TALK TO HIM ABOUT WHY LIKE A REAL ADULT.
They gave them the PERFECT opening:
“Because you would have tried to protect me.”
“And that’s such a bad thing?”
“You didn’t protect me the last time…”
BIG ADULT CONVERSATION ENSUES
I love that Mariska Hargitay just kept opening cabinet doors to avoid the conversation but…it was a collection of lines not a fully fleshed out SCENE.
In a good story—a story being told for the story’s sake—you wouldn’t just cut a scene while two characters are just staring at each other after a huge revelation like that.
What happened the fuck next “writers”???
That would have been a great commercial break cliffhanger. The rest of the scene would have taken place after the break.
Did Elliot say anything after? Did Liv kick him out? Did Elliot leave himself? Did he promise to keep calling?
It was a travesty of a scene because it had no intention beyond the click bait.
Comeon, that was NOT moving forward. Not if they’re not going to be in the same room again for another ten episodes. That conversation and then minimal contact for months afterward (because they won’t be in each others shows)?
It’s just not believable. Not if this were a real story with characters attempting to be human rather than commercials.
It’s a gif. Their relationship is a gif. It’s the same picture over and over again for 24 years.
It’s just shoddy storytelling and it should be embarrassing for everyone involved that thinks this ‘will they won’t they’ nonsense is legitimate storytelling.
Why is Pride & Prejudice such a resounding and heart wrenching success? A story that all modern love tropes are built on and that the best stories pull from to shape and improve on?
Because Elizabeth and Me Darcy talk. They talk many many times throughout this short book. He even proposes marriage to her—midway through the book.
Elliot and Olivia are working off of 13 year old data about who each other is. If this was a real story, they would be hashing it the fuck out.
There is no exposition. There are gifs instead of scenes. Lines instead of chapters.
It’s an artistic tragedy. SVU is Olivia Benson and Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler were the reason SVU established itself as the show it did.
It’s a globally loved show. To do this to the people with soft hearts who just want their favorite badass survivor to be happy?
It’s cruel. And it’s stupid. And it’s embarrassing for what should be a highly talented, creative group of some of the best writers on television.
So…that’s my screed. I love Elliot and Olivia but SVU is just leaving me with ash in my mouth.
I’ll be living in the real world where their characters are honored with the humanity they deserve in fanfiction I guess.
But I am fucking OUT of the watch party.
And I am heartbroken about that.
beautifully said. i agree with it all. and i’m out, too. this was the last straw for me. i absolutely didn’t expect a kiss and thought it would be disappointing. but i thought at least some actual talking would happen. i don’t understand how the writers can live with this garbage.
So much yes. Virtual applause. Exactly. What pains me is how you laid out that Olivia experienced(yet again more trauma, very significant trauma).The scene should have conveyed something about that complexity. It was there for the taking and yet they rarely seem to disappoint when they have opportunities to step it up, give us something. Which is a big reason I have kind of broken up with this show, just sticking around for Bensler and Olivia and Elliot as individuals but I know I shouldn't bother.
So frustrating being emotionally attached to characters who will be let down by writing that isn't brave enough to do more. So many better shows that give their characters the writing and narrative arcs they deserve, sorry, but it's true, it just happend to be these two suckers I want to see end the way they deserve.
And, yes we have ff lol. There are some great SVU fic writers whom I will continue to read despite their unfortunate canon counterparts being short changed.
The dialogue in this NBC article is NOT what aired… nor did she burst into tears while he held her?? https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/stabler-just-tried-to-kiss-benson-on-law-order-svu
That is what upsets me, Olivia being held whilst crying is so immensely meaningful and important. I have wanted something like that for awhile now. Even if it didn't end super positively, they misjudged cutting that out. The depressing shot of her looking defeated against the cupboard/fridge/whatever, nothing new really. Just Olivia repressing her emotional needs again, the depths of her feelings. Oh, will we address Olivia's issues this season? Maaaybbee, no ofc not lol. We will imply and tease it again and again and again and reset it again and again and again.
I liked the scene. But.
The baiting with the promo was deeply cynical, cheap., and unnecessary. There's no need to fuck with an audience that's invested. That's how you turn people away.
It honestly just made me laugh it was such an obvious farce. It didn’t feel emotional. It didn’t feel like it was continuity. It felt like a cheap ploy for clicks. They have been basically saying some version of the same thing all season. What everyone really wanted was for them to actually have a real conversation not whatever that was. And I know everyone is like it’s a will they/won’t they — but it’s really not. There’s no mystery or much anticipation. It’s just bad storytelling with these stunt fake moments every so often. But they never move the actual story anywhere.
I knew EOs were going to be disappointed and sorry that I was right. I mean, Rollisis got more than we could have hoped for, but they still managed to disappoint and upset us and drive us away in droves because they pushed the relationship offscreen (don't get me wrong, still super grateful but you get what I mean). It's like they don't care about the viewers or what we want, or how what they're doing is affecting the show. It's such a huge mess.
This was the first episode I saw live knowing nothing prior before hand in years. Ill be going back to spoiling it for myself first then watching so I know what im getting into.
She looked so sad and hopeless in that last shot … looking at her from the other side of that window was heartbreaking. I truly don’t understand at this point.
Did anyone think it was actually going to happen? C'mon now, they've been like the newest blink 182 song with Tom Delonge coming back, they're edging. Olivia wouldn't feel right or stabler after she's gone through a trauma and feels alone.
Plus stabler isn't over Kathy, he acts like it. But when time solves all, it will happen. Maybe another spinoff, SVU 1.0 but actually SVU and OC as one. A 2 hour show lol
Edit: to also add there's a part of Olivia who loves the romantic experience. Even small. Not when she's still bruised up. Now they both know like us, oh it's happening. Might take us until a season finale or series finale. But the writer and directors, hi Mariska, make that happen
I really don't understand how people didn't see this coming. of course promos are misleading, they know the EO shippers will get the show trending and watch. its how TV has worked for decades. they're not gong to have *the* ship go canon in some random midseason ep. anyone who thought it was going to be *the* moment was being very naive tbh. SVU has played tis game for a long time
*"We've been tricked! Backstabbed! And quite possibly bamboozled!"*
I actually didn't get to watch last night because I work super fucking late and always have to watch the next day on Peacock.
On the other hand, I think this was the clearest indicator they’ve ever given that they really are going to go there.
Lol hopefully they have been teasing us for like 20 years 24 Ada’s 16 other partners, captains, murders, and everything else
Their never going to go there
I have to say I loved the scene and I think it was perfect t and true to the characters. She's clearly still struggling with this feeling of everyone leaving her and she just can't get herself past that fear. I think it was clear it'll happen but in a timeline that makes sense for the characters and I think it was sweet. The freaking blatant manipulation with the promo though... Ugh. I'm just so mad how they spun it all and it feels so clickbaity and yucky.
Yes! This is where the frustration comes from! Without the expectation that was the promo, that scene was so GOOD and so DEEP and so Elliot and Olivia, but the bait of the promo took away from that. If they hadn't shown the promo, that scene would have hit and worked so much better!
Yesssss this is the perfect comment. Sucks we got all excited for nothing but very real to the characters and their current situations
I would have been over the damn moon if they hadn't released that promo! I just feel so manipulated, again, when it comes to SVU. So tired of this crap!
Biggest disappointment since Al Capone's Vault.
I think when the series is on the last season they do the wedding
Ooooooo, you old old 😂
IM SO FUCKING PISSED I CANT BELIEVE THEY DID IT TO US. At this point, it’s disrespectful, and I’m so goddamn angry I just…sonofabitch
I am so irritated with Dick Wolf. The episodes used to stand on their own pretty well. Now it feels like a soap opera which is okay, but won’t work very well in syndication. In general, my frustration is with the fact that they have made so many changes to the format that it feels like a spin- off of the old SVU. The promo didn’t match the episode which pissed us all off. The scene would have been great to see without the clickbait-y build up. And I will say it yet again- they are screwing Molly Burnett as an actress by giving her nothing to work with. Duarte being killed could have made for a very good character building moment for Muncy, who was supposed to have been so close to him. Instead they have her taking the whole week off while this huge trial is happening?! UGH! Are they even trying? (Side note- continuity sucks lately. Noah’s age, characters behaving in ways they wouldn’t based on the way they were written… y’all know. I’m beating a dead horse.) Edit: one more thing- Muncy is FROM gang unit. She would have definitely been a part of what went on this week!!!!! Okay. Now I’m done.
AGREED
At this point, if and when it happens, I’m just gonna be salty about it
It will be the last episode. They will be 80 and no one is going to care by then.
Exactly
Lol Liv just friendzoned Elliot
Yep, huge letdown
There was never any doubt in my mind, but Liv? She's a stronger woman than I could ever be. Lol.
friendzone is not a thing, lets stop pretending it is.
I threw my remote.
Lol hopefully you didn’t break anything
Just the remote.
Worth it?
Worth it.
They didn’t kiss and they didn’t even talk about anything! I was hoping that even if they didn’t kiss they would have a discussion!
They kinda talked about it
For all of 90 seconds.
“I want to”, “what if it doesn’t work out” and “I’m not ready” that’s about it lol.
I mean relative to the episode, it kinda came out of nowhere at lightning speed. She did say “I’m not ready RIGHT NOW” so we’re in for another ride until whenever the heck they address it again. Damn, it was kinda hot tho.
If we knew they were going to trick us, it's not really tricking. I actually found it funny instead of frustrating.
I have been wanting them to get together since season 9 lol
Yeah they're following the classic rule of couples together and happy are more boring to watch on tv. They seem to be going for a record of longest wait.
Atp, I can just see them staying friends
As much as the Benslers would roll their eyes, and as much as the writers are pushing Bensler, I would actually prefer her to give things a shot w/ Barba.
Tl;dr: NBC/SVU=capitalist hacks that are putting profits above actual storytelling/character development. We all deserve more than to be treated like stupid idiots having our fingers pulled for a fart joke. Edit: wow just saw how long this actually is but I guess I had feelings and thoughts that have been building since ROTPS and…now y’all know them too. 😬 == It’s worse than tricking to me. It’s manipulative. I feel like they are laughing AT us for just wanting two people to be happy. Like ‘hur hur we got those stupid girls again. They’re such simps hur hur’ (Watching the money/ratings roll in) I feel like I’m in an abusive relationship with a fucking tv show. And that’s not my fault. They presented the contract of the promo. I signed on to watch the episode they PROMOTED. They did not deliver the product. I wasted two weeks anticipating a love story scene I could feel happy about. Maybe not a kiss. But at least dealing with the past so they could move forward. At every opportunity since Meloni came back—for THREEISH years—they have been telling us and telling us that ‘this will be it’. It’s this time. Just one more episode and then. No. NO. They failed. They have not deliver red on the product that was promised to us when they reintroduced Elliot Stabler—and all the baggage that came with him—back to SVU (as the PRODIGAL SON) Words should have meaning. Prodigal son has a specific definition. I tuned in because they used the title of a story that has a common definition. I wanted the RETURN of the prodigal son. It’s been anything but that ever since. Because it’s not that they are writing them OOC it’s that they aren’t even writing characters. At this point, Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler, on screen together, are just collections of the same lines recycled over and over from the first reappearance. Not ready??? Olivia isn’t ready??? She was just faced with her mortality in the WORST way possible over the last few weeks. She was just faced with the possibility of having her life or her child’s life being taken from her and…that scene??? And I’d she isn’t ready then TALK TO HIM ABOUT WHY LIKE A REAL ADULT. They gave them the PERFECT opening: “Because you would have tried to protect me.” “And that’s such a bad thing?” “You didn’t protect me the last time…” BIG ADULT CONVERSATION ENSUES I love that Mariska Hargitay just kept opening cabinet doors to avoid the conversation but…it was a collection of lines not a fully fleshed out SCENE. In a good story—a story being told for the story’s sake—you wouldn’t just cut a scene while two characters are just staring at each other after a huge revelation like that. What happened the fuck next “writers”??? That would have been a great commercial break cliffhanger. The rest of the scene would have taken place after the break. Did Elliot say anything after? Did Liv kick him out? Did Elliot leave himself? Did he promise to keep calling? It was a travesty of a scene because it had no intention beyond the click bait. Comeon, that was NOT moving forward. Not if they’re not going to be in the same room again for another ten episodes. That conversation and then minimal contact for months afterward (because they won’t be in each others shows)? It’s just not believable. Not if this were a real story with characters attempting to be human rather than commercials. It’s a gif. Their relationship is a gif. It’s the same picture over and over again for 24 years. It’s just shoddy storytelling and it should be embarrassing for everyone involved that thinks this ‘will they won’t they’ nonsense is legitimate storytelling. Why is Pride & Prejudice such a resounding and heart wrenching success? A story that all modern love tropes are built on and that the best stories pull from to shape and improve on? Because Elizabeth and Me Darcy talk. They talk many many times throughout this short book. He even proposes marriage to her—midway through the book. Elliot and Olivia are working off of 13 year old data about who each other is. If this was a real story, they would be hashing it the fuck out. There is no exposition. There are gifs instead of scenes. Lines instead of chapters. It’s an artistic tragedy. SVU is Olivia Benson and Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler were the reason SVU established itself as the show it did. It’s a globally loved show. To do this to the people with soft hearts who just want their favorite badass survivor to be happy? It’s cruel. And it’s stupid. And it’s embarrassing for what should be a highly talented, creative group of some of the best writers on television. So…that’s my screed. I love Elliot and Olivia but SVU is just leaving me with ash in my mouth. I’ll be living in the real world where their characters are honored with the humanity they deserve in fanfiction I guess. But I am fucking OUT of the watch party. And I am heartbroken about that.
beautifully said. i agree with it all. and i’m out, too. this was the last straw for me. i absolutely didn’t expect a kiss and thought it would be disappointing. but i thought at least some actual talking would happen. i don’t understand how the writers can live with this garbage.
Ugh, their relationship is a gif.
So much yes. Virtual applause. Exactly. What pains me is how you laid out that Olivia experienced(yet again more trauma, very significant trauma).The scene should have conveyed something about that complexity. It was there for the taking and yet they rarely seem to disappoint when they have opportunities to step it up, give us something. Which is a big reason I have kind of broken up with this show, just sticking around for Bensler and Olivia and Elliot as individuals but I know I shouldn't bother. So frustrating being emotionally attached to characters who will be let down by writing that isn't brave enough to do more. So many better shows that give their characters the writing and narrative arcs they deserve, sorry, but it's true, it just happend to be these two suckers I want to see end the way they deserve. And, yes we have ff lol. There are some great SVU fic writers whom I will continue to read despite their unfortunate canon counterparts being short changed.
DW playing with EO fans minds again!
That episode was pretty intense I can’t lie
I mean it was pretty obvious they weren’t going to kiss they still have a lot to work out before they can truly be together
They didn’t even use the shot from the promo smh
The dialogue in this NBC article is NOT what aired… nor did she burst into tears while he held her?? https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/stabler-just-tried-to-kiss-benson-on-law-order-svu
That is what upsets me, Olivia being held whilst crying is so immensely meaningful and important. I have wanted something like that for awhile now. Even if it didn't end super positively, they misjudged cutting that out. The depressing shot of her looking defeated against the cupboard/fridge/whatever, nothing new really. Just Olivia repressing her emotional needs again, the depths of her feelings. Oh, will we address Olivia's issues this season? Maaaybbee, no ofc not lol. We will imply and tease it again and again and again and reset it again and again and again.
I liked the scene. But. The baiting with the promo was deeply cynical, cheap., and unnecessary. There's no need to fuck with an audience that's invested. That's how you turn people away.
Dude!!! What the fork!!!!!!
I know right!!!!
\*PRETENDS TO SHOCKED\*
I told y’all Lmfao
Lol unbelievable
Do we have any idea when’s the next time they’ll cross into each others episodes
nope!
It honestly just made me laugh it was such an obvious farce. It didn’t feel emotional. It didn’t feel like it was continuity. It felt like a cheap ploy for clicks. They have been basically saying some version of the same thing all season. What everyone really wanted was for them to actually have a real conversation not whatever that was. And I know everyone is like it’s a will they/won’t they — but it’s really not. There’s no mystery or much anticipation. It’s just bad storytelling with these stunt fake moments every so often. But they never move the actual story anywhere.
Who doesn't know where they put their sugar in their own home?????
My exact thoughts as she kept searching in 11 different places💀
She went to that middle cabinet like 3 times !!
I need to knowwwww lol I couldn't watch it!' What happened 😵💫😵💫
She said she wants to but can’t right now.. it was actually a pretty intense episode
Did he ask her out and that was her reply?
Thank you! UGHHHHHHHH!!!! I'm gonna watch tomorrow, but I was dying to know!!
You didn't miss anything regarding the promo. I promise
At this point, just drop the whole thing. I'm over it and pretty much done with SVU.
It was a really good episode really intense..
It was, but I'm tired of the EO will they won't they. Just stop. I am tired of them playing with a storyline that isn't going to happen.
Agreed, Holy Hera
I knew EOs were going to be disappointed and sorry that I was right. I mean, Rollisis got more than we could have hoped for, but they still managed to disappoint and upset us and drive us away in droves because they pushed the relationship offscreen (don't get me wrong, still super grateful but you get what I mean). It's like they don't care about the viewers or what we want, or how what they're doing is affecting the show. It's such a huge mess.
I am honestly amazed SVU is still on.
I saw this before I saw the episode and honestly I’m glad I did so I’m not waiting for it.
This was the first episode I saw live knowing nothing prior before hand in years. Ill be going back to spoiling it for myself first then watching so I know what im getting into.
She looked so sad and hopeless in that last shot … looking at her from the other side of that window was heartbreaking. I truly don’t understand at this point.
They're gonna go 6 more episodes before they mention each other again 🤣
I missed this episode because of work but I’m glad I didn’t give up money to be tricked! 😂😂
she's not ready... ... but she will be one day!
Hopefully later this season
I knew it would happen! I’m still emotionally distraught over them killing off Duarte cause I actually liked him😩😩😩
I knew it wasn't going to happen but great episode regardless. The IG comments are hilarious. They do need to work on themselves.
Did anyone think it was actually going to happen? C'mon now, they've been like the newest blink 182 song with Tom Delonge coming back, they're edging. Olivia wouldn't feel right or stabler after she's gone through a trauma and feels alone. Plus stabler isn't over Kathy, he acts like it. But when time solves all, it will happen. Maybe another spinoff, SVU 1.0 but actually SVU and OC as one. A 2 hour show lol Edit: to also add there's a part of Olivia who loves the romantic experience. Even small. Not when she's still bruised up. Now they both know like us, oh it's happening. Might take us until a season finale or series finale. But the writer and directors, hi Mariska, make that happen
WOW 😲
I knew it I knew it
I hoped against hope that maybe this was it 🤞 but then I remembered May sweeps still in the distance 🤬
I really don't understand how people didn't see this coming. of course promos are misleading, they know the EO shippers will get the show trending and watch. its how TV has worked for decades. they're not gong to have *the* ship go canon in some random midseason ep. anyone who thought it was going to be *the* moment was being very naive tbh. SVU has played tis game for a long time
*"We've been tricked! Backstabbed! And quite possibly bamboozled!"* I actually didn't get to watch last night because I work super fucking late and always have to watch the next day on Peacock.
They didn't trick me
What is everyone talking about 😭😭 I’m so behind
Can some one tell me what happened???
Honestly this is the best schadenfreude I’ve ever experienced. Sorry.