With the premiere of season 21, Hargitay's Benson became the longest running prime-time live-action character of all time, surpassing the record held by Gunsmoke's Marshall Matt Dillon and Kelsey Grammer's character Frasier Crane from Cheers and Frasier, as well as Belzers John Munch, who was a regular character for 22 seasons (7 on Homicide: Life on the Street and 15 on SVU).[3][4]. In "Beast's Obsession", Lewis uses the distraction caused by his (self-induced) cardiac incident to escape from prison. Every time I see "Blinded" (9.07), I get angry. Benson is forced to kill a suspect on four separate occasions during her tenure on the show: in season 1's "Disrobed", she shoots and kills domestic abuser Roger Silver (Jack Gwaltney) in self-defense during a hostage situation; in season 3's "Wrath", serial killer Eric Plummer (Justin Kirk) commits suicide by cop by attacking a woman and forcing Benson to shoot him; in season 18's "Next Chapter", she shoots and kills rapist (and retired corrections officer) Tom Cole (Chris Bauer) during a hostage situation when Cole attacks her SVU colleague Detective Dominick "Sonny" Carisi Jr. (Peter Scanavino); and in season 23's "Silent Night, Hateful Night", she shoots and kills white supremacist Robert Paul Byers (Michael Laurence) to stop him from detonating a bomb in Washington Square Park. In "Gone Baby Gone", it is revealed that Sheila was behind the kidnapping, and that she intends to take Noah to live with her in Derry, New Hampshire. While Bensler gets out alive in the end, the entire episode keeps fans on the edge of their seat. But in real life, outside of the NYPD's SVU squad, actor Peter Gallagher, who plays Chief Dodds, is leaving the show because he recently "got a pilot that went to series," according to showrunner Warren Leight. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. In "Psycho/Therapist", a visibly injured and still-recovering Lewis fires his new attorney and chooses to represent himself. Olivia Margaret Benson[2] is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the NBC police procedural drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Mariska Hargitay. [8] Her assessment is that: Sometimes it's very much like brother and sister, and I think the reason that they're so close is that they share a passion for their jobs and for the people. In season 10, Benson is seen struggling with now being a victim of sexual assault herself. The Good News Is Olivia Is Now Captain; the Bad News Is Dodds Is But it does show how far she is willing to go to help her victims. [44] Following Stabler's resignation, she is partnered with Det. Serial rapist and killer William Lewis abducts Olivia in her home, tortures her, and hides her away in a Long Island beach home. The charges against Cassidy are later dropped when the SVU detectives discover that he was being set up. Benson always wanted to be a mom but was afraid the SVU would hold her back, so the moment is a particularly gratifying scene forfans. She follows the victim to her apartment, which is already way out of line, and argues with her to come back to the hospital and get a rape kit done. Olivia Benson - Wikipedia [11] A woman later reports to Benson that Lowe, who is in a 12-step program for his alcoholism, tried to make amends to her for drunkenly raping her six months earlier. We have all the details to know about the episode of SVU. This was exemplified when she interrogated a man until he confessed to a crime which he was later found to be innocent of and sending him to prison for life, which could have been avoided if she was thinking clearly enough to check on the evidence. [13] While there, she held a membership in a sorority. They have a mutual respect for one another. For more than 17 years, Mariska Hargitay has played the most badass detective in recent memory on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He knew about his daughter and kept track of her. [39] She returns to work in the following episode, "Imprisoned Lives", which takes place two months later, but is still haunted by the experience. When she returns to the squad room, the detective is shocked to discover Calvin waiting for her. [73], Hargitay has won a number of awards for her role as Benson: 'Individual Achievement for Best Female Lead' and 'Outstanding Female Lead' Gracie Awards in 2004 and 2009 respectively, an Emmy for 'Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series' in 2006, a Prism Award for 'Performance in a Drama Series Episode' in 2006, and a Golden Globe for 'Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series' in 2005. There have been a number of episodes ofLaw & Order: SVUwhere the detectives have needed to go undercover. [78] UGO Networks placed "the hard-charging detective" among the "fifty greatest fictional detectives of all time". [70] However, NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt later clarified that she would be in every episode of the season. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Love the series but I can't stand Olivia Benson. The two women get into a life-threatening car crash, which causes Kathy to go into labor prematurely. As a lieutenant, she no longer has a badge number. After Elliot's resignation, Benson partnered primarily with Nick Amaro before she became a sergeant and took over the SVU unit from Captain Donald Cragen. In "Manhattan Transfer", they are forced to confirm their relationship when Tucker is accused by his own cousin, a priest of being complicit with a sex trafficking ring that has ties to Vice and the Catholic Church. With Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, Kelli Giddish, Richard Belzer. Olivia never visited her mother's grave, until a case left her shook (SVU: "Hammered"). He then holds her hostage for four days, burning her with cigarettes and wire hangers. [37][38], In the season 9 episode "Undercover", Benson poses as an inmate in a women's prison to investigate an alleged rape by a corrections officer. It comes out only because Internal Affairs is investigating Benson and Stabler in a case in which the department accidentally outed a professional football player. These 10intense Benson episodes in SVU's historyspeak to her brilliant character. At the end of the season 14 finale "Her Negotiation", Benson is kidnapped by serial rapist/murderer William Lewis. Her former partner Elliot Stabler was often more skeptical of victims' accounts, which often brought the two partners into conflict. One of the most controversial episodes of "SVU" came in Season 9, with Benson and Detective Fin Tutuola (Ice-T) going undercover at a women's prison to investigate rape allegations against a male corrections officer. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more! 40 Of Olivia Benson's Most Intense Episodes Of 'Law & Order: SVU' That Make Her A Hero Ranking the best 40 Olivia Benson episodes of "Law & Order: SVU" Javi Yanes Aug 29, 2020 NBC In her long 21 year history on Law & Order: SVU, Mariska Hargitay has delivered countless gut-wrenching performances. [33][34][35] In the episode "Justice Denied", Benson and Haden end their relationship due to a conflict of interest. Fan speculation exists over alleged sexual tension between Benson and Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot (Stephanie March), which Baer admits to indulging: "We read the fan sites. "[75], A poll on the Hallmark Channel voted her second-greatest detective in the Law & Order franchise, only being beaten by Law & Order: Criminal Intent's Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio). [28] In the Season 22 episode "Return of the Prodigal Son", Benson and Stabler see each other again for the first time in 10 years when Stabler's wife Kathy (Isabel Gillies) is severely injured in a car bombing apparently meant for Stabler. Starting in 1999, Benson and Stabler were official partners at the Special Victims Unit for over 12 years, until Stabler's abrupt departure at the end of Season 12 in 2011. The scene is terrifying and inescapable until the absolute last second when Fin Tutuola saves her. Even worse? Regardless of their disapproval, they still supported Benson with her relationship with Tucker. As of season 24, Benson has been credited in 538 episodes of SVU (559 in the franchise/universe). Lewis is found guilty of kidnapping and assaulting a police officer, but the jury voices doubts about Benson's story and acquits him of attempted rape. They have a brief, quietly emotional conversation in which Benson tells him how hurt she was over the way he left SVU. We know that people are into the Alex-Olivia thing. 'Law & Order: SVU': Octavio Pisano Says Velasco Proved Himself to Cassidy leaves the precinct at the end of that episode. [10] Benson's mother, Serena (Elizabeth Ashley), an English professor, was an alcoholic who abused Olivia emotionally and physically. Olivia did all she could to get Casey fired. (SVU: "PTSD"), While speaking to a victim of a separate rape, the victim asked her if she was better having dealt with her rapist, and Benson told her that she was better, but that she wouldn't ever forget what happened. After arguing with ADA Sonya Paxton about alcoholism and seeing her drunk in court, she was moved to leave flowers at her mother's grave. Serena died from injuries sustained in a fall in 2000 when she was drunk, which left Benson deeply saddened. 35 photos of Olivia Benson on 'Law & Order: SVU' through - SheKnows Her most notable relationship is with Ed Tucker, who she dated from 2016-17. She is promoted to Detective 2nd Grade in 2001, and Detective 1st Grade in 2011. Cragen asks Benson to take the Sergeant's exam following the retirement of Sgt. Here's just a few of things she's done. [7] Executive producer and head writer Neal Baer has explained that Benson is "the empathetic, passionate voice for these victims,"[8] in contrast to Stabler, who embodies "the rage we feel, the 'How can this happen?' How Benson May Have Referenced Her Partnership With Stabler - Yahoo News In Season 23, the show is led by Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), a longtime detective in the SVU. In an interview with Jezebel reflecting on the most controversial episodes of "SVU," writer Mark Goffman explained that "Undercover" was a challenge to create. The popular NBC police procedural drama follows a unit of the NYPD focused on investigating sexually-based crimes and can often be hard to watch. Omg that look is so bad its good, another fan added. The midseason finale saw Olivia Benson's ( Mariska Hargitay) son Noah ( Ryan Buggle) disappear from a store on his biological grandma Sheila's ( Brooke Shields) watch. Dodds suffers a stroke after surgery and dies. [64], During the last months of her pregnancy in 2006, Hargitay took maternity leave from SVU, and was temporarily replaced by Connie Nielsen. [16] She owns a black 1965 Ford Mustang convertible, but rarely drives it. Benson holds a press conference and admits that she lied on the witness stand. A 13-year-old girl raped by her stepfather and who has no support is not in a good place to have a baby and Olivia should not be lying about how great it'll be when she's an adult with the means to take care of Noah. Law & Order: SVU - 10 Facts You Didn't Know About Olivia Benson While Benson tries to keep her work and personal life separate, several cases have made her upset to the point where she has been unable to sleep or focus on enjoying her life out of work. Other fans seemed to agree with the OP's thesis. Article continues below advertisement Source: NBC Here's why some people think a Benson scene from the episode "Undercover" went too far. Though Churlish (Jasmine Batchelor) goes with him, Velasco . She didnt believe a rape victim because she was drunk. Benson wears blue baggy pants, a tank top, multiple necklaces with color in her hair. Though Hargitay, who is best known for her role as Detective Olivia Benson on NBC's . When Lewis does not release the girl, Benson tracks him down and surrenders to him. Olivia Benson is one dedicated person. He calls Benson as a witness and accuses her of assaulting him because he rejected her sexual advances. I think Olivia Benson has a lot of good moments that make her a role model for other women. When Warner asks Benson if she had been raped, she replies, "It was the closest I've ever come.". As a police squad closes in, Lewis shoots himself in the head right in front of her, while making it look like she killed him in cold blood. Joins SVU as Love Interest for Mariska Hargitay, and Other Updates From NBC", "Emmy and Grammy Award-Winning Harry Connick Jr. to Guest-Star in NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", "Law & Order SVU Mariska Hargitay & Harry Connick Jr", "Madman brutalizes Olivia Benson as 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' returns", "Mariska Hargitay on the positive effect of 'Law & Order', "Maternity Leave Looms for Mariska Hargitay", "Law & Order: SVU Scoop: Hargitay Inks New Deal, Jennifer Love Hewitt May Succeed Her", "Review - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)", "America's ideal female television character is Olivia Benson", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Olivia_Benson&oldid=1152009833, Patrol Officer, NYPD 55th Precinct (1992)16th Precinct (1993), Junior Detective, NYPD 16th Precinct (Special Victims Unit) (May 1998May 18, 2011), Senior Detective, NYPD 16th Precinct (Special Victims Unit) (September 21, 2011 January 15, 2014), Acting Commanding Officer (Sergeant), NYPD 16th Precinct (Special Victims Unit) (January 22, 2014 April 9, 2014), SergeantSupervisor Detective Squad, NYPD 16th Precinct (Special Victims Unit) (April 9, 2014 May 21, 2014), Acting Commanding Officer (Sergeant), NYPD 16th Precinct (Special Victims Unit) (May 21, 2014 October 7, 2015), LieutenantCommander Detective Squad, NYPD 16th Precinct (Special Victims Unit) (October 7, 2015 September 26, 2019), Captain, Commanding Officer, NYPD 16th Precinct (Special Victims Unit) (September 26, 2019Present), Detective, NYPD Computer Crimes Unit (May 2, 2006 May 9, 2006), Undercover operative, FBI Domestic Terrorism Unit (September 19, 2006 October 31, 2006), Special Deputy United States Marshal for the Eastern District of New York (October 6, 2010), Public Relations Officer, NYPD One Police Plaza (Public Relations) (March 2, 2016 March 23, 2016), "Not Your Father's Organized Crime" (April 8, 2021), "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of" (April 22, 2021), "Forget It Jake; It's Chinatown" (June 3, 2021), "The Outlaw Eddie Wagner" (September 30, 2021), "The Good, The Bad, and The Lovely" (October 14, 2021), "The Christmas Episode" (December 9, 2021), "Gimme Shelter Part One" (September 22, 2022), This page was last edited on 27 April 2023, at 16:18. In "Undercover", she went undercover in a women's prison to find a rapist and was almost raped herself until Detective Odafin Tutuola, also undercover there as a guard in the facility, managed to save her just moments before the man (a fellow guard) could violate her. [63] Hargitay trained as a rape crisis advocate to prepare for the role of Benson. Benson's life has been a hard one. This makes her late for a case, which is frowned upon in the NYPD. [19], In season 12, Benson is named the legal guardian of a young boy named Calvin Arliss (Charlie Tahan). Scan this QR code to download the app now. "[8], Born February 7, 1968, Benson was conceived by her mother's rape. [69] However, two months later it was officially reported that both their contracts had been renewed for two more years. (. Published Oct 9, 2019 Mariska Hargitay's Olivia Benson has led Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999, and here are some surprising facts about the detective. Benson appears on five episodes of Law & Order, one episode of Law & Order: Trial by Jury, three episodes of Chicago P.D. In the episode "Hunting Ground", she decides to take it slow with Haden, claiming she needs time to see if their relationship will last. Benson is always the first to throw herself in the line of fire in the name of justice. What It Could Mean For The Organized Crime Crossover. [5] Wolf conceived Benson as a detective in the Manhattan Special Victims Unit, which investigates sex crimes. Here's just a few of things she's done. In season 15, Benson stays with Cassidy as she recovers from her imprisonment by a serial rapist. But from all of the episodes I've seen of Law and Order SVU, Olivia comes off as the type of person who always has to get her way and when she doesn't she has to take it away from anyone else. She later confided in Stabler that she had tried to adopt a child years ago but due to her career, her request to adopt was denied. Murphy then makes Benson his second-in-command until he got transferred out for a undercover assignment. Dick Wolf, along with officials from NBC and Studios USA, were at the final auditions for the two leads at Rockefeller Center. Despite her request being denied, a judge granted permanent custody of Noah to Benson after both of Noah's biological parents were killed, with his mother being murdered and his father being shot to death by Amaro in defense after a courtroom shoot off. Kanick, who is involved in the abuse and exploitation of minors as well as giving them drugs, tells the detectives where to find Jill after Fin physically assaults him. It is later revealed that Lewis survived and is in jail awaiting trial. The detectives find Jill, but she is already dead from an overdose. She tries to force her opinions on the victims and witnesses. As a sergeant, her badge number was #01139. The last round had been narrowed down to six finalists. The episode closes with Benson weeping on the courthouse stairs and, four months later, Lewis being wheeled away on a stretcher. Redditoru/malifact responded to the original post by writing, "I wouldn't be surprised. The detectives go undercover, including Benson, Detective Monique Jeffries (Michelle Hurd), Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni), Detective Odafin Fin Tutuola (Ice-T), and Detective John Munch (Richard Belzer) at the rave where Jill is expected to be where drugs are being passed around. Another time in 2010, she unintentionally inhaled steam coming from a boiling pot of poisonous mushrooms. "When I decided to write the scene of the attempted rape, we just said, 'Well, you know we're going to have to go as close as possible.'" Alongside that, she can read the Miranda Rights in two different languages. She tries to force medical staff to do rape kits on mentally ill victims. She vehemently denies it, and lies under oath that he had broken free of his restraints and lunged at her. In the episode "PTSD," while investigating the rape and murder of a female Marine, she is pushed against a wall while trying to break up a fight between suspect Master Sergeant Dominic Pruitt (Ryan Kwanten) and Lieutenant Gary Rosten (Dominic Fumusa), who is eventually revealed to be the killer. While a dedicated officer, Benson is more likely to go to bat for women she deals with during cases than men and has shown skepticism during cases where women are the offenders and men are the victims, or allows her sympathy for the victim to cloud her judgment and make her commit actions without thinking. Years later, Benson reunites with her former fianc, true crime podcaster Burton Lowe (Aidan Quinn), while they are both investigating a cold case, and they sleep together. In the season 23 episode "Burning With Rage Forever", Noah comes out to Benson as bisexual after standing up to a bully who is picking on him and a non-binary classmate. When the children are taken by the City because of Simon's criminal background, Benson calls defense attorney Bayard Ellis (Andre Braugher), an old friend of hers, to help Simon and Tracy get the children back. (SVU: "Smut"). [51], In "Heartfelt Passages", Benson and Mike Dodds, on the latter's last day at SVU, are involved in a hostage situation involving corrupt Rikers Island corrections officer Gary Munson (Brad Garrett) holding his wife hostage. (SVU: "Murdered at a Bad Address", "Trick-Rolled At The Moulin'"), In 2010, Olivia was appointed to be the legal guardian of Gladys Dalton's cocaine afflicted premature daughter who passed away after Benson gave the doctors permission to perform surgery to try and save her life. Fans of the former Chief should stay . By May 1998, she had received her detective's shield and was assigned to the 16th Precinct as a Detective 3rd Grade,[43] and was partnered with Det. Hargitay has said that Connick, who is a friend of hers, improved the show to a more romantic advanced stance. Meloni and Hargitay had auditioned in the final round together and after the actors left, there was a moment of dead silence, after which Wolf blurted out, "Oh well. Murphy then makes Benson his second-in-command up until his transfer to an undercover assignment. You and this job are about the only things Ive got anymore. [23], Lt. Ed Tucker (Robert John Burke), representing 1 Police Plaza, asks Benson to take the Lieutenant's exam in order to officially take command of SVU before the NYPD appoints another officer to the position.
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