Law & Order is a highly popular police procedural franchise that includes several related shows created by Dick Wolf. Law & Order: Organized Crime is the latest entry in the expanding franchise. This new addition to Law & Order brings back Christopher Meloni as popular detective Elliot Stabler. He was first introduced in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and was Olivia Benson's partner for twelve seasons.

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Law & Order: Organized Crime keeps key elements from Special Victims Unit that connects the series to the rest of the franchise. It also gives more background to Detective Stabler's story and past. While most of the Law & Order TV shows follow a distinct pattern and storytelling devices, Organized Crime stands out in several unique ways.

10 Organized Crime Was Delayed By The Pandemic

Law & Order: Organized Crime's Bell with her hands on Stabler's arms in their office

Law & Order: Organized Crime was originally going to start after Special Victims Unit's 21st season finale. With Christopher Meloni returning as Elliot Stabler, the new Law & Order spinoff was supposed to debut in 2020.

However, because of delays related to the Covid-19 pandemic, NBC pushed Organized Crime's debut to 2021. Detective Elliot Stabler's planned return in Special Victims Unit eventually happened in season 22. Fans were elated to see Stabler and Benson together again, and the SVU episode kicked off the Organized Crime premiere.

9 The First Episode Is a Two-Part Crossover With SVU

svu org crime benson and stabler

It made sense that Elliot Stabler's return would start with Special Victims Unit before transitioning to the Organized Crime debut. The two-part crossover event began in SVU's season 22, episode 9, "Return of the Prodigal Son." Benson received a notification concerning a case and as she arrived, she realized the victim was none other than Kathy Stabler, Elliot Stabler's wife.

Elliot approached Olivia and told her someone had tried to kill Kathy, and the two must work together to investigate what happened. However, the case proved more complex than it appeared to be. Kathy died from her injuries, and since the attack seemed connected to one of his other cases, Elliot continued to investigate.

8 It Marked Elliot Stabler's First Appearance In Ten Years

Stabler and Benson discuss age in SVU (Season 4).

While Detective Stabler had been mentioned in a few Special Victims Unit episodes, Christopher Meloni didn't appear in any Law & Order episode after his departure from SVU. Many fans were eager to see Elliot Stabler again, especially since he was popular character in the franchise.

During the final episode of Special Victims Unit season twelve, the teenage daughter of a murder victim started shooting the suspects inside the precinct. Detective Stabler was forced to shoot the girl to subdue her. Traumatized by the action he had to take, Detective Stabler retired from the NYPD.

7 The First Episode Was The First Time The Stabler Children Appeared Together

Stabler with Benson and his children in Organized Crime

Detective Elliot Stabler and his wife Kathy had 5 children together: three daughters and two sons. Some had made cameos and special appearances in different episodes of Special Victims Unit. In "What Happens in Puglia," all of Elliot Stabler's children gathered together for the first time.

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Tragically, the first time audiences got to see the Stabler children together was during their mother's funeral. The debut of Organized Crime was painful. Far from a social visit, Elliot Stabler had only returned to New York to investigate his wife's murder.

6 Most Of Elliot's Children Were Re-Cast

Dickie and Kathleen Stabler in Organized Crime

Dickie Stabler, Elliot's oldest son, is the only Stabler child who has never been recast. Since Detective Stabler's children were very young during their appearances in Special Victims Unit, most were re-cast for Organized Crime.

Actor Allison Siko reprised her role as Kathleen Stabler, who she also played on several episodes of SVU. However, actor Holiday Segal portrayed Kathleen during SVU's season 1. Jeffrey Scaperrota remained the only actor to play the same Stabler child from the start, portraying Dickie Stabler since Special Victims Unit season 1.

5 Organized Crime Has Seasonal Arcs

Elliot Stabler (played by Christopher Meloni) displays his badge on Law & Order: Organized Crime.

Unlike most of the Law & Order shows that focused on the case of the week, Organized Crime had connected storylines that spanned multiple episodes. The first season had a single story arc that was developed throughout its 8-episode run. The second season comprised 24 episodes, with three major story arcs.

This shift in the story format gave audiences more time to connect with the characters. It also built up the tension. Thanks to Organized Crime's approach, the central mystery and investigation in every season featured several twists and turns per episode.

4 It Doesn't Use The Ripped-From-The-Headlines Formula

Elliot Stabler (played by Christopher Meloni) shakes hands with Stephen Lee in Law & Order: Organized Crime.

Both the original Law & Order and Special Victims Unit are known for their ripped-from-the-headlines formula. Many episodes take actual crimes as inspiration for their storylines. In Organized Crime, the inspiration comes mostly from mafia movies and TV shows as well as real gangsters and criminal organizations.

The choice to move away from specific real-life crimes as inspiration allowed Organized Crime to give more depth to original characters. Ripped-from-the-headlines storylines can be distracting for viewers. Instead, Organized Crime gives audiences time to understand the crime and its motivations while following the investigation in more detail.

3 It Adds Depth To Stabler's Backstory And Family

Elliot and Eli Stabler in Organized Crime

While Special Victims Unit gave some background to Elliot Stabler's personal life, most of the episodes centered on the case of the week. By contrast, Law & Order: Organized Crime gave audiences some much-needed character development and explored Stabler's backstory.

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Organized Crime let viewers know what happened to Stabler during the ten years that had passed. Fans learned about his time working in private security before moving to Italy with his family. Organized Crime also explored Elliot's relationship with his family in more depth. His children, particularly Elliot "Eli" Stabler Jr, soon took on bigger roles in the series.

2 Organized Crime Is More Character-Driven

Elliot Stabler is detained by two uniformed police officers in Law & Order: Organized Crme

The original Law & Order mostly focuses on the police investigation and the subsequent trial. It never gave much time for character development, since the protagonists' backstories were not part of the main plot. Special Victims Unit added more focus on its characters throughout the years, but Organized Crime took it to another level.

In Organized Crime, both the detectives and the criminals are the protagonists of the show. This Law & Order series intentionally focuses on the motivations behind the characters, as well as their relationships and personal dilemmas.

1 It Gives Fans The Much Awaited Benson-Stabler Relationship

Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson almost kiss in Special Victims Unit

Detectives Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler have had undeniable chemistry from the start. During Special Victims Unit, fans were eager to see the two develop a romantic relationship. However, Elliot Stabler was married and had a family, so the line was never crossed. Stabler's return in Organized Crime brought the possibility of a relationship back on the table, especially since Olivia and Elliot were currently single.

During the crossover episodes between SVU and Organized Crimes, fans caught glimpses of a growing sexual tension between Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson. Organized Crime's season 2 episode "The Christmas Episode" saw them share a few sweet moments. SVU's season 24 episode "Blood Out" almost gave fans a much-awaited kiss, but Olivia eventually backed away, hesitant.

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