As Law And Order: SVU Fans Continue Hoping Benson And Stabler Will Hook Up, I Love Another Dick Wolf Heroine’s Take On Procedural Romance

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For decades, crime dramas have consistently been popular on network television. NBC’s Law & Order: SVU, starring Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson, has been a hit since 1999, and FBI expanded that same television world to CBS in 2018, featuring Missy Peregrym as Agent Maggie Bell. Both shows remain popular in 2025, with many viewers still hoping to see Benson and Stabler become a couple on SVU. Peregrym recently discussed the possibility of romance on her procedural drama, FBI, in an interview with TopMob.

The enduring popularity of a potential romance between Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler on SVU is remarkable. Even after Christopher Meloni (Stabler) left the show for over ten years, fans still hoped they’d get back together. Ice-T, who has co-starred with Mariska Hargitay (Benson) for 26 seasons, has commented on the possibility of a romantic relationship, and Meloni’s spontaneous “Love you” during a recent SVU appearance prompted Hargitay to discuss it on TODAY. While I personally prefer Benson and Stabler as friends, I have to admit Meloni’s cameo made me want to see Stabler return to NBC as a regular cast member.

How does all of this relate to Missy Peregrym, who plays Agent Maggie Bell, and the show FBI on CBS? Simply put, the connection between Maggie and OA has always been a strong friendship, and it’s become one of my favorite pairings on television. While OA has found a stable relationship with Gemma, Maggie’s relationship with Joel unfortunately didn’t work out.

I recently spoke with Shantel VanSanten (Peregrym) about the start of Season 8 (you can watch it now with a Paramount+ subscription) and her new co-star, Juliana Aidén Martinez, who previously appeared on Law & Order: SVU. We discussed whether her character, Maggie, is ready for a relationship like the one OA and Gemma have.

This role will require a very dedicated person. Last year, we started to explore what it would take for someone to truly partner with me, considering my demanding job, high expectations, and the potential for sudden changes or even emergencies. It’s a commitment that requires both personal and professional investment, as my work could pull me away at any time. Honestly, not many people would be willing to take that on, so I’m curious to see how the writers address it.

After eight seasons of FBI, Maggie has faced a lot of dangerous situations, so anyone she dates would really need to be okay with the possibility that something could happen to her! Julianne Peregrym, who plays Maggie, said she’s open to whatever the writers have planned for her character, but she doesn’t think Maggie needs a romantic relationship. She explained her thoughts further:

I’m open to exploring different storylines, and I especially appreciate that my character, Maggie, doesn’t need a romantic relationship to be complete. I enjoy focusing on her work, her team, and her fulfilling life. I genuinely love my job, and I think it’s wonderful that my character feels just as content and complete without a partner. She already has a rich and satisfying life.

Like many people, I enjoy a great romance story, but Missy Peregrym makes a good point: Maggie is a well-developed character with existing meaningful relationships. Her friends were there for her in Season 7, and I don’t anticipate that changing, even as she gets to know a new colleague on the team.

Also, her short time caring for Ella proved she couldn’t easily fit into a traditional family life, and she was never going to give up her career to become a mother. Importantly, she’s a compelling character all on her own and doesn’t need a romantic partner to be engaging.

It’s perfectly fine to enjoy romantic storylines for characters on procedural dramas—and I’ve definitely had favorite couples in the One Chicago universe. However, Missy Peregrym made a great point: a character doesn’t need a romantic partner to be well-developed, particularly when their job is central to who they are. That’s certainly true for Maggie Bell right now.

After seven seasons on Tuesdays, new episodes of FBI now air on Mondays at 9 p.m. Eastern on CBS. The change happened after the cancellations of FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, and now FBI airs before the second season of Watson.

The future of seeing Benson and Stabler together on TV is uncertain. It’s currently unclear if Law & Order: Organized Crime will get another season, or if Christopher Meloni will be available to appear on SVU. So, fans hoping for a reunion after 27 seasons will have to be patient.

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2025-10-30 23:40