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Warning: This post contains spoilers from Law & Order: SVU’s Season 23 finale. Proceed accordingly.
Law & Order: SVU‘s Season 23 finale spent a lot of time hinting that Olivia Benson’s love life might be a more fecund field in the future, and it sowed two major seeds in the form of returned former assistant district attorney Rafael Barba and the absent — though no less a presence — Det. Elliot Stabler.
At the top of the hour, Olivia’s therapy session with Dr. Lindstrom revealed that she was feeling unhappy, and he theorized that it might stem from having no closure regarding her anger with Barba over his role in the Wheatley case. Or maybe her feelings have something to do with her old partner?
“I think that you and Elliot either need to see if there’s more there or move on,” Lindstrom told her. “This idealized relationship that’s hanging over you prevents you from true intimacy, Olivia, either with him or with anyone else.”
How convenient, then, when a victim of domestic abuse needed a top-notch attorney, and Rollins was able to get Barba to take the case. (That really irked Carisi when he found out, but don’t worry: “Rollisi” recovered and even exchanged “I love you”s by the end of the hour.) Of course, Barba triumphed in the courtroom. But it was the scene between him and Olivia at Forlini’s at the end of the episode that really grabbed us. When she reiterates her disappointment about how Wheatley’s trial went down, Barba countered with: “What I don’t get: Why you feel more anger at me than you ever let yourself feel toward Stabler.” Shots fired!
The pair said a lot of things to each other, but eventually Rafael told her that he understood why she defended Stabler, because “That’s what you do when you love somebody unconditionally.” And then the charged conversation ended like this:
BENSON
Please don’t tell me how I feel.
BARBA
In this case, I can, because I do know what it means
to love someone unconditionally. When you’re ready to
stop feeling betrayed by me, I’ll be here.
BENSON
Rafa…
BARBA
What?
BENSON
I miss you, too.
So yeah, we jumped at the chance to discuss it all with Raúl Esparza, who brought Barba back to the procedural for the second time this season. Read on for his thoughts on the finale.
TVLINE | I’m never happier than when SVU goes full “Let’s talk about our feelings.” So, as you can imagine, the finale made me very excited.
Yeah, it doesn’t always work. [Laughs] But I will tell you when Warren [Leight, showrunner] sent me this particular script, I thought it was just beautiful.
TVLINE | Barba comes back into Benson’s orbit. Do you think he takes this case specifically for that purpose?
In this case, personally, I think he takes it for her. Usually, Barba’s the kind of guy who will take a case, specifically, just to prove that he can, and to do something that no one else can do. Of course, he’s drawn to that, but there is subtext throughout the script [that] it’s really about Benson.
Also, it follows on so completely with the episode that we did… the one where he was defending Wheatley, obviously, that whole story.
TVLINE | Right.
And I think the fans were just up in arms. [Laughs]
TVLINE | Do you think he regrets taking the Wheatley case, based on how it affected his friendship with Olivia? Or would he do it again if he had to?
I think he’d actually do it again if he had to. What’s been most interesting about Barba as a character, and it was definitely what Warren created when he first wrote it, is that he’s a bit of an antagonist. He was always written as someone who would go head-to-head with Benson’s perspective, which was necessary. After Stabler left, there was no real balance in the points of view that the show had to maintain. I think the great, great secret to SVU’s success is that it never really lets you off the hook.
Benson is a character that forces you to empathize and care, as opposed to other iterations of Law & Order, where it’s really just about the intellectual interest in the case and what happens. Here, it’s like there are no easy answers, they’re always living in a gray area, and she’s the hook. But Stabler was the fury and the opposite position. And without him there, I think the show obviously needed some sort of grounding in the ensemble that was created. And I feel like Barba — not trying to replace Stabler in any way because it’s not the same point of view — but Barba worked really well, and he was in opposition to her. And so, sometimes I think it’s not so interesting when they’re the best of friends, because that’s not great television. [Laughs]
TVLINE | It was interesting to me to hear Barba talk about Stabler from the perspective of someone who grew up around bullies, because that is not a perspective we get a lot in the SVUverse.
No, never. And I think it is what’s exciting and intimidating about [Benson and Barba’s] relationship, and part of the reason why they became a really good team together over the years. Though, I could not have articulated that while I was [a series regular], you know, because you’re doing so many episodes. And it’s just I wouldn’t have thought there was a game plan, and I think there was. [Laughs] I think maybe these showrunners know what they’re doing.
TVLINE | This episode puts a more definitive more-than-friends framing on Benson and Barba’s relationship than we’ve seen before. When you got the script, did it surprise you to see the things that they’re saying to each other here?
I think that it can be taken in a number of ways. So, it surprised me to have it brought out so explicitly, however, but not too much. There are fans that have always wanted to kind of spin off that story. And Mariska [Hargitay] and I kind of laughed about it, too. Like, “Well, are we suddenly in a triangle here? What’s going on?” [Laughs] Which is hysterical, because it really isn’t how we play it. I think she and I always play it as best friends and almost brother and sister sometimes. However… I don’t know, I know what I was thinking when I said the words that I said onscreen… I like that it can be read in number of ways.
TVLINE | I was thinking about the circumstances under which Barba originally left, and whether they were the kind of thing that changed him fundamentally. Do you think that he would feel this way about her, or be in this situation with her, had he not had that experience?
I think that’s a good question, and I think that you’re right. He would not have felt this way, or been as emotionally available, had those experiences not happened. She definitely changed him over the years. The guy who came in was ballsy and quite arrogant, which he still is; that’s one of the best things about him, that chip on his shoulder. He’s got a lot of stuff to prove, he dresses to intimidate, he can be a d–k — like, that’s all great, you know? And I was sarcastic, and that constant sort of pseudo-battle with Carisi, which is just fun, you know.
[Barba is] just one of those people who’s got no social graces. But over time, he became much more empathetic and much more attuned to things that I don’t think he was comfortable with originally in his life, and that’s because of the relationship with her. And so, yeah, as things evolved toward the end of the last season that he was there like, I absolutely believe that it changed him.
TVLINE | The episode, and Olivia’s conversations with her therapist especially, very much sets up the possibility of something between Barba and Benson. Have you had any conversations about coming back in Season 24?
No, we haven’t. We haven’t discussed it, actually. You know a lot of times I feel like Barba is very much a figment of Warren Leight’s imagination. [Editor’s note: Leight announced in May that he would step down as SVU showrunner at the end of Season 23.] I know that Warren has thought this through, so who knows? But he’s also part of the universe of Law & Order in both worlds and a very much-loved character… so we’ll see.
Now it’s your turn. What did you think of the finale? Grade it, and the season on the whole, via the polls below. Then hit the comments with your thoughts!
Always here for Barba. :) Raúl is always fantastic. Great episode!
I just want more barba.. And I prefer him kinda antagonistic… Or at least devils advocate
More Rafa! More Rafa and Olivia! He is a much better match for her than Elliot. I have been dreading having that toxic energy around Olivia and Noah. Rafael doesn’t have to be in every episode next season but as an occasional love interest, yes, yes, more Barba.
Agree with you and like your comment about the “toxic energy”, well put.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Barba. Always loved his chemistry with Olivia. I always wished they would’ve explored that or at least teased it to the audience to let us see/feel more of that chemistry!
Guess I’m alone here but I didn’t think his ‘unconditional love’ comment was an admission that he’s in love with her. IMO…He’s hurt that she doesn’t understand why he defended Wheatley. His comment about Elliot, I thought, was fair. Elliot was a d-bag to her the way he left w/o a word and she just welcomed him back with open arms. She won’t give that same forgiveness to Barba for rep’ing Wheatley. At any rate, I miss Barba terribly and I hope he’s back for more next season.
I agree with all of this 👍🏾
I didn’t exactly perceive this as a true triangle being set up…
Don’t get me wrong, I love Barba and I think Olivia should’ve been harsher on Elliot for the way he left, but the rest of the mentions of Elliot during the hour alluded to the fact that everyone sort of knows how she feels about him. I think El&Liv need to actually talk about their feelings (for more than 30 seconds) and Olivia should certainly forgive Barba (sooner rather than later). I’m not sensing Olivia has romantic feelings for Barba, though.
No, no, no. No Benson/Barba. No Benson/Stabler. Find her a nice plumber.
Find her a nice lawyer named Trevor Langan. 😝
Find her Trevor Lanagan. 😝
Love Rafi and I really hope he is back next season
I was stunned by that admission but if you remember his last scene with her as the ADA it felt bittersweet. Calling Benson out about Stabler made sense and if you watch reruns of their time together, there were many times Stabler was a bully to Benson, so yeah Stabler has a lot more sucking up than Barba.
Honestly, I love the two of them together. They have amazing chemistry.
I agree. It could work between Olivia and Barba but I also like their friendship dynamic. Nevertheless,they would be much more interesting than Liv and Stabler. Honestly, I thought we were pleasantly over them 10 years ago.
After Stabler left, he was the only reason I watched. Really liked the episode tonight. Hopefully, we finally get some movement next season and they bring him back for more episodes.
I enjoy Barba and Liv’s friendship but she always has/always will love Elliot Stabler. Who knows what may happen now that Warren Leight has (finally – YES!!) exited as showrunner?
I was thrilled when Barba referred to Elliott as a bully, because he always was one. Just look at how many times he got in trouble because he glew off the handle and slapped some perp around.
Sure, we all like him because he was the good guy, but he was chaotic good and tended to leave wreckage trailing behind him. That’s the last thing Liv needs in her life. I mean seriously, would you want BF who was emotionally shut down and short fused?
I’m still sad they didn’t keep her Ed Tucker. He was masculine enough to match Liv’s strength, but you could tell that he could also be a dafe harbor and refuge when she needed it.
But I like Liv and Barba too. I hope they take it somewhere next season.
I so agree with everything you said. Elliott was and is emotionally shut down, and was and still is a bully, even to his kids. His relationship with Eli in L&O OC is not good.
After everything that went down with Donnelly on OC, and coming to grips with his father, I’m curious to see how Stabler grows from here. That could be very telling on his and Liv’s relationship going forward.
‘Shots fired’ indeed! This was delicious. Both the episode and the write-up. Thanks for the great interview, Kim!
I loved Barba and Benson as friends but there was always great chemistry there that could have been read in different ways. I was often on the fence about what was intended, but there were moments (such as his reaction when he found out about her and Tucker) that indicated something other than strictly platonic, IMO. Benson was bound to be defensive about Stabler, but the line about having known him 23 years and him always having her back was irksome. He abandoned her for approximately a decade and hasn’t exactly been reliable since he’s been back. (Hey, I think the whole “I gave you a letter filled with lies dictated by my wife” thing was some OOC s**t cooked up by the writers to create drama, but it’s canon, so…)
In other news, I was expecting a Rollisi proposal but was actually very pleased that we saw an onscreen ILY instead. I had kind of given up hope on that being a beat the writers intended to highlight.
To be honest how many gun shots fired are the writers going to realize that Elliot and Olivia are in love with each other. Everyone on the show knows it even Kathy knew it, Fin, remember Fin’s statement towards Elliot about Olivia that he watches her back not her backside, and even Wheatley knew it remember his statement towards Angela that Elliot does love you and about Kathy that he only stay with Kathy because he fathered her children not because he loves her, Elliot didn’t stop him for saying that because he knows that’s true Olivia is and always has been the love of his life for 23 years and Olivia Benson knows it. Barba did hit right on the money about loving someone unconditional and that’s what you do when you loves someone. Is that right Olivia Benson you love Elliot Stabler and like your doctor said you’ve need to set the record straight between you two either see where this goes between you two or move on from each other. And the writers needs to stop teasing us fans for possibilities either get them together romantically or not. Yes Elliot Stabler did leave her without a word but at least he trys to fix what was broken between him and Olivia. Yes Olivia Benson is angry but both Elliot and Olivia needs to talk about those feelings and I mean fast before the writers do something stupid again and send in new love interests for them both. I don’t want Barba and Olivia together romantically they’re better off as friends bring back Elliot Stabler.
I couldnt have said it better myself. Wheatley saw Liv and El together for 5 minutes and he could see how they felt about each other.
Obviously there are question marks with the change in show runners, but I think the writers have already decided that E&O will be together…in the end, but not long before. And I don’t think I’d be watching right now if i was entirely opposed to that idea, but that doesn’t mean I can’t also enjoy Olivia’s other relationships.
She has a LOT to work out when it comes to Stabler, which I appreciated Lindstrom and Rollins pointing out in their own ways. What I would like to see is Liv processing the betrayal she felt in how Elliot left. I’m not sure how that’s going to happen with them being on separate shows, but it’s necessary for them to get together. If they find a way to do that well, I’m mostly good with an EO resolution.
But Barba is my favorite SVU character and I loved his relationship with Liv. Like i said, I think the show is headed for an EO conclusion, but if they could explore the unresolved (unrequited?) elements of Liv & Barba’s relationship while still respecting it and not ruining Barba to prop up EO, I would love it. That brings us back to the question marks from changing show runners, though. Threading that needle would be very tricky and I don’t expect most would be able to do it to my satisfaction. I still love the tantalizing options this episode presented.
Raul Esparza makes SVU an A plus rated series.
Team Rafa. Stabler can’t stop punishing himself long enough to be loved. So to the next guy in charge of running SVU: his name is Rafael Barba and we need him back on the show for more than a guest appearance. Heck, move Rafa to the mothership and dump Hugh Dancy. Make Rafa the EADA to Jack.
I totally agree with you about how Law & Order needs Barba as the ADA. And, while we’re at it, can we find a new partner for Anthony Anderson. No chemistry with current one. Are Jesse L William’s or Dean Winters available? I am all in for Benson / Stabler romance building.
How could Barba ever work for NYC again…the fact he unplugged that baby is too big a stumbling block to get over.
Agree with more Barba on law and order (original), whether defense or prosecution.
Stabler and Benson can be together if they show their relationship building off screen with just some critical discussions onscreen. Because their relationship completely onscreen will never be able to live up to EO shippers expectations. Their love is more than just one kiss or one hotel room. So it’s best not to show all that and just jump over from critical discussions straight to domestic bliss.
Meantime, no reason why Benson can’t be friends (forever) with Barba.
Show has never been as good with Olivia as captain she’s much better as one of the group. Too much political crap this year. I watch this for entertainment I’ll watch news for the BS of being politically correct. I don’t need by favorite shows trying to cram stuff down my throat! Was glad last night I had not stopped watching entirely like I had given thought too.
**SPOILER ALERT – L&O: Organized Crime**
When Stabler had his medal ceremony last night, Benson wasn’t there…but Cragen was. Doesn’t that kind of speak to something?
I loved that. Hargitay and Peter Hermann were showing up on the Imdb page for the OC finale before it aired, so I really expected Benson to make an appearance. Then i saw Florek show up as a guest in the credits and got excited. I was really pleased with how they had the season end…and that Benson didn’t pop up again. It was good to see Elliot coming to terms with some things on his own.
LOVED the end of this episode! I really want Rafa and Olivia to get together. Love their relationship. NOOOOO to Benson and Stabler, no!!! Rafa all the way :-)
Clearly you did not watch this episode because it was nothing about Benson and Barba romantically – platonic only, and not setting anything up for the future for them.
Barba called out Benson for being unconditionally in love with Stabler. This was after her therapist told her to see if there was more with Stabler since he was the reason she had intimacy issues for the past twenty years. Rollins also told her earlier in the episode to go for it and book a hotel room.
It’s setting up Benson and Stabler and that was the theme was throughout the whole episode.
Then why did Barba say to Liv the last time that Stabler coming back made things more complicated. He knows what that relationship meant to her so if they were only friends then why would him coming back have complicated things. Definitely more than friendship from Barba and on some level she does have feelings for him too. They happen to be much stronger for Stabler. Good old fashioned love triangle would be great – make Stabler work for it.
They were best friends and Barba feels like he is being replaced. Liv will always back Elliot over anyone else. Always. Barba underestimated that and he didn’t understand that until he realized she loved him unconditionally.
Liv has never gave any indication of any romantic feelings towards Barba. Ever. She picked Cassidy, Tucker, and now Elliot over him. They had a chance for years when they were both single and it never happened because it was never there. She’s not into it. If his admission was romantic, and her response was “I miss you too”….. that’s definitely friendzone. She was letting him down easy. She clearly loves him but not in a romantic way.
Love Barba. Love Barba and Liv as brother and sister. Love Stabler and Liv as soulmates.
Liv deserves happiness and only she can choose what that is for her.
Why was Liv not there along with Cragen at the combat cross ceremony??
Barba and Benson are not happening. I took that as a platonic admission of love. She clearly loves Elliot – Barba knows and said it himself. Everyone knows it.
Even if it was a romantic admission, nobody wants to see a love triangle with 50-60 year olds – that’s messy.
You basically took the words out of my mouth. This was a platonic admission of love. The episode was clearly pointing toward a relationship between Olivia and Elliot. There’s no love triangle here (and there shouldn’t be because that’s just not something people want to watch about professionals in their 50s.)
Did you even watch this episode?
The whole episode pointed to a Olivia and Elliot relationship.
Love Barba but they are definitely not in a love triangle. Everyone and their mom just confirmed they Liv loves Elliot.
Agree and LOL.
Well apparently I was watching a different episode. I saw everyone telling Benson she is in love with Stabler & to finally give it a shot. Don’t get confused, there are different types of love.
Barba can be the brother but Benson andStabler are magic together. After all there years together they
Don’t even have to speak. They need to hook up
When does the series return?
https://tvline.com/2022/05/20/fall-tv-schedule-2022-nbc-network-cbs-primetime-abc-shows-cw-fox/
Love Barba and hope Olivia realizes he’s a better match for her than Stabler.
Stabler’s macho, bully, act is repulsive.
Olivia now is so different from the person she was when Stabler disappeared. She’s a mother and a manager, responsible for many other people. And she’s grown with the culture during the time Stabler was overseas. If they did try to be together, it’s going to take some adjustments on both sides.