As one of many longest-running collection within the historical past of American tv, it’s not laborious to grasp why a big group closely favors Regulation & Order: Particular Victims Unit and permits the present to keep up a particular place of their hearts. In doing so, passionate viewers have lengthy been hooked up to the collection’ authentic iconic detective duo of Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni). So when the time got here for Meloni to depart the collection, there’s completely no denying that an overabundance of hearts have been damaged.
The aforementioned and unlucky departure occurred all the best way again in 2011, with Stabler finally departing the collection after his look within the twenty fourth episode of the twelfth season, “Smoked.” Stabler/Meloni’s look within the finale marked one of many final instances eagle-eyed viewers witnessed him in a Regulation & Order episode — that’s till he made his long-awaited return to the detective universe in 2021 with Regulation & Order: Organized Crime.
Even years past Stabler’s departure, of us have but to waver relating to discovering out precisely why the fan-favorite character made his exit over ten years in the past.
So, why precisely did Stabler depart SVU?
Within the finale of the twelfth season, Elliot finds himself extraordinarily perplexed and disturbed by an incident on the precinct which ends up in the sixth capturing he’s dedicated as a detective. The scenario finally results in Stabler being “investigated” for his reckless habits and actions, with the detective additionally being investigated earlier than. Stabler is thus labeled as a “unfastened cannon,” and finally arms in his resignation with out saying goodbye.
Regarding the real-life scenario behind Meloni’s exit, negotiations between Meloni and creator Dick Wolf have been by no means in a position to be met, with each people possessing completely different views over monetary compensations. In consequence, Meloni bowed out and allowed newer characters and detectives to take heart stage as he went on to realize different roles in his profession.