It’s been 23 years since Olivia Benson first appeared on screen, and the character remains a favorite among fans of the Law & Order franchise. The Manhattan Special Victims agent’s growth has been impressive, as she went from detective to captain and kept the show going on her own after her partner, Elliot Stabler, left.
Benson is so good that Mariska Hargitay remains the only lead actress in a police procedural to win an Emmy. The character appeals above all for his consistency and principle, but he also constantly impresses fans with the way he crafts his lines in each episode.
This article contains mentions of sexual assault and transphobia.
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10 “It’s ‘detective’, not ‘miss’.”
Temporada 1, episode 6, “Sophomore Jinx”
The first season of Law and Order: SVU It has some of the most capable lawyers on television, and at one point Benson becomes frustrated with seeing so many suspects being helped to escape. Thus, he attacks one of the lawyers when he orders him to stop harassing his client.
The Special Victims Unit agent is correct to point out the gender discriminatory term used by the lawyer, since male detectives are not called “sir”. Moreover, becoming a detective is quite a feat for any agent; therefore, they always prefer to be addressed by their correct titles.
9 “There is no florist-customer privilege.”
Season 13, Episode 3, “Blood Brothers”
Since cases are often sensitive, Benson never likes a witness who refuses to testify. He demonstrates this during a case of a predator who bought flowers for a victim by letting a florist know that the law does not grant him the privilege of keeping silent.
It’s a perfect way to poke fun at the attorney-client privilege rule, which has always irked the sleuth, as she prefers situations where witnesses and suspects sing all the information they need rather than remain silent. . Luckily this time he gets all the details he needs as he bullies the florist into chickening out.
8 “We don’t blame the victims here.”
Temporada 21, Episode 3, “Down Low In Hell’s Kitchen”
Season 21 has one of the best-written LGBTQ storylines, in which a serial predator begins attacking revelers at gay bars, but the SVU team manages to outsmart him. Even better, Benson stands up for the victims when not everyone else seems to care.
Hearing him scolding bureau chief Vanessa Hadid for blaming some of the victims is a poignant moment that makes any viewer boo. And she’s absolutely right to scold her boss because SVU is the safest space for victims of sexual assault; therefore neither should side with the oppressors.
7 “Looks like he went to Bernie Madoff’s school of investing.”
Season 11, Episode 15, “Confidential”
Benson finds cause for celebration when the empire of Richmore Investments owner and Fortune 500 member Richard Morgan begins to crumble. And it is that the business tycoon had murdered a few people, but got rid of some of his crimes.
Happy to let fate do its part where law enforcement has failed, the detective uses an appropriate pop culture reference to poke fun at Morgan’s business practices and his eventual downfall. He likens him to imprisoned tycoon Bernie Mardoff, who orchestrated the biggest Ponzi scheme in the United States, defrauding investors of $64.8 billion.
6 “In our business, be careful what you wish for.”
Season 4, Episode 3, “Vulnerable”
While joking with Benson, Stabler wishes to never grow old. His point of view makes sense, as the duo came across an elderly person in pain. However, Benson reminds her that her wish doesn’t sound right, considering her job.
Most officers never have the honor of living to old age, as they are killed in the line of duty. This fact remains in the detective’s mind at all times, which is why she is always cautious. He is also quick to warn Stabler of his choice of words as he is a valuable companion he would never want to lose.
5 “We’re Not Gonna Do This, Cowboy.”
Temporada 24, Episode 1, “Gimme Shelter”
The introduction of Cosgrove is one of the main reasons why Law It can now be counted among the series that have improved a lot in recent times. However, he is more enthusiastic than cautious, which Benson quickly notices during the crossover episode.
While pursuing a suspect in the murder of Henry King, Cosgrove urges the SVU detective to storm a building with him, but she refuses. Cosgrove realizes that his cowboy aggression could hurt them both, so he comes up with an alternative that turns out to be the best.
4 “When will these dinosaurs go extinct?”
Season 21, Episode 11, “She Paints for Revenge”
Most of the villains on the show are people trying to excuse criminals. One such person is patrol officer Donnie Jones, who once made unprofessional comments about a transgender assault victim, prompting Benson to yell at him in frustration.
“Dinosaur” is an apt label for Donnie, as he seems to be stuck in the old homophobic world where members of the LGBTQ community were heavily muzzled. The detective wants the patrol officer and his kind to simply die out like the dinosaurs did millions of years ago, a prospect most viewers would likely nod to.
3 “Tip: When You Find An Excuse, Don’t Overdo It.”
Season 16, Episode 9, “Seventeen Skipper”
Benson rushes to stop Chief Patton when he finds reasons why the new cases they have on the table aren’t good enough to move forward. She doesn’t like him explaining himself too much, so she offers him some advice.
Throughout the series, Benson has never minced words, not even when talking to his superiors. Also, he is unimpressed that Patton chooses to list the reasons for his order, despite being the boss. For her, leading means giving an order and carrying it out, whether subordinates like it or not.
2 “First, I like the free and open exchange of ideas. And second, I’m often right.”
Temporada 17, Episode 8, “Melancholic Pursuit”
Benson, one of fiction’s toughest cops, likes to get away with murder. Also, his sense of authority is one of the main reasons he quickly rises through the ranks, and he proves it once again during a discussion of how to handle the case of a missing teenager.
Benson implies that while she’s open to hearing other ideas, what matters most to her is their opinion. It’s just a way of telling others not to bother trying to control her, because in the end, she’ll do whatever she wants and chances are the outcome will be good.
1 “Some things you can leave behind, but they change you.”
Temporada 15, Episode 18, “Know Everything”
Benson is never one to just scratch the surface. So when a journalist reveals that a rape victim is lying, he finds it hard to believe. However, her colleagues urge her to let it go because all the evidence points to false accusations.
Despite the events, the agent believes there is something more to it, and if she leaves, she might regret it. Its principle has always been that all victims must be believed; therefore, she is sure that she will not live with herself if she closes the case like everyone else.