EO the Movie aka Law and Order: Organized Crime episode 2x09

Throughout the 23 years that Law and Order: SVU has been on air, we have been privy to the intimate moments between Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler. It wasn’t until Organized Crime’s ninth episode of its second season, The Christmas Episode, that we were given the opportunity to tune into what their relationship would look like if the two of them began to admit that their partnership has the potential to be more than platonic. Tension and looming conversations surrounded the former partners during the two-part cross-over with Organized Crime giving us most scenes while SVU continued to hold off on addressing the real issues between the two. By now, us viewers, have seen a pattern of SVU claiming more of the drama with OC going down the lighthearted and flirty road.

Seeing Olivia and Elliot simply talking about how they feel and seeing the two of them attempting to work out their pent-up emotions was powerful and much needed after their ten-year separation (which Olivia loves to bring up, keep calling him out girl.) For the first time we were given the chance to see Elliot ask Olivia how she is rather than the other way around. While the conversation quickly turned into an interrogation into how many significant others Olivia had during their separation, Elliot finally got to hear one of the many tragedies that she went through. Before being interrupted by the doctor, he learns that Olivia was close to settling down with Ed Tucker but was denied the choice in the end when he sadly passed away. The simple words of ‘I’m so sorry’ was uttered by Elliot and for the first time since he returned, we witnessed a small breakthrough of the many walls that Olivia had built up between them. They share a knowing look, lost in each other’s pain.

What the scene manages to produce is a wild range of emotion that ranges from flirty to questioning and finally to a deep-rooted sadness. It’s obvious that the two wanted to go deeper in their conversation, to spill out all the good and bad events that happened but they were sadly interrupted when the doctor came in to discuss Eli’s psychiatric prognosis. We can only imagine where their talk would have ended up if they were given the chance to continue it. Not having the opportunity to flesh out their response to suddenly being open with each other if a frustrating theme in both shows that only adds to our want of a conclusion while at the same time wanting this stage of their relationship to last forever.

Their final scene together involves Elliot taking the leap (the much needed leap, god bless the OC writers) and asking Olivia to attend his family’s Christmas gathering. It’s a gesture that stuns Olivia into a stuttering mess as she contemplates the idea of being part of a family. Since the beginning of the series, not having people that she can genuinely call family has been a massive insecurity for her so it comes to no surprise that she would be amazed at this request. After almost a minute of ‘uh’s’ and heavy breathing, Olivia says that she was consider it and get back to him. Naturally Elliot doesn’t let it go and claims that she should ‘just come’ (many thanks to Christopher Meloni for this improv, what a king) which is where the scene is left.

Coming back out of the fantasy of the EO movie is sudden when we get back to the Stabler house and it’s revealed that Bell is the one at the door rather than Olivia and Noah. Despite not getting the new family interacting with one another, we do get to witness a panicked Elliot as he hears the initial knock at their door. He excitedly proclaims that ‘they’re here!’ like a giddy teenager at the idea of crush showing up for the party. While we don’t currently know if she showed up, I will make the choice for everyone and say that she 100% did and their families had a much needed bonding session. Catch me staying in that delusion until proven otherwise on Jan.6 when the two shows return for their winter premieres. A more detailed and comprehensive review will be coming soon but for now, I will be enjoying the EO movie with the other screaming twitter fans.