Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni Reunite On-Screen in Law & Order: SVU Premiere After This Major Character Death

Warning: this story contains spoilers from the Sept. 25 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Benson and Stabler are back.

In the season 27 premiere of Law & Order: SVU on Thursday, Sept. 25, Christopher Meloni joined Mariska Hargitay on screen once again.

The partners for life were first seen filming scenes for the premiere in August (the fifth season of Meloni’s spinoff show, Organized Crime, is re-airing on NBC after first debuting on Peacock in the spring).

Stabler (Meloni) guest starred in the SVU episode, titled “In the Wind,” which also saw the return of characters Brian Cassidy (Dean Winters), George Huang (B.D. Wong), and Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish), who’s back as a series regular, per NBC.

The characters reunited after the wake for Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek), which brought together many of his fictional colleagues and friends. Cragen has been a staple character for the series, first appearing in Law & Order in 1990.

In the premiere, Benson had to leave the wake to respond to a case and found Stabler waiting by her car. She knew immediately that she should check in with Stabler, who wasn’t thrilled about being around a bunch of NYPD colleagues.

“You alright?” Benson asked Stabler, who admitted he didn’t like funerals. Benson agreed, and the two talked about how many they have attended together throughout the years.

“I just feel like we’re entering into our All Our Friends Are Dying era,” Benson told Stabler.

“It’s the worst era,” he replied.

Later, Stabler changed the topic to talk about his history with Benson.

“Not that you can go back, and not that I’d want to,” Stabler said. “But we had a pretty good run there for a minute.”

Benson was a little more optimistic, reminding Stabler that their journey is not over yet. “We still do, just different,” Benson said before hugging Stabler and telling him to “get off my car.” Stabler smirked before opening the door for her and wishing her a good night.

“Love you,” Stabler said to Benson. “Night.”

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SVU airs Thursdays on NBC at 9 p.m. ET.