Opinion | Olivia Benson Is Becoming Law & Order: SVU’s Problem, Not Its Centerpiece

For over two decades, Olivia Benson has been the heart of Law & Order: SVU—a survivor, a champion for victims, and an immovable presence in a chaotic world. Mariska Hargitay’s portrayal of Benson has elevated the role to icon status. It has even earned her cultural reverence far beyond the confines of prime-time television.

But in 2025, that status might be the show’s greatest liability.

Fans have long accepted Benson’s evolution from detective to captain, and from captain to the emotional compass of every case that crosses SVU’s desk. However, a growing chorus of critics—once whispers, now echoing across message boards, Reddit threads, and Twitter timelines—are starting to ask a difficult question. Is Olivia Benson overshadowing the show she helped build?

This isn’t a takedown of the character or of Hargitay herself. Olivia Benson remains one of television’s most compelling protagonists, and few could match the depth and compassion she’s brought to the role. But the writing has shifted. Benson is no longer just a commanding officer or mentor. She’s become the gravitational center of the universe—not just on SVU, but increasingly on Law & Order and Organized Crime too. And it’s starting to weigh the entire franchise down.

Take the recent crossover event between Law & Order, SVU, and Organized Crime. In a storyline involving the murder of a female detective—who had connections to Benson dating back to a child-rescue case—Olivia doesn’t merely make an appearance. She bulldozes through precinct lines, jurisdictional boundaries, and character arcs. The homicide lieutenant on Law & Order was all but muted. The episode’s regular detective, who should have been a central figure, was barely present. Additionally, even the assistant district attorneys appeared to defer to Benson.

In her quest to seek justice for a fallen officer, Benson took over two shows she doesn’t lead. It was less a team-up than a takeover.

Historically, captains on Law & Order—from Donald Cragen on SVU to Anita Van Buren on the flagship series—have played commanding but restrained roles. They framed stories, anchored their teams, but rarely dominated screen time. They let the cases, and the detectives handling them, unfold. Olivia Benson, by contrast, seems to step into every crime scene as not just a leader. She acts as the emotional and narrative epicenter. Increasingly, the show is written to validate that instinct.

This kind of narrative dominance comes at a cost. Strong characters like Amanda Rollins (played by Kelli Giddish) and Dominick Carisi Jr. (Peter Scanavino) brought depth and evolution to the SVU universe. But instead of flourishing alongside Benson, they’ve either been phased out or minimized. Promising supporting characters enter and vanish. Meanwhile, Ice-T’s Fin Tutuola remains, underused and increasingly relegated to the background. He appears as a legendary figure coasting on legacy with little growth or purpose.

More troubling is the way Benson’s moral authority has begun to feel almost infallible—even when her actions skirt procedure or realism. Fans who once applauded her principled nature are now questioning whether her interventions are grounded in story logic or simply star power. When Olivia walks into a courtroom to challenge a district attorney, it no longer feels earned. Or, when she steamrolls a fellow captain on Organized Crime, it feels imposed.

There’s also a tonal shift that longtime viewers can’t ignore. SVU once thrived on tension, unpredictability, and emotional nuance. Recent episodes feel more like vehicles for Benson’s emotional closure rather than complex crime dramas. When the outcome of every case is filtered through her moral lens, the storylines suffer. The thrill of not knowing where a story might turn—an old Law & Order staple—is replaced with a formula. Cue the trauma, cue Olivia’s moral reckoning, cue resolution.

Of course, to criticize Olivia Benson is to invite a backlash. Her defenders are loyal, passionate, and numerous. They ’re not wrong to love her. But the fear of backlash shouldn’t prevent critical engagement with a character whose presence has grown so large, it threatens to obscure everyone else.

To be clear, the issue isn’t Mariska Hargitay’s talent or commitment—it’s the writing. And maybe, just maybe, the time has come to reimagine SVU’s future. That doesn’t mean Benson needs to disappear. But perhaps it’s time she becomes what Cragen once was: a steady, guiding force who steps back so others can step forward.

Let the next generation of detectives find their voice. Let Fin lead a new task force. Let Carisi prosecute cases without constant moral vetting. Let SVU be an ensemble again.

And yes, let Olivia Benson rest—not because we don’t love her, but because we do.