"Law & Order: SVU" ended its 16th season in the most unexpected way. Aside from the courtroom shootout, it was revealed that DDetective Danny Amaro (Danny Pino) was leaving the team to start over in California and be near his children.
As though this wasn't devastating enough, Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) had a particular conversation that gained a lot of fan reaction online — the scene where they were talking about Benson's former partner, Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni), who left the unit in season 11.
"I know I wasn't what your old partner was for you," said Amaro, referring to Stabler.
"No you weren't," said Benson. "I grew more in the last four years with you than I did in the 12 years I was with him. You know that relationship, whatever it was, didn't allow for anything else. But with you, your support, I have family."
Fans of Meloni's character reacted strongly to what Benson said as they felt that she was insulting Stabler, after all that he went through with her. But executive producer Warren Leight told The Hollywood Reporter that the fans misinterpreted Benson and Amaro's last exchange.
Leight says there are some fans who still haven't gotten over the fact that Stabler left.
"I think unfortunately they will look for any excuse to feel offended," said the show boss. "It is a statement that says, 'My relationship with Amaro allowed me to evolve'."
Leight also pointed out that since Amaro was leaving, Benson was trying to make him feel valued at that moment.
So what's next for the show when it returns this fall? Leight said there's a possibility that Danny will come back in the future since his character wasn't killed off. As for Olivia, now that she has officially adopted baby Noah, the EP said that next season will focus on transitions as there will be a lot of change for all the characters. When asked if there's a possibility of Olivia having a new man in her life, Leight told Entertainment Weekly that he doesn't know if she needs a man, but her promotion to lieutenant will happen "sooner than later for her."
Season 17 of "Law & Order: SVU" will debut this fall on NBC.
