Mariska Hargitay says Law & Order: SVU is telling a story "so many women identify with" in landmark 600th episode

Law & Order: SVU is going to air its 600th episode on November 12, 2026, which is a huge milestone for the show. The show premiered in 1999 and follows the detectives of the Special Victims Unit as they solve cases that deal with sexual assault of all kinds.

For all this time, SVU has given viewers stories that have sent important messages and resonated with audiences, especially women. Now, as Mariska Hargitay revealed, on its 600th episode, the show will yet again bring viewers a story that resonates with women.

Mariska Hargitay talks about Law & Order: SVU's 600th episode

Mariska Hargitay has been the lead star of Law & Order: SVU throughout its run, including after Christopher Meloni left the show after Season 12. Until then, together, Hargitay and Meloni's characters, Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler, were a formidable duo and great friends, and shared a will-they-won't-they dynamic.

Hargitay has thus been a part of the show for all these years and is a huge part of its success. In an interview with Variety ahead of the release of the 600th episode of Law & Order: SVU, Mariska Hargitay talked about the episode, what filming it felt like, and what this milestone feels like in general.

Speaking particularly about the episode and its story, Hargitay said:

"It’s about a woman having her voice and being submissive or subservient in a way, or giving up our power or our instinct, and that’s an important story to tell."

Explaining why it was important for the episode to address this kind of a story, Hargitay said that it's because "so many women identify with" it.

This isn't the first time the show has highlighted an experience women often go through. Multiple episodes of the show have dealt with domestic abuse, s*xual assault, r*pe, and human trafficking. Thus, in more ways than one, the show has not only shown the dangers faced by women but also advocated for their safety and right to justice.

But the fact that the show chose to stick to its core values for its 600th episode instead of doing something wildly different for optics says a lot. As Hargitay pointed out, women struggle with voicing their opinions, and while that struggle may not always stem from abuse, it needs to be addressed.

As Variety reported, Pearlena Igbokwe, chairman of NBC Entertainment, also spoke about the show and its latest achievement, saying:

“Dick Wolf created a series with a rare ability to evolve with the world around it while never losing sight of the humanity at the heart of its stories. Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson is more than an iconic television character."

Igbokwe added:

"She represents the kind of strength, empathy and courage we all hope to have on our side. So many extraordinary artists have contributed to ‘SVU’ over the years, and together they’ve created a legacy that is truly unmatched."

We don't know how much longer Law & Order: SVU will go on, but viewers are definitely grateful for Hargitay, her character, and the show's stories that have empowered many.

Law & Order: SVU is executive produced by Dick Wolf, Mariska Hargitay, Peter Jankowski, Arthur W. Forney, Jonathan Starch, Michael Smith, Ted Kotcheff, and Michele Fazekas. The production companies behind the show are Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television.

Law & Order: SVU's 600th episode, Obedience, will be released on NBC on November 12, 2026, at 9 pm ET.

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