The Real Reason Olivia And Elliot Were Never Meant To Be Together On Law & Order

With 23 seasons spanning more than two decades, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" remains the most popular police procedural drama on television. As the most successful spin-off in the "Law & Order" franchise, "SVU" continues to hit major milestones and break television records.

The series follows the Special Victims Unit of the NYPD, as its detectives investigate sex-based crimes. Though the show centers on the investigations, victims, and perpetrators, a major draw for audiences is the interpersonal lives of the detectives. Since the show's early days, fans have been rooting for a relationship between now-Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and her former partner Detective Elliot Stabler (Christoper Meloni). Their will-they-won't-they dynamic is still in effect all these seasons later, with the crossover between "SVU" and "Law & Order: Organized Crime" bringing them together once again.

Given the intensity of the fan support for the pairing, it's surprising that nothing has ever happened between the two. However, there's a big behind-the-scenes reason why the two remain star-crossed.

Dick Wolf, the creator and executive producer of the "Law & Order" franchise, is also behind the sprawling "One Chicago" franchise, and wrote four thriller novels in addition to his other work in the entertainment industry. With various projects and countless accolades over the years, the producer has an impressive portfolio.

While Wolf tends to keep his personal life private, his work often reflects the world surrounding him — including Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler, who are named after two of his five children. Olivia and Elliot Wolf are his two children with ex-wife Christine Marburg (via Mental Floss).

Knowing that the lead characters' namesakes are siblings, it's understandable why there wasn't any initial reason to set them up with a romantic storyline. However, the relationship between Benson and Stabler has taken on a life of its own over the years, and it seems like something serious could finally happen between the two in an upcoming episode.