Every Law & Order Detective Team, Ranked

Every “Law & Order: SVU” Detective Team Ranked

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re ranking every partnership in the Special Victims Unit. We’ll only be looking at team-ups that lasted at least one season. Sorry Dani, but you and Elliot would have been in last place anyway.

#12: Olivia Benson & Nick Amaro

Sometimes it seems like Amaro is determined to disagree with everything Benson says. Of course it was going to be tough for Olivia to adjust to having a new partner after working with Stabler for more than a decade. But Nick doesn’t make things any easier on her. In the first couple of seasons they’re partnered up, they clash constantly. Amaro’s turbulent personal life and short temper don’t help. Although their relationship improves over time, we never get the impression that Olivia truly feels like she can rely on Nick. You’d think they’d get along better, since Amaro is almost as hot headed as Stabler was.

#11: Fin Tutuola & Joe Velasco

By this point in the series, partnerships aren’t as well-defined as they were in the early days. But after Grace Muncy leaves, Velasco partners up with Fin more than anyone else, so we’re counting this duo for our list. Fin occasionally has to take a hard line with Velasco, but aside from that they mostly get along. The problem with this pair is that they’re a little too much alike. Both had rough childhoods and were actively recruited by gangs. Both are more empathetic than you might expect based on their backgrounds and their tough-guy exteriors. They’re each more useful to the squad when they’re partnered with someone who complements their approach, rather than duplicates it.

#10: Joe Velasco & Kate Silva

It’s a little too soon to make judgments about the newest member of the Special Victims Unit or her work with Velasco. Silva practically just arrived on the scene, but we get the impression that she plans to stick around. She’s clearly dedicated and determined to prove herself, but she’s still adjusting to the challenges of the job. Silva and Velasco bond right away, although Velasco might just be glad there’s someone here to distract Benson’s attention away from him. Their partnership has a lot of potential – once they both have a little more experience under their belts.

#9: Fin Tutuola & Kat Tamin

When Kat joins the squad early in season 21, it’s immediately clear that she’s a go-getter. Fin takes her under his wing and is impressed with her drive. In fact, she’s so eager that the rest of the team occasionally has to reel her in. She and Fin have an easy rapport and their personalities are a good match. Fin is genuinely happy for her when he reveals that she’s been promoted to detective midway through season 22. However, Kat’s passion for the job is what ultimately does her in. Unable to handle the emotion that comes from dealing with victims, she calls it quits just half a season later. If she’d stuck around longer, she and Fin would probably be higher up this list.

#8: Fin Tutuola & Terry Bruno

Don’t let Bruno’s rugged exterior fool you. There’s more to him than meets the eye. Although he’s one of the newer detectives on the team, he transferred from the Bronx SVU, so he has plenty of experience. He’s also known for taking down dirty cops, and he’s totally dedicated to the job. All of those factors earn him a lot of respect in Fin’s eyes, and they’re the main reason Fin pushes Benson to take on Bruno after Rollins leaves the department. As the old dogs on the team, Bruno and Fin mesh well from the start. We love watching them work together – we just wish they could do it more.

#7: Nick Amaro & Amanda Rollins

These two would make a better team if they didn’t come with so much baggage. They’re both tough and determined, but their rocky personal lives mean that there’s usually some kind of drama distracting them from the job. When they work together, they always solve the case, but it often comes with some unwanted fireworks. With so much in common, it’s no surprise that things eventually get romantic between Nick and Amanda. To their credit, they do a good job of keeping the relationship out of the squad room. We can’t imagine Benson would approve.

#6: Fin Tutuola & Chester Lake

Like many detectives who get a little too invested in the job, Lake’s time on “SVU” is short-lived. During his one full season with the show, he’s partnered with Fin, and they make a pretty good team. Both come across as relatively laid back on the exterior, but deep down they’d do anything to protect a victim and collar a bad guy. And we do mean anything. At the end of season nine, Lake finds himself on the wrong side of the law when he kills a couple of dirty cops who had assaulted women. It turns out he and Fin didn’t trust each other that much after all.

#5: John Munch & Brian Cassidy

Look, we love Cassidy, but even he would admit that he was never cut out for SVU. The first season has a much jokier tone than the rest of the series, and Cassidy’s immature attitude is a big part of it. Munch, of course, is also known for his dry sense of humor, and he and Cassidy make a pretty entertaining comedic duo. Brian clearly looks up to the older detective, even though he frequently gives him a hard time. Cassidy washes out of the department before the first season ends, but fortunately, he later becomes a recurring character and an important ally to the team. He’s matured, but he’s still as snarky as ever.

#4: Amanda Rollins & Sonny Carisi

There are sparks between these two from the first time they meet. Rollins and Carisi, sorry, Rollins and Sonny become about as close as partners can be. He admires her strength and determination through everything that life throws at her. She loves his deep sense of morality and the fact that he’s always there for her. When he quits the squad to become an ADA, she understandably feels betrayed. It’s clear that Amanda has come to depend on Sonny over the years. Later, of course, they form a different kind of partnership. They work even better together as husband and wife than they did as detectives.

#3: Fin Tutuola & Amanda Rollins

It’s tempting to characterize this pair as big brother and little sister, but that doesn’t give Rollins the credit she deserves. That said, Fin clearly feels protective of her. By the time she joins the unit, Fin has over a decade of experience under his belt. Thanks to her time working sex crimes in Georgia, Amanda is no rookie either. Their empathy for victims and dedication to the work make them a brilliant team, but they’re still different enough to keep things interesting. Rollins soon comes to trust and rely on Fin. He’s even the first person she tells about her issues with gambling, and he’s quick to stick up for her. Many fans would have loved to see this partnership last even longer.

#2: John Munch & Fin Tutuola

Dick Wolf could have created an entire series just about these two and we would have watched it. On the outside they may look like opposites, but they couldn’t be a better match. Munch’s dry wit and I’ve-seen-it-all mentality is the perfect complement to Fin’s no-nonsense attitude. Their banter is often the best part of any episode. And though they’re constantly giving each other a hard time, it’s obvious that deep down, they really care for each other. If not for Rollins, Fin would probably be lost after Munch’s retirement.

#1: Elliot Stabler & Olivia Benson

Admit it, these two are the reason you fell in love with this show. They’re one of the most iconic non-romantic partnerships on TV. And despite what many people around them suspect, they never bring romance into their relationship. However, Stabler definitely spends more time with Liv than with his wife, and you could argue that Liv even knows him better than his wife does. The chemistry between them is probably one of the biggest reasons “Law & Order: SVU” became such a big hit. It’s hard to believe that there’s now been more seasons of the show without Elliot than with him. When he returns in season 22, it’s hard to know who is more affected: Olivia, or the fans.



Which SVU detective would you want as a partner? Let us know in the comments.