“Wildlife” is one of those SVU episodes that captures everything that makes the series so iconic. Airing in 2008, the episode opens with a time jump revealing that Stabler (Christopher Meloni) has been shot, though the circumstances are still a mystery. When the story rewinds, Benson and Stabler are investigating the murder of a young woman found with bizarre injuries and, oddly enough, a rare exotic bird tucked inside her purse. Medical examiner Melinda Warner (Tamara Tunie) soon confirms that some of the wounds weren’t caused by a person at all, but by a tiger.

From there, the case spirals into one of SVU’s most bizarre and dangerous investigations. The detectives uncover a world of underground wildlife smugglers, a murdered model with a twin sister, and a hip-hop artist named Gots Money (played by Outkast’s Big Boi) whose pet tiger may have mauled the victim. To expose the smuggling ring, Stabler goes undercover as a corrupt customs agent, a risky move that quickly takes a turn for the worse. In one of the episode’s most memorable scenes, he’s nearly caught, when a quick-thinking Benson poses as a sex worker to protect his cover. It’s an over-the-top sequence, but also one of the most unforgettable moments in SVU history.

Of course, things go south when Stabler’s cover is blown, leading to the shooting teased at the start of the episode. He ultimately survives, and the case ends on a rare quiet note. Throughout the hour, the strain on his marriage simmers beneath the surface, especially after his wife, home with their newborn son, discovers he went undercover without telling her. By the final scene, Stabler is back home, tending to his crying baby, a small reminder of the life he risks every time he takes on a case.

“Wildlife” may be all over the place tonally — complete with tigers, hyenas, and even a monkey who briefly bonds with Captain Cragen (Dann Florek) — but it’s one of those quintessential SVU episodes fans can never forget. And for all its chaos, it’s that brief, charged moment between Benson and Stabler that still has viewers — and the show’s cast — talking years later.

“Wildlife” Has One of the Most Iconic Benson-Stabler Moments in ‘Law & Order: SVU’ History

While Hargitay didn’t explain her choices for the episodes she curated for Peacock, it’s not hard to guess why “Wildlife” made the list. Maybe it was the unusual experience of filming with live animals, or perhaps, as she put it in the promo, she was “channeling her inner Benson.” It’s one of those episodes that pushes Benson through an emotional rollercoaster, as she fears for her partner’s life after he’s shot. But it’s also remembered for one infamous moment: the shirtless undercover scene between Benson and Stabler.

Needing to stay in character, Stabler holes up in an apartment as part of his cover, and Benson visits him to discuss the case. When the animal smugglers suddenly show up, Stabler panics, until Benson steps out of the bathroom with her shirt off, calling him “Daddy” and pretending to be a sex worker there to “service” him. The two hang all over each other, selling the ruse. It’s a brief moment, but the tension between them is electric, and it’s a rare instance where the line between professionalism and something more blurs completely.

Hargitay isn’t the only one who remembers the episode fondly. When Christopher Meloni appeared on TODAY in 2023, he was asked about their almost-romantic moments and immediately referenced “Wildlife.” “I do remember that being out of the box,” he said. “There was something about that exposure — a literal exposure — that made it very dynamic.” He added that both he and Hargitay felt “extra vibrant or vivacious” filming the scene, aware that they were pushing their characters into an uncomfortable but revealing space. That energy, of course, still resonates onscreen today, as fans are still waiting for them to get together.

“Wildlife” may not be a perfect episode, but it’s the kind of episode that reminds viewers why the show has lasted as long as it has. For Hargitay to include it among her personal favorites says a lot, not just about the episode’s legacy, but about the risks SVU has always been willing to take. It’s a chapter in the series that fans still debate, rewatch, and remember and is proof that even in its wildest moments, SVU knows how to leave a mark.