‘Law & Order’ Showrunner Teases Tension Between Mariska Hargitay and Maura Tierney in ‘SVU’ Crossover -

Things might not be all sunshine and rainbows when the 2-7 and the 1-6 join forces again in the upcoming Law & Order crossover. This Thursday’s crossover between Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, “Play With Fire” parts 1 and 2 will bring the 27th and 16th precincts together after the murder of a woman with personal ties to Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay). According to Law & Order showrunner, Rick Eid, the crossover will inevitably see Benson and Maura Tierney‘s Lieutenant Jessica Brady butting heads. He tells TVInsider:

“Benson and Brady have the same goal,” Eid explains, “but may not always arrive at it in the same way.”

The possibility of a conflict between Benson and Brady is more apparent in SVU’s crossover promo, rather than in the one for Law & Order. In the promo for “Play With Fire” part 2, Benson seemingly says to Brady “sometimes you have to ask for forgiveness instead of permission.” She’s also seen butting heads with Hugh Dancy‘s ADA Nolan Price when he tells her that she’s not the only one that wants justice in this case. Where Benson and Brady may differ, some members of the respective squads may actually impress each other. Eid explains, that Juliana Aiden Martinez‘s Detective Kate Silva “puts her previous homicide experience to good use [impressing] Det. Riley (Reid Scott).” He goes on to explain that “and ADAs Price and Carisi (Peter Scanavino) team up to take on a formidable opponent in court when Rita Calhoun (Elizabeth Marvel) represents the [alleged killer].”

The ‘Law & Order’ Crossover Calls Back to One of ‘SVU’s Best Episodes

In Season 7, two episodes, for their respective focuses on Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) are regarded as fan-favorites: “911” and “Rage.” The episode “911” is the Olivia Benson-focused episode, with Olivia staying on the line with a girl she believes is kidnapped. Despite everyone around her thinking otherwise, Olivia sticks to her guns, and eventually rescues the girl, Maria Recinos. It would take another eighteen years for the pair to reunite in Season 25. Olivia discovers that Maria has joined the NYPD, and while she doesn’t go up to her at her graduation, the pair do have a special moment at the end of the episode, with Olivia worried that Maria won’t even recognize her (oh, Olivia).

“Play With Fire” parts 1 and 2 air this Thursday on NBC. You can catch up on past episodes of both shows now on Peacock. Stay with Collider for the latest updates.