There are many differences between Bell and Benson, but a major one in terms of how Bell interacts with Stabler on "Law & Order: Organized Crime" is that Bell is openly gay, which clears the way for Stabler and Bell to remain strictly platonic.
"I don't think Bell [can be] compared to Mariska's character, Benson," says Danielle Moné Truitt. "To me, they're completely different. As far as the relationship between Bell and Stabler, there's no love connection, not even a spark of that. It's more of a brother and sister type of relationship."
Still, that doesn't stop "Law & Order" fans from stacking Bell and Benson up against each other.
"When the show first started, I know people were used to seeing him with Benson," says Truitt. "If anything, that's been the funniest part for people, to realize that he has a new partner and that he has his own show. There's a whole life on 'OC' that is different from 'SVU.' As the seasons have gone on, people really respect Bell. They love her. They see that she cares for Elliot, but she also isn't going to take any crap from him. They really enjoy our dynamic."
