Law & Order: SVU has aired for 24 seasons on primetime TV, but it is still not quite the right time to end the esteemed crime series for good. Consensus on whether Law & Order: SVU should exceed season 24, and how long it should potentially continue, remains relatively divided. SVU has been around for a long time, and Captain Benson and the squad have undergone tremendous changes since the series' conception. However, the unique brand of Law & Order: SVU drama delivered by truly treasured characters continues to attract audiences, and has previously always resulted in the renewal of more SVU seasons.

Despite the success and admiration SVU always seems to enjoy, the Law & Order series does draw criticism from time to time. This is especially true for Law & Order: SVU season 24, which contains various production missteps that have received backlash and range from the shocking Kelli Giddish exit from SVU to confirmation of the fear that Law & Order is dropping the ball on maintaining valued recurring characters. In light of Law & Order: SVU's long-standing television stint and concern for the length and value of its future, there are several reasons why SVU should not end with season 24.

Related: Law & Order: SVU's Cut Rollisi Scene Is Made Worse By Giddish's Exit

Law & Order: SVU Still Needs To Address Benson And Stabler's Relationship

Benson and Stabler in Law & Order: SVU

A common concern caused by Law & Order: SVU season 24 potentially being the final season is how the franchise will choose to approach the completion of character arcs for smaller and larger roles alike. Mariska Hargitay's Olivia Benson has been the primary focus of the show's character development up through Law & Order: SVU season 24. While that is far from a bad thing, Benson remaining as main focus raises potential fears, not only that other supporting characters' development will become overlooked, but also that her own storyline will conclude too quickly, or shy of the completeness it deserves.

SVU season 24 sees Captain Benson join forces with her previous squad partner and dear friend Elliot Stabler, played by Christopher Meloni, after a hiatus that lasted nearly 10 seasons. Stabler's comeback gives rise to expectations that SVU will finally address Law & Order's slow burn tease to unite Benson and Stabler as a romantic couple. Hargitay has voiced her desire for Benson to find love and establish a family, and Elliot Stabler returning to Law & Order: SVU could become an avenue for the TV show to explore in order to complete Benson's storyline properly before SVU considers ending for good.

What The Cast & Crew Has Said About The Future Of Law & Order: SVU

Sergeant Tutuola in Law & Order: SVU

Mariska Hargitay is not the only Law & Order: SVU cast or crew member that has voiced their inner desires for the future of the series. Law & Order: SVU showrunner David Graziano spoke directly regarding the insecure status of Benson and Stabler's relationship. In an interview (via Today) that suggests Law & Order: SVU will not end with season 24, Graziano declares the responsibility Law & Order has to Benson's character and that an SVU Benson and Stabler romance is probable, but would necessitate the time and attention Benson's character arc requires.

Whatever amount of time Graziano and the rest of SVU's production decide to take to perfect Captain Benson's storyline opens up the possibility for many more seasons of Law & Order: SVU. Furthermore, Ice-T, who plays another fan-favorite character, shows no signs of ending his stint on Law & Order any time soon. Ice-T expressed his enthusiastic willingness to evolve alongside the TV series and continue acting as Sergeant Fin Tutuola on SVU for as long as the show continues to run during a Jimmy Fallon interview.

Related: Stabler's Law & Order Return Vs. Lexi's Grey's Anatomy Twist: Which Is Better

Law & Order: SVU Can Set Up New Law & Order Spinoffs

Detective Velasco and Muncy with victim in Law & Order: SVU

While it is possible that Law & Order: SVU could survive the loss of any character, one might also argue that the show will only continue to be renewed while Mariska Hargitay leads the cast as Olivia Benson. Before another Law & Order: SVU major character exit can hurt the original series, SVU may benefit from setting up Law & Order spinoffs. Hargitay's role is the longest-serving of the primetime television series, and has become such an integral aspect of the Special Victims Unit, it would not come as a surprise for Law & Order: SVU to fold completely if Hargitay were ever to leave.

If Law & Order: SVU takes some time to set up Law & Order spinoffs, it could benefit the franchise in at least two ways. Firstly, the construction and setup for Law & Order: SVU spinoffs would provide more screen time and development opportunity for squad members other than Olivia Benson. More importantly, Law & Order: SVU spinoffs could be made to cap off the Benson-led SVU era succinctly, and encourage the success of other characters and storylines in a brand-new show altogether.

Law & Order: SVU Season 25 Is A Great Stopping Point

Benson, Tutuola, and Carisi in Law & Order: SVU

No matter which direction the Law & Order franchise takes SVU, it cannot end at season 24 because a season 25 is way more appropriate and thematically satisfying ending. Law & Order: SVU has made a name for itself as the longest-running primetime live-action series in the history of television, and its eventual finale season should reflect SVU's accomplishment in celebration. One more additional season would bring Law & Order: SVU to a memorable 25. If one more season would not be enough time to deliver complete character development, a landmark Law & Order: SVU season 30 could be memorable as well.

Law & Order: SVU Depicts Stories That Will Always Remain Relevant

Benson and Tutuola in Law & Order: SVU

The greatest aspect of Law & Order: SVU episodes is that the stories and survivors depicted will always remain relevant, even if SVU continues to be renewed for years to come. If Law & Order: SVU has persisted while satisfying the demands of audiences and primetime television for so long, then it should be allowed to continue, if only for the reason that it has always been a platform for the voices of survivors who are often overlooked or unheard. Law & Order: SVU has not been confirmed for a season 25 renewal as yet, but it seems unlikely the show will come to an end with season 24.

More: Law and Order's Stabler Spinoff Can't Work Without Changing Elliot First