"Law and Order: SVU" star Mariska Hargitay will direct an upcoming episode in the show's 24th season, which is set to air on February 9. This marks the eighth time Hargitay has directed an episode for the NBC series. Fans are excited about the news, with some hoping for more romantic tension between Hargitay's character, Detective Olivia Benson, and her former co-worker Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni). The ongoing storyline surrounding Benson's unrequited feelings for Stabler continues to be a theme throughout season 24.